Letting Go
Written by: Juana
Story summary: Felicity has begun the painful process of letting go of Ben. Eli is becoming a major part of Felicity’s life. Ben witnesses Felicity in a clinch with another man…..one whose identity will hit closer to home then Ben could possibly imagine. And Lyssa has a deadline on her life changing secret.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. They belong to the brilliant writers and creators at the WB.
FELICITY IS SITTING IN HER ENGLISH CLASS READING A NOTE. JULIE WALKS IN AND SITS BESIDE HER.
JULIE: Whatcha reading?
FELICITY: It’s just a note.
JULIE: From Ben?
FELICITY: No…it’s from Eli.
JULIE: Oh ….so things are going pretty well for you guys then?
FELICITY: Yeah….almost perfect in fact.
FELICITY: (Voice over recording to Sally) Dear Sally, almost perfect….that’s how I would describe my sorta relationship with Eli. I can hear your question now…..What would make it perfect? That is a really hard question to answer. I suppose things would lean a little bit more toward perfect if Ben knew. I can’t help feeling I’ve in some way betrayed him. Don’t get me wrong…..I want to tell him….no secrets for me anymore. In fact I’ve tried to tell him……but so far…..nothing but unsuccessful attempts.
BEN WALKS IN AND SEES FELICITY. HE HESITATES AND THEN COMES UP AND SITS DOWN BESIDE HER.
BEN: Hey.
FELICITY: Hi.
BEN: So the other night when I called….
FELICITY: It’s okay….really. It was good hearing your voice.
BEN: But I shouldn’t have. It just makes this situation harder.
FELICITY: Yeah I guess it does. But Ben I still need you as my friend.
BEN: I’m still your friend.
FELICITY: Good….that’s good.
BEN: Is everything okay with you?
FELICITY: Sure….why?
BEN: I don’t know. It’s just this weird vibe I get from you lately…..I can’t explain it.
FELICITY: (Voice over recording to Sally) Oh but I could. The vibe Ben was getting. It was the “I’m letting go of you now vibe” I had to….I felt like I had no choice.
CUT TO NOEL AND ELENA IN CAFETERIA. THEY ARE SITTING EATING LUNCH AT THE TABLE. NOEL IS JUST PICKING AT HIS FOOD.
ELENA: Noel….this is unacceptable. I brought you here to eat. Now eat!
NOEL: I’m just not hungry Elena…..face it.
ELENA: It has been three days Noel. You have to eat.
NOEL: I don’t feel like it. Okay?
ELENA: No it’s not okay. I know this thing with Felicity didn’t work out the way you wanted it to but….
NOEL: Hey….what was the rule…..we do not mention that name.
ELENA: I know…but maybe that’s what you need….to talk about her and what happened.
NOEL: Why? What could that possibly solve?
ELENA: Maybe it will help you to move on.
NOEL: I don’t want to move on….I want to wallow.
ELENA: I give up…you are pathetic.
NOEL: Gee sorry but I think pathetic goes with the territory of having your heart broken into a million pieces.
ELENA: You’re right….I’m sorry. It’s just I don’t like to see you this way. You’re my friend.
NOEL: Thanks. (hugs Elena) You’re a good friend.
ELENA: If you really feel that way….
NOEL: Yes?
ELENA: Then just do me a favor and eat a little something.
NOEL: That will make you feel better?
ELENA: Yes.
NOEL: Fine. (takes a bite of sandwich) Happy now?
ELENA: It’s a start.
CUT TO FELICITY OUTSIDE HER DORM ROOM. SOMEONE COMES UP BEHIND HER AND PUTS THEIR HANDS OVER HER EYES.
ELI: Guess who?
FELICITY: (giggling) Um let me see…is it Brad Pitt? No wait….Simon Rex?
ELI: (turns Felicity around) Simon who?
FELICITY: Simon Rex. He used to be a VJ on MTV. He was incredibly hot! You look a little like him.
ELI: Really? The hot part right?
FELICITY: Absolutely.
ELI: Girl….You are going to inflate my ego. (kisses Felicity)
FELICITY: It’s a job. But somebody has to do it. (kisses Eli) Would you like to come in?
ELI: (grabs Felicity and pulls her closer) You don’t just want to make out like crazy right here?
FELICITY: Tempting….but I’m gonna go with no. It’s inside or nothing.
ELI: Well if you put it that way……
ELI BACKS FELICITY UP TO DOOR AND SLOWLY TURNS THE KNOB AND OPENS THE DOOR WHILE HE BEGINS KISSING HER. FELICITY BACKS INTO HER ROOM AND BEN APPROACHES THE DOOR AS ELI BEGINS CLOSING IT WITH HIS FOOT. BUT NOT BEFORE BEN CAN SEE THAT FELICITY IS KISSING SOMEONE. FELICITY’S DOOR SHUTS.
CUT TO LIBRARY. BEN IS SITTING AT A TABLE BY HIMSELF MAGGIE WALKS IN.
MAGGIE: Ben….hey.
BEN: Maggie…hi.
MAGGIE: Are you okay?
BEN: Yeah I’m fine…why?
MAGGIE: I don’t know…..you look like you just lost your best friend.
BEN: Yeah?
MAGGIE: Yeah….Do you want to talk about it?
BEN: Um….
MAGGIE: I promise I won’t tell Lyssa.
BEN: How do you know it’s not about Lyssa?
MAGGIE: Just a feeling.
BEN: Have a seat.
MAGGIE: (sits in the chair at end of table) So what’s the long face all about?
BEN: You swear this won’t get back to Lyssa?
MAGGIE: You have my word.
BEN: Cause I really could use some one to talk to about this.
MAGGIE: This is about Felicity…..isn’t it?
BEN: You know about Felicity?
MAGGIE: Lyssa is my best friend.
BEN: So she told you what happened with me and Felicity?
MAGGIE: Yes. She also told me that Felicity is the one you love not her.
BEN: She did? That surprises me.
MAGGIE: It shouldn’t. Lyssa is not only very smart…she’s extremely perceptive.
BEN: Yeah. So you must think I’m a total jerk then?
MAGGIE: I did at first. But the more I get to know you….the more I know that’s not the case.
BEN: Maybe it’s not such a good idea to talk to you about this.
MAGGIE: Ben I would like nothing more then for you to be in love with Lyssa. I would be delirious if she could find a guy like you to want to be there for her….but I also believe that love shouldn’t be forced and that’s what Lyssa is doing….trying to make you love her.
BEN: I wish I could love her too….but I just don’t. I can’t explain it….I mean I care about her a great deal and I want the best for her and my child.
MAGGIE: About that Ben……
BEN: About what?
MAGGIE: (hesitates) I’m sorry. You were going to tell me what was bothering you…..go on.
BEN: Well….You were right…it’s Felicity. I saw her kissing another guy.
MAGGIE: Really?
BEN: Yes. It just sort of caught me off guard. I mean I knew she was going to have to move on with her life eventually…..this just seems so sudden.
MAGGIE: You really do love her.
BEN: Yeah. I do. But that’s irrelevant now. My future has pretty much been mapped out since I found out Lyssa was pregnant. It changed everything.
MAGGIE: So that’s the sole reason for staying with Lyssa….the baby?
BEN: Yes. If things were different….if Lyssa hadn’t gotten pregnant…..it would have been me kissing Felicity in her room just now….not some nameless….faceless…extremely….lucky guy. God listen to me….I’m hopeless.
MAGGIE: No…actually Ben…your sweet and you're in love. It’s refreshing…and that’s why I have to tell you something…..something that just might help you.
BEN: What?
MAGGIE: It’s just that Lyssa….
LYSSA WALKS UP BEHIND MAGGIE.
LYSSA: Lyssa what?
MAGGIE: (surprised) Lyssa….hi….your early.
LYSSA: Yes…I am. Can I please talk to you for a second Maggie?
MAGGIE: Sure.
BEN: Wait….what did you want to tell me?
MAGGIE: Um…it was nothing….really. I just wanted to tell you that Lyssa really loves you.
BEN: That’s what was going to help me?
CUT TO FELICITY’S ROOM. ELI AND FELICITY ARE MAKING OUT ON HER BED. ELI UNBUTTIONS HER SHIRT AND STARTS TO KISS HER NAKED SKIN. MEGAN WALKS IN.
MEGAN: Oh….god.
FELICITY AND ELI BOLT UP AND ELI PULLS FELICITY’S SHIRT BACK TOGETHER FOR HER AND STARTS TO CLUMSILY BUTTON HER SHIRT BACK UP….MISSING BUTTONS ALONG THE WAY.
FELICITY: We were just….
MEGAN: Getting ready to shag the carpet?….unbelievable…..and with such a hotttie. You tell me what’s fair about that.
ELI AND FELICITY START TO LAUGH. MEGAN WALKS OUT.
FELICITY: (to Eli) Sorry. I can’t exactly lock her door too.
ELI: Understandable. (starts nibbling on Felicity’s neck and earlobes) Maybe….it’s about time I took you to my place.
FELICITY: Finally? I get to see the new bachelor pad and meet the roomies? Be still my heart.
ELI: (looks at Felicity and her crookedly buttoned shirt) Not looking like that you don’t. (starts to unbutton her shirt again) Let me just fix that for you. (starts kissing her naked flesh again)
FELICITY: I thought you were going to fix it for me.
ELI: I’ll get to that later….(kisses down her stomach) Right now…..kind of busy.
CUT TO NOEL AND ELENA IN HIS ROOM. NOEL IS LYING ON HIS BED TALKING TO ELENA ABOUT FELICITY.
NOEL: So I made a few mistakes….she forgave Ben…..why can’t she forgive me?
ELENA: I don’t think it’s about forgiveness Noel.
NOEL: What then?
ELENA: Well judging from my own experience….finding out Blair had cheated on me…..we’ll it changed things.
NOEL: Blair cheated on you? I didn’t know that.
ELENA: I’m a pretty private person. Only Felicity knows….and now you.
NOEL: So you and Blair are no more?
ELENA: For now. I have a lot of things to work through….before I make that final decision…..whether I stay or go.
NOEL: So what would make you stay?
ELENA: At this point? Nothing. I’ve pretty much decided it’s over.
NOEL: But you told me that you loved him.
ELENA: Doesn’t matter.
NOEL: How can you be taking this so well?
ELENA: Because it’s easier to let go on your own….then have someone force you to let go….Like Felicity is.
NOEL: Felicity…..god Elena I miss her so much. Sometimes I really hate Ben.
ELENA: Noel….this isn’t Ben’s fault. Besides the fact he’s hurting just as much as you right now.
NOEL: He is?
ELENA: Yes. With Lyssa pregnant he’s stuck in a really bad situation. He told Felicity to move on with her life….so she is.
NOEL: Boy I guess I’ve been oblivious. Lyssa is pregnant?
ELENA: Yes. You didn’t know that?
NOEL: No. Don’t you see what this means?
ELENA: No.
NOEL: (smiling) This means Felicity is available.
ELENA: You're right Noel….you are oblivious.
NOEL: What are you talking about? Nevermind I have to go…Thanks for the advice.
NOEL STARTS OUT THE DOOR.
ELENA: Noel wait….where are you going?
NOEL: To talk to Felicity…..where else?
ELENA: But….
NOEL: But what? Ben broke up with her Elena I haven’t got time to waste…..I’ve got to stake my claim.
ELENA: Stake your claim? What western did you fall out of?
NOEL: You know what I mean. (rushes back in and kisses Elena on the forehead) Thanks for all your help.
NOEL RUSHES OUT OF ROOM AND HEADS TOWARD FELICITY’S DORM ROOM. FELICITY AND ELI ARE EXITING HER ROOM ARM IN ARM AS NOEL COMES UP.
FELICITY: Noel…hey.
NOEL: (stunned) Whose this?
FELICITY: Noel this is Eli….Eli this is Noel….my RA.
ELI: (extends hand for handshake) Hey man….nice to meet you.
NOEL: (ignoring Eli’s hand) Yeah…whatever ( to Felicity) Where did we find Eli?
FELICITY: Noel…why are you being so rude?
NOEL: Let’s see…maybe because…..I’m stunned…shocked….otherwise flabbergasted.
FELICITY: About what exactly?
NOEL: (to Eli) Could you please excuse us for a moment?
NOEL GRABS FELICITY’S ARM AND STARTS TUGGING HER AWAY FROM ELI.
FELICITY: Okay….you had better be on strong medication…..what was that all about?
NOEL: Eli?…..please tell me Eli is your study partner.
FELICITY: What?
NOEL: Because I don’t think I could handle if he was the new guy in your life.
FELICITY: Noel….we talked about this….remember?
NOEL: Yeah but that was when you wanted to be with Ben.
FELICITY: Noel….nothing’s changed.
NOEL: You're wrong. Everything’s changed. Ben is with Lyssa and you should have told me that.
FELICITY: Why? What would my telling you have accomplished?
NOEL: We could have worked out our problems….we still can.
FELICITY: No…we can’t. I don’t have any problems Noel. Other then the fact that I miss my friend. But I’m still hoping given time you’ll come around.
NOEL: I don’t believe this….are you telling me you won’t even try to fix things with us?
FELICITY: I just don’t feel that way about you anymore….I’m sorry.
NOEL: So how long before the flavor of the week loses out to Ben?
FELICITY: Eli is not the flavor of the week. I really like him.
NOEL: Really? I guess only time will tell. My guess….he’ll join the pile of broken hearts you’ve started.
FELICITY: Noel….
NOEL: No…don’t…I don’t want your pity….so save it.
FELICITY: Can we ever get back to friends?
NOEL: No. You can pretty much let that dream go.
NOEL WALKS AWAY AND STARTS TO WALK PAST ELI. CHANGES HIS MIND AND TURNS BACK AROUND.
NOEL: (to Eli) Take my advice man and run…..before it’s too late. She’s just gonna break your heart.
NOEL WALKS BACK INTO HIS DORM ROOM AND SLAMS THE DOOR.
ELI: What was that all about?
FELICITY: We used to date.
ELI: Okay….not exactly confidence instilled.
FELICITY: (Voice over recording to Sally) I couldn’t help but replay Noel’s parting words in my head over and over and over again. What if I was just destined to break Eli’s heart? Would I ever really be over Ben? Maybe Noel wasn’t so far off the mark. Maybe he knew me better then I knew myself. Or maybe he was just willing to see something that I wasn’t.
CUT TO LYSSA AND MAGGIE IN LIBRARY
LYSSA: What was that all about?
MAGGIE: Nothing.
LYSSA: Please tell me you weren’t about to spill the beans.
MAGGIE: He deserves to know Lyssa.
LYSSA: Maggie….if I tell him the truth….he’s gone. Do you understand that?
MAGGIE: Yes. But what right do you have to keep the truth….which he will eventually figure out….from him?
LYSSA: I love him Maggie….I do. That’s why.
MAGGIE: But he doesn’t love you.
LYSSA: Don’t say that!
MAGGIE: Why not? It’s the truth. And you know that.
LYSSA: It may be the truth now….but it’s going to change. He loved me once and he will again.
MAGGIE: Lyssa….he is head over heels in love with Felicity…..please just acknowledge that.
LYSSA: He will forget her in time. You’ll see.
MAGGIE: Okay…lets just say he does. That doesn’t mean he will come running back to you.
LYSSA: You don’t know that.
MAGGIE: Lyssa….please honey….wake up. Ben is with you because of his obligation to the baby. A baby that no longer exists.
LYSSA: Maggie….please you can’t tell him that. He would never forgive me.
MAGGIE: Then you tell him. Because sooner rather then later it’s going to be very obvious that you're not pregnant.
LYSSA: I will….soon I promise. Just promise me that you’ll keep quiet until I do.
MAGGIE: You have exactly one week to tell him. Seven days Lyssa. After that time is up I’m going straight to Felicity.
LYSSA: Felicity?
MAGGIE: Yes. It’s her life you’re screwing up too. I just hope it’s not already too late.
SALLY: (Voice over recording to Felicity) Dear Felicity, Noel is hurting right now and sometimes when you’re hurting you want everyone to feel the same way. Don’t let his bitterness tarnish what you’ve started with Eli. As for Ben…..it’s hard to tell you to let go of something that I know you cherish. Ben was the beginning of a completely different phase of life for you….your first love, your first adult relationship. He was a man who truly loved you. These are not easy things to let go of….but the worst thing you could do for all involved is to hold on to one relationship while trying to start another. An old saying….don’t know who wrote it…but have always loved it and I think in this case it really applies. “ If you love something set it free, if it comes back it’s yours. If not, it never was.