Author's Note: You guys are absolutely amazing and so, so kind. Thanks to some amazing supporters, I've decided to take this from a oneshot to a multi-chapter! Just a heads up, I'll be shifting viewpoints between Rey and Ben throughout the story. I don't know how many chapters we'll see, but I have a general idea of where it's going. I offer you more fluff, plenty of angst, and an ever-progressing sexual awakening between Ben and Rey (let's explore, shall we?).

That being said - I also want to address the sex in the first chapter and all that is to come since we ARE dealing with 18 year old high school seniors here. Though I included some discussion about safe sex in this chapter, I just want to say: BE SAFE, KIDDOS. Wrap it before you tap it.

Special thanks to my AMAZING beta, FriendlyNeighborhoodRoomfriend!

Roads Untraveled

Chapter Two

・・・・・・ ・・・ ・・・・・・

The night was long and short, never-ending and ending too fast, all at the same time. Rey and Ben were stuck inside a dream. One so bewildering – to be tangled up in each other's arms, naked in Ben's bed and made new with what they'd just done – and yet, it felt so right.

It was easy to lay there, huddled together nose to nose, withstanding the occasional finger tips that wandered for sake of remembering that, yes, it was real. The hard part was moving. Letting the world move again. Leaving the spot where everything made sense and returning to the world where nothing did. In their bubble, they didn't have parents who left, because they didn't have parents at all. Who needed them? They had each other.

That's why when either of them moved – Ben once to check the time, and then Rey to reach for her t-shirt – they took turns reeling each other back in. Anchoring the moment with stories of their past.

Sitting up, Rey wrung the Metallica shirt she'd worn that day in her hands. "Remember freshman homecoming?"

Rey was already giggling at the memory while Ben groaned. Rolling to his back, he draped an arm over his eyes as though not seeing would also equate to not hearing the story.

"Come on, it was sweet! I acted like I didn't want to go to the first dance of our high school career – or, ever – and you saw right through me. Told me you'd take me. Picked me up on my doorstep in a full-on suit."

"It matched your ripped jeans and that Metallica shirt perfectly," Ben grumbled, though he continued to trace circles along Rey's lower back and couldn't help but laugh, himself.

"I looked better in your suit jacket anyway," Rey teased.

"You did."

Worrying her bottom lip, Rey moved to pull the shirt back over her head. It was already 8:00, the May sun only just beginning to dip beneath the horizon out Ben's window. In just twelve hours, a new school day would start. They'd face a student body who seemed to have figured Ben and Rey out well before they did. And Rey hated herself for wondering what they'd think or say. She hated that she searched for approval in people simply because she never got it where it should have come from.

"Hey…" Ben sat up, running one hand up her spine while the other stilled over hers. She'd made it as far as pulling the neck of her shirt over her head before freezing mid-thought. "You don't have to –"

"I should –"

Their words jumbled together. What she was going to say was ridiculous anyway. I should go. Go where? 'Home,' to her empty house? The same one she would've left every other night, just to come there, to that very spot, in that very bed, beside that very person. Her real home.

"I…" Ben sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He was embarrassed with himself, but when his eyes met hers, Rey could see he didn't care. There were more important things than his pride. "I don't want you to go."

Nodding, Rey breathed, "I can stay."

Smiling and laughing a timidly singular, relieved laugh, Ben helped Rey pull the shirt from around her neck and tossed it aside. He ran the backs of his fingers along her bicep. Pressed a light, lingering kiss to her shoulder before burying his face in the crook of her neck. Shivering against the softness of his lips, Rey collected him into her arms, though she had to stretch to circle the breadth of his shoulders. She peppered his neck with kisses in return. And just as she made it to her favorite part of Ben's body – his ears, which he tried to tuck away beneath his wavy black hair – Ben lifted his face. His lips caught hers for just a moment, soft and familiar. And then again with more agency, guiding her lips apart, their heated breath mingling. Ben pressed Rey backward against his pillow, caging her with his arms and angling his body over hers. The length of him dwarfed her, engulfed her, anchored her. Made her feel comfortably tethered when before, she was nothing but a drifting balloon in a gale storm.

"Remember the first night," Ben murmured between kisses. He brushed Rey's bangs from her eyes and searched them for the memory. "After Harley died?"

Rey nodded minutely. Ben's German Shepherd Dog, Harley, had been a gift to him to keep him company. She was already seven and arthritic when Ben picked her out at the shelter on his tenth birthday. But he'd chosen her over the overzealous, yapping puppies, anyway. Something about her made Ben want to care for her. To give her a good life, however long it would be. He did just that for the next five years until it was time to put Harley down. As usual, Ben's parents were gone. It was up to him to take Harley to the vet. To listen to his options and comprehend that he didn't have any. To make the decision at fifteen years old to knowingly kill his dog. It was hard to see it as mercy, then.

The first night without Harley would have been the hardest. Ben didn't want to lay down in his bed knowing that she wouldn't curl up beside him, hogging more than her share. He didn't want to fall asleep without his hand on her furry head between her too-large ears. Ears like his.

"You came for the first time that night," Ben said, mouthing the column of Rey's neck. "You crawled into this bed, under these covers. You laid down beside me and you held my hand."

Rey threaded her fingers through Ben's hair, urging him to look up from where he'd drifted below. Pressing a kiss to Rey's sternum, Ben obliged.

"I stayed," Rey whispered, knowing exactly what Ben was asking. He needed her to stay then, and he needed her to stay now. On the crest of new beginnings, she was the only one who made him feel like the world wasn't falling apart around him. He did the same for her.

Ben surged up on his hands to capture Rey's lips again in a brutal kiss. He had no intention of holding back this time. Rey felt it in the way he curled his hands beneath her, pulling her up into him so that she was flush to his chest; in the way he slotted his thigh between hers, grinding his need against her center. Rey responded in kind, hooking her leg around his and rolling her hips. It was a battle of wills then, sliding against each other for friction, for grounding. But it was completion they wanted, and they would skip their homework and microwaveable dinners and walking home to an empty house in order to find it.

・・・・・・ ・・・ ・・・・・・

It wasn't that he didn't see her before. Ben saw Rey every day for what she was. The girl who helped him build his tree fort out of wood pallets. The girl who so badly rivaled the idea of being akin to her hippie-drifter parents, and yet made her own recycled paper and rarely bought anything new because vintage or something she could repair herself was just as good. The girl who was better suited for the job at the mechanic's than Ben was. The girl who was water, but somehow thicker than blood.

Ben saw Rey, but he never looked. Not where he should have, or where Rey might have wanted him to. It was hard to do when Ben was hardly seen, himself. Not in a way that mattered.

But he was seeing her now. And he saw her in the way no one else could or ever did. Dawn's sunlight, streaming through the windows and catching on the sporadic red strands that mingled with the brown of her hair. The freckles on her bare shoulders collecting in greater numbers as the years passed. Her curves that were often hid beneath band t-shirts or art room smocks, or her skin, covered in pottery mud and ceramic dust more often than it was clean.

Ben saw her nervousness, too. Not then, while she was sleeping as she usually did, tucked on her side and her back pressed to his chest. From the night before. After all was said and done, in between their chatter in the quiet moments, Ben noticed the nervousness or apprehension or whatever it was settle in. It was in the way her eyes would drift in thought. Or the way she idly worried her bottom lip.

At first, Ben worried if he'd taken too much, permission or no. That it had all happened too fast. But Rey's nervous quirks faded away whenever Ben looked at her, touched her, murmured her name against her flesh. And her hands were always sure against his, eager to explore and learn him in ways only she could know. No, that wasn't what made her nervous…

He'd asked her to marry him. He'd asked too much. He knew as much by the way she'd repeated it after him, stunned.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes – though he'd been awake before the sun even began to rise – Ben propped himself up on his elbow to lean over Rey. He carded the tangled mass that was Rey's hair behind her ear and pressed a light kiss to her temple.

"We gotta get up, Rey." They'd already be late to school as it was.

Refusing to open her eyes, Rey snorted and rolled onto her back. Stubborn as she was, she snuggled deeper into Ben's side. Her little hands pawed at him to lay back down with her.

"We don't have many of these days left, you know."

"Since when did you care?" Rey mumbled, squashing her nose against his chest.

"Since I decided it was a good idea to not sabotage my graduation in lieu of our plans."

"So, last night then?" Rey giggled, giving in and opening her eyes. "Fine. But if I have to go, I'm wearing your rebel shirt."

Ben rolled his eyes as he always did when Rey commandeered his clothing. The only reason he had more options was because he had a job, thus making Rey jealous and sticky-fingered. "It's three sizes too big for you."

"It's a dress, then."

"You're going to wear pants, Rey."

"You better not have this many rules when we're living together, Solo."

Her argument brought a smile to Ben's face. At least that part hadn't scared her off. Agreeing to her demands and vice versa, Rey and Ben rolled out of bed, made themselves as presentable as possible, and began their mile trek to Hanna City High.

・・・・・・ ・・・ ・・・・・・

"You WHAT?"

Rose Tico, the only other person Rey could reliably call her friend, should have been the last person to be surprised by Rey's news. While the rest of their senior classmates held their tongues – until the superlatives, that is – Rose was the first, last, and only person to prod Rey onto such matters of the heart. In her head, Rose had planned Rey and Ben's first date by freshman year, their wedding (in which she would pull double duty as maid of honor and photographer, of course) by sophomore year, and their future kids' names (Kylo and Kira) by junior year. Senior year, Rose's dreams were coming true.

"You better have used protection at least –"

Gap-mouthed, Rey dropped her tray onto the cafeteria table just a tad too abruptly. She prayed the loud clatter would gain more attention than Rose's loose lips. "Rose," she hissed, scanning the lunch room to find that no one seemed to care. As usual. "My parents are 'free spirits' and 'children of love.' They put me on the pill the day I started my period."

"Still," Rose chastised, and Rey waved her hand in hopes of sparing the 'safe sex talk.'

"He is my first… and my only, for that matter. And the same goes for him."

Rose narrowed her gaze, but relented. "Well, I'm glad it was you before it was that harpy, Kaydel."

As Rose said it, Rey's eyes sought out the harpy in question. Sitting amongst her fellow cheerleaders was Kaydel Ko Connix. Blonde, poised, and above every hopeful boy's paygrade. She deigned to be a cheerleader because her popular status required it, but it was beneath her. Her family held prestige within the Resistance, just like Ben's, albeit Kaydel capitalized on it in a way Ben never would. But that didn't matter to Kaydel. She'd capitalize on Ben's status for him.

"W-What have you heard?" Rey couldn't help but ask, though she feigned nonchalance as she picked through the mystery casserole Hanna City High liked to serve on Fridays.

"She's losing patience. Graduation's coming, and she hasn't even made him notice her yet."

Rey breathed a sigh of relief. "Ben wouldn't, anyway. Especially not now."

"He might when he finds out she's joining Junari Point Flight Academy."

Dropping her fork, Rey barely remembered to swallow her food before she spat. "Since when?"

Rose grimaced apologetically. "Since she received a grant from the First Order division. They're offering her a free ride, and I think they've sought Ben out, too."

No… That didn't make sense. The First Order rivaled the Resistance. They were two military branches that couldn't be any more different; the former predisposed for war while the latter supported peace talks. They were alike in just one way: they needed recruits. Instead of uniting for the betterment of Chandrila, the factions fought against one another to build themselves and their subsequent platforms up.

And it was no secret that both factions were in search of skilled pilots. Whoever monopolized the airways had the upper-hand. The First Order beat the Resistance to the punch, advertising to soon-to-be high school graduates. Promising bright futures and ample opportunities within their ranks. Thus, Kaydel and Ben weren't the only ones considering the flight academy route. Rey had even heard Poe and Finn pro- and con-ing its merits. No doubt, the First Order had gained a massive boost in the pro's column with their offerings of full-ride scholarships in exchange for enlistment post academy.

It was surprising for Kaydel to accept an offer from The Order when her bloodline was so deep-rooted in Resistance lineage... but even more unbelievable that Ben would. He wanted the Academy to escape Resistance indoctrination, not to join their rivals.

"Why would you even think that, Rose?"

Though she looked like she wished she could eat her own words, Rose glanced in the direction of the student lounge. "I'm sorry, Rey, but… you should see for yourself."

Staring just a moment longer at her friend – waiting desperately for Rose to say she was mistaken and didn't mean any of it – Rey abandoned her lunch and stalked off in the direction of the lounge. It was a haven for the upperclassmen. The room was half the size of the gym, equipped with faded, donated couches, vending machines, and a myriad of things left behind by lazy students. More importantly, there was a bulletin board meant for extracurricular flyers and notices. And, as tradition and school pride would have it, declarations of acceptances for graduating seniors were posted there by the principal himself.

That's where Rose had learned what Rey couldn't bring herself to believe. Even as it stared her in the eye.

"Rey…"

She should have known. Rey had scrambled into the room like a chicken with its head cut off, her sights dead-set on the bulletin board. She hadn't noticed anyone else in the lounge. No one found refuge in it during lunchtime except for the one person who claimed to "eat for fuel, not for fun." Ben never joined Rey and Rose in the cafeteria. He reserved that period for running laps in the gym, showering, then spending his last few minutes in the lounge with his usual apple and sandwich.

So there he was, sitting in his preferred spot along the windowsills, half-eaten apple in hand. And Rey couldn't face him. She couldn't even decipher what it was that left her feeling angry; betrayed.

"Did you know?"

Though she kept her back to him, Rey could sense him. The thud of his shoes hitting the floor as he stood from the windowsill. The thunk of his apple core hitting the trash bin. The heat of him as he closed in, not yet touching her. He sighed, and there was her answer. Because he knew what he did; what was wrong.

"I found out the same day I was accepted to the Academy."

Rey shook her head incredulously. She should have been angrier for the fact he didn't tell her all of the news the night before. She should have been appalled that he would go against his parents because, absent or no, they were still heroes for their sacrifice. And a hint of her – though she did not readily admit it – was jealous that he and Kaydel would surely be joined at the hip, if the poised and primped leech had anything to say about it.

But all Rey could feel was betrayal. Because the real reason Ben joined the Academy was suddenly clear.

"You're getting a free ride from the First Order. That's what made you change your mind about enlisting with the Resistance. It wasn't because of me."

"Rey."

Ben reached for her, but Rey pulled away. Finally facing him, Rey swiped angrily at the tears clinging to her eyelashes. She wanted to spit her agony back at him; to tell him she didn't care. It wasn't true. She cared with every fiber of her being. And that's exactly why she turned and left the lounge before Ben could say another word.

・・・・・・ ・・・ ・・・・・・

How Miss Priss was even in Rey's favorite art class, she didn't care to know. Unless you were a complete dunce, seniors had a rather open schedule that had to be filled with frivolous electives that might look good on a college application. Rey assumed that was the case – especially since Kaydel wrinkled her nose every time she had to mix pottery mud. It was a pottery class, for crying out loud. What had she expected?

Rey could have done without seeing the newly-deemed bane of her existence for the rest of the day. Particularly after the student lounge situation. She would have preferred to sit in silence as Rose yammered on about the yearbook just barely making the deadline by graduation. She'd love nothing more than to simply hack away with her modeling tools at her clay sculpture that was going to be a German Shepherd, but was now reconfigured as an ass (er, donkey). But as Rey's luck seemed to go that day, Kaydel didn't just waltz into the classroom. She also shooed Rose out of her usual seat. Rose earned a well-deserved glare from Rey when she obliged, opting to sketch the ceramic vase models for her next project on the other side of the room.

Resting her chin on her palm, Kaydel gave Rey a full once-over. "So. You and Ben Solo," she said with a short, breathy laugh. "'Future Mr. and Mrs.,' huh?"

Shrugging, Rey kept her eyes on her scuplture, lest she betray the blush heating her cheeks. "So they voted."

"I didn't vote that way," Kaydel said with a snort. She was brushing the dried clay from her elbows, cursing her mistake of leaning them on the dirty squared high-table. "I see it going a different way."

"Oh you do?" Rey finally met the blonde's gaze, fire in her eyes. "You don't mean you and the guy you didn't look twice at during our first two years of high school?"

Kaydel rolled her eyes. "Look. All I'm saying is, if you don't want him, step aside."

Rey didn't bother holding back the singular, sarcastic laugh that elicited a narrowed glare from Kaydel. "And you're so sure that he'd want you, whether I was in the way or not?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Kaydel purred, standing and putting hands to curvaceous hips as if to prove her point.

"Graduation's almost here. Your vendetta's got an expiration."

"That's fine. We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other at the Academy.

Rey saw red. Climbing to her feet and stepping toe to toe with Kaydel, Rey relished the fact that she was a solid head taller than the prima donna. "You'll be in opposite factions, Kaydel. On opposite sides. You do realize that even if he doesn't enlist, his loyalty to the Resistance is strong." It was Rey's turn to look Kaydel up and down. "Stronger than yours, at least."

Rey had no way of knowing if what she said was true. For the first time, she felt blinded when it came to Ben. But it felt good putting Kaydel in her place… even if she couldn't be sure whether her relationship with Ben survived the day.

"We'll see," Kaydel hissed, turning on her heel and storming back to her assigned seat. On cue, Rose scampered over just as Rey sank back onto her stool.

"You're right, you know," Rose said, squeezing her friend's shoulder. "What I said before, Rey… Really, you have nothing to worry about. You know him better than anyone – of course he wouldn't accept the grant."

Rey pursed her lips, wishing she had as much confidence as her friend.

・・・・・・ ・・・ ・・・・・・

The only times Rey ever walked home alone were the days Ben was home sick. Even then, it wasn't of much consequence – she'd always walk straight to his house to microwave him a bowl of chicken noodle soup and watch endless reruns of shows he hated but never made Rey turn off, simply because she liked them. Except for Bob Ross. Everyone liked Bob Ross.

She never willingly walked home alone. And though she knew it would plant a dagger firmly in Ben's chest… there was a first time for everything.

Rey purposefully skipped out of last period early to do just that. Worse, she headed straight for her own home. Guilt gnawed at her as she passed Ben's front porch, then continued to eat away the extra block it took to get to hers. The mail was spilling out of the box screwed to the siding. And, as usual, Rey had forgotten her house key on the counter inside, prompting her to climb in through the living room's side window that had the broken lock from the first time she'd forgotten her key. That was four years ago.

An inch of dust settled on everything inside the home. The sink, full of molding dishes Rey always meant to get to. The fridge was empty, save for a few yogurts that were already a couple weeks past their sell-by date. Groaning, Rey swiped one. Strawberry-banana flavor. It would have to do. At least until she made up with Ben and she could eat his food.

Making up with Ben… it would take longer, now that she'd left him to walk on his own. She might as well have left him entirely. She wondered how long he would stay, waiting at her locker, outside in the school's front courtyard, or anywhere in between there and his front porch. She wondered if he'd try to call her cell, although she doubted it. He hated the things, and she wasn't even sure if her service was still turned on…

The idea prompted Rey to check. By some stroke of luck, the dreaded no service notification was not at the top of the screen. She should probably call her mom and thank her for that…

In that moment, that was exactly what Rey wanted. She wished so much that her mother was there. As clueless and irresponsible as she was, the woman could at least comfort her child. If not her… if not Ben, then who?

Pressing the quick-dial for her mother's cellphone, Rey popped the tab of her yogurt as she waited through the rings. No surprise, the automated voicemail picked up. She scarfed down the yogurt just in time for the beep.

"Hey mom, it's me," Rey started, mortified by the nervous rattle in her voice. What should she even say to the woman she hadn't seen in months? Or was it closer to a year? "I just thought I'd call and, you know… see how things were. I didn't know if you uh, you were planning to come home soon, or…" Rey's stomach squirmed. Collapsing into the couch sent a cloud of dust into the air. She set her elbows on her knees, rubbing the back of her neck and clenching her eyes shut to ward off the tears. "I miss you, mom. I'd really like it if you and dad could just come home for a bit. Or maybe you could call me? If that's not too much? I'm feeling kinda lo–"

The voicemail beeped again, cutting Rey off and asking if she'd like to review her message. Staring at the phone, willing her chest to slow it's sudden, rapid rise and fall, Rey chucked the phone onto the couch beside her. Wrapping her temples with her hands, Rey bit her tongue to keep from shrieking in frustration; in despair. But there was no reason to; not really. No one would hear her there. No one ever did.

Drying her eyes with the back of her hands, Rey ignored the nausea rising in her stomach and picked her phone up again. She re-dialed her mother and waited for the voicemail. Steadied her voice.

"Hi mom. Just wanted to let you know that graduation is coming up. May 30th, so just about a week away. If you want to come… Well, anyway, I'm leaving June 1st for Junari Art Academy. Just thought you should know."

Rey laid back against the couch, intent on calming her incessantly beating heart and rumbling stomach. It shouldn't be so hard. She shouldn't be alone. And her stomach shouldn't be hurting that bad…

Wiping the perspiration from her forehead, Rey made up her mind. If she could just get her gut to calm down, she'd go and find Ben. Straighten things out with the only person who she knew would be there on May 30th and June 1st. And when she flung open her front door to do just that, Rey was only halfway shocked to find that Ben must have thought the same thing.

He sat on her front porch, legs crossed at the ankles and his homework, of all things, laid out on his lap. Rey only had a moment to snidely think of his comment that morning – the one about having a reason to care about school – before she doubled over. Ben rocketed to his feet just in time to brace her shoulders and lead her to the flowerbeds that were more weeds than flowers. He held her hair as she vomited and rubbed her back until her trembling stopped. He didn't even say a word when she used his rebel shirt to wipe her mouth.

"W-Why are you here?" Rey grumbled, reverting back to her bad mood for the fact that Ben had witnessed her hurl her guts out. It wasn't the first time. And by her count, she'd seen him do it more, if they were both honest with themselves, so there.

Ben ignored the question. It was obvious: he wasn't going to leave her alone, even when she wanted to be (because did she really?) He planned to wait on her stoop until Rey decided to come home to him.

Ben collected his things and guiding Rey back inside the house. "Why do you look green?"

"Bad yogurt," Rey muttered as she wandered the hall to her bedroom. Flopping down on her bed, she didn't argue as Ben pulled her shoes off, and then her jeans. I should have went pantsless, she thought to herself. That would've shown him. Or at the very least kept his eyes on her and not on that hussy, Kaydel Ko Connix.

Though she left him far less room than he needed, Ben slid into the bed beside her. When Rey turned her face away, he crossed his arms.

"You didn't let me talk before."

Rey fought the prickling in her eyes. He was right. She didn't let him talk in the student lounge. She didn't want to hear his reasoning; why it was a good, logical idea to accept the wealthy First Order's free ride when they both knew the Resistance couldn't offer, let alone afford the same.

"I haven't decided yet, Rey. That's why I didn't tell you."

Rey's head immediately flopped in the opposite direction to stare at Ben's profile. "You didn't accept the grant?" That meant he'd decided to go to the Academy regardless… It was for her, after all. At least in part.

"I have enough saved to get us a place and cover it for a few months, plus pay for my first term of tuition. But I'll need a job up there. Or at least work-study. Something to support us. I'll figure it out, okay?"

A blush was the only pallor to Rey's cheeks. She was a fool… A fool for thinking Kaydel had a chance with Ben when he'd already planned how to support himself and Rey, together. And an even bigger fool for thinking that a First Order grant would change anything. Ben was still the same person, taking care of Rey and being there for her. How could she have doubted him?

"I can work too, ya know."

"You? Work?"

That earned Ben a swat to the arm. He raised his hands in defeat, and Rey twined hers with his. All was fine again… save for her still-gurgling stomach.

"I think I need to sleep this off," Rey mumbled, her head lolling against his shoulder.

Ben brought her knuckles to his lips, kissing them before holding her hand to his chest. "I'll be here when you wake up."

Author's Note: More smut returning next chapter. It's the weekend, so I'm thinking road trip. ;)

Also: Rose is all of us.

Special thanks to those who commented here since I can't reply like on AO3! rainne.2000.16, Yami Akurei, Andaes, pagan-seijou, and Shestoolazytologin you guys are awesome!

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