AN: I'll explain down below. . sorry. so sorry.


"She was cute," Henry commented as both he and Ben continued down the pier. Ben turned back to glance at the retreating figures of his classmates and nodded.

"Yeah, she was. She actually looked kind of familiar…" There was a familiarity to the curve of her smile, but Ben couldn't think of where he knew it from.

"Maybe from your dreams?" Ben snorted and lightly shoved his best friend. Henry chuckled and nudged him back, "Hey, she might be making a visit or two in mine for a while, especially if we'll be seeing more of her.

Ben chuckled, "And I'm sure Alice would just love to hear that."

Henry shrugged in almost nonchalance, but the mention of his girlfriend seemed to stiffen his back, "Hey man, Alice will be there too. It's a perfectly healthy practice to have fantasies about other partners. Even Alice says so."

"Oh really?" Ben asked, his eyebrows raising high toward his hairline. Henry was able to hold his gaze for a moment before letting it fall away.

"Well, she might have said…something like that. But, even if she didn't, it's not like she would ever know what I'm…dreaming. Alice can't read minds."

Ben struggled to keep to keep the smirk off his face. He kept his eyes fixed on his friend, steady and unwavering, and watched as Henry shifted uncomfortable. Finally he sighed and rolled his eyes, "Oh, alright. Just don't tell her okay? I don't want what I do with Alice to turn into fantasies too. I quite like where we've gotten in our relationship."

Ben snorted and nodded, "Whatever you say buddy." He turned away from Henry and caught sight of a familiar burly football player up ahead, "Oh, hey there's Jack and Ricky. Come on." The two approached Ben's brother and his friend from behind, realizing as they got closer that both boys were engaged in a heated conversation with a shorter, curvier figure. "Oh no," Ben sighed, "Its Adrian."

Coming up on the three, Ben and Henry caught the tail end of Adrian's frustrated scoff as well as the sight of Ricky rolling his eyes, "We've been over this Adrian."

"Yeah, yeah, you've moved on, whatever. I don't care, so have I. I just thought you'd like to know that I have too, so it doesn't have to be awkward tomorrow when we see each other."

Ricky nodded, though Ben could see he was holding back another eye roll, "Thanks for your consideration. Now, if you don't mind, we were just leaving."

He turned and caught sight of Ben and Henry nodding to them and to Jack to follow his lead, but Adrian pulled at his sleeve, "Seriously? You're not even a little curious as to who I got over you with? You used to get jealous at the thought of anyone coming near me—"

Ricky shrugged his arm out of her grip and scoffed, "Well, things have changed and I'm not interested in who you're letting in your pants so—"

"Alright," Ben cried out, stepping in between both his brother and Adrian. "Hey guys," he greeted, "So, this has obviously been a lovely little catch up, but I'm starving so I think it's best we get going. I am a growing boy you know?" He gently pushed his brother ahead, letting him take the lead knowing that he wouldn't like feeling like he was being led away and nodded at the fiery ex-girlfriend. "Adrian," he nodded, "always a pleasure."

She opened her mouth to argue back, but Ben silenced her with a pointed glance and turned away. Instead he turned his attention to his brother as Jack and Henry fell in step behind them. "Best not poke the angry tiger, huh?"

Ricky's jaw clenched and he seemed to bite back a scowl, "She started it."

Ben rolled his eyes, "Yeah well, again, tiger."

Ricky sighed and tossed an accusatory glance back at Jack, "Well, if someone had warned me she was coming our way we could have avoided the whole thing all together."

Jack shook his head ad held his hands up in surrender, "She came out of nowhere dude, and I promised myself I'd never get in between you and Adrian again. Not after last time."

Henry snorted, "You mean when you made out with her at the dance and the whole school was there to witness it, including Grace?" Jack glared at Henry, who shrunk away and distanced himself from the annoyed football captain.

Ricky just shook his head and stuffed his hands in his pockets, "Whatever, let's just go eat. I just want to forget Adrian all together."

Ben pursed his lips, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder, "We get it Ricky, but you know, I think Adrian just wants to feel like she mattered to you; that you cared for her. No one would blame you if you still-"

Ricky cut his brother off just as they reached the Mamma Mia Pizzeria and pulled open the heavy wooden door, "No. I don't. All Adrian and I ever did was hurt each other. We didn't actually care for one another. It was all sex and not the way two people who are supposed to care about each other should act, which wasn't fair to either of us."

Ben sighed, "Alright, alright. It's just…you were together for a long time and all that history can't be erased by just one summer."

Ben nodded at Gino the owner, who waved the boys down and nodded toward their regular table. Boykewich Butchers provided Gino with all his premium meat so they were frequent customers if only for the discounted slices. Ricky nodded toward Gino as well before pulling out his phone. Ben caught the light grow even dimmer in his brother's eyes as he shoved the phone back in his pocket, but nearly missed him mutter under his breath, "It can. Or…at least I thought it could. But I guess summer is really over."

Ricky headed toward the table, Jack and Henry following suit. The other three boys shared lingering looks of concerned, but collectively agreed that it was best to change the subject. Ben gave one last sigh as he took his place across from Ricky and forced a smile as Gino approached their table. "Ah, there are my favorite boys. So what'll it be?"

Ricky started, obviously needing the distraction, and Ben leaned back in his chair pretending to peruse the menu. His pocket vibrated against his thigh and he quickly fished out his phone to see he had received a message. Pressing the accept button he felt the weight in his heart for his brother get even heavier as he took in the message, 'Call me later if you can. XO.' It was from Adrian.


Amy stared at her reflection in the mirror and ran her hands over the maroon polo and plaid skirt. The Grant Academy emblem rested against her heart and she reached up to finger it gingerly with a tilt of her head. It was strange to be in uniform. Her school in New York had been more of a liberal school, very interested in all forms of expression, so she had seen all types of outfits. But she had never worn a uniform, sans her one for band. Still, she had never been one to experiment with her outfits so she couldn't really complain. It was actually nice to not have to worry about her wardrobe and at least she had some choices. Grant Academy had four polo shirts to choose from: maroon, white, golden-rod, and dark grey and those could be paired with plaid, khaki, or black bottoms: skirts, capris, or pants and that wasn't even including the P.E. uniform.

She sighed and turned to the side, going from the black knee high boots she had just slipped on up to her French braid. It wasn't too bad, she could get used to it. A knock came to the door. "Come in," she called out, adjusting a few of the bobby pins in her hair and straightening her polo once more.

She had assumed it was Grace, coming to check on if she was ready, but became surprised when her dad's reflection showed in her mirror. "Dad," she turned to find him smiling at her, "hey, uh…" she squirmed awkwardly under his gaze, "good morning."

"Good morning, and wow Ames, the uniform looks good on you. You really look like a Grant Academy Lancer."

Amy pursed her lips, "Thanks, I guess."

Her dad nodded and sighed deeply, his hands finding their way into his pockets as he stepped into the room. "I'm really glad you decided to come, Amy. I can't tell you how much it means to me for you to be here."

Amy nodded, "Yeah, I know dad." She walked over to her bag, laying on her bed beside her jacket, "It's nice to be here."

"Really?" Her dad asked, concern furrowing his brow, "You really mean that Ames?"

Amy sighed, not appreciating the feeling of being baited, but chose to ignore it, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be, dad."

George nodded, "I know. Or…" he sighed, "Or at least that's what I'd like to know."

Amy fought the urge to roll her eyes, but couldn't help but turn to her father sharply, "What's that supposed to mean?"

She watched as her dad shifted into a defensive stance and internally prepared herself battle, "Just that…I'd like to think that you're here because you want to be here, but the truth is if your mom hadn't been about to move half-way across the world for some dream job, you wouldn't be here."

At that Amy did roll her eyes, "Well, you're right dad. If mom hadn't gotten that job, I would still be in New York with my friends at my school and working the job that I really liked. But "the truth is" mom did get that job and I didn't want to tour around Asia like some kind of nomad. So, I'm here. I chose to come here." She lifted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and crossed her arms, staring her father down as frown grew before her eyes. "So, I'm sorry if it offends you that this is not my first choice, but I thought you'd be happy that it wasn't my last choice and that I was willing to give this a try at all, unlike Ashley who still wants nothing to do with you and your new life and new family. But, if I was wrong and that's not enough for you, then I can probably still call mom and meet her in Tokyo," she shook her head, "Up to you."

He reached out for her and tried to grab her as she went, but Amy shied away, "Hey Grace, you ready?"

Grace was coming up the stairs, clearly having heard something going on, but Amy was glad she took the cue and nodded her head. "Sure, come on let's go. Alice is outside." Amy smiled gratefully and kept walking, not sparing a look back at her dad.


Ben's phone vibrated across the desk as he was bent over tying his shoes. Out of instinct he reached over and answered, bringing the phone to his ear and expecting to hear Henry's voice.

"Hello?"

"Hey,"

Ben stiffened and froze, "Oh," he said, his breath catching in his throat, "Hey…good morning."

"You didn't call me last night."

Ben sighed and leaned back in his chair, running a hand down his face, "Yeah, sorry. I was going to, but when I got home Alice and Grace three-way called me with some issues about tomorrow's Welcome Back Rally and by the time we got it sorted I was so exhausted from talking to both of them that I knocked out. You didn't wait up did you?"

"No, oh no, I just…I was hoping to at least say good night to you last night."

She was so different when talking to him, sweet and not in the desperate way she seemed to be with his brother. He almost couldn't believe she was the same person that had nearly ripped his brother's head off, but that didn't change the fact that she was and that it had been bothering him since last night.

"So, how are you?" He started, deciding to begin small, hoping to build up to the harder topic of her lingering feelings for Ricky.

"I'm okay, just getting ready for school. It's so crazy that it's my last year you know? Time really does fly when you're not paying attention." She laughed and he couldn't help but think it sounded like music to him, especially when there was no malice or sarcasm in it. When it was pure and genuine, it was one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.

"Yeah," he agreed, "Can't say that Junior Year doesn't feel strange on me either. This is supposed to be the hardest year right?"

She chuckled again, "Yeah, but you'll do great. You always do, Mr. President."

He smiled, he was about to open his mouth and ask her about her classes, maybe ask about her college applications when she sighed, "So, listen…about last night…"

He stopped and nearly deflated, the sweet and funny Adrian he had come to know over the summer slipping away and slowly replaced by his brother's crazy ex-girlfriend, "Yeah," he sighed, "about that." Ben stared up at the ceiling and tried to find the words.

"Look Ben," she started, "What you walked in on was…it was not how I wanted that conversation to go okay? I really just wanted to say hi and tell him that I was finally okay with us breaking up. I wanted to kind of…you know, lay the foundation for a better year and…" she sighed, "I don't know it just got out of hand. He was so—so-"

"Ricky?" he supplied. Adrian laughed again, but this time it didn't sound as sweet.

"Yeah," silence fell between them and Ben felt it growing more and more uncomfortable as the seconds passed, "And well,"

"Listen, Adrian," he said, cutting her off this time, "I understand, really. Ricky can be infuriating sometimes but…" he bit his lip and crossed his legs, "But I think there is something to be said about where that conversation went last night. You could have just told him that you were over him and let him walk away, but…but you got upset because he wasn't interested in knowing it. You almost told him about everything and we agreed that we needed to wait. But you couldn't. You wanted to get a reaction out of him."

"That's not true-"

"Yes it is, Adrian. Yes it is and you know it." He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, "And you know what else? That's okay. Like I said to Ricky last night, I can't blame you for still feeling something for him. For wanting to know and feel like you mattered to him. You both were together for a long time and that's not going to go away after one summer, no matter what you or Ricky say. But with that…" he paused and tried to figure out how he was going to say what he wanted to say next, "With that I think it's best we not do this anymore."

"What?" she spit out harshly, the angry and defensive Adrian becoming clearer and clearer in his mind, "Ben? What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that, I like you. I do. I want to see if there is somewhere for us to go, but I don't think you're ready for that. I think a part of you still needs closure from Ricky and a part of him still needs closure from you. And until that happens we can't keep doing this. Whatever this is." He pursed his lips and stared down his khaki pants. "I think we had a really interesting and surprising summer together. One that I wish had never ended, but…" Ricky's words from last night came back to him, "maybe summer really is over."

He expected her to lash out, to get angry at him and start some kind of argument just as she always had with Ricky, but again she surprised him by sighing deeply into the phone, "Jeez, you Boykewich boys really know how to hurt a girl, don't you?"

"Adrian-"

"No, Ben. Seriously? I…I'll just see you around okay? Or not…whatever. Bye." And with that she hung up.

Ben hung his head, touching his chin down to his chest. He let the weight of the conversation pull him down until his head hung between his legs and ran a hand through his hair. "Great. Just great."


AN: I apologize profusely for the three month delay. It was not my intention to be that irresponsible, but the reality is that my current location, lack of consistent internet, and my job have just taken over my life. I will try really hard to update more often and stay inspired. It's doubly difficult when I can't even watch Secret Life (because it's not aired here) and I don't have strong enough internet to watch it on youtube. I did get to see the RAMY scenes from the Holiday special and were thrilled by them, but we won't get back to Ramy scenes in this story until my next update, which I'm hoping will by by this Wednesday evening. Hope there is enough drama to make you speculate some craziness up ahead (i.e. ben x adrian WHA?!) Review if you're still out there.