"You're nice, I can see why she likes you," Ann told him, and at that moment his whole world just stopped for a second. Did he just hear what he thought he heard? He felt a grin come onto his face against his will, and he could feel his heart beating in chest. Or maybe that was the Snake Juice. Either way, his already hungover head began to spin.
"When did she say," he starts to ask. "Likes me?" "Oh, god. This so so high school. Just rent a limo, ask her to the prom. I'm sure she'll say yes." "All right," he tells Ann. "Thanks." He can't wipe this smile off his face as he leaves.
"And Ben?" He turns around to see Ann observing him carefully from the couch. "You ever harm her in anyway, and I will kick your ass. Just… Maybe not right now." "I'll remember that." He closes the door carefully, and walks back to his car blissfully. The girl of his dreams likes him. Why, he'll never know, but knowing he'll see her soon, even if it's to do interviews, makes him want to fly. The beautiful, funny Leslie Knope likes him. It's almost too much for him to handle. He turns on the radio, and "Soul Sister" comes on, and he shamelessly sings along. It's a day of not caring what that guy in the next car over thinks; all he can think of is a certain blonde waiting for him to get back.
***
"Yeah, I had some encouragement," Ann smiles, looking at him. Ben gives her a kind smile back. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Leslie looking at him and smiling.
"Your sweater's on inside out," he points out lamely. "And backwards. It's been a tough morning. Lots of regret and shame." She thinks for a moment. "That should be the official slogan for Snake Juice."
Leslie clears her throat. "Well, this committee would like to ask if you are the kind of candidate who could forgive someone after they behaved like a complete jackass?"
"This candidate could," Ann replies, "especially because this candidate also behaved like a total jackass."
"Please, don't worry about it. The committee totally understands."
"Also," Ann changes the subject, " I can talk about my qualifications for this position. But first, I am gonna go throw up in a wastebasket."
"Would you mind if I joined you," Leslie asks.
"Not at all. Shall we?"
The two leave, and on the way out, Leslie playfully taps him on the shoulder and she smiles. Ann hangs in the doorway for a second and mouths, "she's totally into you," before Leslie drags her away. All Ben can do is smile.
He thinks Ann's cool. Like really cool. He just wishes she'd just tell him exactly what to do, but he knows Ann's on his side. She just wants to see Leslie happy, and he'd like to make her happy. He just knows it's meant to happen with Leslie. When he looks into her eyes, he sees a world of possibilities in front of him. When he says her name, he gets this feeling like he was just meant to say her name. The thought of her drives him crazy, and maybe, just maybe, the thought of him makes her crazy too. He's Ben Wyatt, the nerdy guy who can sometimes be very brutally honest, but hey, Leslie Knope likes him, so it doesn't really matter.