Chapter 3 (Timeline 1)
"What did she say?"
Tom shook his head with a frown as he emerged from the armoury.
"Just tell me Tom. She's one of Widemore's isn't she?"
"I wish it were that simple."
"What do you mean?"
Ben tried to keep the panic from his voice.
"She said she knew you…"
"That's ridiculous. I've never seen the woman before in my life…before today."
Ben noted that Tom could not look him in the eye.
"Well, anyways, she seems to think you two were, I don't know…an item."
"And you believe her?!"
Tom scratched his head.
"I don't know Ben. She was pretty convincing."
"How long have you known me Tom?"
Tom met Ben's gaze.
"Round fifteen years."
"And have you ever known me to get…distracted?"
Ben felt his cheeks flush at the sheer humiliation of it all. Tom shifted awkwardly.
"No."
At least Tom was clear on something.
"Need any help?" a voice suddenly piped up from the corner of the room.
Ben sighed. Could this day get any worse?
"No thank you John."
"Girl trouble?" John smirked.
"It's none of your concern," Ben seethed.
John got to his feet.
"That's where you're mistaken Ben. Everything on this island concerns me."
Ben rolled his eyes.
"Fine! You want to go talk to her, be my guest," he gestured towards the door. "I have nothing to hide."
"If you're done with me, I think I'll head back now," Tom said shooting Ben a worried look.
Ben nodded as Tom scurried off.
"Let me get this straight," John smiled. "I'm the friend asking the girl to let you take her to the prom?"
"We're not friends and no…"
John had already slammed the door behind him.
Twenty minutes later John emerged to find Ben standing exactly where he had left him. He could tell Ben that was impatient to hear what had been said. All the more reason to draw this out.
"Well?" Ben snapped.
John walked up to Ben and patted him firmly on the shoulder, then declared with a shake of his shiny head, "Ben, have you ever heard the expression, 'love is blind'?"
Ben's eyes widened as John chuckled to himself and walked away.