Answers

(Day 59: Tuesday Noon)

"Are you doing drugs?" he accuses.

"Dad," Ben exasperates as they sit at the dining table.

"It's a valid question," his mother interrupts, and Ben looks at her in disbelief. "Her previous boyfriend said that her partners used it to counter that… issue of hers."

"He's not her boyfriend," Ben shuts his eyes. "Not her ex."

"Whatever you want to call it," she reasons, "he still said it, and she confirmed it."

Ben squeezes a hand tight in stress before opening it and slowly cutting the air with it, "Is this even a question." before he darts his eyes between his parents. "I already overdose on everyday medicine every single day. I would have to be a complete idiot to add anything else into the mix. Even something as simple as wine is something I need to be careful of." He looks between his parents again, but neither of them speaks. "As far as Mal's so-called issue goes, I didn't even know about it until recently."

"But you have done things with her?" his father slowly assumes.

Ben nearly rolls his eyes, "Yes. We've made out, but I don't use drugs." before he furrows his eyebrows. "Not that kind anyway." He slowly shakes his head, "She's just a little rough, I guess? It doesn't hurt or anything, but she must have wanted me to feel something."

"Rough?" he raises his eyebrows and squints his eyes in unsureness.

"Not in a bad way," Ben comments as he places a hand to his head. "Are we done talking about my sex life now or do you have more questions?"

"Are you having sex?" his mother probes.

"No," he shuts his eyes for a second. "I was just referring to sexual activity in general. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not share every single detail with my parents."

After a moment his father says, "Fair enough."

"You will tell us when you start having sex, though?" his mother seriously replies.

Ben huffs, "Yeah. Sure. One day when I come over for dinner or come down to breakfast I will say that I fucked my girlfriend out of the blue without any rhyme or reason."

"That's all we ask," she comments before nodding. "Speaking of your girlfriend." She uneasily continues, "We never really discussed her relationship with her friend." Ben lifts his head up in attentiveness. "They aren't still together, are they? Or, do you not know?"

Ben's quiet for a minute, before he states, "They can't be together if they were never together in the first place." He sees his father about to speak. "They're best friends. That's all they've ever claimed to be— even on the Isle."

"And how could you know that?" his father frustrates. "By simply taking her word for it?"

Ben lifts a hand up, "Well, yeah." He hears his father grumble. "Look. This isn't some secret that's been hidden from me. I've asked questions. I got answers. And you know what? I will be asking more questions and getting more answers. Can't you just trust me?" He looks away for a mere second, "And them?"

His mother looks at her watch, "It's almost been an hour."

"Right," Ben's father straightens up before staring him down. "You know that I'm not the most fond of your girlfriend, but her reputation is yours now. What happened today, you need to do damage control, set up an interview."

"What happened to not saying anything that could potentially conflict with the case?" Ben asks in confusion.

"Your reputation is more important," he insists. "A man is nothing without it."

"Fine," Ben says. "I'll make the call later."

"No. Now," his father firmly asserts.

When Ben sighs his mother calmly responds, "Your father is right. They're not going to hold the story unless they think they have something better to add to it."

"Okay," he accepts before standing from the table.

"Hold on," his mother interrupts, and he turns back to her. "You haven't eaten yet."

Ben glances down at his bowl of soup and the platter of sandwiches, "Well, which is it? Do you want me to call before they do the story or do you want me to eat lunch?"

"You can do both," his mother affirms, before she nods down towards his chair. "Sit."

Ben lets out an annoyed breath, before he sits and brings the bowl to his lips, and after five gulps he sets it back down. He looks pointedly at his mom, "There. Done." before he stands from the table again.

"Take a sandwich with you," she commands.

He picks up a turkey one and takes a bite, "Happy?"

"Yes," she frowns, before she watches him turn to leave. She lets out a long breath, "Why can't he just take a single minute to enjoy it?"

Adam is silent for a moment, "It's just food." and then she gives him a look. "If it bothers you, then next time give him a rare steak. He's never had any problem sitting down to one of those."

"A rare steak?" she skeptically questions.

"Maybe with some cheesy smashed potatoes for a vegetable," he compromises. "He likes those too."

"When has he ever had a rare steak?" she disbelieves.

"At a restaurant."

"And you took him there," she assumes, and then he silences. "I told you not to do that."

"Belle. He isn't a dog. It's not like he's going to go rabid from getting a little more iron in his diet."

"That's not the point here," she insists. "I told you not to do it, I put forth my concerns, and you went against my back and did it anyway." She shakes her head, "Honestly. How long has this been going on for?"

Adam breathes, "Come on. You can't just deprive the boy of one of the best things life has to offer."

"There was a time when you thought hunting was the best thing in life," she sternly reminds him.

"Before I met you," he wraps an arm around her and she lets out a calming breath. "You're the best thing in my life now." He kisses her forehead, "And I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world."

"How long," she tiredly asks again.

"Since he was young," Adam confesses. "Around six."

She sighs, "I really wish you hadn't done that."

"Look. It's fine," he tries to reason. "If anything bad was going to happen, it would have already happened. But Ben is fine. Everything's going to be okay."

She's quiet for a moment, "I hope you're right."

"Hey," Ben says as Evie opens the door. "I've been wanting to speak with you all afternoon. May I come in?"

"I was kind of working on something," she slowly responds.

"Please," Ben calmly pleads. "I have an interview at six, and I need us to clarify some things. If I don't have the right answers, then it could make us all look bad."

She lets out a breath, "You don't make things easy. You know that?"

He smiles, "Is that a yes?"

She half laughs, "Yes, it's a yes." before she opens the door and lets him in. "So. What's your first question?"

"We should sit somewhere," he suggests.

Evie nods to the bed, "There."

After they sit down Ben states, "In the video Hook said that you and Mal were girlfriends, but you said you never used that term."

"Because we never did," Evie immediately answers.

"Good," Ben nods. "That's what I thought."

"And just so you know," Evie frowns, "we've never had sex either. I didn't lie on the stand. Everything I said was true."

"Even the part where you have feelings for her?" Ben questions.

Evie's mouth slightly gapes as she looks off for a moment, "I don't think I said—"

"It was self-explanatory," Ben interrupts, "especially with your—"

She shakes her head, "My what?"

"Your mother," Ben finishes. "She made it loud and clear." He glances down, "For everyone." He looks back up and sees her troubled expression, "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have brought her up."

Evie's quiet for another second, "She was there for me, you know." as she observes Ben's reaction. "Whenever Mal was being callous and defensive… It wasn't all the time, and it was my fault for getting attached. I know that. But still." She looks back up to see Ben's reaction, but his expression is relatively even. "I would cry, and my mother would be there to tell me it would be okay. She would hug me and say I didn't need Mal, that I had her." Evie almost laughs, "I know she was probably just acting nice, because she thought it would help end things between Mal and me, that my chances of getting a boyfriend would be better, but…" Ben still doesn't speak. "I know you must think that my mother was just some horrible, wicked witch, but it wasn't that bad. I know you think she didn't love me, but she did."

Ben frowns, "No. I know she does." but then he sees her slouch and look down in doubt of that fact herself. She's had to defend her mother countless times, but now that someone agrees with her it's like a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Parents can hurt their children, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and still love them."

Evie looks back up at him, her eyes glistening, "She thought she was doing what was best for me. She only ever wanted what was best for me."

"I know," Ben softly responds, before he continues in hesitance. "What would she do, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Mostly," Evie breaths, "she would lock me in the bathroom." She stops the cry with a high-pitched hum, "And it was fine. I was allowed a basket of clothes, and my makeup, and some magazines— she always expected me to come out just as perfect as when I would be guided inside— and I would sneak other things in too. Like a dictionary or encyclopedia." She sadly smiles, "She would have hated to know I owned those things." before she feels the tears are full, about to fall over her bottom eyelids, and places a finger under one of them. "It was cold— so cold— and there was no way to tell time. No windows. No clocks." She heaves, "And absolutely no one to talk to."

Ben places one hand on her shoulder and the other around her back, before he feels her sob, "Hey. It's okay."

After a minute Evie gets a grip of herself and pulls away, "I don't know why I'm crying." as she wipes the smudged makeup with the corner of her sleeve. "It's not that big of a deal. I mean, it feels like a lot now, but at the time…" She shuts her dark brown eyes and gulps.

"It was normal," Ben finishes, and when she looks up at him in awe he excuses, "Jay and Carlos may have said that when they first arrived and the guys were asking them questions."

"Of course," Evie whispers, before she attempts to straighten up. "I'm such a horrible person." She half laughs, "We were talking about me and your girlfriend, and somehow now you were comforting me. How?" She slightly shakes her head, "What's your motive?"

Ben's quiet for a moment, before he slowly answers, "I'm not really sure that I have a motive. It's just..." He wets his lips, "I know that you've been through a lot, and someone has to be there for you." He pauses, "I know this trial can't have been any easier on you than me."

Evie partially grins, "Well. You've got that right." as she rolls her eyes. "I was measuring a girl for a dress yesterday, and she actually accused me of looking up her skirt." She gives Ben a look, "For the record, I didn't."

"I didn't think you did," he calmly responds, but then she looks away. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"Which part? The part where my mom would lock me in the bathroom for a week or the part where I was accused of being a skirt-chaser?"

"All of it," Ben answers, and then she looks back at him. "You're not quite what I expected when I first met you."

"Well, seeing as I was flirting with you at the time," Evie remarks, "I can see why."

"No. I— I just mean, I thought you would be like some bad girl looking for attention and some rule to break." He gestures, "Okay. Yeah, and promiscuous, but—" He pauses, "But you're not like that. You're smart, and you're dedicated to those you care about." Evie doesn't speak. "Just out of curiosity." Ben hesitates, "Do you like me like that? Like, are you attracted to me?"

Evie sternly looks at him, "You dare ask that?"

"Like you said," Ben awkwardly smiles, "you were flirting with me that first day."

"You're my best friend's boyfriend," she stresses. "You can't just go off and cheat on her with some other girl."

"I wasn't," Ben tries to explain.

"Or maybe," she stares, "you thought that if you could get me close, then when Mal returns she could see us kiss and hate me so that you could have her all to yourself, when in reality she'd probably never speak to either of us ever again."

"You honestly think I would do that?" Ben slowly questions, and then Evie's expression softens in unsureness, as she sees his sad, puppy dog look. "I'm not manipulative— or cunning. I just like to have answers. I'm curious, get that from my mother." He sighs and slightly shakes his head, "I don't know. Maybe that's a bad thing… It's certainly never helped."

"No." She watches as he looks back up at her, "Sorry. I should have known you would be too good to do something like that." before she glances down. "And no. To satisfy your curiosity, I don't find you attractive." She looks at him, "Cute, maybe, but not like that."

"Then why flirt with me?"

Evie frowns, "Because I'm expected to marry a prince, and I knew you had a castle that would undoubtedly be filled with tons of mirrors."

"Not so many, actually," Ben remarks. "Most of the mirrors have been, uh, displaced over the years." She doesn't speak. "So, why don't you have a boyfriend? I mean, you do want one, don't you?"

"Well, I had Chad for a second," Evie answers, "but he was just using me. I didn't even get a single kiss out of him."

"Is there anyone else you like?"

Evie gives him a look, "Are you asking for your curiosity or are you asking for Doug?"

"Mostly my curiosity," Ben states, "but yeah. Doug too."

She's quiet for a second, "As far as Doug goes, he's sweet, and smart, and kind. If being a prince wasn't a requirement, then I probably would be dating him already." and then she pauses. "Can your curiosity keep a secret?"

Ben almost smiles, "If I had to choose between not knowing an answer I know I could have had or having that answer and not giving out that knowledge, I would rather know."

Evie nods, before she informs, "I've never liked a guy before. Not like that."

"Never?" he doubts.

"I know," Evie half laughs. "I'm at a school where some of the hottest guys in the world must be attending… and I don't want any of them." She sadly grins, "I must be broken, right?"

"No," Ben shakes his head. "You said Chad—"

"I didn't like Chad," she insists. "Just like I didn't like you."

There's silence as Ben thinks, "Maybe it's just because you like Mal. You can't think of anyone else, because you're still dedicated and loyal to her."

After a moment Evie skeptically breaths, "Maybe." before she shakes her head. "You came in here for a reason."

"Yes," Ben immediately answers, before he hesitates, "Where were we?"

"You were asking about me and Mal," Evie frowns.

"Right," Ben remembers, but it takes a minute for him to speak. "Look." He sighs, "I don't know what exactly you and Mal have been doing— because I can only assume you two have been doing something— and I'm not sure I even want to know, but…" He looks her in the eyes, "She's my girlfriend. You understand that? I don't want her cheating on me."

"Okay. And," she slowly questions, "what counts as cheating?"

Ben huffs a laugh, "That's a good question." as he turns away for a moment in thought. "Just don't do anything romantic, okay?" He looks back at her with folded hands, "Like no cuddling, especially overnight or for long. I'm her boyfriend. If she wants romance or someone to be close with and to comfort her, then it should me. I don't want her going to you for everything. I need her to come to me when she needs things too." He pauses, "Also. If you're not currently having sex with her, I would please ask that you continue not to do that."

"I understand," Evie evenly responds, but as Ben turns in relief she cracks a slight smile. "I would like to remind you, though, that the last time Mal spent the night with you she ran off."

Ben's quiet as he thinks, "She had a nightmare or something. I can't help that." but then Evie raises an eyebrow. "What? You think it's my fault she left?"

"No," she slowly says. "I'm just saying that Mal's never taken off on me in the middle of the night before." She smiles, "And we were never even together."

"So, what then?" Ben breathes in stress. "What would you have me do? Not have her sleep next to me, never have her stay the night?"

Evie frowns, "Don't get like that. The solution is simple."

Ben slightly lifts his hands, "Well. What is it?"

"You can't be the one holding her. You have to let her hold you."

He slightly shakes his head, "How is that going to help?"

"It gives her control over the situation," Evie reasons. "If she's holding you, then she's the one in power. She's the one that gets to say how long you're holding each other and when to stop. She's not going to lose you, and she won't be taken advantage of." She sees Ben's mouth gape slightly as his eyes lower, "Too much for you?"

"No. It's just…" He's silent as he observes her for second, "As Mal's best friend and long-term heat source—" He lifts the side of his fist to his mouth, "You should probably know." before he drops it. "When she had—" he wets his lips "— intercourse with Hook, she didn't want to." Evie doesn't speak. "He forced her too."

She looks down, "I know." and just as Ben opens his mouth to speak, she stands and walks over towards Mal's bedside table. "I found these after she was taken. I was just trying to clean up a little, ya know." He watches as she takes the sketchbook from the drawer and walks back towards him. "They're not graphic, but…"

After Evie opens it to the back and reveals the loose pages to Ben, he takes it from her and glances over the drawings: a couple of Hook's face up close, some of the crates that had surrounded her that night with the sky above, and a few other ones of the metal hook. "They're obvious," Ben finishes, before he sets them aside. He stares at Evie for a moment and whispers, "Were you planning to tell me?"

"Mal doesn't even know I know," Evie softly responds.

"You should have told me," Ben quietly insists.

"And if you had been one of those guys that would have dumped and then slut-shamed her, what then?" Evie objects.

"You should know me better than that."

"How?" Evie questions. "The only times we ever talk is when we're talking about Mal or when you're stealing the cookies I make straight from the oven."

"That was one time," Ben defends.

"Still," Evie persists. "I only know you through Mal. We never actually talk to each other. We never just sit and chat. So, how could I possibly know what kind of guy you are?"

Ben's quiet for a minute, before he sheepishly smiles, "We're talking now."

Evie lets out a calming breath, "Yeah." before she looks over him. "I guess we are."