Chapter 23

The newlyweds spent the remaining day in St. Augustine marveling in their new marriage. They didn't leave their room much; rather, they spent all their time celebrating and making love. But then it was time to continue onto the next leg of their trip, going home to Palo Alto. And they were both a bit nervous. They had yet to decide whether to tell their parents or not. Ben wanted to keep it between them for awhile, but Felicity was anxious to share the news, especially with her mom. And she knew that his mother would be so happy to hear the news. Somehow it didn't really seem to matter, because they were so happy they felt as if they were floating. Ben spent many a moment on the plane ride to California just gazing at her and smiling. She giggled each time, completely overcome with joy. Every stress in their life seemed to fade away as they thought only of each other.

Felicity had fallen asleep next to him on the plane and Ben let his mind wander to the last time they had been in Palo Alto together, when their road trip had come to an end.....

"Ben, do you think it's crazy that I don't really want to get home? I mean, here we are, an hour away from dropping off the car, and I just want to keep riding."

Ben looked over at her, smiling. "So, where do you want to go?"

"Really? We can keep driving for a bit? Maybe we could just stay in San Francisco a night or so? That isn't silly?"

"No," he giggled, watching her eyes get big with her excitement. "It isn't silly, I was thinking about it myself. We could stay overnight and then catch the train in the morning."

"That sounds perfect. Palo Alto can wait another day," she beamed at him.

So they dropped off the Baby and then caught a taxi to downtown San Francisco. They decided to splurge on their last night and got a nice hotel room for a change. It even had a beautiful view of the city.

"Ben, I'm going to get changed, then we can go out to dinner if you want."

"Okay, I'll just watch TV for a bit." Ben sat down on the bed and turned the TV on, but he kept getting distracted. He couldn't keep his mind on what he was watching. He couldn't believe this was the last night of their trip. He had learned so much about Felicity, he didn't want their adventure to end. She came back out of the bathroom shortly and when she approached him his nostrils were overcome by the sweet smell of her. He could barely stand it. She smelled so good and looked so amazing. He shoke his head, saying "Okay, let's get going. I am starving."

After dinner, they came back to their room smiling and laughing about their night out. "I just love this place, it's so romantic. I mean the bridge is so beautiful. I can't believe I haven't been to this city since I was 10," Felicity said.

"Yeah, I can't believe that either. My buddies and I used to come here all the time. We'd take our girlfriends....." He paused, watching her face fall. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

"No, I know you had girlfriends, Ben. Believe me, I kept track, way too often I am afraid," she blushed.

He moved closer. "I'm sorry I didn't pay attention to you then. I wanted to, I really did."

She looked up, surprised. "No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did. I meant what I said when I signed your yearbook. You were always...I don't know, I thought about you and wondered about you."

'Really?" she asked shyly.

"Yeah," he replied sincerely, touching her face as he did. "I didn't think you liked me though, I mean, I was so different from you."

Felicity couldn't help but laugh, "That's..that's an understatement."

Ben looked at her intently, searching her eyes. "But we aren't that different anymore, I mean, we get along really well, don't you think?" He leaned in closer, looking at her lips.

"Um...yeah," she replied, looking at him nervously, as she awaited his next move. It was more than she expected, as she felt him back her to the end of the bed with his body. The way he was looking at her made her feel weak in the knees. She was trembling as he reached out and touched her on the shoulders, rubbing his hands down the side of her body.

"Felicity, I..."

"What?" she replied, her voice trembling.

"You're shaking. Are you okay?"

She was amazed at the concern she saw in his face and could only reply by pulling him towards her. The kiss began very gently, as he explored her mouth with his tongue. But it grew more intense, restless. He couldn't seem to get enough of her and she felt her head spinning, as they laid back onto the bed.

He ran his hands through her hair, pulling her closer and closer to him. Before she knew what was happening, he was reaching his hand up her shirt, caressing her stomach with his fingertips. He felt her shiver and it only served to make him more aroused. He looked at her and saw that she was looking at him with passion in her eyes. He didn't know what to do other than to kiss her, so he did. He felt her arms snake around him and caress his back, trying to lift his shirt. He quickly shed the layer and looked down at her. She only nodded yes. He leaned down and kissed her softly. Then he gently moved the straps of her shirt off her shoulder, kissing the skin that waited there. He made his way down her arm, then back up again, latching his mouth to her neck. She felt lost in his kisses, she couldn't believe that she and Ben Covington were making out, that his hand was inching it's way up her shirt.....

She couldn't do it, she wanted to, but she couldn't. "Ben, wait." He stopped, looking down at her. "I really want to, but I don't think it's time yet. I'm sorry," she said looking away from him.

He brought her eyes back to him. "It's okay. I really wasn't expecting to...you know. I just wanted to...." He took a breath. "I just wanted to be with you. There is no pressure, really. You know that."

"I know, I just don't want you to be disappointed or whatever...."

"I'm not, really, I'm not. Really, I am just so glad we took this trip. I can't stop thinking about how it's going to end tomorrow, and I just got carried away, I guess. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I loved it," she smiled at him.

He smiled back at her.

The next day they were back in Palo Alto and he had to tell her what he had been dreading to tell her since yesterday. That he was going to spend the rest of the summer with his friends in Mexico. They had a great trip planned there since last year and he would have to leave in two days. So here they were, on the train to Palo Alto and neither one could get up the courage to talk about what happens next. Felicity was afraid to say anything that sounded too presumptuous and Ben, he just didn't know what to say at all. She had him so mixed up, he had no idea what was even in his head. All he knew was that he definitely didn't want this trip to end. Felicity would look over at him, start to say something than stop. He just kept smiling at her, like that was all he knew to do. They tried hard to act like everything was normal. Just when Felicity couldn't stand it anymore, and she decided to start talking about it all, the young boy across from them woke up and started asking them questions. Ben was amused by him and the boy liked Felicity so much, that they completely forgot about talking and the rest of the trip passed by quickly.

Next thing they knew they were at the train station and Felicity's parents were there waiting for them. Felicity had not known they'd actually come to pick her up, so this was unexpected. She really wanted to just catch a cab ride home with Ben, so that they could talk. But that was impossible now.

"Oh hey, Mr. Porter, Mrs. Porter," Ben said shyly. "Thanks for meeting us."

Mr. Porter looked at him suspiciously but only replied, "of course."

Ben looked at Felicity, "Uh, can I talk to you for a bit? Before we get going?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure."

They walked over to the side, Ben looking at the floor, getting more nervous by the minute. "Uh, I wanted to tell you something, I don't know why I didn't mention it before. But, um...um...my friends and I, we have this trip planned, we are going to Mexico for the summer. We had this thing planned out since last year, and I didn't know when to mention it, but...but we leave in two days."

Felicity felt her happiness over their road trip fall away all at once, and she was certain it had meant nothing to him. They were through. "Oh, okay. I- I guess- I guess this may be goodbye then."

Ben looked at her, feeling like a complete idiot. He could see that she was hurt, but her parents were standing right there and he didn't know what to say. "Yeah, yeah, I guess so."

"Well, I hope you have a good time. I guess I'll see in NY," she said sadly, not wanting to look at him for fear her tears would start falling.

"Yeah, I mean, yes. Of course I'll see you then." Ben looked at her, trying to gauge how she felt, but he could only think about how stupid he had been. He had such a good time with her on this trip and now it was all ruined. "Well, I hope you have a good summer."

Felicity finally looked at him and was resigned to the fact that this was goodbye. She could see it in his face. "Bye" was all she could manage before leaving with her parents. He wouldn't be coming with her, he just couldn't bare it. He'd wait for his mom to come. He watched her go and whispered, "Bye."

They both spent the rest of the day feeling miserable. Felicity felt stupid for getting her expectations up and Ben, he felt awful for waiting so long to tell her about Mexico. He felt like a coward and a complete fool. All he wanted to do was spend the rest of the summer with her.

So later on that night, Ben surprised her by showing up at her doorstep. He convinced her to sneak out with him so that they could talk. They drove all the way over to the beach and sat in the car looking at the ocean. They were able to finally say a proper goodbye and completely enjoyed each other's company as they listened to the quiet around them. They talked about how they would have no expectations, that they would see each other in NY in the fall and go from there. Somehow this made sense and they were both calmed by this plan, for all that mattered was that they had had this special time together. And they would see where the future led. Felicity had never made out in a car, which she admitted to him with a giggle in between kisses. This only encouraged Ben further, and they continued to kiss and caress each other. It was just as she wanted their goodbye to be, sweet and gentle. Then he looked at her and said "I had such an amazing time with you. I am so glad we took this trip." She could only smile and say, "me, too."

Ben was shaken out of his reverie by the announcement that they were just about to land. He looked over at Felicity who was smiling at him. "What?"

She giggled, "What have you been thinking about? You have been staring off for quite some time. I didn't want to interrupt your thoughts."

Ben looked self consciously down at his lap, shaking his head a bit. "Oh, I don't know. Just the last time we were in Palo Alto together. You remember?" He turned to look at her.

"Of course I do. We had to say goodbye for the summer, after our trip, because you just had to go to Mexico with your friends."

"Yeah," he joked. "I just had to get away from you." He watched her laugh and then grew serious. "But we never have to say goodbye again. Isn't it amazing how much things have changed since then? Since our road trip. Did you think we'd end up like this, married?"

Felicity smiled at him sweetly, taking his hand in hers. "I always knew we'd end up like this. I knew that since the first time I saw you."

Ben could only squeeze her hand in return, for he knew she was right. Somehow she was always right. And that was just fine with him.