First Love.

"We are here," Ben said after parking his car. He turned to Lily who had been silent through the whole drive. Ben had avoided making eye contact with her side and neither did Lily say anything.

"Thank you for dropping me " she smiled taking off her seat belt. He opened his door and walked to her side helping her out.

He passed her bag and the packed cake, "this is for your two sisters. Camilla said since they could not make it they could have this instead " he said.

Lily chuckled taking the cake, "Thank you, again "

"Welcome, go inside now.It is already late " he said.

Lily nodded and walked to her place waving at Ben before disappearing into the building. He left soon after.

He got a text from Ray telling him to go join them. Not feeling sleepy he decided to go for a few drinks with them.

Alfred and Jack had just got there too, he sat next to Ray. They ordered their drinks.

Ben felt all eyes on him but kept ignoring them as he moved his gazes through the crowd.

"Come on Benjamin, are you going to keep us waiting?" Alfred finally asked.

"You know am not a good person when I lose my patience " Ray bickered frowning at Ben.

Ben turned to then and sighed, "what do you guys want, I thought we were here to drink and have fun " he said.

Jack glared at him, "I can't believe in all the women around you, ....that evil woman was your choice "

"Hi, Lily is still remorseful about what she did. And it was your mother's doing after all " Ben said.

"Can you hear yourself" Ray touched his now aching head, "we might have put all her evil doings aside the cause of Camilla but it doesn't mean we moved on from what she did " he blurted out.

"She practically tried to kill sister in law " Jack let out

"But she didn't and even apologized for what she had done. Cant, you hit ask yourself why Camilla could forgive her that easily?" Ben glared at them, then got up, "But if you all can't accept her and are pointing fingers at me for something for her...then I will be leaving "

Ray caught his hand, "Hi, we didn't call you here to point fingers, we just wanted to know what you see in her?" he said.

"We are sorry if it made you uncomfortable talking about her like that " Alfred said.

"Just thought that maybe if we said what she did in the past then you might change your mind " Jack picked up his drink.

Ben sighed sitting back down, "Yes at first I was like you guys." he looked at them with sadness in his eyes as memory played in his mind.

"I saw her walk in scared, cold, and lost. She was hiding behind Camilla, who seemed to see the same thing as I did. I could read the fear in her actions and eyes when you guys kept glancing at her around the table"

He turned away, "She was silent, maybe afraid to say something that might provoke anger from you guys. But you all did your best not to make her insensitive "

" We could not do anything, after all, Camilla the victim had forgiven her. So we played along with her " Ray said.

Ben nodded, "Camilla is a sweet, kind pure soul. She might be crazy but her heart is generous "

"And it has rubbed on all of us " Alfred smiled and the others nodded in smiles.

"I offered my jacket cause I had noticed her hide her hovering from all of you. She looked at me in surprise when I offer it but it made me feel so warm when she took it " Ben giggled.

"Has she ever returned it?" Jack asked.

Ben nodded, "She did when you all came back for your second dinner with her. And I decided not to wash or wear it now," he said.

The others raised eyebrows at his statement.

"Why, did she damage it?" Ray asked.

Ben shook his head taking more of his drink, "She didn't damage it but washed it. And now it smells like her so I can't avoid losing"

"Ohh....."Jack exclaimed.

"WHAT, your a pervert " Ray laughed

"I think your drunk now " Alfred smiled.

Ben laughed, "Am not drunk, all I know is that since I saw her that day. All I think about is her but am too afraid to say anything "

"Why, just be a man and go tell her " Ray muttered.

"Are you scared she will reject your affection?" Alfred asked.

"Am just worried she might not like having a lover who is a chef and working with someone who stole her love interest " he said.

"What, I don't think she's that shallow. Your profession is outstanding" Alfred said.

"And I don't think she ever liked brother, it was all mother's manipulation so her feelings were not valid " Jack pointed out.

"So you guys think if I do ask her, she won't reject me?" Ben asked with excitement in his voice.

"Ahh...we are not sure about Lily. But if you don't try how will you know if she does like you or not " Ray picked up Ben's phone. "Do you have her number?" he asked.

"Yes, Camilla sent it to me," he said.

"That's my best friend " Ray smiled, "So you're going to text her right now," he said.

"But I just saw her and I don't think is appropriate" Ben shocked his head in denial.

Jack tapped Ben's shoulder, "Are you stupid, then how do you think Lily will know that you like her. You need to show interest and care towards her ". he said.

" So now you have to send her a text," Ray said.

"What should I send her, I have never actually sent these kinds of things " he whined.

They sighed looking at him.

"Where have you been living?" Jack and Ray asked.

"You have never dated anyone?" Alfred asked

"I just never found time for it," he said.

Ray pushed the phone into his hands, "Alright, just ask if she had fun today. let's start with that "

Ben nodded and did as he was told. They waited a few seconds and the phone vibrated.

He jumped up, "She answered " he shouted.

Ray laughed. And Alfred and Jack just watched him in awe.

"Okay, sit down and answer her back," Ray said.

Ben took his seat and breathed. , "So what should I say now," he asked.

"What did she say?" Ray asked.

"that she had fun, especially during the dance " he read.

"That's good, I too enjoyed watching you two dancing, " Jack said.

Ben moved back to his phone and typed.

Ben: "enjoyed that too . I was afraid I had not done that great at dancing ".

Lily: "well don't be, I enjoyed every moment of it. Thanks for that "

They could see Ben smile even more so they watched him in silence as they continued to drink.

Ben: "Am glad you enjoyed it "

Lily: "I wanted to ask something from you?"

Ben: yes what is it?"

Lily: Can I still come to the restaurant for dinner even with Camilla gone?"

Ben turned to their others telling them what Lily had said asking what she meant.

"Well, she's pretty clear what she wants " Jack chuckled.

"She wants to keep coming to see you, that means you might have a chance " Ray blurted out

"Camilla isn't there, so it's pretty obvious who she wants to see with coming there " Alfred added.

Ben smiled and turned to his phone again.

Ben: "You can, I wanted to ask if you could when you got the time "

Lily: "Thanks so much, then I will pop by when am not that busy"

Ben: " I will be looking forward to cooking for you "

Lily: Well I hope you have a lovely night. Am off to bed "

Ben: Goodnight Lily

Ben: Goodnight Ben

"Why do I feel so happy?" he asked looking at the others.

"Partly cause your drunk and in love too " Ray pushed a drink into his hand.

"So it's love?" he asked.

Jack chuckled, "You thought what, an allergy?"

"Jack don't be mean, his in love so we have to be happy for him, " Alfred said.

Ray raised to drink and the others followed.

"To the happy marriage of my best friend," he shouted.

"To our upcoming wedding," Alfred kissed Jack

"And to me," Ben said but the other frowned.

"Let's do that last one again, but this time together " Ray turned to Ben, "And you follow our lead," he said.

"And to Ben finally finding love and his first girlfriend," they said, laughing as they drank.