Bella
December 02, 2007 1:51 AM
Making up for Lost Time (tag: Ben) by Bella
Now that everything with Chris had worked itself out (as much as it could in one sitting), Bella really had to go find her boyfriend. He was supposed to be the very first person she was to see when returning to Sonora, but obviously that hadn't been the case. Not that she blamed Chris for any of it. He had needed her in his time of need.That boy and his women issues would be the end of her sanity.
Still, their conversation had Bella thinking of her own relationship with Ben. She was so happy whenever she thought of him or whenever they were together. If she were having a bad day just thinking of him would make her feel so much better. But what did all that mean? Was it love or just infactuation? She didn't know and Ben hadn't ever said anything to her about it so she didn't want to jump the gun and say it only to have him not say it in return.
Bella was curled into a ball in a chair waiting for Ben. She didn't know where he was or what he was doing, but she was getting anxious. Her gift for him sat on the armrest waiting to be opened. Maybe he was off talking with his sister? Would that take awhile? She hoped it wouldn't, but she had no idea of what sort of state Lexi was in at the moment.
At some point, Bella must have fallen asleep in the chair. Napping was unusual for her, but the trip had been a long one and then dealing with Chris and being anxious about Ben had drained her. She didn't know how long she had slept for and probably would have slept longer had it not been for the fact that someone was shaking her awake.
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Bella
Making up for Lost Time (tag: Ben)
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Ben
December 02, 2007 3:08 PM
Yes, and Late Christmas Presents by Ben
Ben had been hiding. As soon as he'd jumped off the wagons and bid a quick farewell to his sister, Ben blazed the fastest trail he could to the Aladren Common Room. Once there, Ben had raced up the stairs and there, inside his dorm room, he hid. His luggage had made it up to the room, and there, lying complacently on his already-made bed, was his acoustic guitar. Ben regarded the instrument with a wary eye for a moment, a tight fist pressed up against his mouth in thought. This uncharacteristic cowardice on Ben's part was mainly in avoidance of the person who he should have been most eager to see as soon as he returned-- Bella.But nerves took hold of him, and wanting to be absolutely sure of himself before he went down into the Common Room, Ben picked the guitar up, adjusting the strap around his neck. He sighed, and ran through the song once more, the fingers of his left hand stinging with an almost pleasant feeling of accomplishment. He could do this. After all, Bella wouldn't care if he messed up, she was his girlfriend. Ben knew if it were the other way around, he'd just be so glad to see her again that it wouldn't matter anyway. So with that, Ben's overwhelming desire- no, need to see Bella conquered the anxiety akin to stage fright that was keeping him upstairs in his dorm.
So with guitar resting neck down on his back, Ben entered the Commons. He took a brief glance around the area, not seeing Bella at first. Coming around to sit on a couch, Ben noticed her, curled up like a cat in one of the armchairs. Ben couldn't suppress a grin as he looked at her sleeping face; it so quiet and peaceful- nothing like the firebrand he knew her to be while sentient. Ben took the guitar off his back and leaned it up against the arm of the couch and out of sight before kneeling next to Bella's chair.
"Hey you," he said almost in a whisper, "What're you doing sleeping down here? Don't you know this is my sleeping area?"
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Yes, and Late Christmas Presents
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Bella
December 02, 2007 4:11 PM
Better late than never. by Bella
Bella grinned when the voice registered in her ear. She didn't need to open her eyes to know to whom the voice belonged to as it was the one voice she had been wanting to hear for quite sometime. She stretched her cramped muscles and opened her eyes to see her boyfriend directly in front of her. "I do and that's why I'm here." Bella replied, resisting the urge to just tackle him in a hug.She sat up in the chair, still grinning at Ben. "I was looking for you and couldn't find you. I thought maybe Anne had gone and taken you away from me." That was the half-truth. Ben being Assistant Captain meant he was spending more time with her roommate. Even though Bella knew the likelihood of anything developing between the two was slim, recent events with their friends/family would suggest anything was possible.
"I want to give you your Christmas gift." Bella explained, taking the gift off the armrest and handing it to him. "My Grandfather helped me with it." Inside the box was a framed photogragh of Bella in a Bikini posing for the camera. It was the very bikini her father had argued with her about. But it wasn't the photograph that was the gift, but the frame itself.
It was a wooden frame carved expertly with care. Bella's writing was all over it with their names, words of love, symbols of love, music notes, and the Healer's sign. All of them carved in a way that flowed together in harmony. The frame was stained to give it a healthy look while the carvings were stained a darker color to stand out on the frame. "I hope you like it." Bella said, biting her lower lip in anticipation.
OOC: The link is to the a pic of Bella in a bikini, in case it helps.
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Bella
Better late than never.
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Ben
December 02, 2007 6:25 PM
Exactly! by Ben
Ben couldn't help but grin at Bella's sleepy response. In fact, Ben couldn't help but grin whenever he so much as thought about her. Of course, he had been like this for a good while now, but something about her prolonged absence during the Christmas Holidays made everything about her seem much more vibrant, much more important. He laughed when he saw the picture in the exquisite frame; it was so Bella. And man, did she look good! He had to remember to visit someplace warm next Christmas, and invite Bella along.He looked at the frame, trying to take in all the details of the intricate carvings. Ben could make out their names and some symbols, each perfectly positioned with the others. It was almost like music, the way the carvings worked together, seamless. Ben marveled at the craftsmanship of the frame. It was beautiful, and Ben couldn't have imagined a better gift.
"Bella," he said quietly, looking up into her eyes, "It's so beautiful. Thank you."
Shifting slightly, Ben replaced the frame carefully in the box and put the lid back on. He would be sure to put the frame on the desk as soon as he had to chance to run upstairs. It would give him something to think about when he worked, something to distract him during the long study hours that were inherent in the upcoming CATS exams.
"Well, that's going to be a tough act to follow, but I'll try anyway," he grinned, getting up to get his guitar, "Now don't run away screaming if it's horrendous, I'm just a beginner at this, but here we go."
Ben slung the guitar strap across his shoulders and sat down on the couch adjacent to Bella's chair. He smiled nervously at her before looking back down at the guitar and beginning the introduction.
"Mystery the moon, a hole in the sky, a supernatural nightlight, so full but often right. A pair of eyes a closing one, a chosen child in golden sun, a marble dog that chases cars to farthest reaches of the beach and far beyond into the swimming sea of stars..."
Ben looked up tentatively to gauge her reaction, hoping she was enjoying it. He looked back down almost immediately, afraid of any look of criticism towards his song. Well, her song.
"The cosmic fish they love to kiss, they're giving birth to constellations,No riffs and oh no reservation. If they should fall you get a wish or dedication, may I suggest you get the best for nothing less than you and I? Let's take a chance as this romance is rising, over before we lose the lighting. Oh Bella, Bella please... Bella you beautiful luna. Oh Bella do what you do...Do do do do do..."
Ben finished up the song, his tenor voice wavering slightly with nervousness, but his fingers keeping time vigilantly, strumming the six strings evenly. The last chord played out quietly, and Ben let his right hand rest comfortably on the guitar. He could breathe down that it was done. He'd done it. He'd played his song, and now it was all down to Bella's reaction. Ben looked up at her, trying to read her face.
"Merry Christmas," he said with a small laugh, "I'll get it recorded for you as soon as I can, but for now all I've got is the live version. I hope you liked it..." \r\n\r\n
(OOC: Song Reference-- "Bella Luna", Jason Mraz)\r\n\r\n
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Exactly!
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Bella
December 02, 2007 7:54 PM
Glad we agree! by Bella
Bella watched for Ben's reaction to both the picture and the frame. She hadn't wanted to give that picture to him despite having taken it specifically for him. After the whole ordeal on the beach, Bella didn't like the idea of such exposure, but Julia had forced her hand with things and put that picture in the frame. "You can change the picture if you want." She suggested while he looked over the frame.She smiled estatically when he commented on the frame. "I'll tell my Papi that you think so. He worked very hard to make it just right." Bella was happy her gift went over well for Ben. She didn't think most guys would appreciate the time spent in making such a craft. She sat up straighter when Ben started talking about, "Oh, gift for me?" She inquired, eager to see what Ben could have gotten her.
Her brows furrowed slightly in confusion at his words. Horrendous? What was he talking about? Bella doubted anything Ben did would have ever made Bella leave the room screaming. The sight of the guitar only made her all the more curious. Surely he hadn't bought her a guitar because that would have trumped her frame any day. But, he put the strap around him and sat opposite Bella on the couch. Bella watched him with interest before her mouth dropped open in surprise as he started singing and playing.
Ben had never mentioned to her that he could sing. He never mentioned he could play either. His song... it was amazing. He was singing to her! She sang to him everyday (for fun), but it was never anything like this. She felt her breath catch as she listened to him. She was entranced.
He was finished the song and Bella felt like she was about to cry. She had gotten her breath back, but she was breathing heavily. She sat there for a moment before suddenly standing up, crossing the small space between them and kissed him. There was no hesitation, just a full on kiss on the lips full of all the feelings Bella could possess for him. That song had been exactly what Bella needed. "I love you, Benny." She told him, not needing to hear him say it first any longer. She knew now where the two of them stood.
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Bella
Glad we agree!
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Ben
December 03, 2007 9:03 PM
I find that makes things easier... by Ben
Looking up into a girl's eyes and seeing her on the verge of tears meant one of two things: 1) she was extremely happy and just couldn't contain it or 2) she was upset. Ben worried momentarily as he tried to discern just what kind of tears these might become, but his worry was for naught. Before he knew it, Bella was in front of him.Ben was slightly surprised when Bella crossed the space between them and kissed him-- no reservations, no nothing. His reflexes were quick, however, and before his brain could command it, he was kissing her back. The moment ended too soon for Ben's liking, but it no longer mattered. Bella had said- could she be truthful? She loved him? Ben took a moment to process that. Something about the statement was so simple- and so complicated- that he wasn't sure just what to make of it. And then came the recognition that he felt the same way, and it was glorious.
"Oh Bella, I love you too," His face covered in a grin.
He had to remind himself that there was a guitar between the two of them, and upon doing so, he quickly discarded the instrument. Something inside of Ben lit up like it always did while he was around Bella, but this time the light was bright, blinding almost, and a bubbling effervescence he couldn't control was coming from somewhere deep inside. Ben was happy; utterly and completely contented in a way he'd never truly felt before. It was like learning to fly all over again, but even better. It was discovering something he'd known all along but hadn't thought of in specific terms.
Guitar now off to the side, Ben reached an arm around Bella's waist and pulled her onto his lap, returning her earlier kiss with a paralleled level of enthusiasm. He loved her. He loved Bella, and he wanted to shout it from the proverbial rooftops.
"I love you, Isabella Santoro," he finally said, looking into those deep brown eyes he knew would be the only ones he'd ever need.
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I find that makes things easier...
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Bella
December 04, 2007 9:16 PM
Too bad others can't pick up on that. by Bella
Bella could only breathe a sigh of relief when Ben declared that he loved her too. She had decided when she told him that it wouldn't matter whether or not he said it back, but... truth was, she was fearful that he would have pushed her away, told her he wasn't that serious about it, or laughed in her face. But he did none of those things. Instead, he only made her so happy that she thought she might pop out of existence because of it.She waited patiently for him to remove his guitar, all the while thinking of their new found relationship. What had just occurred was a major thing, was it not? The both of them saying that they loved one another. That was significant, right? They had just taken the next step in their relationship. A huge step.
Bella had known that she had deeper feelings for Ben that she had been neglecting for some time, mainly due to the fact that Ben had never shown signs of a more serious relationship, but after everything with Chris and Lexi and occurred, Bella's feelings for Ben had come surging up to force her to pay attention to them. And Ben's song to her only made her want to tell him exactly how he made her feel.
She giggled freely when he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her down into his lap, glad for the contact and eager to continue where they had left off. She wrapped her arms around him, fitting herself perfectly into his lap and unconcerned for the fact that they were still very much in public view of the entire commonroom. None of that seemed to matter. All that she cared for at that moment was being exactly as she was right then and there with Ben.
She giggled again when Ben declared his love for the second time to her. "I love you too, Benjamin Stafford the Fifth." Bella quipped, using his full name as he had used her's. She would have more then willingly gone back to what they just been occupying their time, but a thought occurred to Bella, "Hey Sleepy-do, how come you never told me you could sing or play?"
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Bella
Too bad others can't pick up on that.
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Bella
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Ben
December 07, 2007 11:35 PM
I know, right? by Ben
Relief was washing over Ben like waves of a tumultuous sea as he held Bella in his arms. They fit perfectly like this; Bella was small and Ben was tall and easily wrapped his arms around her. It was strange; if someone had told Ben that first day he met Bella that he would one day be in love with her, Ben would have said he'd lost his mind. Bella was just so different sometimes from Ben that he even wondered how she could find him even slightly interesting.How did people so vastly and profoundly different in action and background reach the point that he felt he had with Bella? Ben was so straight-laced sometimes, so proper and formal as was fitting for an heir to a long line of well-known English Healers, and Bella was this crazy, beautiful, and fun girl with a huge Hispanic family that always seemed in motion. Was he like his father, falling in love with someone who seemed on the surface to be too radically different? Sometimes Ben wondered how two such people so different found common ground, much less loved each other.
But maybe that wasn't the problem at all. When you got right to it, Ben and Bella weren't that different. They were both from big magical families (well, Ben's father's family, at least) and big cities (granted, on opposite coasts). Ben loved Quidditch and Bella used to play the game, but more importantly, Ben was finding that he loved music almost as much as he did the magical sport, and of course Bella loved music more that a great deal of other things. Perhaps they weren't that different after all.
Ben had to laugh at Bella's question, a slight blush creeping up his neck, "Well, you never asked... and as for guitar, I mean... I've been learning.
"I'm really awful, but I'm getting better. Like I said, by summer I'll definitely have a recording for you to listen to, if you want to. You know, for when I'm not around to sing it to you personally," he grinned, then kissed her cheek close to her ear and rested his cheek close to hers, singing softly, "Bella, Bella, Bella..."
Let the Aladren Common Room watch, for all he cared. They were the bookish of the houses; it wouldn't hurt them to see something interesting outside of a novel once in a while anyway.
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I know, right?
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Bella
December 09, 2007 1:06 AM
Oh well, let them miss out on these moments. by Bella
Bella pouted at Ben's response. She hadn't asked? That was true enough, but she had simply assumed he would have told her or suggested that he could after all the times she had sung or played around him. Wasn't that how relationships worked? Discovering things without having to probe? Bella, of course, could be completely wrong about that. Ben was her first boyfriend. And they had only been together a year (which, in her opinion, ought to say something great about the two of them).Perhaps she should have asked. It just never occurred to her that Ben would hold anything back. She was always talking about things that interested her, she just thought that was the same for everyone. Now, she'll have to be sure to ask him all sorts of things just to be sure that he wasn't keeping anything from her.
She giggled again (as was her habit whenever she was around Ben) when Ben sang her name. Though, she was mainly giggling because his breath tickled her neck. "Of course I would want a recording and then I can show off my wonderful boyfriend's amazing song to everyone I know." Bella said cheerfully to him. It was true, she really believed Ben had talent. He was soft rock to her grunge sound. She was still slightly in awe of Ben having sang to her as well as play the guitar.
"You're not awful!" Bella declared, looking at Ben with wide eyes of disbelief. "You should have heard me when I first starteded learning. I don't know how Anne didn't end up Avada Kedavra-ing me. It sounded like a cat dying. It was terrible." Bella mused. She grinned at him before softly kissing him. There wasn't the same eagerness as their previous kisses held, but rather, just the simple enjoyment from it.
She ended it after a few moments. Shifting slightly in his lap so that she could have a proper look at him, Bella asked, "You aren't hiding any other talents from me, are you?"
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Bella
Oh well, let them miss out on these moments.
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Ben
December 16, 2007 8:22 PM
Yep, their loss... by Ben
"Oh please, that's not true," he protested after she pulled away, "You were wonderful then, you've just gotten even more so over time.""Well then they wouldn't be secret now would they?" He grinned after her question, and then whispered, "Only joking."
Ben took the cue from her smile and returned on of his own. He liked this ability they had just to be them. They didn't have any weird pressures to say anything because they'd gotten all that behind them. He loved her, she loved him; it was simple and perfect, just the way Ben wanted it. He leaned in to kiss her on the mouth, putting maybe a bit too much into it. Ben was just so glad to have everything with Bella working out so well that he just didn't know how else to convey it to her. Ever eloquent and well-spoken, Ben was surprisingly finding it difficult to articulate just what he felt for Bella, so music and other mediums would just have to suffice.
"Hey, here's an idea," he said suddenly as he broke off the kiss, "Why don't we record something together this summer? My mom's got some really excellent connections to recording studios in New York... I mean, some of them are muggle studios, but most of them've got magical counterparts that'll be able to record something for you to put on your wizarded-out Ipod of yours..."
He paused momentarily there to gauge her reaction before continuing with a rushed, "You don't have to, it's just that it'd be really cool and we do have plenty of space and a guest room at our apartment in Manhattan. I mean, my parents would be totally fine with it, and we could even floo over to California and meet your family beforehand if it'd make them feel better..."
Ben knew he was beginning to skate on thin ice, asking a girl over to his house for part of vacation, but he really did want her to come to New York, to fuse the two worlds he knew and loved. He really did want to record something with her, but most of all he wanted her to see and love New York like he did. But of course he knew she was the youngest daughter of a big traditional Spanish family, and maybe her father wouldn't approve of her running to the other side of the continent to hang out in a completely strange city with a boy they'd only met once. But if Bella didn't want to or didn't feel comfortable, that was fine; he'd drop the issue indefinitely. Ben would do anything Bella wanted him to.
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Yep, their loss...
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Bella
December 17, 2007 10:05 PM
We should rub in the happiness some more. by Bella
"Psh, it so is!" Bella argued. Then she pulled a slightly pompous (though joking) look on her face, "It was well before we became friends. You only heard the improvements." Bella returned to her usual upbeat self immediately after she declared that and rested herself against her boyfriend.She grunt in response to him and pinched him lightly in protest to his joke. "Secrets secrets, are no fun. Secrets secrets hurt someone." Bella stated musically to him. She turned serious for a moment, looking up at him, "Seriously though, don't not tell me something, okay? No secrets." It seemed like a simple enough request, but she knew secrets, even little ones, could ruin a perfectly good relationship. Although, even not keeping secrets could do just the same.
Bella didn't need to be asked twice to kiss her boyfriend, so she eagerly returned the gesture, her hands messing with his blonde hair as she did so. She really liked his hair. But the delightful kiss ended all too quickly for, which Bella made vocal as she grumbled in displeasure. However, it didn't last long. She rested her elbows on his shoulders and her head in her hands as Ben spoke. Her eyebrows went up to show that she was engaged in the conversation while a smile played her lips.
Record together? That would be interesting. And Bella wanted to do it. It would be cool to see how they meshed their two sounds together. But while Ben spoke, Bella thought on how her parents would react to her asking to stay at her boyfriend's place for part of the summer. She didn't think her mom would mind as Lupe was pretty liberal, but her father would be another story entirely.
"Idiota!" Bella whined sitting up suddenly. "Of course I want to go stay with you this summer! It'd be so much fun! I always miss you when we're on holiday." Bella pouted momentarily before smiling and stretching in his lap. "I can talk Mama into it just fine. She's good about that sort of thing, plus she let Jennifer stay over. Papa, might be a little tricky. But, I think we could convince him." Bella stated, thinking of her parents. Julia might help convince them as well.
"They'll definitely want to meet your parents. They like knowing who we'll be around. Don't be too intimidated by the size of my family." Bella kissed him lightly. It was the best idea she had heard in a long long time. "It'll be perfect. Think you can handle me in the summer sun? I can bring my bathingsuit."
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Bella
We should rub in the happiness some more.
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Ben
December 20, 2007 1:19 AM
Yes, Let's. by Ben
Ben grinned as he watched Bella's reactions to the invite. With her elbows propped up on his shoulders he was able to scrutinize the finer points of her facial structure. Her liquid chocolate tinted eyes simply sparkled with enthusiasm. Ben grinned, contented to see her happy. He tightened his hold around her, bringing her closer to him as she continued to speak. The comment about Bella's father did worry him slightly; all fathers were bound to be extremely protective, especially ones from pureblood families, not to mention a large and very culturally oriented Hispanic family. The proposition of Bella staying in Manhattan with her boyfriend didn't look like it would go over so well with her 'Papa'."No matter, everything will be wonderful," he commented finally, kissing her lightly, "I'll owl my father and tell him all about our plans. We can arrange our parents meeting when we come to pick you up, I'm sure Father can arrange his schedule for that, and Mom would love to meet your family, though I don't think a large crowd will affect either of them as much as you anticipate. I mean, my mother is always surrounded by people, and Father's work keeps him in the hustle and bustle, so the Santoro Family shouldn't be too problematic.
He grinned at her, "And if it's the beach you want, I'm sure no one would mind if we went out to Southampton house... It's got a stellar beach, a pool, and a doubles tennis court, even... If the weather is nice, we could even fly out there... it's not too far, of course...
"Oh, shoot, I meant to talk to ask you," he stopped his train of thought and picked up another, "I wanted to ask you about this ball they're hosting here... Would you do me the honor of going with me? I know it seems a little formal, but you know, just for the sake of tradition or whatnot-"
He cut himself off, mid-sentence, acutely aware of the fact that he'd been rambling on for a bit. Ben smiled, apologizing, "I'm sorry, I forgot that you might want to say something now and again. A yes, perhaps."
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Yes, Let's.
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Bella
December 21, 2007 8:38 PM
*Rubs it in some more* by Bella
It was a few months away from being summer, but Bella was already excitded at the prospects of going to see Ben and meeting his family. She wasn't sure how exactly his family would be. She figured his mom was probably a little like her mom on the liberal side of things considering she was a theatre actress. But his father was an unknown to her. Ben was a gentlemen, always polite, always well-mannered. Bella often thought that he learned those traits from his father. Bella's father had an image to up-keep being one of the most Lawyers in the Magical world, but at home he was just another guy hanging out.But, he also had strict rules that were to be followed. If Bella had been the one to have Ben over during the summer, she was almost positive that her father would have put the trickiest spell on her door to ensure that Ben would not try to sneak in. "I didn't really mean the size, more like..." Bella struggled for a word that would appropriatel define her family. "they're aggressive and Hispanic and I'm the baby girl. But, don't worry, Mama will be on your side." Bella grinned. Really, her brothers wouldn't bother with worrying about her, though she'd worry about the twins doing something while his parents were there. It was really just her father that would be the slight issue. Bella had faith in Ben though.
"Oh? Another house?" Bella was surprised by that. It never occurred to her that Ben came from money. She knew, of course, that he did, but she never really thought about it. She looked slightly perplexed at the mention of 'doubles tennis' and would have asked except Ben was still talking and she didn't want to interupt. Besides, even if she didn't understand what tennis was, everything else he had said sounding wonderful. Bella loved the water...and the sun...and the beach.
She kissed him lightly on the neck while he asked her to the ball. He was so adorable. Bella liked teasing him. It was this train of thought that had her answering him the way she did.
"No I don't think I'll go to the dance with you." Bella told him after some thought, looking serious as she said it. She stood on her knees so that she was slightly higher than him. "You can have my mind, body, and soul, Benny, but you shall not have me as a date to the ball." She was joking, of course, but she wanted to see what Ben would do.
She was hoping for him to be playful with her, but sometimes she wasn't sure if he would be as serious with her as Chris always seemed to be or with how Jake and Jennifer were always like with one another. She wanted them to have the sort of relationship where they could always laugh.
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Bella
*Rubs it in some more*
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Ben
January 09, 2008 8:31 PM
Well done! by Ben
(OOC: Apologies about the late response... been a bit crazy in RL...)Ben feigned shock and apprehension when Bella explained about her family. The expression faded into a wide smile after a moment as Ben gave Bella another squeeze. Of course he knew that with a family as big and crazy as the Santoros there would be some trouble attempting to take their youngest daughter away to the other side of the country, but Ben had every faith that the whole thing would work out wonderfully. All he had to do was make sure that everything went as planned, i.e., Patrick would stay in their family's lodge in up-state Albany while Ben and Bella were in Manhattan. It probably was best to keep the twins' older and, well, stoner brother away while Bella was with Ben. Things would just be simpler that way.
"It'll be fine, I know it will be. Ours mothers will get along beautifully, I know it, and your father's a lawyer, isn't he? Our fathers are both career men, they'll get along fine," he paused for a moment to quickly kiss her on the cheek before continuing with a cheeky grin, "And I know your family is Hispanic, but we're New Yorkers. You really can't find people any more regionally aggressive than us. We'll be able to handle it."
For a moment following Bella's surprise at the mention of the Southampton house, Ben looked confused. Of course he had a summer house in the Hamptons, everyone on the Upper East Side did. The fact of the matter was that Ben didn't really consider himself that wealthy. That is to say, he didn't ever really think about his family's wealth. They were certainly not wanting in the monetary department, what with his father being primarily an extremely successful healer and secondarily from a long line of wealthy English pure-bloods. In truth, the Park Avenue lifestyle was all Ben had ever known, and as such, seemed rather unremarkable. But now that Bella had registered surprise at the fact that his family owned a rather luxe second home (and a third that she had yet to hear about), Ben felt a bit embarrassed.
"Well, yes, I... I mean, everyone in Manhattan has one..." Ben responded, trying to keep the reddish tint from rising to his cheeks, when Bella rejected his ball invitation. He immediately pouted in false disappointment, but then shrugged and began to kiss Bella, playing along with the act.
"Hmm... that's... too... bad... but..." he interjected between short kisses, "I guess... I'll just... have... to... take... what... I'm given."
With that, he drew her close so that she was just about level with him, and kissed her soundly. Ben couldn't help but let the ends of his lips curve up into a smile as he did so. He loved playing these games with Bella. It was so counter to anything he would have ever dared to do before he had become friends with her. The boy he was when he first came to Sonora certainly was lost somewhere in the past, because the older, more adventurous Ben clearly had lost sight of his tightly-laced, rule-driven, and former self. After a good few moments, Ben pulled back, taking a big breath of air. He acutely then became aware of Bella, and what he was getting himself into. Ben didn't want to pressure her in any serious way, and as such, he returned to the light-hearted.
"So, now that I have you body, mind, and soul," he grinned, grey-green eyes twinkling, "I think I'll take you, mind, body, and soul to the ball. How about it?"
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Well done!
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Bella
January 13, 2008 10:52 PM
*Bows* Thank you! by Bella
(OOC: No Problem.)The look on Ben's face told Bella that he was making fun of her worry. She gave him a mocked look of anger before pinching him lightly (she loved to pinch him) at his teasing. She really had no place to complain, teasing Ben was what she enjoyed the most as her favorite pasttime. This moment also showed to Bella that Ben wasn't the stiff quiet boy he had been when she had first forced her friendship onto him. It was nice.
She honestly did believe that their mothers would get along splendidly, but then again, her mom seemed capable of getting along with absolutely everyone. It might have been a direct side-effect of having nine children and having to have the personality to deal with it all. "Yeah, he's The Lawyer." Bella corrected, grinning at her boyfriend. She was quite proud of her father and had, at one point, wanted to follow in his footsteps (still might if the music thing didn't pan out). "Uh huh." Bella stated, her voice laced with disbelief. She didn't know much about New York and, as far as she knew, the only ones she knew from NY were the Staffords and the Duprees and her history with them, well... it was hard to say what they could and couldn't handle.
Ben seemed obviously embarrassed when Bella questioned the second home. She hadn't meant anything bad by her questioned. It had merely surprised her. She knew with Ben being a Stafford on top of his dad being a Healer that he came from money, but he didn't act like it and so, Bella never thought about it. Much like her being a member of the Santoros as well as the Chevez' on top of her dad being a top Magical Lawyer, Bella was born into money, but didn't really think much of it. "Aw." Bella murmured with his blush, wrapping her arms around him, "I'm sure they do." She kissed him lightly. In truth, if her family weren't so open into letting them all stay during vacations, Bella's family would have three or four homes in various countries.
Bella got her wish for a relationship when Ben started kissing her and taking her at her word. "Mmmhmmm." Was about all she managed to get out while he commented in the middle of their short kisses. She had gotten lucky for falling for him. If she had left him alone that day in the commonroom, would they be here doing this today? She didn't think so.
She giggled into the kiss when Ben pulled her in closer, enjoying how carefree and uncomplicated their relationship really was. Anyway worry Bella had about Ben being too serious went flying out the window as he continued to kiss her. He certainly wasn't a shy boy, but that only made Bella all the more attracted to him.
When they finally broke apart, Bella leaned back, breathing in deeply and ran a hand through her ruffled hair. Bella grinned at him, "Well, if you insist." She responded, kissing him lightly. She finally moved off his lap, though she didn't move far, she merely leaned against his side and placed his arm around her shoulders. "You know, you didn't have to ask me, Sleepy-do. But it's totally cute that you did."
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Bella
*Bows* Thank you!
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Bella
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