Ben spent the days following Christmas and New Year's planning his resignation. Classes at Mishawaka High would resume the week after. Right now he had a chance of making the transition smooth and peaceful, without adhering to questions of students and other teachers. One week had certainly given him ample amounts of time for pondering explanations to every possible question, including the obvious ones that Hux would likely ask first.

When did it happen? How did it happen? Why did it happen? Things like that for which he could offer simple answers to. Then there was the 'what in the fuck is wrong with you?' kind of question he would throw in out of spite. Though he also might say 'Are you fucking insane Solo ?' And truthfully, to a certain extent, maybe he was right. Ben figured he could respond to that with he no longer cared .

Because really, he didn't. Whether he was truly mad in the head or not, he had Rey. He had his life back at the ranch. It was all that mattered to him really, and the only reassurance he needed. That his reason for throwing away his career as an educator hadn't been because he'd fallen for a student. At least, to a certain extent, that wasn't entirely the case.

If only he had come to terms with that missing piece sooner. He hoped it would make Hux's understanding of the situation easier; however, at the same time, not wanting it to sound like an absurd sob story. After working weekdays, and sometimes weekends, for several years together, he'd grown accustomed to Hux's inner workings. He knew of the things that made the redhead's mind function at lighter levels, even those that also made him insufferable.

Bearing all of that in mind he believed it was possible for the conflict to end with a fair, civil resolution. The pair would shake hands afterward and go their separate ways as usual, just like old times, when he found himself sitting in the principal's office during one of many passing periods.

Except when the day came for their meeting at the local Sports Bar & Grille he was suddenly reminded of everything he had to lose. The potential of it all going south at the slightest misuse of words, where he would end up pleading his case to the school board and officials considered a lot worse. It was a predicament with severe consequences that Hux couldn't save his ass from over a phone, neither did Ben expect him to. Perhaps he should've ordered a tumbler glass with a few shots of Wild Turkey instead of a 16oz Bud Light ; which, he spent nearly a half hour nursing, at a secluded table in the bar's furthest corner, anticipating Hux's arrival.

He spent a solid portion of the time staring off in a daze. His eyes were fixed on one of several televisions streaming the latest NFL game yet he failed to comprehend what he was seeing. His ears drowned out the obnoxious applause and shouts, whenever the customers' favorite team scored. And he also never noticed Hux when he'd first arrived.

The screeching of barstool feet across laminate made Ben flinch from the trance, aware now of who'd taken the empty seat beside him. For the first time since he'd known Hux, he hadn't the faintest idea as to what he should say. Had their meeting been under better circumstances he would've uttered a smartass remark, something stupid about Hux's disheveled hair or, depending on his mood, if he hadn't gotten laid the previous night. Thankfully their waitress approached before the initial tension became too unbearably awkward.

"Hey there!" The server greeted Hux cheerfully. "Can I get you started with anything to drink, hun?"

Hux puffed his cheeks, examining their choices on tap through narrow eyes. "Heineken, please. Tall."

The server nodded and turned away to retrieve his drink. Ben bit the inside of his bottom lip and glanced at Hux, nodding curtly. "Hux."

Hux nodded in return. "Solo," he muttered shortly, leaving the silence that followed uncomfortably thick.

Now what? They'd managed to exchange hellos quite benignantly. Was it time to throw out the regular conversation starter how's the weather ? Or maybe take it the next step further and ask how was your holiday ? He was a fucking grown-ass adult! Why was it suddenly so hard to act like one?

So Ben proceeded to do what any man his age would've done, and that was calming his nerves by taking a long gulp of beer from his glass. Hux moved to do the same when the server returned shortly after to deliver his own.

Scoffing, Hux settled the glass on its coaster. "So," he began, furrowing his brows and clasping his hands over the table, "about Miss Kanata."

Ben nodded, lips rolled between his incisors. "I know," he frowned, folding his arms. "And I need you to hear me out on this before you say anything."

Hux snorted. "It better be a fucking damn good excuse, Ben," he hissed, leaning across the table. "Because you're lucky it was me who saw you kissing a student at the rink and no one else. How long has this been going on?"

Ben drew in a sharp breath and swallowed, carefully weighing his words. "Intimately, a few months."

"Intimately." Hux pinched the bridge of his nose. "Jesus Christ, I seriously can't believe we're having this discussion right now."

"Neither can I," Ben snarked, taking another sip of his beer.

"This isn't a fucking game, Solo," Hux sneered, his voice retaining a low octave. "Do you have any idea what could happen to you if word of you fucking around with a minor got out?"

" Nothing happened while she was under eighteen," Ben countered, a pointed glare in his eyes. "Which she is now. I swear to God that's the fucking truth."

Hux raised a brow. "Oh, so her being eighteen is supposed to make this better?" He scolded, jabbing a pointer into the table. "Eighteen or not, the fact of the matter here is that she is a student. Your student. If you hold any value in your self-worth and your job, you need to end this relationship with her. Period."

Grimacing, Ben shook his head. "I can't do that." Leaning his elbows onto the table he continued to explain before Hux had a chance to issue his comment. "And before you say anything more I just want you to know that my decision isn't just because of her. I've been thinking about resigning for a long time. This has just given me the incentive to finally do it."

Hux was silent for a few moments, and Ben almost expected him to object. Surprisingly, he didn't and instead looked relieved.

"I know you have," Hux sighed, rolling his eyes and conforming to Ben's posture in his seat. "You've been a pain in my ass for the past few years now. I should be ecstatic that I'll no longer have to save you from pissed off parents."

Ben smirked. "Yeah, I guess so," he quipped in accord, reaching for his drink.

"But you do realize how this decision affects you in the future, right?" Hux asked, cocking his brow. "If you two become more public together now, no high school or university will hire you."

"I know," Ben nodded, returning the glass to its coaster. "Believe me; I have no intentions of going back to that sort of classroom."

"I kinda figured, but I thought I might as well throw it out there just in case," Hux confessed, taking a gulp from his own glass. "But Christ, Ben, why didn't you wait until she graduated at least like m-."

Stunned at first, Ben perked his brows. "Really, like you? And who are you waiting for?"

"Fuckin' no one," Hux grumbled, with a scowl. "The alcohol has me talking nonsense shit again. Ignore me."

Ben chuckled, leaving a brow raised in suspicion. "Alright then."

Hux promptly changed the subject. "So when are you putting your resignation in?"

"Today," Ben affirmed. "Probably right after we're done here. Then I can get my shit cleared out of the classroom and be done."

Hux nodded, inquiring of his career plans after Ben resigned. Ben told him about his parents' ranch and that the decision had been long in the making. He briefly covered parts of his father's condition and how he had wanted them to retire by taking over, leaving out the complicated details of his past. They stayed there for no longer than an hour, conversing of various topics, beyond school and the ranch, before it was time to leave.

"Good luck, Solo," Hux extended his hand for a shake. "It'll be weird without you there, not gonna lie."

Ben snorted. "Well, you have my number at least. And I know that you know how to use it."

They shared a quick laugh then parted ways. Ben knew it was likely that Rey was worried how his meeting with Hux had gone. Taking his phone from the back pocket of his jeans, he began texting her.

**

Rey had just taken her seat next to Rose at the nail salon when the phone buzzed in her hands. Eagerly she glanced down to see what it read, hoping the text was from Ben.

- Ben Solo 2:23 P.M. -
Finally free

"Thank fucking God," she breathed, releasing a long sigh in relief.

"What's wrong?" Rose scoffed, glancing from the newest issue of Vogue that she had opened to Rey.

"Ben just texted me," Rey admitted, her thumbs swiftly rapping the digital keys. "About his and Hux's meeting"

- Rey Kanata 2:27 P.M. -
And?? How did it go?
What did Hux say?

"Oh!" Rose squealed, leaning to see the text for herself. "What did he say?"

Shaking her head, Rey held her breath as they waited for his message beyond the wavering dots to appear.

- Ben Solo 2:27 P.M. -
At first, just as I'd expected
But it's okay
I'm getting ready to leave and put in my resignation

"Apparently everything went well then?" Rey beamed, stating its implication out loud.

"That's awesome!" Rose praised, nudging her elbow gently against Rey's arm. "See, haven't I been saying you had nothing to worry about?" She assured, reverting to her unread article.

"Yeah, I know," Rey huffed, smiling obtusely at the device while typing another reply.

- Rey Kanata 2:28 P.M. -
That's great!!
I may have been a tad bit worried...

- Ben Solo 2:29 P.M. -
Exactly why I messaged you as soon as I left

- Rey Kanata 2:29 P.M. -
You know me and my worry-wart self too well <3

Although proclaiming herself a 'worry-wart' was certainly undermining the anguish she'd felt. She had been locked in constant vexation since Ben brought her home earlier in the day. With her aunt sleeping in preparation for her shift and the apartment in utter silence, she had nothing but the deafening resonance of thoughts as company. During a genuine attempt at staying occupied she read Black Beauty . But the notion foundered at the heartbreaking scene of Ginger's death.

Surfing through Netflix's variety of rom-coms had also been futile, and so was unpacking the last remaining box of junk in her room. No matter what she did she always resorted to asking herself 'what if'. So when Rose inquired whether she'd be willing to join her for an afternoon of self-pampering, she seized the opportunity without hesitating.

Doing her nails was never at the top of her to-do list, but she was desperate for something - anything - to keep her mind busily engaged until she heard from Ben. And listening to Rose blather on about nothing important for an hour had done precisely that.

- Rey Kanata 2:29 P.M. -
Rose kept me occupied though
We got pedicures
I'm waiting for my toes to dry now

- Ben Solo 2:31 P.M. -
Okay, this shouldn't take long
I'm going to the school afterward to pack up what I have
You can meet me there if you want

- Rey Kanata 2:31 P.M. -
Sure! Which door though since they're locked?

- Ben Solo 2:32 P.M. -
I'll leave the east entrance open
See you then, love you

- Rey Kanata 2:32 P.M. -
Alrighty, love you too

"You two really are ridiculously cute," Rose gushed, shaking her head at the magazine in hand. "Like, the sickly kind of cute that should be made illegal."

Rey snorted at that, her brow quirked in regards to Rose's comment. "You're making it sound like a bad thing."

"Definitely not bad," Rose brooded. "Just makes me wish for a little more in my own relationship is all."

Rey wrinkled her face. "Why? Are you and Finn having problems?"

Rose shrugged a shoulder. Dropping the magazine to her lap, she purposely turned to Rey, lips partially agape.

"I mean, yes and no? If that makes any sense at all," she explained, tightening the corners of her mouth. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Finn's a wonderful guy and I love him dearly. But there's just no spark between us anymore. No romance. Or anything, really. Seeing how Ben acts around you has made me realize what's missing."

Rey frowned. "I'm sorry -."

Rose snorted. "No, definitely don't be sorry," she interrupted, gesturing a hand to Rey. "I'm really , really happy because you deserve everything that he does for you."

Rey's smile grew a little wider, then took a breath. "So, what are you gonna do? Are you gonna break up with Finn?"

Rose shrugged again. "We'll see," she smiled. "If so, I have no doubts that he and I can still make it work as friends. We've been friends since elementary so it was more or less one of those ' what the hell let's give it a try' kinda thing last year."

Rey nodded. "I get it, but that's good though. Either way, as long as you're happy that's all that matters."

"Exactly," Rose conceded.

"I mean, of course, you could always put Hux down as an option," Rey teased, waggling her brows suggestively.

"Uh, probably not," Rose attested, reclaiming the magazine on her lap. "He's a little too proud of his job to fuck it up in that way."

Rey shrugged, reclining further into the seat, she opened the Angry Birds app on her phone. "Who knows, he just may surprise you one day."

"We'll see," Rose repeated, and left it at that.

Once their nails were finished drying, she and Rose paid their estheticians and left. They hugged one another cordially outside the salon before they parted for the remainder of the day in separate vehicles. The school was located at the other end of town so it wasn't that far of a drive.

Since classes weren't in session yet she quickly found Ben's truck in the empty parking lot when she arrived and steered Maz's rickety, old station wagon into a space alongside it. Just as he had told her, the eastern entrance was unlocked.

The hallway leading to his classroom was dim and eerily quiet, a fragment liberated by the light radiating from Agricultural Science's open doorway. Rey realized then, the next time she would enter the Ag room come that following Monday morning, Ben wouldn't be there to greet her. The brief trek from the entrance to his room suddenly grew unwittingly nostalgic.

She should've felt happy, relieved even, that their relationship wasn't bound to the terms of secrecy anymore. And she was relieved, truly, and deeply. However, at the same time, she also felt - sad. But the emotion was fleeting and receded as soon as she saw him, and instead of sorrow, she was subdued by comfort.

Folding her arms loosely over her chest she stood at the threshold of Ben's classroom, silently observing while he sifted through a pile of papers in his lap. Unaware of her presence at the moment his eyes remained fixed on the task, transferring some of the documents from a bureau's bottom cabinet drawer into a box. The rest he tossed into a nearby trash can. Smiling she stayed that way for a minute or two then cleared her throat, announcing her presence as she wandered in.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, Mr. Solo," she goaded deviously.

Ben raised his head from the stack of papers, conferring a lopsided grin.

"Not at all, Miss Kanata," he grunted, straightening his back and tilting his chin expectantly for a kiss. Wetting her lips she planted a swift peck to his mouth.

"Good," she hummed, shedding her satchel and coat, she dropped them to the floor beside his desk. "Need some help?"

"Sure. There's really not much that needs packing as I had expected." He nodded to a side drawer. "You can start in there though and see if anything's worth keeping."

Nodding, she knelt in front of the drawer that he'd motioned to and promptly began sorting its contents. When she wasn't certain if a file should be kept or not she raised it to his view for approval. They continued working that way until they were down to the last file folder and a few random belongings.

"You know, there's something I'd always meant to ask you but never did," he confessed, sealing a lid over the box of documents. "Why did you take this class?"

"You mean besides getting the chance to show off my superb seed-planting skills?" She squinted coyly up at him, implying she'd meant it as a joke. "Actually, I wasn't given much of a choice. The other classes were full when I registered, and it was either this or Study Hall."

Ben looked genuinely surprised, reclining in his chair he crossed his arms. "Really? My class won out over Study Hall? That's a fucking shocker right there."

Rey snickered and rose to her feet. "Well, if it's any consolation it wasn't that bad of a class." She shrugged, favoring her hip against the edge of his desk, her hand steadily splayed along its top. "And I guess its teacher wasn't so bad either."

Ben smirked. "Trust me, you're not the first who's ever told me that."

Rey cocked her head. "I sense a but lingering in there somewhere."

Ben shrugged. "Nothing out of the ordinary for a student who's only interested in passing the class, without doing the actual work. Usually, detention set 'em straight and they transferred a day or so afterward."

"Hence you gaining the title of being a pretentious asshole?"

He chuckled then. "Precisely. It's an honor to have acquired such an accomplishment, really. Going down in the yearbook voted as Mishawaka's most unpopular teacher is quite a dream come true."

"Well, I beg to differ," she challenged a glimmer of mischief in her eye. "I personally would have voted you the sexiest."

"Oh really?"

"Mmhmm," she crooned. Bending at the waist, she lowered her face close to his, her expression feigning innocence. "And just between us, I totally would've fucked you too."

His irises dimmed a shade darker, his voice an octave lower. "That's not much of a secret though. You already have, several times actually."

"Yeah." Her eyes flickered to his mouth then back to his eyes. "But we've never done it here. It was always a fantasy of mine, too."

His breathing hitched at that, his eyes hungrier. "And how did that fantasy usually go?"

"Well," she paused in thought, "I was hoping you could refresh my memory cause it was you who always chose the position."

Ben was at an utter loss for words, though the lust in his eyes elicited everything she needed to know of his mute response. Taking a step closer to him she closed what little distance was separating them and kissed him fiercely. Speaking of such fantasies to him had easily made her panties damp, the deep moan that emanated from his chest when she palmed him through his jeans throttled her to the core, pleading for attention as he was her only remedy for release.

"Turn around," he groaned, and she immediately complied.

Heart racing in her chest, she hustled her skinny jeans beneath her knees, as Ben hurriedly worked his below his waist, just enough to give his cock freedom of the articles' tight confinement. Spreading her legs far enough apart for his entrance she leaned on her forearms over his desk, his hand holding her steady at her hip while he teased the head of his cock over her glistening folds, slowly easing himself inside her to the hilt with a single thrust.

He took his time at first, drawing out every second as he withdrew his cock from her cunt, driving into her at a force more abrupt than before. Along with every snap of his hips, he sent her gasping for more, chanting for him to go faster, harder, their heavy pants and grunts filling the room and empty hallway. Every time he bottomed out inside her she quickly drew closer to the edge of falling apart.

Slithering a hand underneath her sweater he tenderly massaged her breast, his other set to work on her clit. Just a little coaxing was all she had needed, as he pounded into her, she came undone around him and he hastily followed with his own.

"Holy sweet Jesus," she gasped, feeling lightheaded, her body trembled in the aftershock.

Ben kissed her shoulder, steadying her feeble frame with his hands at her waist. "We should've done that a lot sooner."

Breathless, she nodded in agreement and proceeded to carefully pull her jeans over her waist after Ben withdrew his softened cock from her pussy. She turned to face him and he granted her a chaste kiss, holding her face with one hand, his other fidgeting with the button on his jeans.

"Late is better than never though, right?" She suggested, stealing another kiss.

"Very true," he smirked, securing the tongue of his belt through its clasp. "What do you say we get these boxes out of here and grab something to eat?"

She beamed at that because it was the first time they could eat together at a restaurant and not worry about being seen. "I think that sounds fantastic. Since it's your lucky day, you choose."