a/n: i honestly didn't plan it this way, but i guess this is the last chapter, lol. i believe i tied up most of the loose ends, most things you wanted to hear the last of. but there is that mystery factor that always exists in stories, where you can imagine what exactly happens after everything i've written. there will be an epilogue, however, so watch out for that.

i adore each and every one of you readers, and i'm glad you all stuck with me this long, even though i've been so erratic with updates over the past year and a half. seriously, you don't know how much y'all mean to me. love you :)

also, will be posting up a new story, called "His Honeybee." please look out for it, i'm very excited to write it, and i hope you guys like it as much as i'm starting to!!

Ben wouldn't tell me where he was taking me for our first date, but I expected as much. He wouldn't even meet up with me beforehand because he wanted to build the suspense, and something about not being able to keep a secret when I stared at him like he was a murderer. I didn't know what he meant by that, but then again Ben said a lot of things that took me a while to comprehend.

I didn't really know what to do throughout the day, though. I was so used to hanging out with somebody, like Ben or Ginny or even Zach that being alone was the epitome of boring. I thumped my head against my bed for a minute before I realised that wasn't taking up as much time as I hoped.

I picked up my phone and called Clark, because I was running out of options. "Hey, Charlie!" he greeted. "What's up?"

"I'm bored and Benny won't hang out with me," I said.

"Aw, is Benny being a real meaner?" he teased, and I heard a thump on the other end, followed by Clark's rather high-pitched cry.

"Don't fucking call me Benny, jackass," Ben growled, his voice muffled through the phone. I smiled at the sound of his characteristic violence. One day, he'd try and beat up someone who'd turn out to be a black belt in karate and would then beat him up, and I wouldn't do anything but laugh. Maybe cry a little if he got hurt, but mostly laugh.

"How come she can call you Benny and I can't?" Clark whined. I giggled, because he sounded rather out of breath, as if Ben was sitting on his poor chest.

"She just can, okay?" Ben muttered. My smile widened at that, and I had to bury my face in my pillow to keep from squealing like a high school girl. To be fair, that had never stopped me before, but at this particular moment, I didn't want to embarrass Ben.

"Sorry, Charlie-poo, but Benny-boy over here is threatening to eviscerate me, and I do rather like my nether region, so I gotta blast!"

"Do. Not. Call. Me-" The call ended before I could hear the rest of Ben's fury-filled sentence, and I shook my head, laughing.

But now what to do? I didn't know where Ginny was. As per usual. Maybe I could call Zach? I haven't heard from him in a while.

I felt guilt crawl up my chest. Okay, maybe that was my fault for neglecting him. I rolled over onto my side and dialed his number, but it took a while for someone to pick up. "Hey, Zach," I said softly. "How are you?"

"Er...sorry, who is this?"

I blinked, perplexed to her this confused feminine voice on the other end. She sounded American, actually. That was cool. "Sorry," I apologised quickly. "Is Zach there?"

"Yeah...but still. Who is this?"

"Carie, who is that?" I heard Zach's familiar grumble and I sighed in relief.

"I don't know. Some girl," Carie said. I bit my lip, trying to hold back my laughter.

The line was blank for a minute before Zach said, "Hello?"

"Zach, it's Charlie."

"Oh! Hey, Charlie!" he exclaimed, surprised. "How are you?"

"I'm okay, I just called to see what was up. Is Carie a new girlfriend?"

He chortled. "I really shouldn't say anything here, when," and here his voice became a whisper, "when she's right here."

"You're so weird," I said cheerily. "Why don't you date somebody you like, like Ginny?"

"Ah, Charlie, how I missed your nosiness."

"Come on, Zach!"

"I'll text you, okay?" His voice lowered into a whisper again. "I can't talk about this in front of Carie."

I burst out laughing, unable to take it anymore. "Zach and Carie!" I cried. "Zach-Carie, oh, it's perfect!" I couldn't stop laughing, because the perfection of the two names put together was doing me in. It was too good. Zachary. Zach-Carie. Amazing. "There's no way you can break up, now! You'll be missing an opportunity!"

"Shut up, pest," he said, amused. "How's little ol' Grumps?"

Of course I immediately knew who he was talking about. "Ben," I emphasised, even though I couldn't help but giggle at the nickname, "is doing great. We're going on a date tonight!" I said the last part almost as a shout, because I was just so excited! It was exciting!

He made a weird sound at my screech, but returned the favour by screaming, "Wow!" right back.

I jumped a little, my ear buzzing. "Oh, you be quiet," I said.

"Sorry, Charlie, but seriously, that's awesome. He finally grew some balls."

"He always had them," I defended Ben. He always was protecting me, and even though it sometimes bugged me that I couldn't usually do it myself without dying, I appreciated it.

Zach laughed. "Yes, I know he does, I'm aware how biology works." My cheeks turned warm at his comment, and even though he wasn't actually here, I had to hide my face. "Anyways, it was good talking to you, pest, but I need to drop Carie off at work."

"Okay," I said, sighing that the second person I tried to talk to had to leave so soon.

"But I'll talk to you soon, okay? No forgetting me because of that hairy beast, right?"

"Zach!"

His laughter was too loud, and I had to pull the phone away from my ear. "Okay, okay, I'll keep from insulting him. But I'm serious! Call me later!"

"Okay, cheers, Zach-Carie," I said cheekily. He chuckled one more time before hanging up.

I groaned out loud when I realised again that I had no one to talk to and nothing to do. My essay was written, my math problems completed, and my final exams studied for. I had nothing else to do. I groaned again.

"Oh my God, Charlie, did you bring a man home? Finally?" Ginny squealed, rushing into my room.

I gaped at her, my cheeks turning bright red. "Ginny!" I exclaimed, clapping my hands over my cheeks. "If you thought I brought back a man - which, why would you think that, by the way? - why would you run into the room?"

Ginny scowled at me, disappointed, and crossed her arms. "I just got carried away when I heard those sex sounds, Lottie. I thought you were finally doing exciting."

"That doesn't explain anything," I said, half-amused and half-concerned. "If I had been having sex, what would you have done?"

She shrugged, coming to lie down on the bed beside me. She shoved me aside a little, and I almost fell before I clamped onto her arm. "Probably throw a party for you or something. I don't know."

I grinned at the same time as being slightly disturbed. But I should've been used to it by now. "You, my friend, are something else. Hey, where were you?"

"In class. I do that sometimes," she said vaguely. "My parents want me to come home for the weekend, so I gotta leave you for on Friday."

"That's okay," I said, leaning my cheek against her shoulder. She patted my tummy. "Are you doing anything else the rest of the day?"

"I don't think so."

"Wanna have a girl's day?" I asked, my grin growing.

She smiled. "Sure, I need a break from guys anyway. I'm so sorry, Charlie, that Rick guy was a total mistake." I ignored that last statement for my own sanity, because I didn't want to hear about Rick for the next...ever. "Pride and Prejudice and cupcakes, then?"

"I'll get the cupcakes," I said at the same time as she said, "I'll rent Pride and Prejudice." We high-fived and dispersed to our own task, returning at around the same time.

"Double chocolate mint, and orange-cranberry," I said, setting the two boxes on Ginny's bed. Her bed was bigger than mine, so we hooked up her laptop to the big monitor she had mounted on the wall and inserted the DVD into the DVD drive.

We settled comfortably against the backboard of her bed, and Ginny rested her head on my shoulder. "So I heard from a little birdy that your date with Piglet is tonight?" Ginny asked, as the film began.

I giggled, shoving her gently. "I'm the one who told you that!"

She grinned. "I know. Are you excited?"

I threw my hands in the air. "I'm so excited, Ginny! I don't know what to wear, though, because he won't tell me where we're going, but it doesn't matter, because whatever he chooses will be great!"

Her chest moved almost violently from how hard she laughed. "Jeez, how big do you inflate his ego, Charlie?"

"Not that much," I said sheepishly. I thought he needed it, though. He was kind of depressingly self-deprecating.

"I guess it doesn't matter," she said. "He's totally different with you than with anyone else, anyways, so it's not like you notice."

I huffed. "What do you mean?"

"Haven't you noticed? When he looks at you, he becomes so gentle, he becomes so...disgustingly happy. Ugh, I could vomit. It's like he's transformed into an entirely different person. And that's all you, Charlie. I don't know how you did it, but you got that ugly manbeast to be somewhat passable."

My heart fluttered in my chest at her words. Was she right? Because I knew he treated me very kindly, and it was so much different than when I first met him, all brusque and cold. I smiled.

Ginny cuddled my arm. "You love him, right?"

"Yeah," I said, softly. "Very much so."

"He loves you, too," she said. "It's very easy to tell."

"I know," I said, even softer. I wasn't trying to be cocky or anything, but I did know. He told me, and I knew that he was telling the truth because of his actions. He loved me. Oh, what a thought, that little Charlotte Carter could ever be the object of the beautiful Ben Fisher's affection.

"I wish I had that," Ginny said, almost silently, but I still heard her.

I leant into her more. "You will get it," I said firmly, wondering whether I should bring up Zach. As much as I adored the prospects of the name Zach-Carie, maybe it was time for a rerun of Zachinny. But I'd think of a better name later. "You should talk to Zach," I blurted before I could stop myself.

"Charlie," she sighed. "We're not-"

"I don't believe that," I said stubbornly. "Can you at least just talk to him? Please? Please?"

She groaned loudly at my persistence. "If you'll let us watch the rest of the film in peace, then yes, I'll talk to him."

"Promise?" I held out my pinky, and she stared at it for a minute before rolling her eyes and hooking pinkies with me. I grinned.

"Promise," she said.

***

"What do I wear?" I wailed, flailing around in my closet. It was almost time for Ben to come pick me up, and I wasn't even dressed yet.

Ginny lay on my bed, casually texting someone while I was drowning in a sea of bright colours. Why did I have so many floral prints?

"Ginny!" I whined, sinking down so I was sitting on the floor of my closet.

She rolled her eyes and sat up. "Get off the floor, idiot," she snapped. "All you have to do is pick a nice dress, for Chrissakes. Something less girly than usual, though. Just one colour. Two colours max."

I pouted but listened to her regardless, flicking through my hangers. "How about this one?" I asked, holding out a cute navy blue dress with a sweetheart neckline.

She eyed it critically. "Yes," she finally said. "I'll get you my white kitten heels to wear with it."

I smiled as she left. "I love you, Ginny!" I called.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," she grumbled, which made me smile wider. She didn't even realise how similar she and Ben were. It was hilarious.

She was the best friend I'd ever had in my entire life, so I hoped she would call Zach. I firmly believed they were perfect for each other and just didn't realise it yet.

Plus, Zach had texted me earlier, telling me Carie was actually his friend's sister. So Zach-Carie wasn't even a thing to begin with. But the thought with Zach with Ginny made up for the perfect lost ship name, so I would survive.

He hadn't told me, but I thought he liked Ginny already. Or at least was still stuck up on her. I mean, I'd known him since even before Rick. I knew what he was like.

Ginny returned with her cute white heels, and I thanked her as I slipped them on. They were comfy and the heel wasn't even that big, so I'd probably be okay for the whole night.

Ginny scanned me over and smirked. "He's gonna die when he sees you," she declared.

I raised my eyebrows and lifted the ends of the dress a little. "But I look the same."

"My previous statement stands," she said dryly. "Clearly you've never noticed what Ben is like when you're in the same room together."

I looked away so that she wouldn't see me turn red. " Stop embarrassing me, Mother," I joked.

She snapped her fingers. "Speaking of which, Loverboy does know he has to get through me before he can take you out?"

"Ginny, come on," I said. "Haven't you put the poor guy through enough?"

She smirked evilly and shook her head. "Never!" she cackled. "Your parents aren't here, so I'm going to sit in as the intimidating guardian this time."

I snorted a laugh and decided to wait with her for Ben to arrive. I felt at peace, I felt very calm. At first, I was a bundle of nerves, but it really didn't matter what the date was or anything like that. As cheesy as this is, and I'm known for being a cheeseball, Ben was all that mattered.

But it was our first date.

When we heard a knock on our dorm room, I literally jumped out of my skin and clutched onto Ginny's arms. Suddenly, my heart was thundering, jumping out of my chest. "Chill out," she said. "It's just a slimy little worm who loves you, you have nothing to worry about."

"You're right!" I cried, jumping to my feet and skipping to the door. I took a deep breath, straightened out my dress, patted down my hair, and finally opened the door.

"Good evening," Ben said, dropping his voice down about three octaves.

I smiled giddily at him. He was dressed semi-formally like I was in a pair of khaki trousers and a black button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. If I was a weaker woman, I would drool probably, because he looked really, really good. "Good evening," I replied in a silly voice.

And then I noticed he was holding out a bouquet of beautiful red roses to me that gave off a light fragrance that was starting to fill up our suite. Ben scratched the back of his head. "Er...are you going to take them, or...?"

"Oh!" I said, shaking myself out of my daze. "Wow, Ben, thank you!" I carefully took the flowers from his grasp and buried my face in them much like I did with the sunflowers from before, which were now dried and placed by my bed. I inhaled once, closing my eyes and taking it all in. These must've been so expensive. "You didn't have to get me flowers," I said, glancing back up at him.

He snorted. "What kind of first date would this be if I didn't get you flowers?"

I bit my lip to keep my smiling too much. "Well, thank you," I whispered, my eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're so nice!"

"Wow, this is so awkward!" Ginny screamed from somewhere inside the room, and I whipped around, looking for her.

"Be quiet!" I laughed.

"You look beautiful," he said, and it was just a simple sentence, but the way he said it made my stomach flip and made me feel all sorts of different things. His eyes went from my head to my toes and back up again, and then he smiled his sparkling smile at me. I wanted to stare, I did stare. He was too much.

"So do you," I squeaked out by mistake.

"Well, my mum always did want a girl," he chuckled, amused. I laughed as well, because I couldn't help it when he looked so happy.

"Are you just gonna let him freeze to death outside?" Ginny asked. "Because I think that would be fine, but close the door so we don't get a draft."

I shook my head. "Come inside, my mum wants to meet you."

He frowned, confused. "Your mum? But-" He stopped himself and shook his head when he saw my eager expression. "Okay, I guess."

"It's just Ginny," I whispered, and he nodded in understanding. I did wish that my actual mum could be here to meet Ben, but at least I had my dad. And now Delia too, I guess. And Ginny, of course.

"Alright, young man," Ginny said when I sat Ben down on the sofa opposite of Ginny, who had her arms crossed, one foot tapping the ground. "Where are you taking my girl?"

Ben raised his eyebrows. "You're not scary," he stated.

Ginny growled almost animalistically, and I had to hide my face in embarrassment at what she was doing. Might as well invite Papa over, right? He could get on this too. "So this is the kind of riffraff you bring home, Charlie? That's it. Get him out!"

"Are you serious?" Ben asked in annoyance.

"Get him out, Charlie!" Ginny said. "I won't have you dating him!"

"She's kidding," I muttered, even though I wasn't exactly sure. "Let's just go."

"Wait!" she cried. "Let me at least take pictures!"

"No, we're going," I said. "I'll see you later!"

She smirked suggestively, and I wished I had the force so I could force-shut her mouth before she said anything creepy. "Is this going to be one of those sleepover-type situations, or should I wait up?"

"Neither," I said, trying to force any and all inappropriate images out of my mind before my head exploded from all the blood rushing to my cheeks. "I'll get back when I get back, okay?"

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" she sang. But I didn't think she understood what her words meant, because she would do pretty much anything. Regardless, I waved goodbye to hear and tugged Ben out the door.

"Where are we going?" I asked brightly once we were outside in the nippy weather.

"Nothing crazy, just a nice restaurant," he said. "And then hang out afterwards?" He looked at me with hopeful eyes and I felt myself practically melt into the ground. I nodded, which made him grip my hand tighter and look away to smile.

He helped me into his car like the perfect gentleman, and then we were off. "How's your mum and dad?" I asked. "Oh, and Archer!"

He shrugged. "They're doing good. Mum and Dad still want me to go back, but I told them no."

I looked down at my lap at his words. "Oh," I said quietly.

"I'm here because I want to be," he said. "I'm not there because I don't want to be there. Do you understand?"

I nodded and smiled. He reached out to me, his eyes still on the road, and I took his hand. "What did I do to deserve you?"

Ben scoffed. "You're asking that question with the wrong tone," he said. "Right now, you're saying it as if I'm a reward, but you should be saying it as if you've done something horribly bad, let's say homicide, and now you're being punished."