Hope you enjoy chapter 18! Thanks again for reading! :)

Don't Go Breaking My Heart

A week had passed since Ben and Adrian talked last. They decided to meet at the dairy shack.

"So, how are you?" Adrian asked nicely as she sat down in her chair.

Ben took a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of sadness and hope. "I've been...better," he said finally, his voice tight. "But I've had a lot to think about."

"Yeah, me too," Adrian said softly, her gaze dropping to the table. She felt the weight of his confession like a rock in her stomach.

Ben took a sip of his chocolate milkshake, the straw making a slurping noise as he tried to break the awkward silence. "I've missed you, Adrian. I know I hurt you, and I'm so sorry."

"Are you absolutely sure? What about Amy?" Adrian asked concerned as she looked at Ben.

Ben sighed heavily, setting his milkshake down. "I know what you're thinking, but I've realized that what I had with Amy was a mistake. I was just trying to fill a void that was never meant to be filled. You're the one who truly understands me, the one who makes me happy."

Adrian's eyes searched his, looking for any sign of doubt or insincerity. "But you kissed her! The night before our wedding!"

Ben's gaze dropped to the table, his face flushing with shame. "I know, and I regret it. It was a moment of weakness, a desperate attempt to hold onto something I thought I needed. But I was wrong, Adrian. You're the one I've always loved, and I can't live without you."

"No, don't say that to me! You're just saying that because she chose Ricky over you! This is like high school all over again. I can't do this!" Adrian said angrily as she stood up from her chair.

Ben's eyes widened as he reached for her arm. "Adrian, please sit down. That's not it at all. I'm telling you the truth." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "When I kissed Amy, it was because I was lost, confused, and maybe a little tipsy. Can you give me another chance?"

Her eyes searched his, looking for any signs of deceit, but all she saw was sincerity. She sighed heavily and sat back down, her arms folded across her chest. "What if it happens again, Ben?"

"It won't. I've had time to think, and I know now that you're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Amy was a mistake, and I'm so sorry for what I did. I'm ready to move on and start over with you." Ben said earnestly, his voice filled with conviction.

"Who are you trying to convice? Me or you?" Adrian said firmly with her arms still crossed.

"Both," Ben admitted, his voice cracking with emotion. "I know I messed up, but I'm telling you, I've never been more certain about anything in my life. I love you, Adrian."

"If that were true then let me ask you this, if Amy was still single would you love me?" Adrian asked seriously as she looked into Ben's eyes.

Ben took a deep breath as he moved his chair closer to her. "Yes, Adrian. I would love you. Amy being with Ricky doesn't change that. I made a mistake, and I'm here with you now because I realized that you're the one who makes me happy. You're the one I want to marry, have kids with, grow old with." He said with confidence.

Adrian studied his face, looking for any signs of doubt, but all she saw was a man desperately in love. "I just don't know anymore, Ben. Maybe you're meant to be with Amy. You've never loved me like her."

"That's not true," Ben said urgently, taking both of her hands in his. "My love for Amy was like a teenage crush that never went away, but it's different with you. You're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Adrian looked down at their joined hands, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers. It was a comfort she hadn't realized she'd missed. "You're really sweet, Ben. But I need to be honest with you about something."

Ben's heart sank, but he nodded for her to continue.

"I only got back with you because Omar left me and no other guy I dated wanted me either." Adrian said honestly.

Ben's eyes searched hers, the words cutting deeper than any knife could. "Is that what you think of us?" He asked, his voice tight with pain.

"I didn't mean it like that," Adrian said quickly, her eyes filling with tears. "It's just...I've been hurt so much, and I'm afraid to get hurt again."

Ben's thumbs traced the backs of her hands in a soothing rhythm. "I know, baby. And I'm sorry that I've contributed to that hurt. But I'm here now, and I'm going to do everything in my power to make it up to you."

Adrian's eyes searched his, and she felt the wall around her heart cracking. "What if we can't make it work?"

"Yeah Ben, what then?" Amy asked seriously from behind them.

Both Ben and Adrian jumped in surprise. Ben's eyes went wide with panic, his grip on Adrian's hand tightening involuntarily.

"Amy," he began, his voice strained. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm picking up burgers for my family. Sorry I couldn't help but overhear." Amy answered as she pushed her hair back.

Her eyes searched Ben's, looking for a reaction, but his face was a mask of shock and guilt. Adrian felt a stab of pain in her chest, her heart racing at the sight of the woman Ben had once loved standing in front of her.

"I guess I should go before things get ugly." Adrian said meanly as she stood up.

"Yeah, maybe you should. Don't want to cause a scene, do we?" Amy said firmly as she moved closer to the pick up counter.

Adrian felt a wave of anger wash over her. "I didn't cause anything. I was just trying to enjoy my night with the man I love." She retorted.

Amy raised an eyebrow, a hint of challenge in her gaze. "The man you love, or the man who's convenient now that I'm out of the picture?"

Adrian's cheeks flushed with anger, but she bit her tongue. She didn't want to cause a scene in public. "I'll let you two sort that out," she said coldly, pulling her hand away from Ben's grip. She turned to leave, her heels clicking against the tiles as she walked out of the dairy shack.

Ben was quick to follow, calling after her. "Adrian, wait!"

"Stop embarassing yourself, Ben. It's pathetic. Obviously Adrian doesn't want you." Amy said spitefully as she grabbed her bag of burgers and headed towards the door.

Ben ran over to the door before Amy could walk out.

"What do you want, Ben? I have to go." Amy said annoyed as she looked at Ben.

Ben turned to Amy, his eyes desperate. "I need to talk to her, please. Just wait here." He pleaded as he stepped outside, catching up to Adrian's retreating figure.

Amy rolled her eyes, but didn't protest, taking a seat at one of the outdoor tables, popping a fry into her mouth.

The cool evening air was a stark contrast to the heat of the moment inside. Ben reached Adrian just as she was about to open her car door. "Adrian, please," he called out, his voice laced with desperation.

Adrian stopped, her hand hovering over the door handle. She turned to face him, her eyes searching his. "What do you want, Ben?" she asked, her voice a mix of anger and sadness.

"I just...I need to explain," he stammered, his breath coming in short bursts. "What you heard in there, it's not what it sounded like. I love you, Adrian. You know that."

Her eyes searched his, looking for the truth. "Yeah, sure you do. I have to go." Adrian said meanly as she opened her car door.

"Wait! Let's talk about this," Ben pleaded, his voice strained with desperation.

Adrian turned to face him, her eyes flashing with anger. "What's there to talk about? You've been lying to me all along!"

"I didn't lie, I just didn't tell you everything," Ben replied, his voice laced with frustration. "Amy and I have a past, but it's just that – the past. My love for you is real and it's right now."

"Good night Ben!" Adrian said loudly and she got in her car.

Ben's eyes followed her as she started the engine and drove off into the night, leaving him standing alone in the cold. He felt his heart drop to his stomach as the taillights grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared.

He knew he had to do something. He couldn't lose Adrian like this, not after all they'd been through. He turned around and saw Amy standing there, her arms folded across her chest.

"Looks like you've made quite the mess," Amy said coldly. "What were you thinking, confessing to her like that?"

Ben sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I just wanted to clear the air. I didn't want any secrets between us."

"Well, you certainly achieved that," Amy said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But now what? You've hurt her and probably lost her for good. And for what? A moment of honesty that she wasn't ready for?"

Ben's jaw clenched, his fists balling at his sides. "It wasn't like that, Amy. I had to tell her the truth. I couldn't keep living a lie."

Amy's expression softened, but the chill in her voice remained. "I get that, Ben. But maybe there was a better way. You can't just blurt out something like that and expect her to understand."

Ben took a deep breath, the weight of his actions settling heavily on his shoulders. "You're right," he murmured. "But it's done now. What's important is fixing it."

"Are you sure you want to fix it? Cause I still think about you and me." Amy said quietly as she moved closer to Ben.

Ben's eyes searched hers, the conflict playing out on his face like a silent movie. "Amy, I don't know what I want anymore," he said, his voice filled with regret and confusion.

"Really? If we went back to your place, you wouldn't be ok with that?" Amy asked honestly after licking her lips.

Ben's gaze dropped to the ground, his voice low. "Now who's being pathetic? I can't just throw away what I have with Adrian because of you."

"Ha ha, relax Ben. I was just teasing you. I'm in love with Ricky and we're going to get married. Good luck with Adrian, that is if you really love her." Amy said smiling and then kindly as she patted Ben's arm.

Ben nodded, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. "Thanks, Amy. I'll figure it out." He watched her walk away, his thoughts swirling.

He turned and made his way back to his car, the cold night air doing little to cool the heat of his thoughts. As he drove through the quiet streets, the glow of the dashboard lights cast eerie shadows on his face, highlighting the furrows of tension that had etched themselves into his forehead.

Adrian's words echoed in his mind, her accusations of deceit and manipulation stinging like a fresh wound. He knew he had hurt her, but he had never meant to cause her pain. He had been driven by fear and love, a toxic blend that had led him down a path of half-truths and misunderstandings.

After driving home Amy walked through the front door and went into the kitchen where Ricky and John were waiting for her.

"What took you so long? Were they busy?" Ricky asked concerned.

"Yeah...they, they were busy." Amy stuttered awkwardly as she sat down at the kitchen island.

Ricky's eyes searched hers, and she knew he could sense something was off. "What's wrong, babe?" He asked, setting down the beer bottle he had been holding.

Amy took a deep breath, her eyes welling up with tears. "I saw Ben at the dairy shack. He was with Adrian, telling her he loves her." She said, her voice shaking. John was silently eating his burger and fries as he looked at his parents.

Ricky's expression grew serious as he moved closer to her. "What happened?" He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Amy wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to compose herself. "He said...he said he had to tell her everything. That he didn't want any secrets between them." The words tasted bitter in her mouth.

Ricky's grip tightened on her shoulder. "And what did she say?" His voice was a low murmur, filled with concern.

Amy sniffed, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. "They had a fight. She said she didn't know if she could trust him anymore. And then she just... she left."

Ricky's gaze was intense, his jaw clenched tightly. "What did you do?"

Amy looked up at him, her eyes wide. "I didn't do anything, I just... I didn't know what to say. I didn't even know he was going to be there. I was just trying to get our dinner," she said, her voice trembling.

"You're lying to me, aren't you?" Ricky asked concerned.

Amy looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock. "What? No, Ricky, I'm not. Why would you say that?"

Ricky took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. "It's just...the way you're talking about it, like you're hiding something. Did he say anything to you before she left?"

John quietly left the kitchen with his milkshake. He didn't want to listen to this anymore and wanted to call Claire.

"No, he didn't say anything to me. I just... I don't know, Ricky. It's just so weird. I feel like I'm in the middle of something that doesn't concern me anymore," Amy said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ricky's expression softened, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. "You're not in the middle of anything. It's just...complicated. But we're together now, and that's all that matters." He kissed the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.

Amy leaned into him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against her chest. "But what if it's not enough?" she murmured. "What if she never forgives me?"

"Amy, you can't control how Adrian feels. But I know you didn't mean to hurt her. You have to have faith in Ben." Ricky's voice was soothing, his words wrapping around her like a warm blanket.

Amy nodded against his chest, taking comfort in his strong embrace. "You're right. I just... I want everyone to be happy." She pulled back, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater.

"I do too but we can't control everyone's happiness except ours. Are you sure everything is ok?" Ricky said honestly.

"Yeah, everything's just great." Amy said sarcastically as her eyes got more watery.

Ricky sighed and led her to the couch, sitting down beside her. "Look, I know this isn't easy for you. But you can't beat yourself up over this. You did what you thought was right."

"Something else happened." Amy said sadly as she looked down at the floor.

Ricky looked at her with concern. "What do you mean?"

Amy took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his. "When I talked to Ben, I sort of teased him."

Ricky's eyebrows shot up. "Teased him?"

Amy nodded, her cheeks coloring slightly. "I didn't mean anything by it, I just... I don't know. I guess I wanted to see if he still had feelings for me."

Ricky's expression was a mix of confusion and irritation. "What did you say?"

Amy sighed heavily, playing with a loose thread on the couch. "I just...It's nothing. I told him I love you and that we're getting married."

Ricky's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Spit it out, Amy. You need to be honest with me."

Amy took a deep breath,"The truth is, I was testing Ben to see if he really loves Adrian. Nothing happened."

Ricky's expression was unreadable for a moment before he spoke, "Why would you do that, Amy?"

"Because I needed to know, Ricky. For my own peace of mind," Amy replied, her eyes searching his for understanding.

Ricky's eyes searched hers, the unspoken question hanging in the air. "And what did you find out?"

"That he's still in love with Adrian," Amy said softly. "Possibly."

Ricky leaned back in his chair, his hand still on hers. "Why would you need to test him?" His voice was calm, but there was a hint of anger beneath the surface.

Amy looked down at their intertwined hands, the silver bracelet on her hand glinting in the candlelight. "I don't know, I guess I just needed to hear it from him, to be sure that he's moved on."

Ricky squeezed her hand gently. "But you know how I feel about you, Amy. I've moved on. I love you. That's all that should matter." His voice was steady, but the tension in the room was palpable.

Amy looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know, Ricky. And I love you too. It's just...I can't shake the feeling that I've hurt Ben and Adrian."

Ricky's thumb brushed over the back of her hand in a soothing gesture. "You can't control how they feel, but you can control how you move forward with me. We're in this together, and we'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Amy took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words. She knew Ricky was right; she had to let go of the past and focus on the future they were trying to build. "Okay," she murmured, leaning into his embrace.

They stood there for a moment, the only sound the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway. After finally eating their meal from the dairy shack they got ready for bed and started to fall asleep. Suddenly, Amy's phone buzzed with a text from Ben.

For the record, I still think about you and me too. ;)

Amy stared at the screen, her heart skipping a beat. She had hoped that after their conversation, she would have some clarity, but now she felt more confused than ever.

"Who's that?" Ricky asked, his voice groggy with sleep.

"Oh, it's just Ashley. She wants to come over for dinner tomorrow. Is that ok?" Amy asked kindly but also feeling guilty.

Ricky nodded sleepily. "Sure, that's fine. Whatever makes you happy."

Amy felt the weight of the lie heavy on her chest. She knew she couldn't tell Ricky the truth, not yet. She deleted the text and slowly drifted off to sleep.

It wouldn't be a Secret Life story without more drama, right? Let me know what you think if you want! :)