Breaking the Bond
Written by: Juana
Story Summary: Elena comes to Felicity with a small problem…Noel. Seems Elena wasn’t as ready for a roommate as she thought. Felicity enlists Ben’s help in getting Noel moved out of Elena’s room and into Ben’s loft. Bliss is beginning to doubt Ben is really over Felicity…and Felicity and Ben are having a hard time believing in that very thing themselves.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. They belong to the brilliant writers and creators of the hit WB show.
INT: FELICITY’S ROOM-DAY
FELICITY IS SITTING ON HER BED WITH HER TAPE RECORDER, RECORDING A TAPE TO SALLY.
FELICITY: (VO) Dear Sally…as they say life goes on. It’s been about two weeks since Ben and I said our good-byes. You hope everyday to find something that will make it easier to go on…and then you realize that going on means, letting go…so you take one step back…and try to…
THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR WHICH INTERRUPTS FELICITY’S TRAIN OF THOUGHT. FELICITY TURNS OFF THE RECORDER AND GOES TO ANSWER THE DOOR. IT IS ELENA.
ELENA: (tense) Thank God you are home girl…you have got to help me.
FELICITY: Help you with what…exactly?
ELENA: First…I want you to promise me…no “ I told you so.”
FELICITY: (pauses) Um…okay. Elena…what’s going on?
ELENA: It’s Noel. He is driving me totally…crazy.
FELICITY: (smothers a laugh) I’m…sorry. What…what is he doing?
ELENA: Did you know he was a slob?
FELICITY: Uh…no. I didn’t.
ELENA: I have two hampers…one for him…one for me. There is a trail of clothes to his hamper…but none actually in it. How is that possible?
FELICITY: I…uh…I don’t know.
ELENA: We slept in the same bed for months when we were dating…and he never once snored. Now…every night.
FELICITY: (surprised) He snores?
ELENA: (annoyed) Loudly. And I don’t even want to go into the number of bodily functions I have been subjected to since he moved in. Let’s just say there isn’t enough air freshener in the world to mask his manly presence.
FELICITY BURSTS OUT LAUGHING.
ELENA: This is not funny. You have to help me…before I kill him.
FELICITY: I’m sorry…but what do you want me to do?
ELENA: I want you to help me find another place for him to stay. My relationship depends on it.
FELICITY: Don’t you think maybe your being a little…over the top?
ELENA: Absolutely not. I am a girl of solitude. I need my space…and he is slowly sucking up that space.
FELICITY: Have you talked to Noel about this?
ELENA: No…I know I should but…
FELICITY: Are you afraid of hurting his feelings?
ELENA: I have a way of being brutally honest…in case you haven’t noticed.
FELICITY: Noticed? I do believe I’ve been on the receiving end a few times myself.
ELENA: So you’ll help me?
FELICITY: (relents) What do you want me to do?
ELENA: I want you to talk to Ben.
FELICITY: Ben? I don’t understand…what do you want me to talk to Ben about?
ELENA: Noel moving in with him.
FELICITY: I’m sorry…did you just say Noel moving in with him?
ELENA: Yes…it’s perfect. Sean and Ben have the extra room…and the loft is…huge.
FELICITY: I…I guess. But I don’t understand…why don’t you talk to Ben?
ELENA: Because…I think you would have more luck. Ben would do pretty much anything for you.
FELICITY: I think you over estimate my pull with Ben. Ben is my friend…just like he is yours.
ELENA: Yeah…right…difference being…I don’t cause his heart to do flip-flops when I look at him. Admit it girl…you are the closest person to Ben. You may not share his life…but you definitely have his heart.
FELICITY: Again…I think you are…way wrong.
ELENA: Please Felicity…I need you to do this for me.
FELICITY: (VO) So…I agreed to help her Sally. Hopefully a decision I would not regret. I wasn’t too excited about it though…actually seeing Ben again. In the two weeks since Ben and I had said good bye, we hadn’t really had to be *alone* with each other. We had sort of successfully managed to avoid just that. But now…as a favor to Elena…I was not only *not* going to avoid him…I was going to seek him out.
INT: BEN’S LOFT-NIGHT
BEN AND BLISS ARE SITTING ON THE SOFA WATCHING A MOVIE. THE BUZZER RINGS. SEAN IS SITTING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE WRITING SOMETHING.
SEAN: So I guess you expect me to get that?
BEN: (sarcastic) Could ya?
SEAN: Thin ice buddy…that’s what you’re skating on.
BLISS LAUGHS.
BLISS: Fine…you two lazy boys…I’ll get it.
BLISS GETS OFF THE COUCH AND GOES OVER TO THE BUZZER.
BLISS: Hello?
FELICITY HEARING BLISS’S VOICE PAUSES FOR A SECOND. BUT THEN SHE REALIZES THIS IS PROBABLY BETTER. AT LEAST SHE WON’T BE ALONE WITH BEN.
BLISS: Hello? Is anyone there?
FELICITY: It’s Felicity…could you buzz me in?
BEN GETS AN UNCOMFORTABLE LOOK ON HIS FACE.
BLISS: (looks at Ben) It’s Felicity.
BEN: Yeah…I heard. Go ahead and buzz her in.
BLISS DOES THE BUZZER AND THEN GOES INTO BEN’S ROOM SLAMMING THE DOOR.
SEAN: Probably not the best move.
BEN: Yeah…when I want your opinion…I’ll ask for it.
SEAN: I’m just saying…Bliss seemed pretty pissed.
BEN: What do you want me to do…tell Felicity to go away?
SEAN: It’s not my place to tell you what to do.
BEN: Yet…you keep trying.
THERE IS A KNOCK AT BEN’S DOOR. BEN GOES OVER TO ANSWER IT. FELICITY IS STANDING THERE.
BEN: (Ben looks intently at Felicity) Hey.
FELICITY LOOKS INTENTLY AT BEN TOO. BUT STARTS TO BECOME UNCOMFORTABLE AND CASTS HER EYES DOWN. AS SOON AS SHE DOES A LOOK OF PAIN CROSSES BEN’S FACE. A LOOK THAT IS GONE AS SOON AS FELICITY LOOKS UP AGAIN.
BEN: (cont.) What are you doing here?
FELICITY: I uh…I need to ask you a small favor.
BEN: What kind of favor?
FELICITY: (VO) Ben was actually pretty cool about the whole Noel thing…and Sean…well Sean couldn’t have been happier about the prospect of a roommate to share the rent. And he was doubly excited that it was Noel…a guy he knew and liked.
FELICITY: (to Ben) So the idea is to make it seem like it was your idea…that way Elena will be off the hook…and Noel will be out of her dorm.
BEN: Okay…yeah. I can do that…do you really think he’ll say yes?
FELICITY: Yeah…I think so. I suspect if he’s driving Elena up a wall…well the feeling is probably pretty mutual.
BEN: You’re probably right.
BEN AND FELICITY LOOK AT EACH OTHER…BOTH GET UNCOMFORTABLE.
FELICITY: So…anyway…that’s what I came here for…so I should…be going.
BEN: Okay. I’ll keep you posted.
FELICITY: Thanks…I appreciate you helping Elena out.
BEN: Sure…no problem.
BEN OPENS THE DOOR TO LET FELICITY OUT. FELICITY ACCIDENTALLY BRUSHES AGAINST BEN AS SHE IS PASSING TO GO OUT. BOTH BEN AND FELICITY ARE MOMENTARILY JARRED BY THE SMALL PHYSICAL CONTACT. ON IMPULSE BEN PULLS FELICITY INTO HIS ARMS AND HUGS HER. BLISS COMES OUT OF THE BEDROOM AND WITNESSES THIS. IMMEDIATELY SHE HEADS BACK INTO BEN’S ROOM.
BEN FINISHES HUGGING FELICITY AND RELUCTANTLY LETS GO.
BEN: (cont.) Did you want me to walk you down?
FELICITY: Um…no that’s okay. I’ll be fine…thanks.
EXT. ELENA’S DORM ROOM-NIGHT
FELICITY KNOCKS ON ELENA’S DOOR. NOEL ANSWERS.
NOEL: Hey Felicity…what’s up?
FELICITY: (surprised) Noel…hi. Is Elena here?
NOEL: Oh…no. She went to the library to study. Did you want to come in and wait?
FELICITY: No…that’s okay. Just tell her I stopped by.
NOEL: Sure.
NOEL CLOSES THE DOOR. LEAVING FELICITY STANDING IN THE HALL. FELICITY BEGINS WALKING BACK TO HER ROOM.
INT: BEN’S LOFT-NIGHT.
BEN IS STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS LOCKED BEDROOM DOOR. BANGING ON IT.
BEN: (pounding on door) Come on Bliss…open the door.
SEAN: Not letting you in huh?
BEN: (sarcastic) You’re brilliance amazes me…really. (pounds on door again) Please Bliss…open up and let me into *my* room.
WE HEAR BEN’S DOOR BEING UNLOCKED. BEN OPENS THE DOOR AND FINDS BLISS GATHERING UP HER JACKET AND PURSE.
BEN: You’re leaving?
BLISS: I’m surprised you noticed.
BEN: Come on Bliss…what’s going on here? This can’t be about Felicity.
BLISS: It can’t?
BEN: She’s my friend Bliss.
BLISS: If that’s what you want to believe…fine. I on the other hand choose to deal with the truth.
BEN: The truth?
BLISS: You don’t want to be with me.
BEN: Yes I do. I thought we had gotten past this.
BLISS: I thought so too…until tonight. Ben I saw you hugging her…you didn’t want to let go.
BEN: I…I just…I miss her…I think that’s normal.
BLISS: You miss her? Please Ben…let’s be honest here. It’s more than that…much more.
BEN: I’m not denying that Felicity and I have a lot of history…a lot to get past. But you have to give me the chance to do that.
BLISS: I’m getting in too deep here Ben.
BEN: You’re reading too much into this Bliss. I am committed to you…I promise.
BLISS: Don’t you see Ben…the more I give…the harder it’s going to be for me to let go…if things don’t work out.
BEN: That’s the way it works…we take chances. But I think…I think we have something really good here.
BLISS: (unconvinced) You do?
BEN: Yes.
BLISS: I’m sorry. It’s just…I get so wound…about Felicity…because I know what the two of you had.
BEN: Well you don’t have to. It’s past. We’re moving forward…remember?
BLISS: Right…forward.
BLISS COMES OVER AND HUGS BEN.
BEN: So we’re okay then?
BLISS: Yes…I’m really sorry for over reacting.
BEN: You were just being honest…it’s fine.
BLISS: Thank you Ben. (a pause) I think I’m just going to take a bath and then head to bed.
BEN: That sounds good. (hugs her again) enjoy your bath.
BLISS WALKS INTO THE BATHROOM AND CLOSES THE DOOR. WE HEAR THE WATER START RUNNING. BEN GOES OVER TO THE BED AND SITS DOWN. FRUSTRATED HE RUNS HIS HANDS THROUGH HIS HAIR. HE STARTS TO PULL BACK THE COVERS OF THE BED. THEN HE OPENS HIS NIGHTSTAND DRAWER AND PULLS OUT A PICTURE. IT IS A PICTURE OF FELICITY UP AT SPEEDMAN POINT. SHE IS DRENCHED FROM HEAD TO TOE BUT EXTREMELY HAPPY. BEN SMILES REMINISCING…SIGHS AND PUTS THE PICTURE BACK.
NEXT DAY
INT: LUNCHROOM-DAY
BEN IS SITTING AT A TABLE BY HIMSELF. NOEL WALKS IN AND BEN SIGNALS FOR HIM TO COME SIT DOWN.
NOEL: (sitting down) Hi there.
BEN: Hey. So how are things with you?
NOEL: Good…real good.
BEN: So I’m curious…you like living with Elena?
NOEL: Sure…yeah. Why do you ask?
BEN: Well…I’m not trying to cause any problems here…I just told Sean I would ask.
NOEL: Ask what?
BEN: It’s stupid…you’re obviously happy where you’re at.
NOEL: Okay…yeah. But still…you have my curiosity going…what did Sean want you to ask?
BEN: He wanted me to ask you to consider renting the extra room in the loft.
NOEL: Sean did?
BEN: Yeah…it’s been empty since Eli left…and the extra rent is starting to get to him.
NOEL: Why me?
BEN: Someone told him you moved out of the dorm…I guess.
NOEL: I would…but I think Elena would be crushed.
BEN: Yeah…you're probably right…Elena probably likes sharing her space with you.
NOEL: The loft though…that would be so very…great. (lowers voice) I don’t want anyone else to know this…but Elena is kind of driving me crazy. I mean…if she weren’t so damn sexy…I would think she was my mother the way she’s always nagging at me to pick up and checking on my homework.
BEN: Really? That’s kind of a weird mental picture.
NOEL: Tell me about it. (a beat) You know…if I could find a way to do this without hurting her feelings…I would be so there. Let me see what I can do and I’ll get back to you…okay?
BEN: Yeah…sounds good. I’ll just let Sean know that you’re considering it.
NOEL: Yeah…that’s good. Ask him if he could just hold off for a couple of days on renting it out.
BEN: I’m sure he will.
NOEL: (pauses) What about you?
BEN: (confused) Me?
NOEL: How would you feel about having me there?
BEN: I’d be fine.
NOEL: I guess…I mean we didn’t use to be the best of friends.
BEN: That’s so far in the past…I even forget why.
NOEL: Good. (considering this) I so hope this works out…thanks Ben.
NOEL GETS UP FROM THE TABLE AND LEAVES. BEN IS GATHERING UP HIS STUFF TO GO WHEN FELICITY WALKS IN. HE SEES HER AND MOTIONS HER OVER. FELICITY WALKS OVER TO HIM.
FELICITY: Good morning.
BEN: Yeah…to you too. I uh…I just wanted to let you know I talked to Noel.
FELICITY: What did he say?
BEN: He seems pretty psyched about the idea. I think you were right about Elena bugging him too.
FELICITY: So he said yes then?
BEN: No…not yet. But I’m sure he will.
FELICITY: Thanks for helping Ben. Elena will be grateful.
BEN: You know me…I can’t tell you no.
FELICITY: (confused) Do you not want Noel living there?
BEN: I’m fine with it. He seems like a great guy.
FELICITY: (VO) Within two days after Ben and Noel’s conversation…we all got together and moved him into Ben’s loft. Both Elena and Noel were completely happy about the situation…each convinced they were both getting what they wanted…the lengths they would go to make each other happy…amazed me. I looked at Noel and Elena’s relationship with envy from that day on. They just made being in love look so easy.
INT: BEN’S LOFT-DAY
FELICITY, NOEL, ELENA, JULIE, LYNN AND BEN ARE MOVING NOEL’S THINGS INTO THE LOFT.
FELICITY WALKS INTO NOEL’S ROOM AND SEES ELENA AND NOEL KISSING BY THE BED.
FELICITY: Get back to work you two.
NOEL AND ELENA STEP APART.
NOEL: Slave-driver.
FELICITY: Okay…this is your stuff lazy man…I could just leave it outside and let you get it all.
NOEL: Yeah…just kidding about that slave-driver thing. Have I thanked you yet for helping me?
FELICITY LAUGHS AND WALKS OVER TO SET A BOX DOWN. NOEL AND ELENA WALK OUT AND BEN WALKS IN LUGGING SOME BOXES. HE SETS THEM DOWN JUST AS FELICITY STANDS UP. THEY BOTH LOOK AT EACH OTHER…TRYING HARD TO NOT DISPLAY WHAT THEY ARE FEELING.
BEN: So…there’s just a few more loads down stairs and then we are going to order some pizza. Are you going to stay?
FELICITY: I…I don’t think so. I still have a lot of studying to do. I’m leaving for Palo Alto on Monday…and I don’t want to get behind.
BEN: So then I can’t convince you tostay…just for a little bit.
FELICITY: (smiles) I appreciate the offer…but I don’t want to cause any trouble.
BEN: You won’t be causing any trouble.
FELICITY: What if Bliss comes home?
BEN: She’s down at the club…working with some new dancers. She said she wouldn’t be home till late.
FELICITY: Why do you want me to stay Ben?
BEN: I don’t know. I just do. I…thought we were going to try and be friends.
FELICITY: So this is a friendly invitation?
BEN: Absolutely.
FELICITY: (relents) Then…okay…how could I refuse?
BEN: You can’t.
FELICITY: (VO) So I did stay Sally. And for the first time…I actually felt like maybe it could work…maybe we could be friends. But I should have learned that things…they are never what they seem to be.
FELICITY, BEN, JULIE, LYNN, NOEL AND ELENA ARE SITTING IN BEN’S LIVING ROOM DRINKING BEERS. THEY HAVE FINISHED OFF THE PIZZA. FELICITY EXCUSES HERSELF TO USE THE RESTROOM. WHILE SHE IS GONE JULIE AND LYNN SAY THEIR GOODBYES TO BEN AND NOEL AND ELENA EXCUSE THEMSELVES TO GO TO BED. BEN IS LEFT ALONE IN THE LIVING ROOM. HE IS PICKING THINGS UP WHEN FELICITY WALKS BACK OUT.
FELICITY: (noticing the empty apt) What happened?
BEN: (laughs) Everyone…took off.
FELICITY: (watching Ben pick up) Did you need some help?
BEN: Sure…that would be great.
FELICITY STARTS HELPING BEN WITH THE PLATES AND BOTTLES. BEN STARTS RUNNING SOME WATER TO WASH THE FEW DISHES AND UTENSILS THAT WERE USED. FELICITY STEPS NEXT TO HIM TO RINSE AND DRY.
BEN: (cont.) Thanks for staying to help me.
FELICITY: You’re welcome.
BEN HANDS FELICITY A WET, SOAPY DISH AND AS HE DOES THERE HANDS TOUCHED. BOTH ARE AWARE OF THE ELECTRIC FEELING THE SMALL PHYSICAL CONTACT HAS SENT THROUGH THEM. THEY FINISH UP THE DISHES WITHOUT ANOTHER WORD…TRYING TO AVOID ANY FURTHER CONTACT. FELICITY GOES INTO BEN’S ROOM TO GET HER COAT. BEN FOLLOWS HER IN.
BEN: You’re leaving?
FELICITY: Yes…I think it’s time.
BEN: I’ll call you a taxi.
BEN GOES OVER TO THE PHONE BY HIS BED AND DIALS A TAXI SERVICE. AFTER HE HANGS UP HE SITS ON THE BED AND STARTS PUTTING ON HIS SHOES.
FELICITY: I can see myself downstairs.
BEN: It’s late Felicity…I would feel better if you just at least let me wait with you.
FELICITY: Fine.
EXT: OUTSIDE BEN’S LOFT- NIGHT
BEN AND FELICITY ARE STANDING OUTSIDE WAITING FOR THE CAB…NOT SAYING A WORD. FINALLY FELICITY BREAKS THE SILENCE.
FELICITY: It was weird being here tonight.
BEN: What do you mean?
FELICITY: I mean…it was almost like before…like when we were…together.
BEN: (pauses) I’m sorry things didn’t work out…the way we wanted them to.
FELICITY: I know.
THE CAB BEN CALLED COMES DRIVING UP. FELICITY AND BEN LOOK AT EACH OTHER. BEN STARTS TO HUG FELICITY GOOD BYE BUT SHE STEPS BACK.
FELICITY: I think…maybe that’s not such a good idea.
BEN: (puts hands back down at his side) Right…sorry.
BEN OPENS THE DOOR OF THE CAB AND FELICITY STEPS IN. BEN STANDS WATCHING THE CAB DRIVE AWAY.
SALLY: (VO) Dear Felicity…these are definitely going to be some hard times for you. Many things will bring back the good memories. Ben’s presence will…I guarantee…always be a test to you. I think letting go is hard enough…but letting go of someone that you share an undeniable chemistry with…even harder. The chemistry alone will up the tension level whenever you are together. That same chemistry that brought you such pleasure, will undoubtedly be your biggest source of heartache…in the healing time ahead. No other relationship will be quite the same for either you or Ben. I hate to say it, but never having found that person who sends you reeling…somehow might have been easier…for the both of you. Now with the comparison factor…everyone else…might never seem good enough.