The Education of Ben Wyatt Part II

Lilly Thompson- Ben had a crush on Lilly in 1st grade. She always wanted to share Ben's crayons with him so Ben thought the feeling was mutual because Lilly had her own crayons but always wanted to use Ben's. Then, Lilly started using Kelly Dickson's crayons so Ben asked her why. Apparently, she had only been using Ben's crayons because his box had the built in sharpener so when Kelly got the same kind of crayons she just used Kelly's instead of Ben's.

Kelly Carlson- Kelly sat next to Ben in fifth grade. They were the teacher's special helpers. He developed a huge crush on her and he thought she might like him too because they got along so well and always had a good time together. But then Kelly confided in Ben that she had a crush on Daniel Peterson.

Ingrid Lindstrom- Ingrid made Ben feel really good. She laughed at his jokes and listened to what he said. She complimented him and told him he was a great person. They were interested in a lot of the same things. They spent many bus rides talking about Star Wars. After advice from his friend he asked Ingrid to be his girlfriend by giving her flowers he had arranged in the shape of The Death Star and having his friend playing the theme song off a cassette tape. But she turned him down informing him that she had an older boyfriend that was a senior. Ben was very confused and moped around for a bit after.

Cindy Eckhert Cindy was the popular girl in school. Partridge was so small that cliques were rather fluid. While, Ben was considered a nerd and was a bit awkward he could still hang with the popular crowd from time to time, especially because he was involved in a lot of extracurricular activities. Ben had never given Cindy Eckhert much thought until sophomore year. She had always seemed lightyears out of his league but by sophomore year he started to get to know her. They were both in student government and Ben had tutored her in math. She was nice to him and seemed to pay attention to him, especially senior year when Ben ran for and was elected mayor. She declared herself his girlfriend two hours before his inauguration and gave him his first kiss. In a matter of weeks everything in Ben's life had changed. His parents were tolerating each other, he had a girlfriend (who was way more experienced than him and moving things along very fast), and kids that had once ignored him acted like he was their best friend. Cindy moved at lightning speed. Cindy was the first girl he felt up and had taken to a dance. Before Ben had even known what had happened Cindy became the first girl he had sex with. When the first sign of mayoral trouble came Cindy turned Ben down for senior prom. Of course, he destroyed the town and was impeached causing Cindy to publically declare that they were already broken up, which was news to Ben.

Megan Dever- Ben tutored Megan in math freshman year of college. Ben worked at the tutoring center in college. They would meet in the library. She was always nice to him and he grew to look forward to their tutoring sessions. It was a really nice feeling because he hadn't felt good since prior to his disastrous stint as teen mayor. His confidence levels had been abysmal and he had spent most of freshman year guarded and alone. No one at college knew about Ben's past and while he had looked forward to college as a fresh start he tried to stay under the radar because he feared others finding out. Towards the end of freshman year Ben finally got the courage to ask Megan out. They went on a few dates but then, somehow, Megan discovered Ben's past. Ben was privy to a few whispers and gossip about it but luckily it hadn't spread like wildfire. When Ben asked Megan out on a third date she rejected him in the library and replied, "You know we're not boyfriend and girlfriend right? I'm not interested in that. I think you are and I don't want to go out with you again." In the quiet of the library more than a few people had overheard Ben's humiliation. Ben still had to tutor her for a few more awkward weeks.

Samantha Leistner- Sam was in Ben's history class sophomore year. They were assigned a project together and became friendly. Ben helped her with a math class, as a friend not as a tutor. They started spending regular time together with class and assignments not even mentioned. They ate together, went to a few school events, and even the movies twice. She thought Ben's nervous awkward stuttering was in her words, "cute." Sam had initiated a few make outs and Ben had initiated a few make outs. Then, one day while Ben was tutoring a freshman Sam walked by him in the library and stopped to say hi. Ben introduced her as his girlfriend. Sam then explained that she was not Ben's girlfriend and didn't understand why he thought so. "But we have gone out a lot and we've made out?" "We made out. So. Are you Amish or something?" The people around them snickered and the guy Ben was tutoring had laughed at him and soon it felt like the whole school was in on the joke.

Claire Lewis- Claire and Ben had a political science class together and were on the college debate team. She had a confidence that Ben envied. Claire's confidence reminded Ben of how he once use to feel. They had gotten to know each other pretty well and had genuinely become friends. Ben liked Claire as more than a friend if he was honest with himself. But after so many bad experiences concerning girls and people in general he was very guarded. Claire asked out Ben on a date in the beginning of junior year. She had made her intentions clear. Ben was leery at the beginning of the relationship but it wore away. Ben's life seemed to be back on track. He was doing great in school, liked his professors, and had a great girlfriend. His confidence was on the mend as was his heart. By the end of the school year they started having sex. Things were going great. Over the summer they kept in touch. Senior year had them reunited and even dreaming up some plans beyond senior year. They became swamped with classes, assignments, projects, applying to grad school, and internships. Then Claire started an internship and she meant someone else. She told Ben that she had feelings for someone else and it wasn't fair to him. They broke up. It was Ben's first real heartbreak over a girl. In time Ben would come to realize that Claire wasn't as perfect as she seemed. She could be brazen and wasn't always very thoughtful. For instance, when Ben had shared his dream to go back into politics Claire had not encouraged him. She only told him to "read the writing on the wall" and go into the private sector, it paid better anyway. She just didn't get it.

Liz, Jane, Stacy - After college Ben could have gone into the private accounting sector. He would've been sought after and could have been making big money fast. However, the love of government still burned in his veins. His confidence would never be what it once was but he had recovered enough. Matured. It had allowed him to once again dream of his future in politics and he had made a plan for how to get there. He would have to be highly qualified and show that he was fiscally responsible. So Ben set a plan in motion. After college graduation he moved to Minneapolis and began to get his master's degree and work towards becoming a CPA while he worked as a TA and did some tax work during tax season. Liz Nichols was also in the same master's program as Ben. A mutual friend had basically meddled and set the two up. They liked each other and went on a few dates but decided they were better off as friends. That same friend then set Ben up with Jane Weber, a law student. She was 6'4 and as big as a linebacker. Ben felt very nervous around her, like she was hovering over him (she was because of the height and size. It made Ben's mind flashback to when a linebacker put him in a headlock and threw him into a lake after his impeachment). Ben stuttered a lot during the date and almost choked on his food. About half way through the date Jane had made up an excuse and left. Ben later found out that Jane had asked their mutual friend if there was something mentally wrong with Ben. Ben never wanted to go on another set up. However, he got tricked into a set up while visiting his younger brother, who was now in college. It was a double date with Ben's brother Henry, his girlfriend Lacey and her friend Stacy. Ben couldn't get over the name thing. He also felt very uncomfortable being on a date with his little brother and other college students. While Henry was smooth and calm Ben burnt his hand on his dinner plate and knocked over the vase on the table.

Elaine Roberts- Ben had just gotten hired as a low level government account for the city of Indianapolis. He thought it would be wise to leave his past behind in Minnesota. Moving to a new state and pursuing his governmental goals would make Ice Town seem farther away with less people being aware of it. The job was putting him on the right track and following his plan. He was new to the city and the state. He met Elaine, a tall brunette lawyer ten years his senior. There was something that drew Ben to her. He thought it was silly. She was an older successful lawyer and he never would have thought he had a chance with her. He never would have tried. But Elaine came on to him, in ways that were even obvious to the rather romantically oblivious Ben Wyatt. He couldn't resist and they had a summer romance. But summer romances aren't meant to be lasting. It ended amicably. Ben learned a lot about himself, like summer romances weren't really what he wanted, and he also learned a lot about sex.

Sara O'Malley- Ben quickly became notable in his accounting job for the state and quickly moved up to the budget office. Soon he became a budget specialist traveling all over the state to towns in trouble where he would retool the budget and be met with animosity and a lot of people throwing things at him. After receiving several death threats he was partnered with another man, the always positive Chris Trager. Ben thought there might be a murder suicide. But being on the road with someone creates a bond and it made his job more enjoyable. In between their first and second assignments Ben met Sara. She was a nice woman; tall and brunette and taught elementary school. Chris had goaded Ben into asking her out. Not having a second date with her would've been stupid. Not having a third date, a forth date, a fifth date would've been stupid. The problem was that after six months there was no reason to breakup. But there was also no reason to go forward. It was an easy relationship between two nice people. What could go wrong? Ben actually wished something would go wrong and give him a reason to breakup with her. Ben found it really hard to invest in a relationship when he was constantly out of town auditing. He stopped missing her when he went out of town. Sara was good with the distance but after they had been together for a little over a year she needed to know she wasn't wasting her time. Finally, after many attempts made by Ben to breakup Sara finally confronted Ben. They broke up. It sucked. Ben felt that he would forever be alone and that there must be something wrong with him if he couldn't fall in love with a woman that was perfectly nice. After that, Chris jogged by Ben sitting on a lot of benches alone eating soup. Chris took it upon himself to motivate Ben, be his wingman, and emotional guardian.

Emily McCourt- Emily and Ben met through playing Risk. She loved Risk as much as he did. She was a chemist. They only went out a few times and talked on the phone a bit (the phone conversation was basically silence on both ends). They had never kissed on the lips, Ben once thought he should kiss her good night but he missed and kissed her chin. Ben discovered that Emily really loved the Star Wars prequels especially because "that guy is so cute". It was such a trivial reason to like the prequels. Ben's respect and likeness for Emily faltered. He tried to tell himself it didn't matter. But he couldn't keep it in. The prequels came up and Ben let it out. He broke up with her. He also thought that her strategy for Risk was rather weak. And it really bothered him that she only wore flip flops, even when it was snowing.

Jamie Wallis Bloomingon Channel 4 News- Jamie was another one of Chris's set ups. She was a local journalist and the thought of her being a reporter or running a check on him and finding out about Ice Town made Ben even more nervous than usual. At one point he took his shoes off and just held them, in the restaurant. Jamie went to the restroom and never came back. Ben understood.

Lilith Monroe- Lilith was a self-assured tall brunette that worked in the governor's office in Indianapolis. She was traveled, grew up in Chicago, and "couldn't wait to get out of this hick town". She had zero interest in sci-fi. She thought it was silly. They dated for a few months. Ben was on the road for about 75% of that time. While he was away he did his part to keep the relationship going; calls, postcards, and he sent her flowers a few times. Then one day he got a call that Lilith had seen her ex-boyfriend recently and she was calling to break things off with Ben. She realized that she still had feelings for her ex.

Janet Smith- Janet worked in the county commissioner's office in Lake County. Chris did everything he could to motivate Ben to ask her out when she had shown interest in Ben. Ben told Chris he didn't see the point since they were only supposed to be in town for a month. "But you never know what will happen. You just have to take a chance. You don't have to marry the girl. Just get dinner and see where it goes. Life is about connecting with other people," Chris kept telling Ben. So Ben rallied up some courage and maybe a dash of hope and asked her to dinner. He just went with it. They went out a few times and slept together and Ben left town and they never spoke again. Ben didn't want to be a jerk so he ended up calling her but she never called him back. It was bit unsatisfying and he didn't see how Chris could be so comfortable with that type of arrangement.

Lilith Monroe Part 2- Eleven months after Lilith had broken up with him over the phone they had run into each at a diner near the statehouse. This led to dinner a few nights later and they started dating again. This time they dated for five months until she once again called Ben and broke up with him over the phone. She had met someone else. Ben felt like an idiot.

Melissa Martinez- Chris had dated Melissa but then they decided they were better of as friends. They were "amazing friends." Chris decided to set Ben up on a blind date with Melissa. As per usual Ben was not given a chance to say no. Ben felt very awkward, being on a date with Chris's ex. He almost choked on his chicken parmesan three times and got his watch caught in his hair. That was the end of that. When Ben later recalled the story to Chris the man teared up and gave Ben a very long hug.

Cindy Miller- Chris, without Ben's permission or knowledge, set him up on a date with a woman that worked in the county commissioner's office. Her name was Cindy Miller. Chris had informed Ben that he asked out Cindy Miller on his behalf in front of Leslie Knope, the woman that Ben had developed pretty deep feelings for and who he was pretty sure liked him back. However, Ben and Leslie were going nowhere as a relationship was against governmental ethics rules. It was very awkward. And then Chris called Cindy Miller and made Ben talk to her in front of Leslie and things got even more awkward. Ironically, Chris set up Ben with Cindy Miller because they had something in common, they both worked in government. So Ben ended up getting coffee with Cindy Miller. He had no interest in going out with a woman when he had feelings for another woman. Ben also hated first dates, especially set ups. He spilled his coffee and for some reason used his jacket to wipe up the spill. Cindy was nice so Ben informed her that he was nervous and unbeknownst to Chris he had feelings for another woman and then they parted ways.

Leslie Knope- Leslie Knope was a pain in the ass. But she was a pain in the ass that cared. She had an amazing work ethic that was aspirational. Her faith and belief in government reminded Ben of how he had once felt before Ice Town happened. She was intelligent, compassionate, and so stubborn in her beliefs yet always on the right side of the issue. Slowly, in that his feelings snuck up on him, but rather quickly, Ben most looked forward to seeing Leslie every day. The things they talked about, the way she laughed at his dumb jokes and gave him the benefit of the doubt when he made an accounting pun she didn't get, and how great it felt when they accomplished something together; it all brightened his day. He just wanted to make her happy. Early on in their secret relationship Ben just knew that there would never be anyone else like Leslie in his life. That cold night when Leslie said, "Let's just say screw it", Ben knew she was it. And all the mistakes he had made in the past, all the ways he had tried to punish himself, and all the wandering he did trying to make sense of his life; it didn't matter. It had all led him to her.

What Ben Learned

Relationships can teach you a lot. Ben learned that passion, values, interests, and ideals need to be commonalities between both individuals in a relationship. You should miss the person when you are separated but still be able to have an independent side when apart. You need to be able to express what you need and not be a pushover or be passive aggressive. You should want to surprise them and make them smile. You should be proud to be with them. She should give you as much as you have given her, even if it is not all collected at once. She should make you want to be better and work harder and believe in yourself almost as much as you believe in her. When you think of your future you should think of her. You should want to support her and help her makes her dreams come true. She should make you feel brave and bold. The person you choose to be with should hold your hand while you jump off cliffs together into the great unknown. As long as you know that she's holding your hand you know everything will work out in the end.

Author's Note:

I was inspired to delve into Ben and Leslie's romantic past by a few different factors: Ben's "I was wandering around everywhere looking of you." Leslie having such horrific breakups but still being so open to love. Both Ben and Leslie being so awkward and such huge dorks that surely they must've embarrassed themselves an infinite amount of times when it came to dating. Leslie is so intense and gives everything to everything and she must definitely do that when it comes to dating which would just be too much for so many guys. And Ben has passive aggressive tendencies but on the flip side can also allow people to walk all over him. I also imagine young Ben, the boy who had the guts and grand idea and follow through to run for mayor must've also had such a grand romantic nature when he was young. We've also seen glimpses of this when it comes to Leslie. So I wanted to explore how their romantic past shaped what they learned about relationships as they matured and how it led them into being in the right place when they found each other. I got the title from hearing Mike Schur say that The Education of Leslie Knope had been in the running for the title of the show. I included all the numerous breakups and relationships Leslie has referred to over the course of the show. I also tried to include lots of weird names and Midwestern names and names of Swedish origin etc. It was also really important to me to include Leslie's relationship to sex. I like how the show makes it seem that Leslie can be a bit old fashioned, proper, and naive in some ways when it comes to sex and how she seemed to not have a confident and positive relationship when it comes to sex but is still curious about it. I imagine she and Ben would hold in common a lot of the same feelings on sex. Of course, Ben and Leslie together seemed to never have any qualms about sex and certainly enjoyed themselves.