AN: College!AU

"When you came in the air went out

And every shadow filled up with doubt

I don't know who you think you are

But before the night is through

I wanna do bad things with you."

Bad Things, Jace Everett

Rey wasn't supposed to be out, and if she was out of her apartment - which she most is definitely not - she's only meant to go to a coffee shop to retrieve caffeine so she can continue reviewing her notes. While perhaps not the last minute procrastination style of her roommate Poe, the usually studious Rey still has some ground to cover before her 10 AM anthropology class in the morning.

And yet somehow, tucking her denim jacket around her, and wrapping a woolen scarf a bit closer about her neck, she finds herself walking towards the Globe, a quieter bar downtown. Tonight is an open mic night, and while Rey's never had the courage to get up and perform one of her original songs (no matter how much Poe and Finn tell her to do so), she does like to listen to what others in the university town have to share. There's the overdramatic theater types, and those in bands, and occasionally some amazing covers, with some free verse and other talents thrown in. Nodding to her favorite waitress, Rose, Rey grabs a corner of the bar, and the bartender slides her a bottle of beer. "I'll just stay for one," she says to no one in particular.

On the small stage, under the sparse spotlights, a somewhat harried Rose smoothes her hands of her apron, retrieves the battered clipboard and calls out, "Ben? Is there a Ben here?"

Rey perks up, because she's not heard this name before. A tall man shuffles forward. Clad in a black t-shirt (stretched nicely across broad shoulders, Rey notices) and dark jeans, he easily holds his guitar. The crowd quiets in anticipation while he tunes. Speaking into the mic, he more or less mumbles, "This is an original. I hope you like it."

When Ben starts singing, his deep, somewhat gravely voice makes Rey realize she's glad she left the house tonight and all thoughts of anthropology drift from her mind. She watches his fingers, impossibly large and nimble as they move across the strings, gracefully pulling out melodies and notes. When he finishes his first song, Rey belatedly claps along with everyone in the room.

"Take off your shirt!" A drunken voice yells from the back of the room, and Rey has to agree with the person's sentiments.

"One more?" Ben asks, dark hair falling across his face.

From the back of the room, Rose shrugs her shoulders. "Go for it."

The second song is more upbeat, but there is still melancholy and sadness. His songs lack the depth Rey's been searching for in her own songwriting. But it's more than that. Her long dormant libido decides tonight is the time to come roaring to life. Suddenly warm, she unwinds the scarf from her neck. Unsure what she's doing, her feet more or less carry her over to Ben once he's finished his set.

"Hi."

Ben is carefully putting his guitar away. Locking the case, he looks up and says, "Hi."

"You were great. I mean, that was awesome..." Rey looks down. This has to be the dumbest conversation between two people throughout time and space.

"Really?"

"Yes, your lyrics were...meaningful."

"I guess."

"Why? Don't you think so?"

"I..." He looks up and seems to see her for the first time. "I'm Ben."

It's not quite the answer she is expecting, but Rey extends her hand and answers, "Rey. Can I buy you a drink?"

Ben hesitates for the briefest moment. "Sure."

A short time later, Rey watches rather jealously as Ben's lips linger on the bottle of beer. What is wrong with her? What should she do now? What would Poe do? All she can think of is getting very close to this relative stranger, but doesn't want to scare him off, and really has no idea what to do next.

The flare of a speaker feedback catches both of their attention. Rose says, "And now, Mr. Hux and his accordion stylings of Lady Gaga..."

Rey doesn't hesitate. She grabs Ben's hand. "You'll want to leave - I promise."

Halfway to the door, realizing she's gone a bit too far, she drops his hand and is surprised to feel his warm palm on the small of her back. As they near the exit, he bends down over her shoulder, murmuring in her ear, "Got somewhere you need to be?"

"No."

"Any place you'd like to go?"

Feeling wildly emboldened for a Tuesday night, she turns and answers somewhat breathlessly, "Yes."

"And where might that be?"

"I thought we could go back to yours and you could teach me the first song you played."

"Really?" Ben stops, unsure of himself.

"And then I suppose we can see what happens next..."

Rey receives a B- for her quiz on Wednesday morning, but the new song she's learned and the abilities of some wildly talented fingers more than make up for her score.

AN: Bonus points if you know which Globe I'm referring to. Also, I'm really too mean to Hux.