I own nothing this is just a figment of my imagination. The title and characters of this story are owned by Brenda Hampton & The Producers of ABC FAMILY CHANNEL SHOW "THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER. ENJOY

RED MEANS STOP; GREEN MEANS GO; YELLOW MEANS SLOW; & WHITE MEANS BLACKOUT!

I'm late," Ben said to him self as he hurriedly got out of bed and began to head to the bathroom in order to get dressed for school today. The past few weeks had been hectic for him ever since he hooked up with Dylan and they were as he thought a world wind romance. He was surprised at how much they had in common, and he was even more surprised when she revealed the she and her friends had been using marijuana since they were thirteen years old.

Going to an all girl school they had little to do and even fewer people to do it with. So she and her friends decided they would take it upon themselves to be the bad girls in school. Each school had a set of girls that were trouble and Dylan and her friends specifically her friend Raven were those girls. However they only got into relative trouble skipping classes, cutting from school, and every now and then they would also shoplift.

Ben was truly taken in awe with Dylan she was indeed trouble for him, and he knew it but for some reason he could not bare to be away from her. She was actually interested in him she enjoyed his corny jokes, she loved the same things he did and she didn't want to start a life with him. He was mesmerized by the fact that she enjoyed spending time with him just to be with him.

Amy he thought only wanted to be with him, because of the situation she was in, and he blamed himself for falling in love with her so fast without ever realizing the obvious. Amy was only with him because he had money, and he could provide a life for her that Ricky could not. He never tried to look at the situation he and Amy had in that way until the day she brought up the subject of her moving in with him. At first he was okay with Amy and John moving in with him, because it would allow him to be closer to both of them, and it would keep Ricky out of her bedroom. It would also help him build a relationship with John, but it was how Amy said it which made him think other wise.

FLASHBACK JANUARY 14 2010
"Come on Ben if we move in together and get engaged it means we'll be closer to one another and until we are married we can do other things together, Amy said as she closed her arms around his neck and kissed him."

PRESENT DAY JUNE 23, 2011
Ben hated hearing that from Amy that they could have sex if she was allowed to move in with he and his father. He remembered how Adrian mentioned to him that Amy was actually a gold digger looking for him to take care of her and John. She also made it a point to bring up that if he didn't have money would Amy really be interested in him instead of Ricky. She also said that if Ricky were to have the ability to take care of John like he could would they really be together.

As Ben began to get dressed for school he buttoned his shirt and began to understand that Adrian had been right. When his father began to help Ricky by giving him a job and the apartment Amy then began to distance herself from him and rely more on Ricky. So he guessed Adrian was right Amy was only with him because of what he could do for her and what Ricky could not.

But, he wondered "why was Adrian with me", he thought to himself. For a moment he thought the same thing of her she did make out pretty nice in the divorce settlement and she didn't really start to warm up to the idea of them together till after he gave her the ring Betty had given him. "I guess deep down Adrian was no better than Amy" he said to himself as he grabbed his keys off his nightstand looked himself over in the mirror, and headed downstairs. He was happy today it was only three weeks until his eighteenth birthday, and his father had given him back the keys to his car. His dad was somewhat upset about him ditching Mike at Geoff's, but considering he and Dylan wanted to be alone his father forgave him.

Ben still felt a little guilty for not telling his father the entire details of that night, but he didn't smoke the marijuana when Dylan passed it to him. He told his father that they just went for a drive up the coast and he made it back to the Geoff's paid the bill and made it back just in time for curfew so Leo was not that upset. Even though Ben knew he should tell his dad everything that happened that night, he really liked Dylan and he didn't want what she did sometimes to affect his relationship with her.

"Dad I'm headed to school," he said over his shoulder and opened the door. It was in that moment that Ben got a sharp pain in the center of his forehead. "Not again, he said to himself as he pinched his nose and tightly closed his eyes to overcome the pain he was having. As the pain subsided as quickly as it came he turned went back to his room and grabbed his final bottle of "Tylenol" from his medicine cabinet. He then ran down stairs and jumped into his car and headed towards school. As he passed Henry's house he saw the young man ahead of him walking slowly toward school. Usually Madison gave Henry a ride since the two had started to becoming closer, but if she wasn't there to give him one today then it was not his problem he thought to himself as he revved his engine and sped past his Henry toward school.

Ben pulled into the driveway of the school and saw Adrian kissing the same guy she was with from the party. Omar was the name Grace had told Alice who told him. But, Ben was not interested what Adrian did or who she did it. Although she was still his legal wife, and his friend if he they still were, they were no longer together and she was no longer his concern. He was free of the entire dramatic situation. He was free of Amy; Ricky; John; Henry; and Adrian. Sure he would still be friends with Adrian, but he no longer would share his life with her. He felt a little sad to himself as he came to that final thought.

Ben let, that thought sit on his mind for a moment sharing his life with Adrian. Once upon a time he thought to himself he couldn't wait to spend his life with her. He wanted to be her husband, and father to their child, but when it came so close to being true he was scared. He was only seventeen and he felt as if his life was ending as his wedding to Adrian drew near, but it was on the day of his wedding seeing her stand there looking at him just as scared. It was that moment that he knew he truly loved Adrian and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

But, that was then and this is now. Adrian and he lost their daughter, he yelled at her and hurt her. She in turn hurt him by declaring her love for Ricky, kicking him out of their home, and sleeping with his best friend. "Why is it he wondered "Why do the ones we love the most hurt us the most"? He slowly grabbed his books and headed into the school. As he made it inside he noticed that the hallways were empty and he was alone, which meant that he was late and needed an excuse. He went to his locker placed his back pack inside, and went to see the guidance counselor.

Ben, went down the hall and knocked on Kaitlynn's door who, put on a big smile as the young man walked into her office. "Well I hope this is not about your cousin coming to visit agian," she said as he sat down. "No, and I am still sorry for that incident, I just came to get a late excuse." Ben said remembering how Dylan and her friends came to school to visit one day. "But, as I said then that will not ever, ever, happen again and I swear I will do my best to keep Dylan and her friends on a tight leash," he said witha smile. "Well, I hope you do Ben," Kaitlynn replied as she looked at Ben with a concerend smile.

"But, Ben I am just wondering how are you doing after all that has happened?" "What do you mean," Ben replied" "Ben you have gone through some pretty emotional and tragic events in the past few months, no past few years." "I know from the files that you are a very optimistic, and caring young man, but I don't believe anyone who has endured as much as you have can go through all of this at such a young age and come out unscathed, " she told him becoming very serious.

"Well, I guess I'm just one of those guys who lets bad things roll off his shoulders", Ben said with a grin. "Ben please be serious." Kaitlynn responded. "You have lost your child, and you are getting a divorce from a girl that for all I can tell you really cared for." "You also watched the first girl you ever loved get engaged to a man who, was your friend but for the most part caused the end of your marriage." "On top of that your best friend slept with your wife, and there is still a video of you online passing out drunk at Geoff's."

"I have never met anyone so young, and good natured endure all that, and then be able to just let it roll off your shoulders." "Ben I am worried about you and your relationship with this girl Dylan, on the academic side from what I have learned about her she is an A student at her school with she and all her friends, but they are also responsible for getting into a lot of trouble as well." "I'm just worried your relationship with someone like her, after all that you have been through might just be dangerous."

"Dylan isn't dangerous she is someone who I care alot about," Ben replied becoming frustrated as his headache returned once again. "Look Ms. O'Malley, I know that my life in the past has been full of alot of problems, but you don't have to worry about me and Dylan." "Dylan isn't like Amy, or Adrian "he said aloud not knowing Adrian who was also late was standing outside the doorway. "Dylan is nice, kind, sweet, and unlike them she doesn't want to hurt me, or use me, or make a fool of me like they did."

"Dylan might have a few flaws, but who am I to complain, Ben responded. "She likes me for me, she doesn't like me because she is pregnant, like Amy and Adrian did." "She is still a virgin unlike both of them, and she has never met Ricky Underwood, so I never have to worry about her falling in love with him and only setteling for me, because he no longer has use for her like he did with Adrian." "Ben, Kaitlynn said calmly, I know that both Amy, and Adrian hurt you but I am certain they really cared about you, she said trying to calm the now irritated young man." "Well, if that were true would we really be having this conversation, Ben replied now a bit angry and unsettled because of his headache."

"The truth is I was just a stupid guy that fell for the wrong woman twice, and I paid for both mistakes, heavily." "In the end Amy was always in love with Ricky, and Adrian just didn't want me." "I'm able to accept that, and live with it", Ben replied. "Ben, I'm just wondering how can you, I have read and seen cases of kids, who have gone though less than what you have endured, and they all turned to bad behaviours to deal with their problems." "I'm just trying to make sure, that Dylan is not your choice of bad habit to deal with your broblems, Kaitlynn said, sounding very concerned. "Well if she is my poison at least she can do no more damage than the first two." Ben said looking unconcerned for Kaitlynns worry. "Ben, I wouldn't be so sure about that Kaitlynn said as she gave him an excuse and he got up to leave.

As Ben, headed out the doorway he ran into Adrian who was standing outside and overheard the entire conversation. "Hi Ben, she said as he turned to acknowledge her. "Hi, he replied back and prepared to get to class." "Ben wait, can I talk to you a minute?" Adrian asked. "Well, I really have to get to class, and I'm already late can it wait until later," he said not wanting to talk to her.

This having been the first conversation either have had with the other since they saw one another at Geoff's three weeks ago. "Ben, we're both late this will only take a minute," she said touching his arm. That touch remembered Ben as he felt it sent a fire through him, and he quickly repressed that feeling Adrian would always give him. That sensation of passion and wonderment, a feeling that he now tried to erase from his heart about Adrian, and tried unsuccessfully to have for Dylan.

Fine what is it that you want to talk about?" Ben said still irritated and trying to avoid his now pounding headache. "I overheard your conversation in the counselor's office, and I wanted to know is what she said true? Adrian asked looking at him intently. Ben turned away from her gaze realizing that her eyes as he remembered always had a hyptnotizing affect on him. "What are you talking about, he asked?" "Are you letting this Dylan chic guide you down the wrong road as some way to deal with whatever problems you have." "And those problems would be, what exactly," Ben responded.

"Because I don't have any problems anymore, he said hunching his shoulders." "I'm happy, you're happy, and so are Amy and Ricky", he said nonchalantly. None of us should have any problems anymore." "You and I are not teenage parents , Amy and Ricky are engaged and living together raising their son." "I finally got to see the louse of a friend Henry was." "And you get to date any guy you want, instead of being trapped in a loveless marriage with me, just so we can compete in some stupid competition with Amy and Ricky that we were never going to win anyway." "So I have no problems," he said with a synical grin and voice, that almost made Adrian shudder.

"Ben, you don't have to say it like that" Adrian replied becoming saddened at his words. "Like what", he responded coldly. "Like you and I never meant anything to each other", she said in a voice that was both angry and sad. "Did we ever mean anything to each other Adrian?" Ben responded coldly. "We only started out as friends to keep them apart, and look what happened." "Because we only slept together, to get even with Amy and Ricky." "Lets, just face it you and I, the pregnancy was a mistake, and our daughter dying proved that." "Heck our marriage proved that, he said looking at her coldly." "Ben, I don't know what is wrong with you or why you are acting like this, but we both know that isn't true," she said now getting upset.

"Adrian if it wasn't true then would we be standing here talking like this?" "Would you really be sleeping with other men in our bed, while still wearing my engagement ring?" "I think it is true, and even if it weren't true then its becoming true now isn't it," he said feeling angry and upset at himself and her. "Ben, I'm just trying to warn you to be careful with this girl," Adrian said composing herself. "Because as your friend, and your still legal wife I am trying to look out for you, she said dryly. "Other wise Dylan will get you into even more trouble than I did," she said dryly.

"Well, Adrian as my friend, and my legal wife I'm asking you too mind your own business." 'I don't try and control what you do in your life or who you do it with." And as my soon to be ex-wife I have to remind you, this is my life and soon you won't have a say in what I do, or who I do it with. Adrian and Ben then separated from one another both feeling hurt and angry about the conversation. Adrian, turned as he walked away and let the tears she had been holding back fall from her eyes and went into the ladies room. Ben just let a tear fall from his eye as he felt angry with himself for the words he had spoken, and instead of going to get the aspirin for his headache decided to suffer through the pain as a punishment for how he knew he hurt Adrian with his lies and his words to her.

School Day Ends Jeurgens Household (Kitchen)
"Ashley where did you move the granola bars, I had them up here on the shelf in the pantry," Amy yelled as she went on a frantic search for the item in the kitchen. "Their in the cabinet over the stove Amy, so stop complaining, Ashley replied as she came into the kitchen with her suit case. "God why is it you have to be move everything around Ashley," Amy whined as she retrieved the granola bars.

"Amy what are you talking about Dad bought those for everyone so why are you so mad about where I move stuff," Ashely replied becoming angry with her sisters attitude. "I would just like it if when I come home, and I'm hungry that I could come into the kitchen and get my snack without having to go on a scavenger hunt for it", she replied with a huff.

"But, this isn't your home Amy, at least not anymore anyways," Ashley responded getting upset. "You don't live here anymore remember you live with Ricky your fiancee, and John your son, over the butcher shop. "Dad, and Nora, live here now." "And sometimes mom and I stay here when we aren't traveling around the world," Ashley retorted, as she placed her suitcase on the kitchen table. "Don't remind me," Amy said getting mad as she bit into her granola bar.

"Amy I don't see what your problem is these days, ever since I got back you have been complaining and getting upset at everyone." Ashley responded back to her. "I can understand if you were mad at me since we haven't been that close lately, but you should really lighten up." Geez! Ashely said running her hand through her hair and fastening the lock on her suitcase. "Why are you so irritated then Ashley, I mean if anyone should be in a good mood its you." Amy said back with anger.

"You're the one who got to go all across the country seeing America on a road trip with your boyfriend." "And then you got to shack up with him in Miami for months, and now you haven't even been back three weeks and you're getting ready to go to Europe with mom." Amy said angrily as her sister removed her suit case from the table and sat down in a chair.

"Yeah, Amy I am going on a trip to Europe with mom, and yes I did get to go on a road trip with my boyfriend." "But, no I didn't shack up with him, we both had our own rooms, shacking up is what you did with Ricky while I was away until, he finally proposed to you," she said in a very sour tone. "Unlike you Amy I'm still a virgin, I don't need to have sex with a guy to keep him, or at least guys not like Ricky. "Is that what this about Ashley?" "Are you jealous of me and Ricky, because he and I are engaged and you still have this stupid crush on him.

"No, Amy I don't. But thank you for reminding me of the fool I made of myself when I developed feelings for him, after he spent months flirting with me, while you were the mother of his child, and living in the same house." "I've realized that I can do better than Ricky, and I did do better than Ricky when I was with Grant, but that was my bad." Ashley said coldly. "What I think is that you are jealous of me for what I can do, and everyone else can do, but you can't." Ashley replied with a sarcastic tone and expression. "And what's that, Ashley" Amy said with a sneered look. "Whatever we want, and with whoever we want, because, none of us are trapped like you and Ricky are," Ashley retorted in her own signature style.

"I don't want to travel all over the world hooking up with random people Ashley, I've already learned my lesson from doing that the first time, Amy replied. "Really, if you have then why are you marrying the guy you shacked up with getting ready to spend the rest of your life with him, and your son." Ashley asked. "I'm marrying Ricky because I love him, and want to spend the rest of my life with him, thats why Ashley" "And you're just being bitter because you still have feelings for him and you're jealous of how happy we are." Amy replied back.

"Amy if you and Ricky are so happy, in love, and ready to spend the rest of your lives together how come you aren't married to him already." "I mean have you even started to prepare for a wedding." "Its not like you need mom and dad's permission. You're almost eighteen and Ben wasn't even eighteen when he married Adrian." "You could just have yourself emancipated like he did, its not like mom and dad can control you, if they really ever controlled you."

"Why aren't you working to save up for the wedding, instead of in summer shool, or even still in school?" "I'm only sixteen and I'm getting ready to go to college, and I don't even have a kid or a fiancee to take care of Amy." "So what is the problem, huh?" "I think you aren't happy because if you were then you would have already married Ricky. " I think you are finally starting to realize this is it, and you're scared." Ashley said looking at her sister with a sternful expression.

"Why would I be scared to marry Ricky, Ashley he's the father of my son and he loves me!" Amy said angrily staring at her sister. "Maybe, but do you love him is the question I'm wondering Amy," Ashley said in response. "I mean if you ask me you are more like dad than I am, he loved, and married mom and for the same reason, Nora and Bob, and most recently Ben and Adrian, got married, for their kids. I think you are marrying Ricky, because of John, and you think you love him, or that you're suppose to love him because he's John's father."

"But, lets face it Amy, you, me, Robbie, and even Ricky, are proof children can't keep a marriage together." "Heck in Ben and Adrian's case children are what tore them apart, or lack there of." "And after seeing what,our parents, and what Ben and Adrian are going through, or still going through. I thought both you and Ricky would have both learned that by now," Ashley said as she picked up her suit case and carried it to the car. "Amy watched her sister leave, and sat down and thought about what her sister had said.

BOYKEYICH IND. 4:30 PM (Mailroom)
As Ben was heading to the door to punch out his time card he spied Dylan coming in from the sorting department, as he saw her he decided to follow her and see if they could get a quick make out session in the mailroom like last time. As he slowly snuck behind her he was shocked to see, an arm grab her from the supply closet and pull her in. As he was alarmed he went towards the room and instead of hearing sounds of a struggle he heard Dylan laughing and giggling as well as the sound of a familiar voice.

Stan, we can't not here what if someone see's us, Dylan said as she played with his collar. Dylan come on, no one saw and I've been missing you terribly. What if Ben comes by looking for me, you know we usually have our make out at this time, then pop a breath mint and go meet him. Ben is so naive, I mean I like the kid and all but seriously. He has sex with the slut at his highschool, and she ends up pregnant. Instead of thinking about if the baby is his or not, he claims it and marries her. If he didn't learn from his last mistake with that Amy chick, or his current wife he is clueless." Stan replied as he began to kiss and fondle Dylan.

"Stan, I like Ben, he's sweet and a really nice guy" Dylan responded as she began to work her hands around the fly on his pants. "I like him too, but right now I like you so much more, Stan said as Dylan got on her knees and undid his pants. "Ben didn't know what to do at that moment. "Why am I so stupid he said to himself as he opened the door on both of them." "Ben this isn't what it looks like Dylan replied, as she looked at him." "Really then what is it did you trip and accidentally pull his pants down and his dick landed in your mouth or something." Ben said coldly. "You know what I quit, and Stan don't worry I wont tell you can keep your job and your slut." Ben said as he left the room and the building.

Ben then went to his car got in started the engine and began to drive toward home. "WHY AM I SUCH AN IDIOT!" he yelled to himself as he went down the highway. "Not once, not twice, but three times Ben" "GOD, why do you continue to put me through this did I do something to piss you off or something." he said getting angrier. As Ben drove toward an intersection the light was green and he began to increase speed to try and beat the red light as he continued to increase speed, he felt immense pain and pounding from his headache.

In the past his headaches had hurt but this pain was too hard to even put into words. As he tried to focus on the road the pain became blinding and he saw the light turn yellow then red, then he saw a flash of white light as he went unconscous from the pain. That was all he saw before the semi truck on the passenger side plowed into his Mercedes after sounding its horn.