Human Nature
Written by: Juana
Story summary: Felicity is staying at Steve and Christy’s house while they are honeymooning and she gets and unexpected house guest in the form of Ben. As Ben and Felicity try and work things out things take an unexpected turn.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. They belong to the brilliant writers and creators of the hit WB show.
FELICITY: (VO) Dear Sally…well the wedding went off without a hitch. I wish I could say the same for mine and Ben’s discussion when it finally happened. When I finally decided to listen to what he had to say.
EXT: HOTEL-NIGHT
BEN AND FELICITY ARE STANDING OUTSIDE AMONGST A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING GOODBYE TO THE NEWLYWEDS AS THEY GET INTO THEIR LIMO. CHRISTY AND STEVE ARE TALKING TO FELICITY. BEN IS STANDING BACK A LITTLE WAYS…JUST WATCHING.
CHRISTY: (hugs Felicity) Thank you for everything. You’ve been such a big help to me these last few days.
FELICITY: You’re welcome.
STEVE: (hugs Felicity) I just want to say thanks too. (finishes hug and hands her a set of keys) Here are the house keys…enjoy the privacy.
FELICITY: Thanks. (takes keys)
FELICITY: (VO) I was pretty glad that Christy and Steve had left me with the keys to their house. Because every where else…well just wouldn’t afford me the solitude I was looking for. I wanted to be able to be alone to figure out…what I wasn’t exactly sure…but I knew if I went home, I would be tempted to take Ben’s calls. I thought I had found the perfect solution to avoid him till it was time to head back to school (which was what I told my parents I was doing). I should have remembered that Steve was Ben’s best friend…and a closet romantic at heart.
INT: STEVE AND CHRISTY’S HOUSE-NIGHT
FELICITY IS DRESSED FOR BED. HER HAIR IS CARELESSLY KNOTTED ON THE TOP OF HER HEAD AND SHE IS EATING A BEN AND JERRY’S ICE CREAM. SHE IS WATCHING TELEVISION IN THE LIVINGROOM WHEN THE DOORBELL RINGS. SHE TAKES A SCOOP OF ICE CREAM STICKS IT IN HER MOUTH AND WALKS TO THE PEEPHOLE TO SEE WHO IT IS. IT’S BEN.
FELICITY: (leans back against the door) Just freaking…great.
BEN STARTS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.
BEN: (OC) Felicity open up…I know you’re here.
FELICITY REMAINS SILENT.
BEN: (OC) I’m just going to keep knocking and ringing the bell until you do…
FELICITY: (frustrated) Go away Ben.
BEN: (OC) No…we need to talk.
FELICITY PUTS THE GUARD CHAIN ON THE DOOR AND UNLOCKS IT OPENING IT UP A CRACK TO WHERE THE CHAIN STOPS IT.
BEN: Are you going to let me in?
FELICITY: Why should I?
BEN: Because…(pauses) Okay…I know you owe me absolutely nothing…but I’m here…doesn’t that count for something?
FELICITY SIGHS. TAKES THE CHAIN OFF THE DOOR AND LETS HIM IN. AS HE LOOKS AT HER SHE BECOMES AWARE OF HOW SHE MUST LOOK.
FELICITY: I uh…I was getting ready to go to bed. That’s why the hair’s all…well…you know.
BEN: Don’t apologize…you look great.
FELICITY: I do? (almost melting) Really?…wait…no don’t do that.
BEN: Don’t do what?
FELICITY: That thing…that…”I’m so charming…forgive me thing.” I’m not falling for it this time.
BEN: Okay…(half-smile) I wasn’t aware I was doing that…but if it makes you feel better…I won’t do it again. (smiles)
FELICITY: (annoyed) You’re still doing it!
BEN: Not on purpose…I assure you.
BEN STEPS INSIDE AND FELICITY STEPS BACK.
FELICITY: That’s far enough.
BEN: I thought we were going to talk?
FELICITY: We can talk fine right here.
BEN: That’s ridiculous. (Ben closes the door)
FELICITY: Look…let me just save you some time here. I over-reacted and I’m sorry.
BEN: I didn’t come here to get an apology from you…I came here to apologize to you.
FELICITY: You don’t owe me any explanations…well actually maybe you owe me one. Why did you invite me to breakfast and then I find you…you and Bliss…well why did you do that?
BEN: I didn’t invite Bliss over…she showed up…to apologize.
FELICITY: So you accepted her apology…well obviously.
BEN: Can we…please sit down and talk?
FELICITY: (relents) Fine.
FELICITY WALKS BACK INTO THE LIVINGROOM AND BEN FOLLOWS HER. SHE SITS IN A CHAIR ACROSS FROM THE COUCH AND BEN SITS ON THE COUCH.
BEN: Felicity…we have three days till we have to head back to school. I want to stay here…and work this out with you. Will you let me do that?
FELICITY: (completely shocked) Here…in the house? No! Absolutely…No!
BEN: Why?
FELICITY: For all of the…what I thought would be obvious…reasons.
BEN: Because you’re mad at me?
FELICITY: Yes…partly.
BEN: Why else?
FELICITY: Because I know you Ben…I know the way you think.
BEN: Enlighten me.
FELICITY: You think if you stay here…you can fix things. That you can make all the past mistakes disappear. ( a beat) But we were meant to be friends Ben…nothing more.
BEN: How can you say that…after everything we’ve gone through?
FELICITY: I can say it *because* of everything we’ve gone through. If we were meant to be together…we wouldn’t keep hurting each other like we do.
BEN: Just because we’ve had a few kinks doesn’t mean this isn’t right.
FELICITY: Yes it does.
BEN: No relationship is perfect Felicity.
FELICITY: Christy and Steve’s is.
BEN: To the outside observer…maybe. But I know that Steve and Christy had their problems too.
FELICITY: But they never cheated on each other.
BEN: What difference does that make?
FELICITY: You said it in your speech Ben. Steve always knew it was Christy…and from that moment on he was committed to that…unfailing in his devotion.
BEN: I don’t think you can compare us to them…to judge our relationship against theirs is…
FELICITY: Like comparing good and bad…ours being the bad.
BEN GETS UP FROM THE COUCH AND GOES TO SIT ON THE WOODEN COFFEE TABLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF FELICITY.
BEN: You don’t believe that.
FELICITY: I’m really tired. You should go.
BEN: I told you…I want to stay.
FELICITY: I don’t want to fight with you about this Ben. This is Steve’s house too. So if you want to stay…I can’t stop you.
BEN: But you don’t want me here…do you?
FELICITY: Honestly? I don’t know what I want.
BEN: I’ll sleep on the couch.
FELICITY: (weary) Fine.
FELICITY: (VO) So I had resigned myself to spending three days in Ben’s company. But I wasn’t going to give an inch…or let him know how having him there was affecting me…or so I thought.
INT: STEVE AND CHRISTY’S LIVINGROOM-MORNING
FELICITY COMES DOWN THE STAIRS AND WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM. BEN IS STILL ASLEEP ON THE HIDEAWAY BED. HE IS WEARING ONLY BOXERS AND THE BLANKET THAT WAS COVERING HIM HAS SOMEHOW FOUND IT’S WAY ON TO THE FLOOR. FELICITY JUST STARES AT HIM…ENTRAP BY HOW GORGEOUS HE LOOKS SHE WALKS OVER WITHOUT THINKING AND LIGHTLY RUNS HER FINGERS THROUGH HIS HAIR. IT ALMOST AS IF HER FINGERS HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN AS THEY MOVE DOWN HIS FACE AND CONTINUE TO RUN DOWN HIS CHEST AND OVER HIS WASHBOARD STOMACH…AS THEY START TO TRAVEL LOWER SHE IS STARTLED BY BEN’S HAND ON HER WRIST.
BEN: Don’t start something you don’t intend to finish.
BEN PULLS HER TOWARDS HIM AND DOWN ONTO THE BED. HE QUICKLY ROLLS OVER ONTOP OF HER PINNING HER TO THE BED.
FELICITY: (flustered and a bit ticked off) What are you doing?
BEN: Showing you what it’s like to be teased.
WITHOUT OUT ANOTHER WORD BEN PRESSES HIS MOUTH DOWN OVER HERS TENDER AND SEARCHING AT FIRST BUT THEN AS HIS HANDS START TO ROAM OVER HER BODY…TOUCHING HER IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES…ELICITING MOANS OF PLEASURE FROM HER…THE KISSING BECOMES MORE PASSIONATE FORCING HER TO YEILD AND SUBMIT TO HIS RECKLESS EXPLORATION OF HER BODY WITH HIS LIPS AND EYES AND HANDS. AS HE CAN TELL THAT SHE IS READY FOR HIM…BEN USES EVERY OUNCE OF HIS WILLPOWER AND PULLS AWAY…BREATHLESS HE GETS UP…AND STANDS OVER HER.
FELICITY: (frustrated) What are you doing?
BEN: I should be asking you the same thing.
FELICITY: I was…I don’t know…drawn to you. I just wanted to touch you…I didn’t…I wasn’t trying to tease you.
BEN: I know that…but I also know that…as much as I’d like to finish what we’ve started here…I’m not going to.
FELICITY: Why?
BEN: Because all you want is this.
FELICITY: (angry) Yes…is that so bad? I am attracted to you and you’re attracted to me. Why can’t we just leave it at that?
BEN: (angry now too) Fine if that’s the way you want it…I’m certainly not going to deny myself and tell you no.
BEFORE FELICITY KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING BEN HAS GATHERED HER INTO HIS ARMS AGAIN AND IS USING HIS BODY TO ATTACK HER SENSES….ELICITING ALL THE RIGHT FEELINGS…EVERY NERVE IN HER BODY IS CRYING OUT FOR HIM AND HIS TOUCH AND KISS AND HE ROUGHLY MOVES HER BACK ON TO THE BED AND FINISHES WHAT SHE STARTED…WHAT SHE PROVOKED HIM INTO. BUT INSTEAD OF WINNING THE BATTLE SHE FEELS EMPTY. FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH BEN…IT WAS JUST SEX…AFTER HE IS DONE HE PULLS AWAY FROM HER AND GETS UP…LEAVING HER ALONE.
FELICITY: God in that moment after he left Sally…I knew I could have been anyone to him. He had managed to shut his heart away and concentrate on just the physical act. I was crushed…but it made me realize something…it was never just sex with Ben before…it wasn’t sex I wanted…I wanted Ben to make love to me again…but I was afraid maybe I had closed that door for good. After that morning…things really changed for Ben and me.
INT: BEDROOM-DAY
BEN IS TOWELING DRYING HIS HAIR IN THE BATHROOM. FELICITY WALKS IN AND SITS ON THE EDGE OF THE BED.
FELICITY: Ben?
BEN: (taking towel away) Yeah.
FELICITY: Are you mad at me?
BEN: Yes.
FELICITY: Oh…I don’t know what to say.
BEN: (turns toward her anger in his tone and eyes) There’s nothing to say. You made your position perfectly clear…I accepted your terms…and that’s that.
FELICITY: That wasn’t exactly what I wanted.
BEN: Hmm…too bad. Because that’s what you got. You wanted no emotions…you got no emotions.
FELICITY: I just meant that…
BEN: I don’t care what you think you meant…because I’m not playing this game. You spout off about how Christy and Steve have this perfect relationship and that’s what you want…but its not…not really. You want some guy to be your lap dog…
FELICITY: (interrupting) You are so wrong!
BEN: Am I? I don’t think so. For whatever reason…emotions scare you. Which is ironic considering my background of abuse…versus your perfect family life.
FELICITY: Nobody’s life is perfect…you said so yourself.
BEN: Whatever…bottom line…you have issues and you need someone who can figure them out. I on the other hand have issues of my own that I’m dealing with…I don’t have time for the drama you seem so fond of. I want too many things for my life to waste time trying to figure you out.
FELICITY: (bitter) Wasting time? I’m sorry I wasn’t aware I was a waste of your time or I would have left a long time ago.
BEN: Now’s your chance…get out while you can. Cause I’ll continue to take you up on offers like this morning…but I will not give you my heart…because you haven’t the slightest idea what to do with it.
FELICITY: (barely controlling anger) Really? Well that goes double for you. You have broken my heart so many times…I quit counting. But I keep coming back for more. A mistake I don’t intend to make again.
FELICITY TURNS ON HER HEEL TO LEAVE AND BEN TAKES TWO STEPS AND GRABS HER AROUND THE WAIST. AND SPINS HER AROUND PINING HER TO HIM WITH HIS ARMS. FELICITY TRIES TO STRUGGLE FREE BUT HER ARMS ARE PINNED BETWEEN THEM.
BEN: (just above a whisper) Where do you think you’re going?
FELICITY: Away from you…like you wanted.
BEN: I don’t think you fully understand what’s going on here.
FELICITY: What are you talking about?
BEN: I’m giving up my rights to a relationship with you…but you and I both know *this* is never going to be over for us.
FELICITY: You’re insane…let me go.
INSTEAD OF DOING AS FELICITY ASKED BEN MOVES HIS MOUTH OVER HERS AND BEGINS HIS ASSAULT ON HER SENSES. KNOWING ALL THE RIGHT BUTTONS TO PUSH IN A MATTER OF MINUTES FELICITY HAS RESIGNED HER RIDGID STANCE AND MELTED INTO HIS BODY…YEILDING TO HIS DESIRE AND HERS HE MOVES HER OVER TO THE BED AND MAKES HIS INTENTIONS CLEAR. ENVELOPED IN HEAT AND SWEAT HE TAKES HER BODY ONCE AGAIN WITHOUT YEILDING HIS EMOTIONS. EXHAUSTED THEY FALL ASLEEP IN EACH OTHER’s ARMS. FELICITY WAKES UP FIRST AND IT TAKES A MOMENT FOR HER TO REALIZE WHERE SHE IS AND THEN IT ALL COMES BACK TO HER AND SHE STARTS TO WEEP BUT THEN STOPS HERSELF AND EXTRACTS HERSELF FROM HIS ARMS AS HE ROLLS OVER. RUNNING DOWN STAIRS SHE FALLS ON THE HIDEAWAY BED AND LETS THE TEARS COME.
INT: KITCHEN-NIGHT
FELICITY IS MAKING DINNER IN THE KITCHEN. BEN COMES WALKING IN A VIRTUAL STRANGER. AS HE IS STANDING THERE LOOKING AT HER…SHE LOOKS UP AND FOR A SPLIT SECOND SHE SEES HIS FEELINGS FOR HER BEFORE HE MASKS THEM AGAIN.
FELICITY: (VO) It was at that moment Sally that I realized this wasn’t really who Ben was…I had hurt him with my coldness and he was just returning the favor. I started planning at that second how I could break down the wall I had forced him to erect. I wanted Ben back…my Ben…the old Ben and I was determined to make it happen. The next day…I began my quest.
INT: KITCHEN-DAY
FELICITY IS PACKING A LUNCH BASKET. BEN COMES WALKING INTO THE KITCHEN.
BEN: What’s that?
FELICITY: It’s a picnic basket.
BEN: I know that. I mean what is it for?
FELICITY: I’m going up to the point with some friends. ( a beat) Did you want to come?
BEN: To the point? (remembering better times) I don’t think so.
FELICITY: Come on…it’s our next to last day here. Have some fun.
BEN: You go…I’ll just find something to do around here.
FELICITY: I want you to come.
BEN: (shocked) You do?
FELICITY: Yes…and it’s probably the last opportunity we’ll have to see our friends before we leave.
BEN: You’re probably right. Okay I’ll go.
FELICITY: (VO) Wish me luck Sally…because I’m convinced that if today doesn’t work…nothing will. And as wrong as Ben is about me being afraid of emotions…of one thing he’s right…the physical with him…will always keep me rooted in his life, and a relationship like that…is so far from what I really want.
EXT: SPEEDMAN POINT-DAY
BEN DRIVES INTO THE PARKING LOT OF THE LAKE. AS HE PARKS THE CAR AND GETS OUT MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK.
FLASHBACK: OF BEN RUNNING AFTER FELICITY AND THE TWO OF THEM ENDING UP IN THE LAKE.
FLASHFORWARD: FELICITY WALKS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND SEES A SMILING BEN.
FELICITY: What are you smiling at?
BEN: (guarded expression again) Nothing…it was nothing. I see some people over there…lets go.
FELICITY AND BEN WALK OVER TO A GROUP OF THEIR FRIENDS. FELICITY TAKES A BLANKET AND SPREADS IT OUT ON THE GROUND AND SITS DOWN. HER FRIEND MELISSA COMES DOWN AND SITS BESIDE HER.
MELISSA: So are you and Ben back together?
FELICITY: No. We’re just friends.
MELISSA: I guess that’s good considering how Callie has zeroed in on him.
FELICITY: Huh?
FELICITY LOOKS OVER AND SEES BEN TALKING TO CALLIE JENSEN. CALLIE IS VERY OBVIOUSLY FLIRTING WITH HIM AND BEN IS VERY OBVIOUSLY FLIRTING BACK.
MELISSA: Is everything okay?
FELICITY: Fine…just fine.
FELICITY LOOKS OVER AT BEN AGAIN AND CATCHES BEN’S EYE THIS TIME. BEN JUST SMIRKS AT HER AND GOES BACK TO TALKING TO CALLIE.
FELICITY: (VO) So it looked like the day was probably going to be pretty much a bust…Thanks to Callie Jensen. As much as Ben and her were touching I was certain he had chosen how he was going to be spending the day.
FELICITY HAS TAKEN HER OVERSHIRT OFF AND IS SITTING IN HER BATHING SUIT TOP SOAKING IN THE SUN. BEN COMES WALKING UP AND STANDS IN FRONT OF HER. FELICITY OPENS HER EYES.
FELICITY: Yes?
BEN: Nothing…just admiring the view.
FELICITY: (annoyed) Okay well you’ve admired now move on your blocking my sun.
BEN: No need to get snappy.
FELICITY: I am not being snappy!
BEN: Yes…you are…wonder why that is.
FELICITY: What are you suggesting?
BEN: That maybe someone is feeling neglected.
FELICITY: Foolish is more like it…you’re making a fool of me Ben.
BEN: Me? How am I making a fool of you?
FELICITY: You came here with me…but you can’t keep your hands off of Callie!
BEN: And this is a problem because….
FELICITY: Because…I don’t know just because.
BEN: Because you’re jealous…that’s why. Careful Felicity…that’s an emotion you’re having there.
FELICITY: I am not jealous!
BEN: Fine…suit yourself. You can either admit that you're jealous and I’ll spend the rest of the day making it up to you…or you can deny it and I’ll go spend the time with someone who appreciates my company. (a beat) I’m waiting.
FELICITY STRUGGLES WITH HER CONFLICTING EMOTIONS. ON ONE HAND SHE DOESN’T WANT TO GIVE HIM THE SATISFACTION OF ADMITTING HE IS RIGHT…BUT ON THE OTHER SHE DOESN’T WANT HIM GOING BACK OVER TO CALLIE.
BEN: (disgusted) That’s what I thought. (gets up to walk away)
FELICITY: No…wait.
BEN STOPS AND TURNS BACK AROUND.
FELICITY: (cont.) I’m jealous…okay.
BEN: See…now was that so hard?
FELICITY: You don’t have to gloat.
BEN: Oh…but it’s so much fun.
BEN SITS BACK DOWN ON THE BLANKET AND PUTS HIS ARM AROUND FELICITY. TURNING HER TOWARD HIM HE KISSES HER FULL ON THE LIPS. CALLIE WHO HAS BEEN WATCHING THE WHOLE EXCHANGE…SCOWLS AT THE BOTH OF THEM AND WALKS OVER TO A GROUP OF GUYS…LOOKING FOR HER NEXT CONQUEST.
FELICITY: (VO) The rest of the day went pretty well…but Ben still remained pretty non-committal. He kept pulling emotions from me…but refusing to give any. But later on that day I sensed a break through…a chink in his armor if you will.
FELICITY HAS WALKED DOWN TO STAND BY THE LAKE. BEN WALKS UP BESIDE HER.
BEN REACHES IN HIS POCKET AND PULLS OUT A PENNY AND HANDS IT TO HER.
FELICITY: (taking it) What’s this?
BEN: It’s for your thoughts.
FELICITY: (laughs) A penny for my thoughts? Okay…that’s really…corny.
BEN: Yeah…I know. (laughs too)
FELICITY: I was just thinking about the last time you and I were up here…
BEN: End of summer…right before we left to go back to school.
FELICITY: I never would have imagined then how screwed up our relationship would get.
BEN: No…me either. But things happen.
FELICITY: We were so happy then. (turns to look at him) I’m sorry.
BEN: For what?
FELICITY: Everything. I’m sorry I forgot what it felt like to *love* you.
BEN: (reluctant) This is all old news Felicity…we don’t need to drag the issues into the ground.
FELICITY: Do you ever wish that…well that you had never met me?
BEN: (pauses) Never. Things may have gotten completely screwed, but when they were good… well those are the times I will remember.
FELICITY: Like the times we spent up here?
BEN: Yeah…like those times.
FELICITY: Ben…can you do me a favor?
BEN: I guess it depends on the favor.
FELICITY: Be honest with me…for just a few minutes…let me in. And tell me the truth…would you be willing to start over with me and try again? Or is it really too late this time?
BEN: (looking into her eyes) I think you already know the answer to that.
FELICITY: No…I don’t. After what happened yesterday with us…I don’t really know anything about what you’re feeling anymore.
BEN: You bring out the bastard in me…what can I say?
FELICITY: You could answer the question.
BEN: What was the question again?
FELICITY: (starting to tear up) Is it too late for us?
BEN LOOKS INTENTLY INTO FELICITY’S EYES. INSTINCTIVELY HIS HAND COMES UP TO WIPE THE NOW SLOWLY ESCAPING TEAR AWAY.
BEN: I hesitate to admit this to you…but I don’t think it will ever be too late.
FELICITY: (smiling while crying) Really?
BEN: (pulls her into his arms) You drive me crazy…and sometimes I want to strangle you…but the last thing I want is to lose you.
FELICITY: God Ben…I feel the same way.
BEN LEANS DOWN AND BRINGS HER FACE TO HIS AND THEY BEGIN KISSING AS THE SUN BEGINS TO SET BEHIND THEM.
SALLY: (VO) Dear Felicity…When faced with losing something we hold dear…human nature forces us to react…sometimes in ways we find surprising even to ourselves. In my opinion Ben is simply reacting to the thought of losing you. We both know that even though the words are emotionless…it’s the heart that counts. And you have Ben’s…completely, just as he has yours. To be afraid to be hurt is to be afraid to live. If you believe in you and Ben, then you need to believe in the healing powers of love and devotion. Ben isn’t going anywhere…and I think its high time you called his bluff. You two have suffered enough teenage angst to last a life time…it’s time to open a door for him and invite him to stay for a while. You love him…he loves you…So what’s the problem? Love Sally.