Connection

It had been a week since Ben started staying at the loft. Tripp couldn't stand how close Ben and Ciara were getting.

Ben woke up and started making pancakes. Ciara was still asleep, and Tripp and Claire already left for work.

Ciara woke up when she smelled breakfast cooking. She walked out to the kitchen and saw Ben standing there shirtless.

" Hey, I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

Ciara just stood there watching him flip pancakes.

" Ciara?"

" Sorry, did you say something?"

" I just asked if I woke you up."

" Oh, no, I could smell breakfast."

" It's almost ready; are you hungry?"

" Starving."

" Take a seat; I'll bring them to you."

Ciara sat at the table and continued to watch him.

Ben put the pancakes on a plate and brought them to the table. He went to the counter and grabbed the syrup, plates, silverware, and napkins.

Ben sat next to Ciara, put some pancakes on a plate, and handed it to her.

" Thank you."

" You're welcome."

" I should put a shirt on."

" You don't have to."

" I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

" I'm not."

They smiled at each other and continued to eat breakfast.

" So, what do you have planned for today?"

" Not much, some school work. What about you?"

" I was thinking of going for a run and then handing out more resumes."

" You've been going on runs and walks a lot; is everything okay?"

" Yeah, they help me clear my head."

" Is this about the fire? I know you would never hurt me, Ben."

" I wish everyone else felt that way; see that I've changed."

" This is why I wanted to leave town because everyone here sees me as the necktie killer. I'll never be able to find a job."

" Ciara put her hand on his and said, "Hey, we'll figure it out, okay?"

Ben went to clean up the plates when Ciara put her hand on his arm and said, " You cooked, I'll clean up."

" You're letting me stay here rent-free; the least I can do is cook and clean up."

Ben started washing the dishes when Ciara walked over and joined him.

Ben washed, and Ciara dried; they laughed and talked the whole time.

After the dishes, Ben changed his clothes and went for a run.

Ciara started her schoolwork but was distracted; all she could think about was her breakfast with Ben and how much fun they had doing the dishes together.

Ciara's phone started to ring, it was Tripp. She hit decline just as Ben came back from his run.

" Hey, that was fast."

" Yeah, I ran into Chad, and his coffee spilled all over me."

" Are you okay?"

" Yeah, I just need a shower and a new shirt."

Ben walked over to his bag and pulled out his last clean shirt.

" I guess I need to do a load of laundry; this is my last clean shirt."

" I can throw your clothes in the wash while you shower?"

" I can't ask you to do that."

" You didn't, I offered."

Ciara handed Ben a basket he put his clothes in and gave it to her.

While Ben showered, Ciara threw his clothes into the wash.

Ben realized he left his clothes on the couch and walked out in his towel. Ciara grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge; she dropped it when Ben walked out.

" Sorry, I left my clothes," Ben said as he walked to the couch.

Ciara just smiled at him and went back to the desk.

Ben got dressed and said he was going for a walk and would be back soon.

While he was gone, his laundry finished; Ciara took everything out and folded it. She placed his clean laundry at the end of the couch.

Ben was still gone, so Ciara made her grandmother's donuts for Ben.

An hour later, Ben walked in and heard the smoke detector going off and smoke in the loft. Ciara was standing on a chair waving a towel, trying to stop the smoke detector.

" Ciara?"

" Hey, sorry, I was trying to make donuts for you, but I burnt them," Ciara said, laughing.

Ciara stepped back on the chair and lost her balance. Ben ran over just in time to catch her.

" You okay?"

" Yeah, I just lost my balance."

Ben held Ciara in his arms, and they continued to look at each other.

Ciara cleared her throat, and Ben placed her down.

" You were gone a while."

" Yeah. I took a walk, then handed out some resumes."

" Did you also help someone fix their car?"

" What?"

"You have grease on your shirt."

" Oh, I stopped by a garage to see if they had any openings. I leaned against the counter."

Ciara could tell Ben wasn't telling the truth but didn't push him on it.

" So you said you were making donuts; can I help?"

" This batch is ruined," Ciara said as she dumped it in the trash.

" It was sweet of you to try. I'll help you clean this up. Then I'll cook dinner."

" Tripp and Claire should be back in a half hour."

Ben and Ciara cleaned up the mess she made. Then Ben started dinner.

Tripp and Claire walked in just as Ciara finished setting the table.

" Hey, guys, perfect timing. Ben just finished making dinner."

Ben placed a bowl of pasta on the table, along with salad and garlic bread fresh from the oven.

Ben and Ciara sat at the table.

" Are you going to join us?"

Claire smiled and said, " Sure, I'm starving."

Ciara looked at Tripp and said, " Are you eating?"

" I would rather starve than eat something cooked by him."

Ben put his head down. And said, " Maybe I should go?"

Ciara looked at Ben and said, " You do not have to leave."

Tripp looked at Ciara and said, " I think he should leave."

" Ben, this pasta is great," Claire said as she took another bite.

" Thanks, enjoy it. I'll be back later."

Ben placed his napkin on the table and stood up.

He grabbed his coat and walked out the door.

Tripp smiled and said finally, we can be alone. I'll order some dinner, and we can have a date night.

" I already have dinner," Ciara said as she put some salad on her plate. She grabbed a piece of garlic bread and dipped it in the pasta.

" Ben's a great cook," Claire said as she finished her pasta.

" He is. You should try his pancakes."

Tripp just sat there and watched Ciara and Claire talk about how great Ben is at cooking.

After dinner, Ciara did the dishes and put the leftovers away for Ben.

Tripp came down the stairs just as Ciara closed the fridge door.

" Hey, do you want to watch a movie?"

" I have some schoolwork to do."

" Are you mad at me?"

" Yes, I am. Ben took the time to cook for us, and you tell him he needs to leave."

" He's always around; how are we supposed to be close when he is here?"

" So that's what this is about us being close."

" Ever since he moved in, you never want us to be alone."

" He has no one; I'm just trying to to his friend."

" He tried to kill you."

" He didn't do it, Tripp, I believe him."

" Well I don't, he's dangerous."

" You don't know him; he's kind and caring."

" He kept you at that cabin instead of bringing you home."

" He didn't keep me there. I wanted to stay."

" Why do you keep defending him?"

" I know how you feel about him. Tripp, he's been here over a week and hasn't hurt any of us. He's changed."

" He's cooked and cleaned. He doesn't touch any of our stuff without asking first."

" I'm going to my room. Don't follow me," Ciara said as she walked past Tripp to her room.

Tripp watched Ciara walk away before sitting in the chair. " I'll get you, Weston, I'll get you," Tripp said.