Chapter 17 (Timeline 1): Tux
A dull ache in the small of his back - he had spent the night on the sofa. A throbbing headache - he should really cut back on the whisky. There was something else though, something pretty big…
"Are you awake over there?"
Dawn.
He sat up to find her making breakfast in the kitchen.
"I am now," he grimaced rubbing his head.
"Fancy some coffee?"
"That depends on how you make it."
"Let me guess," she smiled. "Four scoops, a pinch of cinnamon and a minuscule splash of milk?"
He stared at her, momentarily dumbfounded.
"Is there anything you don't know about me?"
"Hhmm. Let me think…what you look like in a tux."
Ben smiled in spite of himself, his eyes lingering on hers.
"Hey you two!"
Ben snapped back to reality as Alex strode into the room.
"Morning Alex," he replied wearily.
"What's all this about a tux?"
"Nothing that concerns you."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't that something you get married in?"
"Not necessarily," Ben replied curtly.
"I always wanted to be a flower girl," Alex grinned.
Dawn tried not to laugh but the look on Ben's face…she just couldn't help herself.
"You'd be a bridesmaid now, not a flower girl," Dawn smiled.
"Or a bride," Alex said without missing a beat.
"You're sixteen!" Ben exploded.
"So?"
"So, you're too young to be thinking about any of that."
"Any of what dad?"
"You know what I mean."
Ben's face reddened.
"Coffee Alex?" Dawn interjected.
"No thanks. I've got a date."
"At 9am?!" Ben snapped.
"Look dad, why don't you worry about your love life and I'll worry about mine."
With that, she turned on her heels and marched out of the house, leaving Ben and Dawn in silence.
"Well, that went well," he muttered.
"All seemed pretty normal teenager stuff to me," Dawn shrugged, carrying the coffee to the table. "Care to join me?"
"I don't know what she sees in that boy," Ben sighed striding over to the table and taking a seat.
"Does it really matter? She's in love."
Ben almost spat out his coffee.
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"Oh yes, I forgot - you're the expert."
Dawn's face fell.
"I'm sorry. That was…"
"It's ok," she said quietly.
An an awkward silence fell over them.
"How long did we know each other?" Ben said, finally breaking the stalemate.
"Long enough."
He nodded as he stirred his coffee.
"And what did I tell you about the island?"
"Well, I know about Jacob if that's what you're asking."
Ben's eyes widened.
"Oh, and the smoke monster."
"I evidently trusted you."
"I worked the smoke monster out for myself actually," she said nonchalantly, pouring herself another glass of orange juice.
"I'm impressed," he retorted.
"Well I am a very impressive person Benjamin Linus," she said gnawing on a piece of dry toast.
"I can see that," he smiled.