Before going to his apartment, Ben took Mal to one of his favorite restaurants so they could have lunch and talk for a while before he needed to go back to work. When they first talked about her visiting, he scheduled a week off, but as the trip grew closer, the boy realized he wasn't going to be able to take time off. That's why one of the points he tried to use to convinced her to let him visit her was that he would only be able to have off three days, including the weekend and that it would be silly for her to fly to him only to see him after work. However, when Mal told him that she was fine with the arrangements because, in the end, she wanted to visit him to share his birthday with him, Ben felt his love for her grow more. Once they were seated, Mal asked the boy how the project was going, and Ben went on to explain how things were getting complicated; still, he was hopeful they would be able to finish it before the end of August when they were supposed to fly to Los Angeles to implement it. Mal nodded and told Ben that she knew he would do it, and if he needed to stay late during her week there, he shouldn't hesitate to do it. The boy didn't say anything, but he was not planning to take into consideration what she said, he wanted to spend as much time as possible with her now that they were finally back together. Mal's phone ding and the girl smile, noticing Jane's text asking her if she was in Seattle and when they were going to see each other; Ben noticing her smile asked her about it, and Mal show him the text.
"I don't know why I keep forgetting you know more people here than just me. So, are you planning to spend some time with Jane while I'm at work?." It was subtle, but Mal understood that the boy was making it clear that after work, the couple would be spending their time together alone. It was a conversation they had before she flew there and another reason why Mal told Ben that she preferred to go there. In Seattle, the couple would have more space to be alone and have all the conversations they needed to have to have a clear view of their relationship status. In New York, with Ryder and Mal sharing an apartment, it would mean that they either asked the boy to get out or they would have to go out of the apartment to have private conversations if they wanted to have them in any place aside from her room. However, in Seattle with Ben living alone they could stay in or go out, and also there would feel freer to be with each other without interruptions.
"Yeah, with her and Lonnie. We are going to have lunch tomorrow, Lonnie asked for two days off, and she is planning something for us to do while you are at work." Ben nodded glad to see Mal adjust so easily to Seattle, maybe someday in the future she would consider moving there with him. They ate and talked a little about their plans for the week, Ben's birthday was on Wednesday, and he had already secure Friday off so they could have a long weekend together. They finished their meals and made their way to his place were Mal made a beeline to his couch to have a nap, she had to wake up extra early to catch her flight, while Ben went out to his office.
He came back to the delicious smell of lasagna invading his place, and Ben smile while watching Mal putting what he assumed was garlic bread in the oven. "Hey, I was hoping to have everything ready before you came back. I think it only needs ten more minutes and we will be ready to eat. How was your day?"
It was a simple question by the homey scene made Ben so happy that he couldn't help himself, and after taking a couple of steps, he found himself picking up Mal and kissing her. The girl's response came immediately, and her legs came around his waist, securing herself there until he brought them to the couch, and Ben lowered them down. Kisses grew in intensity, and hands started rooming the other learning each other's bodies until the oven alarmed made them stop. The reality of what was about to happen came over them, and both of them blushed intensely; Ben stood bringing Mal with him. The second she was standing, Mal made her way to the kitchen and managed to take the food out of the oven. Ben came to stand next to her asking her if she needed help; Mal asked him to get the table ready, avoiding looking at him; while she moved to search for a knife to cut the lasagna. The boy felt like they needed to have the conversation about their situation sooner rather than later, what almost happened a couple of minutes before proof that at least in some aspects, they were ready to move forward. However, neither of them would feel ok without making it clear that they were a couple, or at least he wouldn't. When they finally sat down to eat, Ben open a bottle of wine and pour each of them a glasses toasting for the fact that they were together at last; Mal smiled and clanged her glass with the boy. The conversation was a little awkward at first, but then they were having fun again, and when Mal announced that there was dessert, Ben cheered, making her laugh. They took their plates and glasses to the couch, once there, Ben turned towards Mal not wanting to lose any more time before sharing what he was feeling.
"I don't want you to assume anything about my feelings for you, and even though I feel we share how much we care for the other that first night, I'll tell you again. I don't remember a moment of my life where I didn't love you; even when we were kids, I care about your wellbeing over mine, and sure we were little, but my feelings only grew with age. I knew that you didn't see me that way; so I pushed those feelings down and continued to love you and care for you as the best friend you could have. Trust me my friendship was always pure, that's why I never meddle or made comments about your relationship always conscious that I could be reacting out of my feelings for you." Mal was looking at him with such tenderness in her eyes that Ben almost lean and kiss her, but he needed to finish saying his peace. " When we kissed that night, and you said that you wanted to try something with us, something in me broke. Not in the wrong way, it was like the box I used to contained my feelings for you broke, and everything came at the surface at once. What happened a couple of minutes ago was proof of that, and I hope you don't think that I planned for things to escalate that quickly because even though I would love for that to happen, nothing is going to happen before you are comfortable. For starters, I know I wouldn't be ok to take any steps forward without making it clear that I want to be in an official relationship with you, and this is why for the first time since I finished high school, I'm going to say this words." This time Mal, who was focused entirely on him, looked at Ben with a confused expression for a second, and then a playful smile appeared on her face. "Mal, would you be my girlfriend?"
She fought the urge to giggle and make several jokes about how he would have to carry her books and go to prom with her, although Mal planned to mention them in the future; instead, she said yes and leaned capturing his lips sealing their official title. After that, they kissed for a while and then went on to watch a movie and enjoyed the dessert Mal had baked earlier for them. The next morning the boy kissed her goodbye, promising to text her so he could pick her up from Lonnie's on his way home. "Please don't let her convinced you to throw me a party or a dinner with them. The only thing I want to do for my birthday is to be alone with you, ok?"
Mal nodded and promised Ben to resist Lonnie's attempts to celebrate him, making the boy smiled and kiss his girlfriend again. The second Mal met Lonnie; the girl started telling her how cool it would be to make a surprise party for Ben. "Look, Lonnie, I love celebrating Ben, but he doesn't want to have anything like that this year. You know we- just starting dating, and having this time just for the both of us is special, so he doesn't want anything to interfere with that. "
The girl dropped the subject, although Mal wondered if that was the last she was going to hear from Lonnie about the matter. They had a lovely day going around the city, and Mal started to fell in love with Seattle, she understood why Ben love living there and part of her wondered how it would be to live there. By six, Mal was having a blast with Lonnie, Jane, and Carlos at the couple apartment; it was weird how almost a year before she was there after realizing she had feelings for Ben, and now there she was again hearing funny stories about the guy. Ben texted her half an hour before asking her where she was, and after she told him, he said to her that he was on his way to pick her up; as happy as she was to spent time with the boy Mal wished they both could stay and spent some times with their friends. When Ben arrived, Lonnie took her chance and tried to convince the boy that having dinner on his birthday would make it possible for the boy to spend time with Mal and also allow his friend to celebrate him. "Lonnie, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but I don't want to do anything this year aside from being with Mal, ok?"
After saying that, he walked towards Mal, who was laughing at something Carlos was telling her, and standing behind her, he put his arms around the girl bringing her towards him while saying hello to Carlos. Mal smiled and turning she said hello and kissed Ben; the moment didn't last because Carlos and Jane were telling Ben that they should stay for dinner with them so they could talk a little more. As the boy was about to decline the invitation, Jane took Mal's hand and breaking the embraced they were in, told the girl to help her in the kitchen. Mal smiled at Jane but turned towards Ben trying to see if the boy wanted to stay, he saw how happy the girl was and nodded telling her that Carlos and he would play some videogames and call if they needed their help. They stay until midnight, Jay came a little later and joined them too, and Ben was glad to see how the conversation flew between the couples and hoped that Mal would see how perfect she fit in Seattle.
That night they got to Ben's apartment and fell asleep instantly, the next morning the boy woke up and left for work without waking Mal up. Before going out, he left a note on the fridge, telling her that he would like for them to stay in for the night. It was the day before his birthday, and he wanted to be there together so they could have a little celebration at midnight. Mal spent the day walking around the city alone, Lonnie texted Mal asking her to have dinner, but she declined the invitation and told the girl that Ben and she already had plans for that night.
When Ben arrived, Mal was waiting for him with a banner that she made herself that read "Happy Birthday Ben!" and a couple of cupcakes. "I thought it would be a nice idea to have the start of your birthday celebration today. What do you think?"
"I love it. It makes me think back to when we were kids, and you would make these things for me. Thank you." The boy made her way to her and hugged Mal giving her kisses all over her face, telling her how happy he was to have her there with him. Suddenly the doorbell rang, and Ben sighed, guessing who was at the door. "Let's just ignore it, and maybe they will go away."
Mal nodded but then mouthed to Ben that they should turn off their phones before someone call them, and the sound alert everyone that they were in the apartment. However, as soon as she said that, both their phones rang, and then the doorbell rang again this time accompany of Lonnie's voice telling them to open the door, making Ben groaned defeated. "I swear, she is my friend, but she is not coming in Mal."
Ben went to the door and soon was being pushed to the side by Lonnie who had some balloons saying how it was rude to make your friends wait outside; the boy noticed Carlos, Jane, Jay, and Azis standing awkwardly on the hall not knowing if they should follow Lonnie or go away. The girl had told them they were going to surprise Ben, but they realized now that it wasn't a pleasant surprise for their friend. Mal came to Ben's side, and seeing his friend outside, she told them to please come in; all of them looked at Ben for his approval, and the boy nodded, moving from the door. Once everyone was inside, Mal took Ben's hand and told the group to settle down while they went to buy something for them to eat at the bodega at the end of the street. Outside the building, Mal stood in front of an annoyed Ben and told him that he needed to focused on how nice it was to have friends that wanted to celebrate him. The boy rolled his eyes but said nothing and walked to the bodega with Mal, there they picked some snacks and drinks. When they were in the line to checked out, Carlos and Jane came in and apologized to Ben for coming uninvited and told him how Lonnie convinced the group that surprised him was the right thing to do. Ben felt Mal squeeze his hand, and he assured the couple that there was no reason to apologize; he was glad that they were there, and they should order something to eat while they were paying for the snacks. Together they made their way back to the apartment where Lonnie, Azis, and Jay were waiting for them; both boys looked apologetic while the girl was eating a cupcake.
Ben looked at Lonnie and was about to say something until Mal took his hand and asked him to go with her to their room. Once there, the girl told Ben how sorry she was that Lonnie barge on their plans that night after she said to her that they had plans. Seeing how her comment only seemed to make the boy angrier Mal move closer to him and putting her hand on his neck, she brought his lips to hers and kissed him until he relaxed and made the kiss deeper. When they stopped, Ben whispered to her that he wanted to kiss her at midnight, so as long as he was able to do that, he promised to be a great host to everyone; Mal nodded and kissed him again, not ready to join the group. If she was honest when Ben suggested that they spent that night alone, the girl thought that it was going to be their chance for them to let themselves show how much they wanted each other finally. Lonnie's voice broke the moment telling the couple that the food had arrived while knocking on the door, making Ben grow annoyed again.
Mal reminded Ben of his promise, and after a quick kissed she walked outside to see Jay having a conversation with Lonnie in a corner and Azis paying for the food while Jane and Carlos took plates from the cupboard. She went to Azis, asking him how much it was so she could pay him back just for the boy to roll his eyes and tell her that it was his gift for Ben and also he ordered extra breadsticks because they were so good, making her laughed. When she turned to look for Ben, she noticed the boy entering their room with Lonnie and Jay and she hoped for the best.