"What are we watching?" Ben asked as he sat down on his couch between the arm rest and Kathryn. It was their third movie of the night but Ben didn't mind because their movie nights could go on forever. And it wasn't like either of them had class on Sunday.

Kathryn scooted over to make him more space as she tucked her legs underneath her. "Sweet Home Alabama," Kathryn grinned. "Your favorite movie ever!" Ben couldn't help but groan and roll his eyes at the same time. Of all the movies she had to find…

"I don't understand your fascination with this movie," Ben told her as he put his arm on the back of the couch. "It's not very original. In fact, it's very unoriginal."

"You're just upset that it takes place in the south," Kathryn told him as she poked him in the chest. "Make up your mind; are you a Southerner or a Midwesterner? You can't be both Benjamin."

"Pulling out the first name card, I see how it is."

"Good. Cause that's how it is."

"Sally."

"That doesn't even work! My first name isn't Sally."

"But it was going to be."

"But thankfully my mom convinced my dad out of it."

"Named after the first two American women in space. Such big accomplishments to live up to on such a small girl."

"First of, shut up. Secondly one was the first women to walk on the moon; the other was the first women in space. Thirdly, your name is Benjamin Orion Benedict. Besides the fact that Ben derives from both Benjamin and Benedict, your middle name is Orion. Your initials spell out BOB!" By then end, the two friends were in a fit of laughter, facing each other. They'd gotten in each other's face that they both realized how close they really were at the same time. Ben could smell Kathryn's perfume; Kathryn could smell Ben's aftershave. Their breathing was heavy from laughing so hard, and each one had a smile on their face. Ben saw his chance and did the one thing he had wanted to do for a long time.

He kissed his best friend.

Kathryn loved many things. She loved strawberries with sugar sprinkled over them. She loved when it was a clear day and the sun wasn't too bright and there was a gentle breeze. She loved babies and kids. She loved watching the stars at night and connecting them into figures that didn't exist. But most importantly, she loved spending time with Ben.

He had tried to be her friend since her first day in that Midwestern boarding school. Not only that, but it had also been her first day back in the States from spending her middle school years in an English finishing school. She could remember feeling completely lost and disoriented by the campus, and no doubt it showed on her face because a boy came over to help her out. Upon learning that it was her first day and she was completely lost, he took her under his wing. That boy was of course Ben. He knew the school backwards and forwards; both of his parents had gone there and his half-sister had graduated last spring. He had shown her the ins and outs of the school, gave her the most important information on teachers, classes and students.

It took her a while, but Kathryn finally settled into the life of a boarder and let Ben get closer to her once she figured out he wasn't out to get her. Back then, Kathryn had still been competing and training in competitive gymnastics, so it wasn't like she was always in school. But Ben had been there to help her out first semester and sweet-talked teachers for extensions behind her back. Somehow they had ended up being really close, and when he had found out she'd be staying on campus for the winter holidays, he immediately declared she was going South with him and he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Then she told him the truth, of her nightmares and her past. How she had been born a Tracy, kidnapped at seven turning eight, and essentially put into a protective plan set up by her brothers and father, leading her to become Swicord.

As the years past, Ben had been whatever she needed of him. Mentor, friend, brother figure, best-friend. He had been the one to punch Mike Lucadis for telling everyone that he had hooked up with her after sophomore Homecoming, and "went all the way". He had been the one every single one of her important meets, even Worlds. He had been the one to attempt teach her how to drive a tractor and a car, how to fish and swing a baseball bat correctly. He had made fun of her when she had tried to cut her own hair, when the fish won and she fell overboard, when she fell into one of his pranks. He had been the one who failed the US History partner final with her and to this day still called them dream-team.

Ben had always been there for her, and she knew he would always be there for her. All Kathryn couldn't figure out was the moment when she stopped looking at him as her best friend and more as a boy. An eligible and single young man. There more she tried to talk herself out of liking him, the more she found herself liking him.

But she couldn't do it to Ben. He was so sure of who he was and what he wanted, that it didn't seem fair to Kathryn to drag him into her uncertainty. Because Kathryn was so uncertain, about everything. She knew she hid it well, because there were times when she even fooled herself into believing that she was fine. But she wasn't. Not only did she still carry the trauma and the emotional scares of that horrible day and its aftermath, but she had no idea who she was or who she wanted to become.

After the incident at Olympic team tryouts, which not only left her out of the Olympics but the gymnastics world, Kathryn had no idea what she had wanted. For years her goal had been the Olympics, to prove not only to herself that she could do it, but to her family. Prove she was worthy of the Tracy name; but she was constantly feeling like that was something she shouldn't have to be prove. She knew the sacrifices made to protect her, but since then she had just felt so out of place. Her conversations with family were usually short because any longer would just get awkward. Every day she drifted farther from them until there was a canyon in between and they all just lived in different worlds.

The point was, essentially, that she couldn't be with Ben because he deserved better. He had this bright future as a doctor, not to mention he was from a great and wealthy family and she was just this girl who didn't know anything about herself or plans for the future. As far as most of the world knew, she didn't even exist. Sure the people of small town Kansas knew, and anyone who believed the tabloids, but that's it. And she didn't want to lie to his family anymore.

And being around Ben only tortured her, but she couldn't go without him. He was just too ingrained into her daily routine to keep him away. So when they ended up next to each other on the couch, she didn't think anything of it. When they started teasing each other, she didn't think anything of it. When they were getting in each other's faces, she didn't think anything of it. When they stopped and just smiled at each other, she didn't think anything of it.

When he kissed her, she stopped thinking. As ridiculous as it would sound, Kathryn swore time seemed to slow to a stop as his lips touched hers. At first she froze, surprised by his actions, then something took over her movements because before she knew it, Kathryn was kissing him back. Her hands were moving slowly upwards and wrapped around his neck, her fingers weaving themselves between his hair. She felt his hands on her hips as he brought her onto his lap, tilting his head slightly to deepen their kiss.

Kathryn knew she should be stopping the kiss, before someone got hurt, but she couldn't bring herself to do. This was what she wanted for so long, aware how selfish this made her. But she figured she should get what she wanted once in a while.

But even dreams have to come to an end. Kathryn had forgotten her cell phone was in her front pocket until it vibrated violently between the two of them. The sudden noise and sensation brought them both back and Kathryn even jumped slightly. Kathryn looked up at Ben to see him with a cocky grin on his face.

A blush crept over her face as she fumbled for her phone. She looked down, her hair falling forward as she pulled her phone out to see who was calling. Kathryn didn't get a chance to check because Ben's hand appeared and lifted her chin, making her look at him. Kathryn watched as his other hand pushed back her hair, running his fingers through it. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you blush before," he noted, caressing her cheek with his thumb.

"You've never kissed me before," Kathryn pointed out. Ben chuckled and nodded. The phone went off again violently in her hands, causing them both too look down at the caller ID. V and T were the initials and Kathryn frowned slightly. She only knew one person with those initials and she hadn't even known his number was in her phone.

"You should pick it up," Ben said as Kathryn looked back up at him. "It's probably important if he's calling you Katie." She grinned and slid off his lap before standing.

"I'll be right back," She told him and turned to leave when she felt Ben's hand on her arm. He spun her towards him and wrapped his arms around her.

"Soon," he told her, before kissing her softly once more. "I'm never going to get tired of doing that." He told her when he let her go. "Or seeing your blush afterwards."

Kathryn felt guilty, because she knew she was going to have to tell Ben there couldn't be a next time. Because unlike the movies they watched, they just weren't right for each other. So she managed a small smile and went out the door.

The hall was quiet and dark as she stepped outside. Taking a deep breath, Kathryn opened her phone on its last ring. "Virgil?" she asked, still surprised to see her brother calling.

"Kathryn, finally!" Virgil said, sound frustrated and relieved. "Where are you?"

"In my Hall, why?" Kathryn asked, making her way to her room. She listened closer and could hear Alan in the background asking for directions. "Virgil, where are you?"

"Princeton. Somewhere between Lockhart and Blair I think."

Kathryn was shocked. Her brothers were on campus, right now. To be honest she hadn't been a hundred percent sure they knew where she went. "What? Why?" It was all she could manage to say as she opened the door to her dorm and closed it behind her.

"We're picking you up," Virgil said. "Kathryn, which hall are you in?"

"Blair. First floor, fourth door on the right side of the hall," Kathryn said still confused. "Virgil, why are you picking me up? Virgil what's wrong?" She was starting to frighten herself as different scenarios played out in her head.

"We'll tell you later" Virgil said. "Pack a bag, and see if you can get someone online. If you do, tell them we're here and then don't get off until Alan and I get in there. Do you understand?" Kathryn nodded her head. "Kathryn!"

"Oh right, yeah, I understand." Kathryn repeated, forgetting her brother wouldn't see the nod. "Virgil, you can't get into the building without tapping in. There's a guard on duty right now and since you're not family he won't let you pass, I have to go down and get you myself." Virgil relayed the message to Alan and Kathryn heard him say something back.

"Alan says Dad did something. Or John did something; I don't know but don't leave your room. I have to go, we'll be there soon." And with that, Kathryn heard him disconnect. Doing what she was told; Kathryn moved to her desk and turned on her computer.

"Let someone pick up this time," she muttered as she clicked on the video record button on accident, then the video chat icon.

A/N: hehehe. Too bad the happiness won't last too long. Were would the fun in that be?