Equal Passion
Written by: Juana
Story summary: Felicity works to assure Eli that nothings changed with her and Ben. Lyssa makes a surprise visit to Ben’s and Ben finally exorcises her from his life. Elena and Noel are confronted by Blair which causes Noel to react in some unsettling ways.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. They belong to the brilliant writers and creators of the hit WB show.
FELICITY: (Voice over recording to Sally) Dear Sally, Well after Eli walked in on me and Ben sleeping in each other’s arms on the bathroom floor…..let’s just say all was not quiet and serene.
AT THE SOUND OF ELI’S VOICE BOTH FELICITY AND BEN BOLT UPRIGHT.
ELI: I said….what the hell is going on here?
BEN: It’s not what you think man….Felicity was sick….I was just helping her out.
ELI: Definition of helping her out being…..?
BEN: Forget it…think what you want….but for the record…..it was innocent….completely innocent.
BEN GETS UP OFF FLOOR AND HELPS FELICITY TO STAND UP. FELICITY WHO IS STILL A LITTLE ILL FALLS BACK AGAINST HIM AND BEN REACTS AND CATCHES HER PULLING HER CLOSER TO HIM. ELI COMPLETELY LOSES IT.
ELI: Just get away from her Ben….I can handle it from here!
BEN: Relax Eli….she’s just a little light headed….stop being so dramatic.
ELI: I said I could take it from here.
BEN: And I’m saying…calm down…or I’m not going anywhere.
ELI: This is my room!
BEN: And this is my friend…who needs some rest…so step aside and let me take her to bed.
ELI: Oh you’d just love to do that….bed my girlfriend…wouldn’t you?
FELICITY: Okay….That’s it. I’ve had just about enough of the both of you….Eli….relax. Ben I can handle it from here. Thank you for all your help.
BEN: You sure you’re going to be okay?
FELICITY: I’ll be fine. It’s late….you should get some rest too.
BEN: All right…but if you need anything.
FELICITY: I know….thanks.
BEN EXITS ELI’S ROOM. ELI TURNS TO FELICITY AND STARTS TO SAY SOMETHING BUT THEN TURNS AND LEAVES THE ROOM. AS ELI GETS INTO THE LIVING ROOM THE DOORBELL RINGS. ELI WALKS OVER AND ANSWERS IT.
ELI: Yes?
LYSSA: Hi….I’m sorry I know it’s late…but I really need to speak to Ben.
BEN HAS COME OUT OF HIS ROOM AT THE SOUND OF THE DOORBELL.
BEN: Lyssa?
LYSSA SPOTS BEN AND PUSHES ELI ASIDE TO COME IN. AT THIS POINT IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT SHE HAS BEEN DRINKING.
LYSSA: Ben….sweetie….(Lyssa goes up to Ben and hugs him. Ben does not hug her back)
BEN: What are you doing here?
LYSSA: I came to talk…we need to talk….please.
FELICITY PICKS THIS MOMENT TO COME OUT OF ELI’S ROOM.
FELICITY: Eli…please come….Lyssa?
LYSSA: Felicity? (to Ben) What is that harlot doing here?
ELI: Okay look….Miss….whoever you are it’s like 2:OO am and you’ve obviously thrown back one too many alcoholic beverages….maybe you should leave.
LYSSA: I came to see Ben…so back off….doorman.
BEN: He’s right Lyssa….you need to go.
LYSSA: (sits down on couch) No! I’m not leaving until we kiss and makeup.
BEN: (pulls her off couch) Well that’s not going to happen….not in this lifetime.
LYSSA: (gets down on hands and knees) Ben…I’m sorry….I screwed up….but we love each other….please.
BEN: What? How even in your present inebriated state could you possibly believe that?
FELICITY: Ben….she’s obviously not all here….maybe you should just let her crash on the couch for the night.
BEN: No…absolutely not!
FELICITY: Ben…please look at her….have a heart.
BEN: Fine. (to Lyssa) This does not change anything….got it?
LYSSA: Ben…you're so…..mean.
ELI HAS GONE AND GOTTEN A PILLOW AND A BLANKET FOR LYSSA TO USE ON THE COUCH.
ELI: (Puts pillow on couch) Here you go….this should be warm enough.
LYSSA LAYS BACK ON THIS PILLOW AND BECOMES EXTREMELY DROWSY. ELI PUTS THE BLANKET AROUND HER.
LYSSA: (drifting off) Was he always this mean?
ELI WALKS BACK OVER TO FELICITY AND PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER.
ELI: Let’s go to bed.
BEN BECOMES DISGUSTED AT THIS REMARK AND HEADS TO HIS ROOM AND SHUTS HIS DOOR.
CUT TO: ELI AND FELICITY IN HIS BED. ELI REACHES OVER AND KISSES FELICITY GOOD NIGHT AND THEN TURNS OVER.
FELICITY: Goodnight Eli.
ELI: Goodnight Felicity.
THERE IS A FEW MOMENTS OF SILENCE.
FELICITY: Eli are you okay?
ELI: Let’s not get into this tonight Felicity.
FELICITY: I won’t be able to sleep if we don’t get this settled.
ELI RELUCTANTLY SITS UP AND FACES FELICITY WHO IS SITTING UP ON HER SIDE OF THE BED.
ELI: Fine…no I’m not okay…can we sleep now?
FELICITY: No…Eli what you saw in the bathroom…it was harmless.
ELI: What I saw in the bathroom…it may have been harmless…but it hurt Felicity.
FELICITY: Hurt? I don’t understand. Why?
ELI: Because it just causes me to face a lot of truths….one of which happens to be that Ben is your first love.
FELICITY: Eli…
ELI: Let me finish….Ben is always going to be this threat to me….I can’t help it. You and Ben have shared things and been through a great deal and to make matters worse…..He still loves you and I’m not 100% sure that you don’t feel the same way.
FELICITY: Are you finished?
ELI: For now.
FELICITY: Fine. Yes…Ben was my first love. It makes things awkward to say the least….but it doesn’t make things impossible….only we can do that.
ELI: It’s just that every time I’m not with you….I think you’re with Ben and well tonight I was right.
FELICITY: I was sick Eli…it’s not like Ben and I were laughing it up.
ELI: But to walk in and see you in his arms….that was unexpected.
FELICITY: But harmless….I promise you Eli nothing happened.
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally) How far from the truth was that you ask? Pretty far….sure nothing physical happened with me and Ben….but emotionally….I couldn’t have felt closer. I mean I couldn’t get over the fact that even though I was sick…. Ben wanted to be there for me.
CUT TO: BEN’S ROOM. BEN IS ASLEEP. LYSSA COMES AND CRAWLS INTO BED NEXT TO HIM. LYSSA SNUGGLES UP NEXT TO HIM AND STARTS TO KISS HIS NECK AND CHEST. BEN IN A SEMI SLEEP STARTS TO WAKE UP AND RESPOND TO LYSSA’S ADVANCES.
BEN: Felicity?
LYSSA: Yes….(continues kissing his neck and moves in and kisses him on the mouth)
BEN IS RESPONDING TO LYSSA AND STARTING TO FULLY WAKE UP AT WHICH POINT HE REALIZES IT’S NOT FELICITY. PUSHES LYSSA AWAY AND WIPES HIS MOUTH WITH THE BACK OF HIS HAND.
BEN: Damn it Lyssa…get the hell out of here…now!
LYSSA: (pouting) NO!
BEN: Get out before I have to remove you.
LYSSA: Admit it Ben….you were into it.
BEN: I thought you were Felicity.
LYSSA: Does she do this often…leave her boyfriend’s bed and crawl into yours?
BEN: No…that’s not what I meant.
LYSSA: Come on Ben….just let me be with you this one last time and then I’ll leave….girl scouts honor.
BEN: You’re a real piece of work Lyssa….I would have to have my head examined if I agreed to that….Why don’t you just throw in we don’t need protection It’s taken care of already.
LYSSA: What are you implying?
BEN: Oh you know….setting the ground work for another fake pregnancy so you can trap me again.
LYSSA: I was pregnant….I lost it. You have to believe me.
BEN: I don’t have to believe anything. It’s not my concern any longer.
LYSSA: I want to be friends again Ben….can’t we at least do that?
BEN: God….no! I don’t want you in my life Lyssa…not in any way. I want you to leave me alone.
LYSSA: You act like I destroyed your life.
BEN: You know….I’ve been trying to be a good guy about this….but bottom line Lyssa….you did. Because of you the love of my life is sleeping with my roommate.
LYSSA: Okay…there are definitely things you can blame me for….but not that. Felicity found that guy all on her own.
BEN: Because she couldn’t have me.
LYSSA: Well not to burst your bubble bright boy….but you're single now….What’s stopping her if you’re the love of her life?
BEN: Get out!
LYSSA: (vindictive tone) I’m sorry….did I hit a nerve?
BEN: I’m just not going to discuss this with you. You have two options here…you can leave peacefully and go back to your couch or you can just leave.
LYSSA: Fine.
LYSSA WALKS BACK OUT AND LAYS DOWN ON COUCH. BEN FOLLOWS HER OUT.
BEN: Just for the record…I am the love of her life and she and I will find our way back to one another despite what may seem like insurmountable objects right now.
LYSSA: Dream on Ben. You know I don’t think I feel like staying after all.
LYSSA GETS UP OFF COUCH AND HEADS OUT OF THE APARTMENT. BEN CLOSES THE APARTMENT DOOR BEHIND HER AND HEADS BACK INTO HIS ROOM.
BEN: Good riddance.
CUT TO ELENA AND NOEL COMING BACK IN FROM A DATE. NOEL GRABS ELENA AND PLANTS ONE ON HER AS THEY EXIT THE ELEVATOR AT KELVIN HALL. A MAN WHO HAS BEEN SITTING BY ELENA’S DOOR STANDS UP AS THEY COME WALKING DOWN THE HALL.
BLAIR: Elena?
ELENA: Blair? What are you doing here?
BLAIR: I tried calling….but no one answered.
ELENA: I was out.
BLAIR: So I see. What’s going on here Elena…Are you dating Noel?
ELENA: That’s none of your business.
BLAIR: I think it is….Elena I thought we were still trying to work things out.
ELENA: You cheated on me Blair…with my best friend….not exactly a forgivable offense.
BLAIR: But you said you would think about it…..and let me know.
ELENA: Well I was going to call you tomorrow, but I guess this is as good a time as any….We’re over Blair….through….that’s my decision.
BLAIR: Because of him?
ELENA: No…because you are a lying, two timing, cheat. That’s why. I don’t need your kind….I prefer an honest guy with no secrets.
BLAIR: And that’s Noel?
ELENA: So far.
BLAIR: He’s not going to make you happy Elena.
ELENA: That’s where your wrong Blair…because he already does.
ELENA AND NOEL WALK INTO HER ROOM LEAVING BLAIR STANDING THERE.
CUT TO FELICITY IN THE KITCHEN GETTING A GLASS OF WATER A FEW SECONDS LATER BEN COMES OUT OF HIS ROOM TO DO THE SAME AND ALMOST RUNS INTO HER.
BEN: Oh geez…sorry. I didn’t see you there.
FELICITY: It’s okay…it was my fault.
BEN: Having trouble sleeping?
FELICITY: Yeah….my back still really hurts.
BEN: Do you want me to massage it for you?
FELICITY: (uncomfortable) I don’t think that’s such a good idea.
BEN: Come on Felicity….we’re friends….let’s not make a big deal out of a friendly gesture on my part.
FELICITY: You're right…I’m being silly.
BEN: Good. Let’s go in my room.
FELICITY: (hesitates)Your room? I don’t know….maybe I’ll just…
BEN: It’s okay Felicity….you can trust me.
FELICITY: I do Ben…it’s not that.
BEN: Tell you what. I’ll be in my room if you want the massage just come on in.
BEN WALKS AWAY. FELICITY TAKES A PAIN PILL WITH HER GLASS OF WATER AND SITS DOWN AT THE KITCHEN TABLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES SHE GETS UP AND HEADS FOR ELI’S ROOM BUT STOPS SHORT OF THE DOOR AND HEADS INTO BENS.
BEN: I was starting to think you weren’t coming.
FELICITY: I almost didn’t….but I decided I was just being ridiculous.
BEN: Come over here and lay down.
FELICITY WALKS CAUTIOUSLY OVER TO BEN’S BED AND LIES DOWN AWKWARDLY. AS BEN STARTS TO MASSAGE HER SHOULDERS SHE SITS UP ABRUPTLY.
FELICITY: I’m gonna go….I don’t think this is such a good idea.
BEN: I’m not going to attack you Felicity….just relax.
FELICITY: That’s just it Ben….I can’t relax….this just feels wrong.
BEN: It’s suppose to feel good.
FELICITY: It does….that’s what feels wrong.
BEN: Are you worried about what Eli will think?
FELICITY: That’s definitely a concern. But honestly Ben….I don’t trust myself enough to stay here.
BEN: Finally….an ounce of truth from you….I’m glad to see that you can admit you still feel something for me.
FELICITY: I never denied that I did Ben.
BEN: But you’re with Eli….that’s as good as denying it.
FELICITY: No it’s not. Ben I told you why I was with Eli.
BEN: Because you slept with him.
FELICITY: That’s partially true….but there are feelings involved there too.
BEN: Fine….let’s just drop it and get back to the business at hand….the massage.
FELICITY LAYS BACK DOWN ON THE BED AND BEN STARTS TO MASSAGE HER BACK.
CUT TO ELENA AND NOEL IN HER ROOM.
NOEL: Well that was uncomfortable.
ELENA: Just forget it Noel….please.
ELENA STARTS KISSING NOELS NECK AND EARLOBES. NOEL BACKS UP.
NOEL: I don’t know Elena….it’s kind of hard for me to get in the mood after witnessing that.
ELENA: It was nothing Noel….even less than nothing.
NOEL: I don’t think so….I think he still has it bad for you.
ELENA: But I don’t feel the same way.
NOEL: This is just too familiar….last time I was in this position, I didn’t trust my instincts. I think this time I’m going to.
ELENA: What are you talking about?
NOEL: Felicity and Ben….I sensed that it was far from over for those two…but I stilled pursued it and looked what happened….I ended up with a broken heart.
ELENA: And?
NOEL: And I don’t think I could go through that again.
ELENA: Spell it out for me Noel….cause I can’t believe what I am hearing.
NOEL: I think you know what I’m trying to say here.
ELENA: Humor me.
NOEL: I think we should end this….before either of us becomes too deeply involved.
ELENA: Get out!
NOEL: Elena I’m not trying to hurt you, I just think this is best for everyone involved.
ELENA: The only two involved in this were you and me. This may be for your best….I think it sucks. Get out!
NOEL: It’s just that I would be afraid of losing you to Blair.
ELENA: Fine…you’ve made your point. I never figured you for the spineless jellyfish guy….but hey if that’s the case….Maybe I am better off.
NOEL: It’s not like that Elena.
ELENA: Noel? Just leave….go away quietly….don’t say anything else.
NOEL WALKS OVER AND OPENS HER DOOR. TURNS BACK AROUND AT OPEN DOOR.
NOEL: Are we still going to be friends?
ELENA: Goodnight Noel.
ELENA SLAMS DOOR IN HIS FACE. SITS DOWN IN CHAIR AND STARTS CRYING.
CUT TO FELICITY IN BEN’S ROOM. BEN IS MASSAGING FELICITY’S BACK BUT STOPS WHEN HE REALIZES THAT SHE IS CRYING.
BEN: Felicity? Are you okay?
FELICITY: (sobbing into bed) I’m fine.
BEN PULLS FELICITY UP OFF THE BED UNTIL SHE IS FACING HIM.
BEN: Why are you crying then?
FELICITY: It’s nothing.
BEN PULLS FELICITY IN FOR A HUG.
BEN: You can tell me Felicity….I’m your friend….remember?
FELICITY STARTS CRYING EVEN HARDER AT THIS REMARK.
BEN: What did I say?
FELICITY PICKS HER HEAD UP AND LOOKS DIRECTLY AT BEN.
FELICITY: It’s not you….well it is you….but it’s not.
BEN: Sweetie…do you realize you're not making any sense?
FELICITY: I can’t believe I’m about to do this.
BEN: Do what? Felicity if this is the speech where you tell me we can’t be friends….I don’t want to hear it.
FELICITY: I wish it could be different Ben…but this is just too hard.
BEN: Felicity….no. Just stop…..we can and we are going to be friends….I won’t listen to this nonsense.
FELICITY: Be honest with me Ben….look at me now and be honest. Do you think of me as just a friend?
BEN: (hesitates) Um…..No….but that’s fine…we can work past that.
FELICITY: Ben….you once told me that you weren’t strong enough to be just my friend….I didn’t understand it then…but I do now.
BEN: You can’t do this Felicity…it’s not fair.
BEN IS HOLDING FELICITY BY THE SHOULDERS AND AS HE IS TALKING HE IS PULLING HER CLOSER. AFRAID TO LET GO.
FELICITY: Ben….I’ve made a decision to be with Eli….I need you to honor that.
BEN: No! You belong with me.
BEN STARTS KISSING FELICITY POSSESIVELY. AT FIRST SHE RESISTS BUT THEN RELENTS AND STARTS KISSING HIM BACK WITH EQUAL PASSION. BEN LAYS FELICITY BACK ON THE BED AND STARTS UNDRESSING HER. FELICITY BEGINS TO UNDRESS BEN AND AS SHE IS STARTING TO REMOVE HIS PAJAMA BOTTOMS…………..
BEN’S ALARM CLOCK GOES OFF AND WAKES HIM UP.
BEN: (bolting upright) Damn….it was a dream.
BEN REACHES INTO HIS DRESSER AND PULLS A PICTURE OF FELICITY AND HIM IN THE MOUNTAINS AT PALO ALTO. FELICITY IS SITTING ON HIS LAP WITH HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK AND HUGE GRIN ON BOTH OF THEIR FACES.
BEN: We were happy….we will be again….I promise.
CUT TO FELICITY WAKING UP OVER IN ELI’S ROOM AS IF SHE HAS HEARD BEN SAY THIS.
FELICITY: (whispering to herself) Ben?
SALLY: (Voice over to Felicity) Dear Felicity, Drawing the line with Ben wasn’t meant to be easy. Ben continues in your heart if not your life. Friends is a good thing as long as you both realize that it holds certain restrictions in your case. Being Ben’s friend can provide many opportunities to sabotage your relationship with Eli….with little or no effort. When you and Ben are together you tend to go into automatic pilot where your cares are concerned. It feels right to be with Ben….and that my friend is the feeling you will constantly be fighting. Our lives are as complicated as we make them….no more….no less. Happy Easter Felicity and remember…..One good guy isn’t as good as another….when love is involved.