Chapter 17: Rubik's Cube

Following Ben's departure from her apartment, Rey had merely gone through the motions of her commitments to the academy and Rogue One. She had decided to remain in her apartment above the dojo, thanking Jyn and Cassian for their hospitality, but letting them know she needed to be in her own place, where she wasn't a burden. After bickering back and forth on it, her managers had relented, with the caveat that one of the Rogue One staff would transport Rey to and from work each evening until Unkar Plutt was behind bars.

Each evening, Rey returned to her apartment, sunk into the mattress which had caused such issues, and cried. During the day, she was able to keep up with her facade. She taught, napped, made drinks, waited on customers, came back home and did it all again the next day. Unless it was a customer or one of her students, she didn't speak much. She hadn't even made much of an effort to socialize with Rose or Jess, often lying in bed until the last possible second before she had to get up to teach classes. After the third day of her being a no-show at the cafe, Maz walked into Ahch-To.

"You haven't come by for your usual." She greeted Rey without preamble, waiting until the young instructor could step out of her class. Rey moved her headset away, so the students wouldn't hear their exchange. They were in the middle of their second rep of push ups.

"I haven't been feeling well."

"Ah," the old woman nodded.

"Fifteen more seconds, ladies." Rey called, before turning back to Maz.

"I can stop by later to pay you. My wallet is up in the apartment."

Maz waved a hand at her. "There's no need, dear child. I was of taking Chewie for a walk anyway." She pointed to the dog Rey had seen her walking on the day she arrived at Ahch-To.

He was sitting outside, patiently waiting for his master. His tail began wagging furiously when he spotted Luke crossing the parking lot. The owner of the academy's face lit up when he took in the brown-furred pet. He proceeded to play with the dog and give him a belly rub. It was obvious they were old friends.

"That's fifteen, ladies. Take a minute for a sip of water and then let's do two laps around the room. Keep that heart rate up."

Rey switched her headset off once more, taking the tea Maz had brought her with thanks.

"I haven't seen Ben stop in lately. I take it he's not feeling well either?"

She couldn't help her body's reaction to the news. Upon Maz's observation, she froze, forgetting her cue to get her class started on the next round at their bags. The old woman wiggled her eyebrows, then gestured to the waiting students, who were standing at the ready awaiting their combination.

"Cross, cross, jab, uppercut, hook to the head, and finish with a sidekick. We are going for three minute rounds. Starting...now!"

Rey had been actively avoiding Ben all week. It didn't surprise her he hadn't been to Kanata Kaffeine. He seemed to be avoiding her as well. She hadn't seen him around the studio since their altercation. If Luke had noticed the change in their schedules, he was kind enough not to mention it.

Disappointment was a concept Rey had become acclimated to while growing up in the foster care system. After they had been unable to identify a living relative for her back in England, they had resolved to keep her with Unkar Plutt. She had counted the days, waiting for her parents to come find her, hoping they'd take her back to her home country and away from the desert wasteland.

They never did.

Likewise, when she had come to Ahch-To, she had been content with a home and a job. She had not expected to find new friends or someone to share her life with. In a few short weeks, she had found stability with an expanded network of friends and had found someone who was set apart from all she'd known before. She'd been training with Ben and spending every free moment with him over the last couple of weeks, convinced he was different from anyone else she'd ever even come close to considering, believing he understood her.

He hadn't. Maybe he never had.

The instant she saw his initials by the payment receipt, she had felt foolish. She recalled how her friends had warned her about him, how Unkar had told her she was worthless, and how Ben had originally yelled at Master Luke about how she didn't belong at the academy. She had been wrong to think he was different. He didn't care about her. He only cared about himself.

Still, the expression on his face when she had told him he wasn't her boyfriend was devastating. There was an intense pain reflected back to her from his eyes, one she couldn't quite forget. Instead of confronting him about it, she had hidden away, keeping distance between them.

"I wouldn't know." Rey finally replied to Maz. "I haven't seen him."

"Maybe you should." Maz patted her hands and took her leave.

She watched the cryptic woman walk out of the studio, pausing outside to grab Chewie from Luke, before continuing on her walk. Rey returned her attention to her kickboxing class, trying not to dwell on those three words too long.

It had been another two days, before anyone approached her about Ben. This time, it was Luke himself. Though not surprising, considering he saw both of them daily, she was shocked he had waited all week to bring the topic up. It was late afternoon and Rey had just finished her last class of the day. After a quick change upstairs, she had come across Luke in the office, as she left her apartment.

"I've hardly seen Ben this week, or you, for that matter," her landlord and boss mentioned.

Rey shrugged, noncommittally. She wasn't sure what, if anything, Luke knew of their relationship. She was positive he had his theories, but she wasn't about to confirm any details.

"Did he mention speaking to a lawyer about Plutt?"

His questions caught Rey off-guard. Ben had been unwavering in his lessons to increase her self-defense tactics, yet he had never mentioned a different method for dealing with her ex-guardian. "Excuse me?"

"I suggested to him last week that you should speak with Mon Motha and possibly my sister about obtaining a lawyer to press charges against him for what he has done."

Rey bristled. She hadn't disclosed any additional details to Luke regarding her history with Plutt. Everything she had shared with Ben had been in confidence. She hadn't thought they had a strong relationship. The thought of Ben disclosing her secrets to his uncle and her employer made her more upset. Her stomach pitched at the new level of betrayal and she reached for the doorframe to steady herself. It took her a minute to get her vision to stop swimming, before she was able to respond to him.

"He didn't mention it."

Luke seemed to read her body language and cleared his throat. "Well, it was only a suggestion. He may had thought it had no merit. I'm sure it's an uncomfortable topic for you. I thought you were closer to Ben than you were with me. I was hoping if you shared your experience with him, he could persuade you to seek out the aid of the law. The officers here are not like the ones in Jakku, Rey. These people are honest and decent."

While his words quelled the unexpected unease in her heart over thinking Ben had overstepped, the idea of having to share with a broader audience did not appeal to her. Even if it helped put Plutt behind bars, it also meant total strangers would know how she had failed to protect herself, how she had been too weak to get out sooner. She may be a survivor, but she was also a coward. Had she known how to fight back the way she had learned in college and the way she knew now, she would have run away long before she had saved up enough to move out.

As she opened her mouth to ask Luke about what exactly he and Ben had discussed, there was an unfamiliar honking noise. Rey glanced out the office window, startled when she saw a silver Audio parked outside. She didn't recognize the car as any of her friend's vehicles. Baze and Chirrut had an old school Hummer. Bodhi had a Volt, and she had already ridden along with Jyn and Cassian. Which left...

"It appears your ride is here." Luke gestured to the car, right as the driver honked the horn once more, annoyingly long this time

"See you tomorrow, Master Luke."

Rey headed out to the waiting car, knowing exactly who would be behind the wheel. Sure enough, as she opened the passenger side door, she noted the blonde hair and unamused gaze of Kaytoo.

"Finally. Do you know how long I've been waiting here?"

"Thirty seconds?"

"Try five minutes," he huffed, not making eye contact with her. She had noticed he tended to never look at her, unless he was exceptionally mad.

"Sorry."

"You should be."

Rey tried to not roll her eyes. There was no filter on Kaytoo, hence why most people kept away from him.

"Seems the people I always expect to understand me or be there for me, choose to let me down."

"I'll be there for you," Kaytoo told her, as he waited for her to buckle her seatbelt.

Rey was instantly touched by his words. She had meant the comment rhetorically, not expecting him to even notice. Though she and Kaytoo weren't close, she had seen how he behaved to those he truly disliked, such as Bodhi. The blonde bartender certainly didn't treat her so harshly. She started to smile at Kaytoo and opened her mouth to thank him, when he added his reasoning.

"Cassian said I had to."

Her face immediately fell.

Of course Kaytoo didn't care. The middle-aged bartender probably didn't care if she ended up with Bodhi, as long as she arrived for her shift and managed to bring in tips. Over the course of the last week, she had noticed how Ben gravitated towards the end of the bar and how Kaytoo, in turn, gravitated towards him. They had started an odd sort of friendship, which they both seemed surprised yet relieved by. It was foolish of her to assume their week long relationship had extended to her and her feelings.

The remainder of the drive to New Jedha was completed in silence. Kaytoo didn't listen to the radio. It was an odd habit, but then again, everything about Kaytoo was odd, so it actually made perfect sense to Rey. What didn't make sense was how the rest of the Rogue One squad was acting when she arrived.

"Who died?" She asked after nearly an hour of them all working in silence. The question had been laced with her smile, indicating it was meant as a joke, but the stricken look on Jyn made her regret asking. Perhaps one of their former friends had actually passed on. Cassian patted her on the back and both Baze and Chirrut gave her hugs.

It was Jyn who finally gave her insight. "Breakups are hard," she told Rey. "Let us know if you need anything."

"I'm fine," Rey told her, eager to end the conversation before it went further. She wasn't sure if she could hold back her tears if she had to explain what had happened. She knew her friends had been suspicious when she had turned up on Monday without her typical shadow. After she had told them she'd be staying at her apartment alone, it had spiked additional concern. Apparently after his repeated absence, her coworkers had come to a conclusion on what had happened. She couldn't be mad. They weren't wrong.

"You could have stayed with us." Jyn nudged her, gently. "You didn't have to go back to your apartment by yourself."

"It's my own," Rey insisted, glad for the topic change. "Besides, I'm safe. You are all with me on the way here and the way home and Luke lives right across the parking lot. If anything were to go wrong, he'd hear it."

Jyn didn't seem convinced on the last part, but she didn't push. "The invitation still stands, in case you ever need to get away."

"Thank you." The two women hugged and then got back to setting up before the doors officially opened for the evening.

Rey smiled at her manager, as the woman jumped behind the bar to make the first round of drinks. She had great friends. Even if her parents and her...whatever Ben was...had disappointed her, she always had her self-made family network. Between Finn, Poe, Rose, Jess, and the crew at Rogue One, she had an increasingly loving support system. She had never had siblings, at least none that she knew of. Each of her friends was an unofficial brother or sister, making Maz her surrogate mother and Luke her...well not father, exactly, more like a weird uncle.

The instant her mind branded Luke as her uncle, she felt the familiar stabbing pain of loss. Luke was Ben's real uncle. Regardless of how their relationship was, Luke would always belong to Ben. It didn't matter how hard Rey worked at Ahch-To or how many customers she brought in, the academy was a family run establishment. For now, she had a job there, but in time, there would be no place for her at the dojo.

There was no place for her in the Skywalker story.

The next day, Rey woke from her mid-day nap to the sound of her cell going off. There were only two people who she permitted to allow calls from when she was trying to sleep. Groggily, she answered.

"Hey Peanut!"

"Hey," she greeted Finn, holding the phone away as she cleared her throat. Her voice was a bit hoarse from sleep. "How are you?"

"Great. Better than great actually. I got it. I got the promotion, Rey."

She knew she should be happy for her friend. Finn had worked tirelessly for this. He and Poe deserved good news, especially after they had helped her so much. Yet she couldn't find it in herself to smile. She was glad they were on the phone. He couldn't see her face. With her best fake cheer, she congratulated him.

"You deserve it, Finn. I'm sure no one else even came close. When do you start?"

"Monday."

"So soon?"

"They want to get me to up to speed before South Africa."

"South Africa?"

"Yeah, part of the promotion comes with travel. There is a convention going on in a few weeks and they want me to be there. I'm actually leaving work early today to get my vaccinations."

Rey didn't know much about food, but she knew being sent international for a job meant big things. Finn's promotion was more than an increase in pay and responsibility. He was going to make good on his nickname. He was going to become a big deal.

"Wow. That's so exciting! How long will you be gone for?"

"Two weeks."

"That's a long time. Is Poe going to be ok, or do I need to check in on him?"

Finn's voice changed. "Actually, Peanut, he's coming with me. He's taking time off to join me over there. We haven't had a vacation together before, so we're going to take advantage of the paid for room."

A stabbing jealous burn erupted through Rey. She knew it was wrong to covet what her best friends had, but she couldn't help the dark thoughts swirling in her brain at Finn's announcement. Why couldn't she have found a job where she could travel and spend time with someone and just enjoy having a romantic relationship, away from all the cares of her every day life?

Travel had never been on Rey's radar. It was an expense she couldn't afford to daydream about, so she hadn't. Hearing her friends were running off, half-way across the world made her wonder if she'd ever be able to afford an adventure outside of the country.

She knew Ben had experience with international travel from his career as a fighter. He had told her Naboo was his favorite place in the world. She had nothing to compare it to, having never even left the state. Would her answer have changed if she had had the opportunity to travel the way he had?

"Peanut? You still there?"

"Yes, yes," Rey quickly replied. "I was getting ready for my shift and hit the mute button."

It was a white lie, but Rey would rather tell a white lie to her best friend than admit she was jealous of the loving relationship he had with Poe. Even if there was a chance Ben Solo genuinely cared for her, she had ended things before they could begin. She would never get to experience the type of companionship her friends had together.

"I wanted to see if you could meet us in the city to celebrate."

Rey inwardly groaned at his request. The one thing worse than lying to her friend over the phone about how happy she was for him was having to lie to him in person, while attempting to celebrate the event. "I have to work tonight and tomorrow, Finn. It's too late notice for me to ask for off. Weekends are our busiest nights."

"We could go to dinner on Sunday," he suggested. "That way we are all off work and it gives you time to sleep in before driving into Corellia."

There was no good way to excuse herself, though Rey wished there was. She had been sulking all week and the thought of having to join the real world was not one she wanted to embrace. All she wanted to do was spend Sunday alone, on her couch, eating a tub of ice cream and binge watching silly YouTube videos to try to cheer herself up. She didn't want to get out of her pajamas to dress up for the city or make the long drive there on her motorcycle.

"Poe and I could pick you up, if that helps," Finn offered when she didn't agree right away.

"Sure," Rey relented. "What time?"

The time between her phone call with Finn and when he showed up at her apartment seemed to go by instantly. Before she knew it, her best friends were in Tatooine, excited to see her and be out for the evening. It was the first time she and seen Finn or Poe since she had moved in. She should have been overjoyed when they enveloped her in warm hugs and picked her off the ground. Instead, all she could do was notice how brotherly their affection was in comparison to Ben's. Her reaction must have shown, because Finn asked her what was going on.

"Nothing," Rey immediately responded.

She had replied too briskly. Both him and Poe cornered her, while she finished getting ready. "Rey. What is going on with you?"

"Yeah. There are dishes everywhere," Finn gestured to her kitchen area, "and you look like you haven't done laundry all week. Have you shaved?"

"Finn!"

"It's a valid question, Peanut," Poe told her, as he wrapped an arm around her.

"Seriously, you two! I have showered and even if I hadn't, it's none of your bus-."

Finn held out his hand, silencing her. "Either you tell us what's up right now, or we are going to continue asking you about your personal hygiene. Your choice, Peanut."

With a low growl, Rey gave them the highlights. She had started seeing someone. They had gotten into a fight and she hadn't heard from him since. Typical early relationship faux pas stuff. She figured her explanation would sate them, so they could get on with their Sunday night plans.

It only made matters worse.

First, the boys insisted on cleaning up her apartment, while she took an extra long shower and shaved everything. Poe's exact words were, "You need to be as bare as the day you were born, darling." Rey would never be able to un-hear her gay friend tell her that. Next, they proceeded to select an outfit for her to wear, deciding they needed a better dinner out than their usual cheap eats and boxed wine to celebrate Finn's promotion and her getting over the jerk who had broken her heart. However, nothing she owned lived up to Poe's ridiculous fashion standards. On their drive to Corellia, he decided she needed a makeover, because it would cheer her up. Finn supported his idea, leaving Rey with no choice, as she had lost the majority vote — two to one.

By the time they arrived at Poe and Finn's apartment, they had already outlined a plan of attack. They trio started off in Utapau, the shopping district of the city. It had high-end shops and boutiques with one of a kind outfits. Rey nearly fainted at the first store when she flipped over the small white price tag attached to a sundress that caught her eye. Poe was too busy charming the store manager to notice, but Finn had agreed with Rey and the three booked it out of the shop.

They had more luck on one of the side streets, where a warehouse sale was happening. With input from both her friends, Rey managed to snag a cocktail dress by Naberrie. It hugged what little curves she had with its geometric patterns to highlight areas with the bold red accents on the black. The main strap wrapped around her neck like a halter top, while an additional strap on each side draped over her shoulders and down, revealing a decent portion of her back. It was far more risqué than any item of clothing she owned, including her limited collection of lingerie, which was mostly sensible white cotton. Poe and Finn cheered, elated she had listed to their advice.

It was then, as Poe stood, motioning her to twirl that he noticed a pair of Sabe heels which matched her dress. The black heels had a red-underside, an accent akin to the ones on her dress. If Rey had thought it was luck she found a dress in her size, it was pure kismet to have found a pair of shoes to match also in her size. Though the entire outfit was marked down, it was still more than Rey had ever expected to spend on an outfit, including a wedding ensemble, had she ever had the opportunity to pick one. If it wasn't for the constant urging of her two best friends, she wouldn't have purchased the items.

With the first part of Poe and Finn's plan complete, the trio returned to the boys' apartment. Rey had brought all the makeup she had with her. With YouTube up on their phones, the boys continued executing their plan, by doing her hair and makeup. They had her dampen her hair in their shower, before blow drying it out so it would have a full body. Then they moved onto her makeup. Poe insisted on her having a red lip to match the red accents on her outfit.

Finally, after what seemed like hours in their cramped bathroom, her friends deemed her ready to go out. They changed quickly, donning nicer shirts and pants, and met her in the living room.

"We need to pre-game!"

"Poe, this isn't college." Rey reminded him.

"How would you know? You never came out with us in college."

"I couldn't afford to. You know that."

"Exactly!" Finn grinned. "Which is why we need to make up for lost time now. Let's go down to the corner market and grab a bottle of Corellian whiskey. We can take a few swigs while we walk to the restaurant."

"Yes," Poe clapped his hands together. "I like where your head is at, buddy. Rey?"

"Alright," she agreed, reluctantly. She didn't want to damper their mood by reminding them they needed to take her home at some point tonight. She still had to teach classes in the morning. Glancing at her discarded outfit on the boys' bathroom floor, she retrieved her wallet, phone, and keys. "Where am I going to put all this?"

"Here, Peanut," Finn held out his hands. "I'll slip it in my pockets."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"Can't have you buying such a sexy outfit and then covering it up with a jacket," Poe told her, as he shooed them out of the apartment.

Her friends had the best of intentions. Dressing up was something Rey had no experience with. The opportunity had never presented itself and when it had, the importance of saving money to leave her current situation always outweighed the need for one frivolous night of fun. She had always struggled with the idea of spending an exorbitant amount of money on a single evening. Even if it was as a treat or as a celebration, she had never been financially sound enough to permit herself to consider it.

Things were different now. She had two stable jobs with a steady flow of income. She had her own place and a growing support structure. Going along with her friends this once, seemed doable, especially since the dress and shoes were on sale. Plus, all the money she had been saving for a mattress was still in her bank account. She did admit she liked feeling pretty. She appreciated the work her friends had put into her appearance, which she had been able to admire in the mirror. It had made her feel truly beautiful.

Until, they went outside of the apartment. Once they exited the confines of her former home, she felt strange. Even with the dress covering most of her body, her arms, shoulders, and back were bare. She knew it was part of the outfit's appeal and most women wore far more revealing garb, yet she felt off. Despite her friends' earlier compliments on how well put together she looked, she felt naked.

As they entered the corner store, she was acutely aware of how those in the shop locked onto her. Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, she silently followed her friends around, as they tried to find a small enough bottle to walk with that was still large enough to get all three of them buzzed before they reached the restaurant several blocks away.

To their credit, though, her friends had done an excellent job of taking her mind off of things. During their makeover, she hadn't thought of Ben once. She allowed herself to enjoy being pampered for a change. She trusted Finn and Poe. She was comfortable with letting her guard down in their presence and in the safety of their apartment, a home she had briefly shared. However, like her appreciation of her own beauty, the result was fleeting. Her thoughts drifted back to Ben.

They should have had a lesson today in the studio. It seemed a shame to Rey that they had only met once as scheduled before their plans were derailed, first by Plutt and then by their fight. Even though Ben had taken the time to teach her additional skills during the week, she had looked forward to Sundays when they had the entire day together without having to part for work. Now she feared she'd never get another Sunday alone with him. It had tears welling up in her eyes all over again.

Wiping at her eyelids, she turned away from her friends to make sure they wouldn't see. She didn't want them to think their makeover hadn't helped her, because it had. Rey dabbed at her eyes lightly with her finger tips, the way she had seen actresses do on TV or in movies. It helped enough so that after a couple blinks of her eyes, the tears vanished and she could once again act as though she wasn't still upset over the fall out.

She had contemplated texting Ben. It had been her first impulse after she had finished crying last Sunday, but she hadn't. As much as Rey missed him, she wasn't about to act as though what he had done was ok. It wasn't. He had gone against her wishes and made a decision for her. She didn't want anyone making choices for her. She was capable of making her own. She had a right to. Despite her feelings on the subject, she missed him.

So when she saw the object of her misery strolling down the sidewalk in the middle of Corellia, she thought it had to be one of two things —- a cruel joke or fate.

Before her brain could catch up with her body, she was darting out of the market, out onto the street. She hadn't stopped to find her friends. Her first instinct had been to go to him.

"Ben?"

He glanced over his shoulder, before turning around fully to take her in. The way he stared at her, she could tell he was trying to determine if she was really there or not. "Rey?"

"Hi."

It was such a inconsequential word and hardly covered all she wanted to say to him. However, it worked to break the ice. Some of the tension left his form, as he stepped to the side to keep from blocking the foot traffic on the sidewalk.

"How are you?"

"Good," she lied. "You?"

"Fine."

"Good. That's good."

Staring at him now on the sidewalk, Rey didn't see the man who had disappointed her in the mattress store. She saw the same broken look she was sure was mirrored in her own glance. It was the shattered gaze he had given her after her outburst, the one which was prominent in her mind, the one which made her cry each evening until her eyes were red and puffy.

As bad as she felt, he looked good. Sharply dressed and recently showered, he was clean and fresh, as if he had just stepped off a photo shoot. Even after the makeover her best friends had given her, she didn't feel worthy of being so close to him. The familiar self-conscious fear leaked into her body. It was no surprise he looked so good. He was a celebrity. He had access to the finer things, a fact he had made known when he had begun at Ahch-To. At the time, it hadn't interested her. She thought him shallow, but now, it affected her differently. She second-guessed her decision to wear the dress Poe had shoved her into and come out for the evening.

"I decided to go for a walk." He stated, interrupting the silence, which had stretched on far too long between them.

"I'm out with my friends to celebrate. Finn got a-."

"Rey!" She whipped around to find Finn and Poe exiting the corner market. Neither had a bottle in their hands. "Hey, Peanut. I didn't know you left the store. We were wandering around in circles searching for you."

"Sorry," she replied.

Finn noticed Ben standing with her. He eyed him up, frowning for a moment before it clicked.

"Kylo Ren?"

"Nice to meet you." Rey watched, as Ben offered his hand to her best friend, giving him a firm shake, before repeating the gesture with Poe.

"You two know each other?" Poe surmised.

"We work together at the academy," Rey offered. She left out the details of how Ben had been training her or how he had taken care of her prior to their fall out.

Poe seemed to suspect she wasn't providing them the whole story. Crossing his arms over his chest, he surveyed them, eyes glistening with a curious expression. "Since when?"

"Since as long as I've been there," Rey admitted.

"What?" Finn cried, incredulously.

"What?" Rey sighed, attempting to pass it off as if it wasn't important.

"You have been working alongside MMA royalty and you didn't tell your best friends?"

"I didn't think you'd care to know."

"Lame, Rey." Poe told her. Then to Kylo he said, "We were about to grab dinner at Atollon, the new Chop House on 54th and Phoenix. You've probably already been there. Hell, you probably each there all the time, but all the same you're welcome to join us. I promise we have better manners than Rey."

"Hey!" She shoved Poe, glaring at him for his comment on how she ate. It wasn't her fault she had never been raised with a proper family like Poe's.

"I wouldn't want to intrude on your night out."

"I wouldn't call it a night out," Poe chuckled. "We have to drive Rey home at the end of it. She doesn't want to crash with us overnight."

"Some of us have jobs in the morning, Poe."

"Yeah and some of us need to be more forthcoming with their friends when they have connections to a celebrity."

Ben looked uncomfortable at the statement, nearly as uncomfortable as Rey was starting to feel, given how quickly Poe had invited Ben to join them. She hadn't had time to speak with him about their last conversation. She had no interest in skirting around the issue at a fancy restaurant under the watchful eyes of her best friends.

"He's probably busy, Poe," Finn commented. He didn't appear uncomfortable. He seemed downright furious. His jaw was set so tight, Rey was concerned he may not be able to enjoy dinner, given the fact he didn't appear able to move it.

"What do you say, Ren? Can I call you Ren?"

"Kylo is fine."

"Join us?"

Ben's eyes flitted to Rey's face, silently seeking her approval if this was ok. She gave a slight nod.

"Alright."

"Great!" Poe cheered, swinging an arm around his boyfriend's shoulders, using his other to shove Rey. "Now you don't have to play third wheel, Peanut."

It took everything in her power not to slug her friend right then and there on the sidewalk. She stared at her shoes, wondering if the ground would open up and swallow her whole before she was resigned to what was sure to be the most awkward dinner of her life.

Ben suggested they go to Blue Wall, an upscale bar and grille located along Cantonica. Like Atollon, it was a rather new establishment and highly rated, though unlike Atollon, the food was priced at a much higher value. The change in venue increased Rey's level of unease and seemed to further the tight set of Finn's jawline. Poe, oblivious to his boyfriend's body language, spoke animatedly to Ben the entire walk to the restaurant, forcing her to keep an awkward distance behind all three men.

When they arrived at Blue Wall, Ben held the door open for all of them, following them in, and making a beeline for the hostess stand.

"Good evening, Mr. Ren. Welcome back." The maitre d didn't spare Rey or her friends a second glance. His attention immediately went to Ben. "I must have missed your name on our reservation list for tonight."

"I don't have a reservation. Impromptu celebration."

"Of course. Not to worry," the man assured him. "I will have the staff prepare our best table for you. Please excuse me for a brief moment."

"Thank you."

Once the maitre d headed off, Poe let out a whistle, glancing around the grille. "Not bad, Kylo. Not bad."

"Must be nice to have people prepared to alter everything based on your whims", Finn grumbled next to Rey.

His mood had darkened significantly since they had run into Ben. At first, she had suspected it was because she hadn't told him she knew the professional fighter. Seeing how his eyes flitted between Poe's excited face and Ben's indifferent one, she changed her mind. Her best friend was jealous. It was hard not to be impressed by the dark wood and gold accents of the venue. There was a reason it was in the top five best rated restaurants in Corellia and Ben had been the one to bring them here.

"He's straight, you know. You don't have anything to worry about. Besides, Poe would never cheat on you."

"How do you know?"

Rey stepped back, surprised Finn would ask such a question. "Poe loves you. He would never-."

"No," he cut her off. "How do you know Kylo is straight?" He gave her a pointed look.

She felt herself squirm slightly under his scrutiny. She had been incorrect in her assumption Finn was jealous. Either that, or his concern had suddenly shifted away from protecting Poe to protecting her. She hugged her arms around herself with a shrug. She did not want to discuss the depth to which she knew Ben in front of the subject of their conversation.

"Rey?" Finn raised an eyebrow. When her cheeks flushed in betrayal of her refusal to answer, his eyes widened. "No."

Yes.

"Finn." Rey reached one hand out to touch his arm. He stared at her in disbelief. "I-."

"He's the one you've been moping around for? Him! Kylo Ren! Why?"

She had no answer and a dozen all at once. She didn't have a right to be upset. Ben had left after she told him he wasn't her boyfriend. On the other hand, she wished he would have stayed. He could be kind. He had been generous to Rose more than once, merely for the fact Rose was special to her. He was a good teacher. He hadn't told her he would take care of Plutt. He had spent time giving her the skills and proper techniques to deal with her former guardian herself. He made her feel safe. The days he had stayed at the apartment with her, she had felt at home and secure. With his proximity, she had been able to get rest.

There were multiple reasons why Kylo Ren — Ben Solo — was who she missed, who she was (as Finn said) moping around over. If she had time to explain, she would have. As it was, the maitre d returned to escort them to their table. She dropped her hand from Finn's arm, though he didn't drop the questioning gaze he was shooting her. Poe dragged him away, leaving her standing alone in the lobby with Ben.

"After you." He nodded at her, gesturing for her to trail along after her friends. As she stepped past him, she felt his broad hand settle on her lower back, just above her waist. She froze at the sensation of his palm's warmth through the sheer fabric of her dress. Ben leaned down, whispering against her ear. "I miss you."

Before she had an opportunity to respond, he cleared his throat and gave her a gentle nudge forward. She spotted the maitre d eyeing her, obviously waiting on her to continue leading them through the restaurant. Somehow, she found a way to move her feet.

"Here we are," the man announced, as he waved a hand out to show them their seats. "Is this acceptable for you and your guests, Mr. Ren?"

"Yes, thank you."

Rey watched him slip a folded bill to the man, who muttered his thanks before departing. She wondered if it was a hundred dollars, like what Ben had given Rose. Considering the personalized service they had received, she expected it was at least a hundred, if not more.

Poe sat down, patting the seat next to him for Finn to take. Rey saw her friend hesitate, glancing at her before he sat beside his boyfriend. Ben moved to take the chair across from Poe, pausing to pull out the one across from Finn. All three men watched her, as he waited for her to take it. Wordlessly, she sat down, not missing the glare her best friend was sending it the man next to her. Ben, however, missed it completely, as did Poe, who busied himself with perusing the wine list.

The table they had been given was located in the back of the restaurant, away from the front doors and the noise of the main room. While it wasn't in an entirely separate room, it was located behind a server's station, providing them with a quieter corner, difficult to see from the entrance. Rey figured it was due to Ben's status as a celebrity. The restaurant wanted to keep him happy, so he'd be caught as a return customer for them. Rey was sure it would annoy Ben, or anyone, to have their photo snapped while attempting to eat.

"So Kylo," Poe grinned over the menu. "Come here often?"

"No," Ben replied. "This is only my second time. I don't eat out often."

"Probably have to watch what you eat," Poe commented with a nod. "With your career and all. Still, you must have eaten last time. What's good?"

"I was here for opening night. We had the chef's tasting menu. I sampled so many different dishes, I couldn't honestly tell you. It was all good."

"You like wine?" Poe asked, not reacting to Ben's indecisive comment on the menu selection. Rey tried not to groan. What was it with her friends and asking Ben twenty questions? Jess had been asking him about his career and his intentions. Poe was driven by his stomach and grilling him about the available selections.

"I prefer something stronger."

"Gin?"

"Whiskey."

Poe nodded again, returning his attention to the wine list. With him occupied, his focus finally turned away from Ben, Rey almost expected Ben to reach over for her hand the way he had at Kanata Kaffeine. He didn't. Given his earlier whispering, she was tempted to reach over herself, but Finn was watching them like a hawk. She tried not to let herself get swept up by his words. Just because he missed her, didn't mean he was sorry.

"Rey mentioned you were celebrating," Ben said.

"Finn got a promotion," she explained. "He is leaving for South Africa in a few weeks."

Ben offered his congratulations, which Finn barely registered. "And we had to get Peanut out of her apartment," he added. She stilled, unsure where he was going with his current train of thought. She had a feeling wherever it was, it wasn't going to be good. Due to her own unease, she missed the way Ben flinched at the nickname Finn had given her back in college. "Some jerk she was seeing hurt her and she needed some perspective."

If Ben had been unaware of Finn's animosity before, he could not ignore it now. The anger came off her friend in waves. Rey felt her unease growing. Similarity, Ben looked as if he wanted to swallow his tongue. Even the server, who had picked then as the unfortunate time to stop at the end of the table and pour them a round of water, appeared uncomfortable. The only one at the table who had been unaffected by the exchange was Poe, who was too preoccupied with identifying a suitable wine to pair with his meal to bother paying attention.

"You wouldn't know anything about that, would you Ren?"

"Finn." Rey matched his low tone, warning him off.

He ignored her, never taking his eyes off of Ben's face. "You two are friends. You probably know who I'm talking about."

"We are friends," Ben replied, flatly. "I don't make a habit of violating my friend's trust."

"No?" Finn questioned. "You would disappoint a friend or harm them in any way? Maybe lose your temper? You do have a bad reputation in the league."

"Finn." Rey tried again. She was all but tearing the cloth napkin in her lap to shreds, nervously tugging and twisting it to keep herself from reaching across the table and smacking him.

"May I get you all something else to drink this evening?" The waiter asked, still appearing uncomfortable, but trying to brave the rising tension.

"How is your house cab?" Poe asked, still blissfully ignorant.

"Excellent, sir," the waiter replied, dutifully. "Allow me to bring a sample round for the table."

"None for me, thank you." Ben told the server.

"You aren't going to toast with us?" Poe whined.

"I'll have two fingers of your Chandrilla Reserve, please."

"Right away, Mr. Ren." The server darted off to fill their drink orders.

The table fell into silence. Rey didn't want Finn to start up again and she had grown increasingly uncomfortable sitting next to Ben after her friend's wrongful allegations. It was bringing up bad memories. The butterflies which had started at the corner store had turned into a rollercoaster, somersaulting through her stomach. She wasn't sure she could make it through this awkward dinner.

"Excuse me."

Before anyone could utter a word, she hurried to the ladies' room, glad to have some distance from the terrible tension. Inside the restroom, she was greeted with chilled air and sterile granite counters. She marched herself over to the sink basin, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was flushed, due to her discomfort, and her hair appeared to have fallen flat since she had blown it out at the boys' apartment. With a groan, she ran her fingers through her tresses, attempting to fluff it back up. She was already feeling miserable. The last thing she needed was for her expensive look to also go wrong. After a couple more minutes of straightening her dress, checking her makeup, and basically killing time, she left.

When she exited the restroom, Ben was standing in the corridor. She took a moment to take in his appearance. He had shaved and was dressed much the same as he had been when she had first met in — fancy designer label clothes made to look natural. Where his appearance exuded confidence, his posture stated awkward unease. He was leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, staring down at his feet. In that moment, he was entirely Ben Solo. There wasn't a single trace of Kylo Ren in him.

"Ben?"

At the sound of her voice, he jumped off the wall, startled from his thoughts. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. Fine." He stared at her.

She bit back her bottom lip, waiting for him to offer up an explanation for why he was standing outside the ladies' room. When he didn't, she questioned him. "Did you need me for something?"

"I...," He stopped himself, clearly unsure what to say or how to say it. "Your friend mentioned you were hurt."

Damn it, Finn.

"It's over. I don't want to talk about it right now." She stepped past him, intending to return to her seat and kick her best friend under the table for being so uncouth.

Ben's hand on her arm, stopped her from leaving the alcove. "I'm sorry, Rey." She glanced at him over her shoulder. He had the wounded look in his eyes. All prior pretense gone and he stood before her as a man apologizing. "I've never had a girlfriend before. I thought you'd want me to buy you gifts and take care of you. That's how the guys at my club act for their significant others and when my father messed up, he always got my mother a huge present. I thought it was what you expected from me. I thought it was what I was supposed to do. I only wanted to make sure you were cared for. I never meant to take away your independence."

The tears she had pushed down before came back with vengeance at the sincerity in his voice. Slowly, she turned back towards him.

"You were right when you told me I am not your boyfriend. I'm not. I shouldn't have assumed it was what you wanted. I'm sorry."

"Ben." Her voice cracked as she tried to respond. Hearing him apologize and seeing how torn up he was about the entire ordeal broke down all her barriers. She couldn't hold back the water works anymore. One tear slipped free, running down her cheek, then another. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean it. I didn't know what we were doing. I wanted answers. I was starting to doubt how you felt about me."

He stepped forward, moving his hand to cradle her head, while the other arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. He was staring down at her, eyes unblinking when he spoke next. "You're the most important person in my life, Rey. I've felt connected to you since you punched me." She let out a teary-eyed chuckle at his confession. He ran the pad of his thumb across the bottom of her cheek, wiping away some of the tears. "Please tell me you feel it too."

"I've missed you," she sighed against him. "And I...I wanted — want you to be m..." She trailed off, once again letting her doubt get the best of her. He was right here, right in front of her and still she struggled to get the words out, but she didn't want to. She didn't want to struggle anymore. She wanted to let herself go. She wanted to let herself tumble forward into the unknown and let him catch her.

He ducked his head, not having to lean down as far as normal due to her added height. "Say it." She could feel herself trembling in his hold. They were about to cross into something. Rey could feel the weight of it pressing against her mind — something magnificent and life-altering. "I need to hear you say it, Rey."

She let herself fall into it.

"I want you to be my boyfriend...my person...whatever we decide to call it...just mine."

Ben didn't wait another second. He caught her lips with his own, enveloping her fully in his arms as he did. "I'm yours." He promised, breaking the kiss only to tell her what she needed to hear. "And you're mine." She nodded, tilting her face up to steal another kiss. He held her off.

"Say it."

"Yours."

When they returned to the table several minutes later, she didn't mind the fact her makeup was a mess, her dress was scrunched up, or that her hair was flat. Rey was too busy smiling to pay any attention to such trivial details. Apparently, Ben shared her state of euphoria, because neither of them noticed the red lipstick marks she had left on him, until Poe snorted and Finn glared at them.

"You two have something to tell us?"

A/N: Just in time for Star Wars day, here is the update you've all been waiting for. May the Fourth (and the Force) be with you always. Thank you to my loyal and oh so kind beta, AbyssalSpark, who without her caring assistance this story wouldn't be half as good as it is. Since doesn't allow links, consider coming to say hi on tumblr. Sufon created a beautiful Reylo comic inspired by this story and it is posted now under the ReyloComicAnthology's Vol. 2.