Chicks Dig it

Disclaimer: As usual I own nothing. Not the book, not the characters, not the song...nothing but the plot.

Warnings: Tory may come across as ditzy or ignorant to the obvious, Ben is beaten up ):

A/N: This is NOT a songfic! (nothing wrong with a songfic I've read some good ones)Although I DID get the idea from the song 'Chicks Dig it' by Chris Cagle. Kinda in an obscure way... Well more or less I was listening to the song and this idea came into my head so I thought I should give Cagle some credit. Anyway, let me know what you think.

CH.1

I don't know why but Ben called for a meeting at the bunker tonight. I'm not annoyed that it's past eleven on a school night. I'm not annoyed that he didn't give us a reason for this meeting. I'm not even annoyed that he demanded this meeting. No I'm annoyed that I had to sneak out of the complex stubbing my toe in the process. Thank God Kit went to bed at a reasonable hour!

So that's how I came to be traipsing across the island with a sore toe. For what reason? I have no idea. Must be pretty important for Ben to call a meeting though. I sighed with relief as the bunker came into sight. No I'm not afraid of the dark. I'm just afraid of men with guns in the dark.

As I stepped through the door something knocked me down. When I looked up Cooper barked and licked my face. I pushed Cooper off my chest and regained my feet. The guys were already here so there was no point in delaying the inevitable when I could be sound asleep in my nice warm bed.

"So Ben, what brings us here?"

The direct approach is always best. Maybe a little blunt but it gets the job done.

"Have you seen my face?"

Yes I had, most days since I moved here and trust me I've noticed just how attractive that face is. Not that I was telling him that. Ever. He doesn't need a bigger ego. His eyes were beautiful and crystal clear, his nose was straight and had an aristocratic look, and paired with full soft-looking lips. But I don't think he was talking about any of that. No I think it had something to do with his black eye and split lip.

"Get in a fight with the heavyweight champion or what?"

I know I probably shouldn't have been making jokes in light of the circumstances but the atmosphere in the bunker was stuffy, awkward, and gloomy. Any one of those could make a person uncomfortable, but together they were suffocating. Neither Hi nor Shelton showed any sign of hearing me or Ben. They were spacing out and I figured they had already heard what Ben had to say long before I got here. Ben didn't say a word.

"Okay, I give up. How did you get the black eye?"

"Your pal, Jason," He sneered. "gave it to me."

I felt my eyes widen and my jaw drop. Jason? The same Jason who wasn't above speaking to me when the Tripod thumbed their noses my way? The guy who stood up for me? Well, he kinda stood up for me...a little bit. It seemed unreal that he would do this to one of my friends, but I know Ben well enough to know that he doesn't lie. Ever.

"Why did he fight you?"

Ben shook his head, "He didn't fight me. He jumped me. Without provocation."

WHY? I wanted to ask. Sure Ben and Jason were not by any means best friends, but they were civil to each other. For the most part.

"Do you know why he jumped you?"

Ben looked directly into my eyes and nodded.

"Well?"

"You."

Not the answer I was expecting. I tilted my head. What could I have possibly done to cause THIS? I wasn't there and what on earth could I have to do with any of it? Ben saw my confused look and let out a sigh.

"He was defending his territory."

Whoa! I am no guy's territory! I don't know why Jason would consider me his, all we ever did was dance. Once. He invited me to a party and I said I had plans. But most importantly, why would he feel threatened by Ben?

"Why did he pick a fight with you though? Why not Hi or Shelton?"

Hi snorted finally joining the conversation, "Isn't it obvious?"

"No."

Hi just shook his head and let out a long-suffering sigh, "He's jealous of Ben."

"Why would he be jealous? And why Ben?"

All three guys looked at me with wide eyes, as if I couldn't of asked a stupider question.

"Jason likes you, and Ben is his competition."

"But why fight? Why not talk it out with Ben? Or me?"

"Because he thought there was something going on between you and Ben, and he wanted to make sure Ben understood what would happen if it continued." Shelton finally spoke up.

I threw an uncertain glance Ben's way. He was staring right at me. "But there's nothing going on between me and Ben. Ben got knocked around for nothing. Jason had to know Ben would tell me what happened and that I'd want nothing to do with Jason afterward."

Hi nodded. "But in Jason's mind his money and position in society should be enough to overlook such discrepancy. You should want him no matter the situation. No matter how much of a jerk he is."

I shook my head sadly. "Then he doesn't know me at all. I thought he understood when I said no to the party but I guess not. I'm sorry that he hurt you Ben. Have you seen a doctor?"

Ben shook his head, "No, I haven't seen a doctor. What party?"

I looked toward the ceiling that was about a foot above my head and said, "Last month he invited me to a party on somebody's boat but I told him I had other plans."

"Did you? Have other plans I mean." Was that hope in Ben's eyes or just a trick of the dim lighting?

"Nope. I just didn't want to spend the night among the Tripod and people I didn't know. So I spent the night studying."

"I can't believe you turned down an invitation to a party so you could study! You could have gone and stayed for five minutes just to say you'd been to a party!" Shelton sounded as if he was wondering about the state of my mental health. He looked ready to start another rant so I turned to Ben again.

"You're going to tell somebody about this right?"

Ben smirked, "Already did."

I relaxed, "Who? The police or your dad?"

Ben's smirk widened, if that's possible. "Nope. Just you guys."

Suddenly I tensed up. "Ben! You have to report this, Jason could have seriously hurt you!" A feel of dread came over me. "What if he tries again?"

Ben leaned back into his chair and stretched his arms above his head, flexing his muscles. Focus Tory, focus.

SNAP

Ben!

What?

You're going to tell somebody aren't you?

No. Why should I? His dad will just pull some strings and he'll walk away unpunished.

At least try!

Tory, there's no point.

Yes there is! He tried to hurt you!

He didn't just try.

BEN!

What? I got some shots in!

That's not what this is about!

Oh? What's it about then?

He beat you up because he thought we were involved. He didn't even bother to check his facts before pummeling you! He has anger issues and goes into a rage way too easily! If you had died it would have been my fault in a roundabout way! Do you think I want one of my best friends to die because some psycho made the wrong assumption? Do you!

Tory this wasn't your fault. It was mine.

How could it possibly be your fault? You did nothing wrong!

Actually...

What did you do?

Well...he was talking to some of his friends in the locker room and I overheard them talking about you...in let's just say a not nice way so I told them to back off and Jason asked what I had to do with it and Itoldhimyouweremygirlfriend.

What was the last part? I missed everything after Jason's question. You mumbled.

I told him you were my girlfriend.

Oh...

You're not mad?

No. You lied sure, but you stood up for me. Thank you.

If you don't mind I really don't want to be called a liar.

But you did lie Ben.

If we were dating then I wouldn't be a liar.

But we're not dating.

Tory...I was asking you to go out with me.

Honesty means that much to you?

Tory! Just give me an answer!

Yes.

Was that so hard?

Not really.

Good.

SNUP

"Ben? Tory?" Shelton sounded worried.

"Yes?" We chimed together.

Hi and Shelton looked at each other. Shelton's voice wavered, "Are you both okay?"

Ben and I looked at each other, threw back our heads and laughed. "We're fine Shelton." My words were meant to be reassuring but I don't think they affected Shelton. He was about a half second from pacing.

"Ben? What are you gonna do about Jason?"

Hi's question brought me crashing back to reality. I'm currently dating Ben, and believe me I am ecstatic about that, but Jason had beaten up Ben and there was nothing stopping him from doing so again.