Sorry I updated this story a later than usual. I started the whole chapter over on Friday, so I kinda had to write overtime yesterday. I would have uploaded this chapter then, but my sister had to give me a 'computer curfew', which sucked...

Anyways, for the last few chapters, there are going to be shipping centric, which means more Gwevin and much more Ben/Nikki.

Is it conceited to be a fan of your own pairing, cuz I am ^^.

Well, enjoy the chapter (which isn't too fluffy but has its sweet moments)!

Just Admit It

Normality seemed to have finally reentered into the team's life, as they were resuming their Sunday tradition. A long slurping sound came from Ben's cup, and he sighed of satisfaction. "C'mon Nikki try it!" the boy encouraged.

Nikki raised an eyebrow at the boy. She had given in to a lot of his bizarre suggestions before, but the flavor of turnip and wheatgrass didn't seem appeasing. "Ben, that doesn't sound too good," she politely refused, although her face shown her utter disgust.

"Trust me, it isn't," Kevin confirmed, throwing out an empty cup.

Nikki nodded, continuing to slurp her own smoothie.

"Please!" Ben begged.

"Ben..." Nikki whined.

"Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease…"

"Ben, quit it," Nikki demanded, setting her cup on the hood of Kevin's car.

"Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease," he persisted.

Nikki snatched the cup from his unsuspecting hands, giving him an annoyed glare. "Fine, I'll try it!" she gave in.

She pursed her lips around the straw and inhaled, tasting the odd mix, and a tad of Ben's saliva. Strange enough, it didn't taste as gross as she expected to. Licking her lips, Nikki lapped the last of her slurp. "Y'know it's not that bad," she agreed.

"Says the girl who practically shares the same brain as Ben," Gwen added, drinking the last of her mango smoothie.

Nikki continued to chug down the smoothie, the amount of slush left for Ben depleting by the second. She peeled off the top, wiggling the container so the last of her beverage could slide out into her mouth. Turning to her right, Nikki smiled at Ben's saddened face. "My smoothie…" he whimpered.

Nikki smiled at his childish behavior. "I'll get you another one," she patting the back of his hand.

Hopping off the green and black car, Nikki headed over to the ordering window, placing her money on the counter.

Ben, however, was daydreaming. About his hand, which, he had to admit, was peculiar. But it was about Nikki touching it. Only a small gesture it was, but his and her skin were touching. He almost scolded himself for becoming giddy over a hand patting his. It was just that he didn't care if he looked infatuated, foolish, or maybe even heal over heels in love with her….

And sometimes, he would wonder if he was. This 'friend for life' was making him go nuts, his thoughts always being centered on her. Her beautiful hair, unlike anybody else's in Bellwood. Her features, to her amazingly flawless face to…other attributes that seemed too perverted for him to think about. Ben never really gave thought to those features, but he was now giving a bit more attention…

And the cute things she would do, like blush when ever she was embarrassed or upset, a direct indication of what she was feeling. And that innocence…he hated how irresistible it made her, and how she unknowingly teased him with it.

And that voice. "Ben,"

Sweet and fiery. "Ben,"

Tough, yet sincere. "Ben?"

So – "Ben!" that very voice screamed, the interest of other customers focused on the two.

The reverie disintegrated, and he was a little ashamed to be talking to the very girl he was just dreaming about. Thankfully, the blush on cheeks faded away only a moment after showing up. He lifted his back off the green and black hood of the car, receiving a new cup of turnip and wheatgrass smoothie. Nikki had another one in her hand, probably for her. "Now I won't have to steal yours," she kidded, taking a seat on the car and, by coincidence, placed her hand on top of Ben's.

Ben noticed, but knowing how Nikki was, she would surely remove her hand. Soaking up as much of the moment as luck would allow him, he smiled at the girl, who smiled back.

--

"Will she just admit it?" Gwen muttered to herself.

"Huh?" Kevin picked his head up, previously lying on the table from the immeasurable boredom.

"Nothing," Gwen sighed, drumming her fingers impatiently on the table.

She glared at the two, Nikki chatting to Ben about something with her hand unintentionally on top of the boy's. Kevin turned around, following her eyes and glancing at the two teens. "Oh," he realized.

Gwen slammed the table with her fist. "Just say it! We all know it," Gwen grunted.

Nikki was undisrupted, as if she was in a television show and Gwen was yelling at the screen.

Kevin laughed, entertained by her frustration. "This is what's hyping you up?" he chuckled.

The fire in the redhead's glare subsided slightly, only because the onyx in Kevin eyes smoothed her out. "I just wish she wouldn't hide it. She just going to go through what we –" Gwen's sigh finished her sentence.

Ben could probably endure the rejection much better than she did, but Gwen couldn't bear to see this last until they were both heartbroken. The situation was so similar to hers and Kevin's, like someone was replaying the whole thing in front of her eyes with new victims. She was just grateful that Kevin finally opened up; he finally shattered the armor that locked Gwen outside of his life, and his heart. But Nikki…she didn't seem very compliant to weaken her shield just for a moment. "She'll break," he assured her.

Shaking in her head, Gwen's face looked hesitant. "Ben's making her blush, but not scratching the surface. He's not causing her to open up,"

The smirk grew into an evil grin, a scheme forming inside of Kevin's slightly devious mind. "Well, we'll just have to help him out a bit, now won't we?" he asked.

A red eyebrow rose on the face of the girl across from him. "And why would you, Kevin Levin, help Ben Tennyson out?"

Kevin shrugged. "So I'll have some part in Nikki's breaking,"

That grin of his became sadistically cheerful. Gwen rolled her eyes. That was Kevin alright, ready to make someone life a living hell, or at least moderately uncomfortable, for his own contentment. He leaned over the table, kissing Gwen's lips gently. She lowered her eyelids to late, as he ended the kiss soon fafter she did. "And 'cause it'll make ya happy," he added.

She smiled lovingly at him. Even he had a compassionate side, one that she loved genuinely with all her heart.

"He wants me to go to his soccer practice?" Nikki asked.

Gwen nodded, trying to hide her snickers.

Kevin's plan was very subtle, not much was planned to happen, nor were they very incorporated in this plot. An open place with other people, wasn't destined to have too much romance going on. But a surprise visit from his crush, cheering him on during his training had to result in some sparks between them.

"Wouldn't I distract him?" she stalled.

Nikki remembered well how Ben awkwardly confessed his crush. Even more so that aggravating question he perseveres to ask. He was sure to be unfocused by her presence just a little at least. "Why don't you ask him that when you show up?" Gwen suggested, her smile shrinking.

"But –"

The sound of rubber tires screeched outside, halting to a stop, or to a squeal. From the wide living room window, they could witness a green and black muscle car parking in her driveway. Gwen shoved all of her books into her bookbag hurriedly. "Oh, there goes our ride," Gwen interrupted, her overly cheerful exterior camouflaging her scheming self.

"But I never agreed," Nikki piped up.

Regardless, Gwen yanked at Nikki's hand, pulling her along to the backseat of car. "Off to soccer practice!" Kevin announced, firing up his car.

Nikki confused face became even more bewildered. "How do you know?" she asked.

The driver ignored her question, racing along the obsidian concrete. She stared at her feet, the almost blurred scenery sure to make her carsick. Even as the car was slowly down, creeping closer to the green lawn that several of teenagers were practicing on, her stomach flipped upside down, twisting itself into a knot after turning inside-out. "Nikki, you okay?" Gwen asked.

"Just…ugh, carsick," she smiled weakly, holding her stomach.

Gwen knew it was more than carsickness. "Well there goes Ben. Tell him I said good luck," she grinned.

Nikki stepped out the car, not intending to fulfill Gwen's request, and slammed the car door close with more force than necessary. She wasn't as dense as she sometimes appeared to be, they had something up their sleeve. But as she was about to question this peculiar behavior, the car had vanished. Her mouth closed, walking over to the field, immediately spotting Ben, who was too involved in defending the goalie net to notice her arrival.

"Good job Tennyson. Keep it up," the coached praised from the sidelines.

His head turned to face her, and his face read curiosity. "Looks like one of you boys has a cheerleader,"

The other teammates looked over to where the coach was facing, not a shred of disappointment in their expression. Their gaze lowered, and Nikki glowered at them, folding her arms over her chest. "Pigs," she muttered to herself.

Finally, her emerald-eyed friend turned around, his face struck with shock. His eyes didn't scan her body, thankfully. "Nikki?"

"Nice blocking…or whatever you call it," she complimented.

Ben's hand rubbed the back of his neck. "So…no hug?"

Nikki rolled her eyes, with a smile, and opened her arms, embracing the boy and his smell, the scent of dew and grass more prominent this time. A group of groans echoed in the background, apparently let down that she belonged to Ben. "New girlfriend, Ben?" a blonde teammate asked.

Nikki shook her head, Ben not offended at all by that. "Nah, just a friend," he replied.

He turned back to Nikki. "Why'd you come here anyways?" he asked.

Nikki's golden brown eyes widened in bafflement, and then narrowed in fury. "You mean, you didn't know I was coming?" she growled.

Ben immediately noticed the ferocity in her eyes. "Was I supposed to? Nikki I'm so sorry I didn't –"

His panicked rush of words hushed at the touch of Nikki's hand on his shoulder. "It wasn't you,"

She looked into his eyes sincerely, the heat of her anger gone. Realizing the trance she was being drawn into, Nikki blinked and turned away. "Tennyson!" the coach called.

"You're just going to stay here and watch?"

Nikki nodded eagerly. "I'm going to cheer too. I've never actually seen you play y'know,"

Ben smiled. "Okay, stay there," he replied dumbly, running off to the goal net, being the goalie as the rest of the team lined up in front of the black and white ball.

Nikki stared intently at Ben, shouting cheers of admiration like 'Good work!', 'Awesome, Ben!', and 'You're doing great!'.

Out of maybe eighty, she was too focused on the brunet to know the exact number, he only missed six times. He had done it so effortlessly, like the expertise to block soccer balls was imprinted in his DNA. Not one of them could kick the ball speedily enough for Ben to miss, his reflexes too swift for them. One ball would fly his way, another in a completely different direction. Even when that scenerio would happen, none of the kicks passed him. Nikki tried not to blink throughout all of this, wary that she would miss something if she dared. From the sidelines, she approached him, clapping. "So," he huffed, a bottle of water being offered from the girl's caramel hands, "How was I?"

He took a swig and handed the bottle back. "Indescribably good!" she congratulated.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, the embrace tighter than the last one.

The earsplitting shriek of the coach's whistle rang in every students ears, their hug interrupted by the irritating noise. "Okay, practice is over!" the coach called.

"It's over already?" Nikki whined, wanting to see more of Ben's soccer talents.

Ben rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "You kinda came late. Sorry Nik,"

"Oh," Nikki head drooped, being lifted up to stare into Ben's green gems.

"You could always come tomorrow," he informed her with a smile.

Nikki smiled back, resuming their hug. Ben hugged her back, the smell of her hair reentering his nose. "Wait here okay?"

Letting go of his neck, she cocked her neck to side. "Why?"

"Nikki, I have to change," he replied, pulling at his stained white t-shirt.

The rest of his attire was also dirtied with stubborn green and brown stains. He must have fell, or something close to that action, earlier in his practice.

She nodded, understanding. As his figure receded, Nikki internally nagged herself. Why was she acting so stupid and being entranced just by staring into his green eyes?

Well, they did resemble emeralds very much.

"Nikki?"

Something was poking her shoulder. That very thing pinched her.

Her hand swatted at the…whatever it was that pinched her. Waking up she yawned, sitting up from the sideline bleachers.

"You go to sleep pretty easily," Ben commented as he helped the drowsy girl up.

Looking at his free hand, Nikki noticed the folded up black item in his hand. Some handle seemed to be protruding out of it. Unraveling it loose, he pressed the button at the bottom of the handle, the fold material shooting outwards and expanding into a circle.

An umbrella, her mind finally processed. She also realized it was raining, a downpour really.

Ben pulled the girl closer as she was about to walk straight into the rain and get a very rude awaking, still yawning from her catnap. He chuckled at her, arm around her shoulder, her arm around his waist. Not much to get excited over. But it still felt good, having this stunning beauty this close to his body. "Why couldn't you have brought your bike?" Nikki yawned, her tired state of mind dissipating.

"It was either this or riding through the cold, heavy rain. Which one sounds more fun?"

"The bike. So what if we were wet? We'd still get home faster," Nikki responded monotone.

"Well, if you'd rather be wet…" Ben raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile appearing on his expression.

And then he sped off. Raindrops plummeted onto her head, dampening her hair excessively. "Ben!" she shouted.

"Ben!" she called again, the hostility in her voice stronger.

The inside of her sneakers were soggy, like if she were running on sponges. Even the jacket, for which she was thankful to have on up until that second, had been soaked, the black fabric glued to the surface of her skin. Nevertheless, the freezing weather couldn't slow her down, Ben's green jacket almost in her reach…

Until, in a swift sidestep, he avoided her grasp, Nikki's feet still moving forward. The heels of her sneakers kicked into the sidewalk, stopping her feet a bit too promptly. The concrete inched closer to her face, nothing close enough to grab for her to retain her balance. Her face was in serious danger…

Strength from behind her pulled her back, something was around her waist. Looking down, Nikki stared in relief, and slight embarrassment, at the green jacket securely holding her torso. Back on her feet, she turned around and punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow!" Ben winced, rubbing his shoulder tenderly. "That's the thanks I get for saving you from major facial damage?"

Nikki was still scowling at him. "If you hadn't moved out of the way –"

"I would have still gotten hit!" Ben exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

Rolling her eyes, Nikki stuck her tongue out at him, stomping off to her house.

Unfortunately, she stalked off into the monsoon, her already drenched clothing now dripping unceasingly. She walked back to Ben, smirking tauntingly at her wet apparel. "Oh shut up," she muttered as she snuggled against him cozy, dry body.

Even three towels weren't drying the poor girl off. And she couldn't just blame Ben, her pigheadedness also contributed to her freezing cold body. Ben arrived with a fourth one, wrapping it around her; Nikki pulled the edges closer for more isolation. The front door swung open, Sandra Tennyson stepping inside with a grimy raincoat and a muddy umbrella she was trying to wring out. She looked up, seeing a shivering bronzy girl with her son comforting her on the sofa. "Ben, who's this?" she asked.

Ben turned to his mother. "This is Nikki. You remember her, right?"

Sandra stopped to think, her eyes filling with nostalgia. "Oh, you're Ben's little friend from fourth grade," she remembered. "When did you come back to Bellwood?"

"Two or so months ago," she replied politely.

Belatedly, noticed Nikki's damp appearance. "You want me to get anything? Like soup or –"

"Mom, I'll take care of her," he said.

Nikki laid her head tiredly on his shoulder. "Seems though she won't mind," Sandra smiled.

Sandra walked up the stair upstairs, grumbling about her mucky attire. "She didn't know about me?" Nikki asked as she searched the couch for the remote.

"No,"

Nikki hand clutched a rectangular object, smiling at the remote she had found. Pressing the red button, the television came to life, the channel that was one last brightening as the audio became clearer. "I'd expect a guy to talk about the girl he likes,"

"That would be obsessive wouldn't it?" he asked.

Well, he was slightly obsessive over her. Just not verbally. Nikki continued to flip through the channels, landing on Cartoon Network where their show was supposedly on before they had gotten rid of the problem. She switched over documentaries, soap operas, reality shows that she doubted were even reality. Sighing, Nikki set the remote down on the couch. Nothing good was on.

knock, knock

Ben stood up, walking over to the front door and peering through the peep hole. "It's Gwen," he said tonelessly.

He opened the door, the redhead smiled as she peeked into his house. "Not a surprise that Nikki's here," she observed.

She stepped in without invitation, sitting next to Nikki who glared at her. "You're up to something, I know it," she hissed, then shivered.

These waves of random shuddering were getting on her nerves. "What are you talking about?" Gwen asked obliviously.

She wasn't the greatest actress, but she was convincing enough to put Nikki interrogating to an end. For now, at least. "So, did you have fun at Ben's soccer practice?"

Nikki glare's heated. "You lied. He didn't know. You are up to something,"

Gwen's facial muscles almost gave out from the hard concentration on her smile, and the fact that Nikki was catching on didn't help her focus. But she and Kevin had already thought of another plot for the two teens. She grinned at Ben. "Any plans on Friday, Ben?"

He shook his head, sitting across from her. "Well how about the four of us go to the after school fair? Me, Kevin. You and Nikki," she emphasized the last pair.

"Sounds like something you made up," Nikki mumbled skeptically.

A vibrantly designed poster cover with overstatements of the event, like most school posters were, flashed in front of her face. Date, place, time - it had everything needed for it to be authentic. Nikki rolled her eyes. No one was going to drag her to some needless, predictably dull carnival.

But Ben shrugged in agreement, unsuspicious of her devious plans. "Okay then, well –"

"We've got to get going," Nikki finished for her, although they were not the words Gwen intended to say.

The redhead did catch on the word 'we'. It amused her, how she supposedly didn't like Ben, yet she insisted on being around him twenty-four seven.

Nikki stood up, as did Ben, and brushed the towel clinging to her off her shoulders. No giant smile could conceal her acting, Nikki's eyes glowering at the confident redhead. She didn't exactly understand what Gwen was doing, but it affected her and Ben, and that's what made her blood boiling to unfathomable degrees. Over and over, she would give the same answer of 'no' if she were romantically involved with Ben. The question was causing her to want to punch something. No matter how many times she'd stare into his eyes, or blush whenever their skin brushed over one another's, or the voices in her head attempted convince her that she liked him; Nikki would be resistant to agree.

So Gwen could try to push them together with all her might, all the effort would go to waste. They were going to stay friends, nothing more, nothing less.

Her inner rant finish as her senses came back to her. Something was in her hand, and her feet were moving forwards. She was no longer inside the warmth of Ben's house, and an umbrella sheltered her from the rain. The pitter-patter of the rain blended into a melodious rhythm with other sounds of nature. The crisp moisture blew into her mouth, the fresh scent entering into her nostrils.

'Wait, what's in my hand?' she panicked, trying to disallowing herself to look, but with a glance of what was in her hand, she couldn't stop staring: Ben's hand.

What if all that ranting was just denial?

What if she did, even after refuting it for so long, like Ben Tennyson?

Kind of slow, but cute in my opinon. I can't wait to write the last chapter (not that I want to end this story). I've been putting a lot of thought, fluffy thoughts, in it ^_^

NOTE: Okay, I'm going to squeeze another chapter in. It was supposed to be just fifteen chapters, but I'm going to the extra to write this next part.

So if you're upset about me ending the story, it's lasting a little bit longer than expected.