Truth And Consequences
Written by: Juana
Story summary: Felicity takes a drastic step with Eli to compensate for her slip up with Ben. The secret that Lyssa has been keeping is revealed to Felicity and as she heads to tell Ben yet another obstacle blocks her path and impact’s her life in a major way.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. They are the creations of the brilliant writers of the hit WB show.
FELICITY AND BEN ARE WALKING UP TO HER BUILDING.
BEN: So….you're awfully quiet. Are you okay?
FELICITY: Fine….I’m fine. Thanks for walking me home.
BEN: Felicity….
FELICITY: (interrupts) I know what you’re going to say Ben…. you don’t need to.
BEN: Well I’m worried about you.
FELICITY: Please….Ben….I don’t want to talk about what happened between us tonight….not now. I just want to go upstairs and sleep…..I’m really tired.
BEN: Alright….but we need to talk about this sometime….you know that don’t you?
FELICITY: Yes…I know. Just not tonight…Okay?
FELICITY: (Voice over recording to Sally) Dear Sally, How could I have been so stupid? All I wanted was for Ben to know the truth. That I was falling for Eli….but now….we’ll I’ve just made things worse. I almost ruined what I started with Eli….for a night of passion with Ben. That’s right….Ben. It just happened so naturally. One kiss and I was his. The only saving grace was Ben….he was sane enough to stop things before they went too far.
CUT TO BEN WALKING INTO HIS APARTMENT. ELI IS SITTING ON THE COUCH WATCHING TELEVISION.
BEN: Hey.
ELI: Hi….before I forget….Lyssa is in your room. She was waiting up for you but she fell asleep so I carried her in there. Hope that’s okay.
BEN: Yeah…that’s fine.
BEN GOES INTO THE KITCHEN AND GETS A BEER FROM THE FRIDGE. WALKS OVER AND SITS IN THE CHAIR NEXT TO ELI.
ELI: So how was work?
BEN: It was good….kind of slow.
BEN AND ELI SIT WATCHING THE TELEVISION IN SILENCE. PHONE RINGS.
ELI: I wonder who that could be…it’s kind of late.
BEN: (picking up phone) Hello?
CUT TO FELICITY’S DORM ROOM.
FELICITY: Ben…it’s me.
BEN: Hey….I didn’t expect to hear from you tonight.
FELICITY: I know…..I just wanted to tell you….thanks.
BEN: Thanks?
FELICITY: Well you know…for keeping things in perspective tonight.
BEN: Oh…that. It wasn’t easy….but I don’t want to hurt you anymore….it just didn’t seem like the right thing to be doing.
FELICITY: I know….you're right. Well…I should probably go now.
BEN: Okay…good night.
CUT BACK TO BEN’S APARTMENT. BEN HANGS UP THE PHONE AND WALKS BACK OVER TO THE CHAIR AND SITS DOWN.
ELI: Is everything okay?
BEN: Um…yeah…it will be. It’s just gonna take some time.
ELI: Anything I can help with?
BEN: Probably not….On second thought I could really use some advice.
ELI: Okay…what’s up?
BEN: Remember the girl I told you about when you first moved in?
ELI: Yeah.
BEN: Well I was with her tonight….in every sense of the word.
ELI: Are you saying you had sex with her?
BEN: No….almost…but no. We crossed a lot of off limits tonight though.
ELI: So you're confused about how you feel about her?
BEN: No….no doubt about it….I love her.
ELI: Then why aren’t you with her?
BEN: Because of Lyssa….and well now there’s this other guy that she met. I really think that’s what prompted what happened between us tonight…..old fashion jealousy.
ELI: It’s possible. Jealousy can make a guy do some pretty unpredictable things.
ELI’S PHONE RINGS.
ELI: I’ll be right back.
ELI WALKS INTO HIS ROOM AND PICKS UP THE PHONE.
ELI: Hello?
CUT TO FELICITY’S ROOM.
FELICITY: Eli…it’s Felicity.
ELI: Hey…I’m glad you called. Did your roommate tell you I stopped by earlier?
FELICITY: No….but she’s not here right now.
ELI: So how was work?
FELICITY: It was fine…kind of slow.
ELI: So when are you going to tell me where you work? I’m beginning to think you have something to hide.
FELICITY: Um…are you busy right now?
ELI: Not really. I was just talking to my roommate.
FELICITY: Well I was thinking maybe you could come over here and……stay the night.
ELI: Stay the night? You mean….the whole night?
FELICITY: Um…yes. I’ve been thinking about our discussion about waiting…..well I don’t want to wait any more….Can you come over and stay?
ELI: Wow…. not that the offer isn’t tempting…but I’ve got to know….why the sudden change of heart?
FELICITY: It’s not that sudden….really. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I just had some things I needed to take care of first….and I have now.
ELI: What things?
FELICITY: It’s not important….what is important is that I want to be with you. Are you coming over or not?
ELI: I’ll be right there.
ELI HANGS UP THE PHONE AND HEADS OUT INTO THE LIVINGROOM. BEN IS STILL SITTING ON THE COUCH DRINKING HIS BEER.
ELI: Um…I’m sorry to cut our conversation short…but I’ve got to go.
BEN: Where are you going?
ELI: I’m going to stay the night at my girlfriend’s dorm.
BEN: First time staying there?
ELI: Yeah….let’s just say I’m a little nervous. I really like this girl. I don’t want to screw things up by moving too fast.
BEN: She invited you…right?
ELI: Yes.
BEN: Don’t worry then….Just let her set the pace and everything will be fine.
ELI: Thanks.
BEN: So I hope after tonight…I’ll get to meet her?
ELI: If everything goes okay tonight…you can count on it.
CUT TO FELICITY SITTING ON HER BED IN HER DORM WITH HER KNEES TO HER CHEST GAZING OUT THE WINDOW.
FELICITY: (Voice over recording to Sally) I hope I know what I’m doing Sally. I know the timing probably seems odd to you….but I feel good about being with Eli. Ben knows about him now and I have to move on with my life. I think the sooner I fully commit myself to Eli…the less chance there is of incidents like tonight happening again….That’s my theory anyway. I don’t plan to tell Eli about what happened tonight with Ben though. It was a mistake….but it wasn’t fatal.
THERE IS A KNOCK ON FELICITY’S DORM ROOM DOOR. FELICITY OPENS THE DOOR TO ELI.
FELICITY: Wow…you must have sprinted over here.
ELI: Seemed faster then a cab. (kisses Felicity) So….I thought about what you said on the phone.
FELICITY: And?
ELI: And I want you to be sure that this is what you want.
FELICITY TAKES ELI AND PULLS HIM OVER TOWARDS HER BED. TURNS OFF THE LIGHT.
FELICITY: It’s what I want. (Kisses Eli)
ELI RESPONDS WITH EQUAL PASSION TO FELICITY’S KISSES. HE GINGERLY LAYS HER BACK ON THE BED AND BEGINS TO UNDRESS HER IN THE MOONLIGHT. FELICITY WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND ELI’S NECK AND PULLS HIM CLOSER TO HER.
NEXT MORNING: BEN IS ASLEEP IN BED NEXT TO LYSSA. CUT TO FELICITY ASLEEP IN HER BED NEXT TO ELI. ELI IS AWAKE AND WATCHING FELICITY. FELICITY BEGINS TO STIR WHEN ELI STARTS TO KISS FIRST HER EYES, THEN HER CHEEK AND FINALLY HER LIPS.
FELICITY: (still very sleepy) Morning. (snuggles in closer to Eli)
ELI: Morning.
FELICITY: (groggy) What time is it?
ELI: Early…it’s about 6: 30 am.
FELICITY: What are you doing awake?
ELI: I couldn’t sleep.
FELICITY: (concerned) Is everything okay?
ELI: Everything is better then okay……how about you?
FELICITY: Yes….I’m better then okay too.
ELI: So then you're okay….about last night?
FELICITY: Absolutely….it was great….You’re great.
ELI: I just don’t want you to have any regrets.
FELICITY: (Voice over recording to Sally) It was eerie to me how similar his comment was to Ben’s. And I couldn’t help feeling like I should regret it….but I didn’t. Making love to Eli seemed right. I was moving on with my life and Eli was helping me do that. I was convinced that what had happened with Ben was a fluke…..never to be repeated or talked about again.
CUT TO ELI ENTERING HIS APARTMENT. BEN IS IN THE KITCHEN.
BEN: Morning. Was your night eventful?
ELI: Yes….it was. Thanks for asking.
BEN: Well I’m going to go take a shower. Help yourself to the rest of the pancakes. Lyssa made them.
ELI: Don’t mind if I do….I’m starving.
BEN: I’ll bet. Glad everything worked out for you.
CUT TO BEN’S BEDROOM. LYSSA IS ON THE PHONE WITH MAGGIE.
LYSSA: Maggie…please just listen to me. Things are going really good with Ben right now….just give me some more time.
CUT TO MAGGIE IN HER DORM ROOM ON THE PHONE WITH LYSSA.
MAGGIE: I’m sorry Lyssa…but you knew the agreement. If things are going good with Ben maybe he’ll understand.
LYSSA: No he won’t and you know it.
MAGGIE: Then tell him now…before it’s too late. Because as soon as I hang up I’m headed for Felicity’s room.
LYSSA: I can’t believe your doing this to me. I thought you were my friend.
MAGGIE: I am your friend. I know you don’t see this now Lyssa…but I’m doing this for you. Ben doesn’t love you….he loves the baby. The non-existent baby.
LYSSA: You're just jealous….because I finally found someone and you have nobody.
MAGGIE: Get real Lyssa. This has nothing to do with jealousy…this is about common decency. You owe Ben the truth.
LYSSA: Please Maggie….I’m begging you….don’t do this.
MAGGIE: I’m sorry Lyssa. I have to go now. (hangs up phone)
LYSSA: Wait! (hears click and then nothing…slams phone down.)
BEN COMES IN TO ROOM WEARING A TOWEL.
BEN: Hey easy on the poor thing. What’s wrong?
LYSSA: Nothing…I just have to go. (kisses Ben on cheek) I’ll call you later.
CUT TO MAGGIE KNOCKING ON FELICITY’S DOOR. FELICITY OPENS IT.
FELICITY: Maggie? This is a surprise. What can I do for you?
MAGGIE: We need to talk.
FELICITY: We do? Look if this is about Lyssa and Ben….
MAGGIE: It is about Lyssa and Ben….but it’s not what you think.
MAGGIE WALKS IN AND FELICITY MOTIONS FOR HER TO SIT IN THE CHAIR. FELICITY SITS ON THE BED.
FELICITY: Okay…so what is it?
MAGGIE: What I’m about to tell you is bound to shock you…..but please know that it’s the truth.
FELICITY: Well you’ve definitely got a knack for piquing the interest.
MAGGIE: I think the best way to do this is to just come right out and say it…..Lyssa isn’t pregnant.
FELICITY: (Completely stunned) What? What did you just say?
MAGGIE: Lyssa isn’t pregnant….she was….but she lost it….she miscarried.
FELICITY: Miscarried?….When?
MAGGIE: About two weeks into her pregnancy….I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.
FELICITY: Does Ben know?
MAGGIE: No. Lyssa begged me not to tell him….so I didn’t. I was giving her the opportunity to come clean.…but she hasn’t. That’s why I’m here.
FELICITY: Why are you telling me all this?
MAGGIE: Because Ben loves you….not Lyssa. He stayed for the baby.
FELICITY: I know.
MAGGIE: You do?
FELICITY: Yes….Are you going to tell Ben what you’ve told me?
MAGGIE: I thought maybe you would want to.
FELICITY: Well if Lyssa’s not going to….I certainly am.
THERE IS A KNOCK AT FELICITY’S DOOR. FELICITY ANSWERS DOOR AND LYSSA IS STANDING THERE.
FELICITY: (angry) What are you doing here?
LYSSA: I came to reason with you.
FELICITY: Get out!
LYSSA: Can we please just talk about this like adults?
FELICITY: Adults?…Please….nothing you’ve been doing is adult in any way.
FELICITY GRABS HER COAT AND HEADS FOR THE DOOR.
LYSSA GRABS HER ARM.
LYSSA: Where are you going?
FELICITY: (pulling arm away from Lyssa) That is none of your business.
CUT TO BEN AND ELI IN THE APARTMENT. BEN IS READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK.
ELI: So how’s the coffee at that place?
BEN: It’s pretty good. You should come and check it out sometime.
ELI: Maybe I will.
BEN: You could see the girl I’ve been telling you about.
ELI: You work together?
BEN: Yeah.
ELI: I definitely need to check this place out.
CUT TO FELICITY HAILING A CAB. LYSSA COMES RUNNING UP BEHIND HER.
LYSSA: Please just stop for a minute and listen to me.
FELICITY GETS INTO THE CAB. LYSSA RUNS AROUND AND GETS IN THE OTHER SIDE.
FELICITY: Get out of my cab!
LYSSA: No! You are going to listen to me wether you like it or not.
FELICITY: I said…get out!
LYSSA: Just let me ride with you to Ben’s. If I can’t make you understand my motives by then….I’ll step aside and let you tell him what a horrible person I am.
FELICITY: Fine….Driver can you please take me to 3415 Wilson St. To the Dean and Deluca.
DRIVER: No problem.
TAXI CAB TAKE OFF TO IT’S DESTINATION.
FELICITY: Start talking you’ve got about twenty minutes if the traffic is good.
LYSSA: I want you to understand why I did what I did.
FELICITY: I know why you did it. You don’t like to lose….and you were losing….to me.
LYSSA: Yes….I was pissed at you for sleeping with Ben….any girl would have been. But that’s not why.
FELICITY: Enlighten me…this should be good.
LYSSA: I did it because….I love him.
FELICITY: You’re going to have to do better then that…that’s pathetic.
LYSSA: Haven’t you ever loved someone so much that the thought of being without them hurt?
FELICITY: Yes…Ben. Lyssa you destroyed the best thing that ever happened to me.
LYSSA: Then we’re even…because you took away the best thing that ever came into my life.
FELICITY: I didn’t steal Ben away from you.
LYSSA: How can you say that? You and Ben were cheating on me from the very beginning.
FELICITY: I’m sorry we didn’t handle things better…we we’re wrong….but Lyssa what you’ve done is so much worse. You told this man that he was going to be a father…you made him sacrifice everything that he cherished….you asked him to give up so much and it was all a lie….a really horrible….lie.
LYSSA: It wasn’t a lie. I was pregnant.
FELICITY: Maybe….at first…but you never told him when you lost the baby…Why?
LYSSA: Because I didn’t want to lose him again.
FELICITY: Well I’m sorry but that’s not good enough. Ben is going to know the truth….because I’m going to tell him.
LYSSA: Why? So he’ll come running back to you?
FELICITY: No…because he deserves to know.
AS THE CAB APPROACHES DEAN AND DELUCA LYSSA STARTS TO PANIC.
LYSSA: Please….just give me some time to tell him myself.
FELICITY: You’ve had plenty of time….time’s up.
AS THE CAB COMES UP TO THE LIGHT IT TURNS GREEN. THE CAB PROCEEDS THROUGH THE LIGHT AND IS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER CAR. THE CAB SPINS OUT OF CONTROL. FLIPS OVER AND COMES TO A STOP AS IT PLOWS INTO A CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF DEAN AND DELUCA.
BEN IS INSIDE HELPING A CUSTOMER AS A PASSERBY ON THE STREET COMES RUNNING IN.
MAN: Jesus…somebody call 911 there’s been a pretty bad accident out front.
DARLENE PICKS UP THE PHONE AND DIALS AS BEN RUNS OUTSIDE WITH JAVIAR.
AS BEN AND JAVIAR APPROACH THE MANGLED CARS. THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES. BEN AND JAVIAR ARE STANDING ON THE SIDEWALK WATCHING.
PARAMEDIC ONE: (on radio) Looks like we’ve got two female victims in the backseat of the cab…possible head trauma on one. Driver of cab looks to be in shock but is awake.
PARAMEDIC TWO: Stretcher coming through.
PARAMEDIC ONE: Let’s take the possible trauma patient first.
PARAMEDICS PULL FELICITY OUT OF THE MANGLED CAB. BEN SEES HER AND RUNS OVER. PARAMEDIC STOPS HIM.
BEN: Felicity! Oh my god!
PARAMEDIC ONE: Step back son….we need to get this young lady to the hospital.
PARAMEDIC TWO: Did you say you know the victim?
BEN: Felicity…(tearing up) It’s Felicity.
PARAMEDIC TWO: Does she have a last name? Do you know how to reach her parents if need be?
BEN: Porter…it’s Porter. Yes I can contact her parents. What hospital are you taking her to?
PARAMEDIC TWO: To St. Paul’s on Victory St. Do you know the other victim?
FOR THE FIRST TIME BEN TAKES A LOOK AT THE OTHER GIRL THEY ARE PREPARING TO WHEEL HER AWAY ON A STRETCHER.
BEN: Oh….Jesus….It’s Lyssa.
PARAMEDIC TWO: Last name?
BEN: Parker….Lyssa Parker. I don’t know how to reach her parents.
PARAMEDIC ONE: (yells out ambulance) All ready.
PARAMEDIC TWO: Okay son….we’re going to leave now. We’ll be going to St. Paul’s if you want to meet us there.
BEN: Thanks…..I’ll do that.