Okay, finally got a little while to write, here ya go. I took it back a little since it's been so long.

*Ben, Erica*

*Erica, Ben*

Erica: Talk. Now.

Ben: It's NOTHING OMG

Erica: Why won't you tell me?

Ben: Bc it's stupid

Erica: So it's not nothing? Tell me.

Ben: But I don't wannaaaaaaaaaa

Erica: Who

Ben: Huh?

Erica: No who asked :P

Ben: Hilarious

Erica: Why won't you tell me :(

Ben: It's personal

Erica: I'm a person

Ben: Sometimes

Erica: Ow and idc, tell me

Ben: I just told you it's personal

Erica: And I'm one of your best friends. Tell me

Ben: Idk it just... kinda like hurt when you called me bro

Erica: Why?

Ben: Idk

Erica: Bc it felt like I was friend-zoning you?

Ben: Idk maybe

Erica: Why would you care abt being friend-zoned if-

Ben: ... bc I like you

Erica: Lol I know

Ben: I know you know

Erica: Then why didn't you just say it?

Ben: Bc I thought it was stupid that I was worried about it when you said you liked me before

Erica: Why?

Ben: Remember when you'd always friend-zone me, even though I knew you liked me?

Erica: It wasn't that many times

Ben: 294

Erica: Sometimes I hate your math skills

Ben: That was just last year

Erica: In all 5 so far?

Ben: 978

Erica: Wow

Ben: My point exactly

Erica: Touché

Ben: So I had every right to think that may be coming

Erica: That kinda makes sense

Ben: Thank you

Erica: Though it would have made more sense to tell me so we could deal with it

Ben: It would have made more sense to have admitted it years ago instead of making excuses and friend-zoning me all the time too, but here we are

Erica: Well I wasn't ready for a relationship then

Ben: I'm aware, but I didn't ask if you wanted a relationship, I asked if you liked me

Erica: Well-

Ben: No I asked if you liked me. Straight up, 'Erica, do you like me?'

Erica: But it was implied you wanted a relationship

Ben: Ofc I did, but that's not what I asked

Erica: Okay fine but I wanted to make sure you knew I wasn't ready for a relationship then

Ben: It wasn't like you hadn't said that over and over again or anything

Erica: I was 15, gimme a break

Ben: Okay

Erica: Thank you

Ben: I have a question

Erica: You always do

Ben: Hilarious

Erica: What is it?

Ben: Are you ready now?

Erica has left the chat

Ben: Ofc she has. Why would she just answer the question without being a drama queen?

*Mike, Zoe, Ben, Erica*

Erica: Mini-mafia anyone?

Ben: Now who's trying to play a childish online game instead of talking to someone?

Mike: Oop- so y'all fightin again?

Zoe: I guess so, but plot-twist, it's Erica's fault this time

Erica: Mafia or I'm blocking all of you

Ben: Do it. No balls. 

Erica: Excuse me?

Ben: You won't. And even if you did, it'd be the same as always. Me texting you and you never answering me or answering simple questions

Mike: OKAY, MAFIA IT IS

Zoe: Calm down and let's play, even tho 4 people is gonna be super short and easy

Erica: Narrator

*After roles randomly assigned*

Erica: So since there's three of you there is like one round. Each one of you is something, but what?Mafia, choose who you want to kill

Mafia has chosen

Erica: Doctor, choose who you want to save

Doctor has chosen

Erica: Detective, choose who you want to arrest

Detective has chosen

Erica: Okay last night. Zoe was shot and repeatedly stabbed by the mafia. The doctor was busy. The detective found security cam footage of her smuggling tobacco and weapons into the country. She was arrested but died in the med-bay while waiting for the doctor. Mafia wins.

Mike: Hehe I win

Ben: I was detective

Zoe: I thought Mike was gonna try to kill Ben so I saved him.

Erica has left the chat.

Ben: Ofc she did

Mike: What happened?

Ben: I told her that it felt like she was friend-zoning me when she called me bro. All was well and good when I decided to ask if she was ready for a relationship.

Mike: THAT'S MY BOY!

Zoe: Yo what'd she say!?!

Ben: She didn't

Zoe: Huh?

Ben: She left and made us play mafia

Mike: Yikes

Zoe: Just go to her door and knock on it until she answers. Or knock it down and make her talk to you.

Ben: ZOE YOU'RE A GENIUS

Mike: She really is

Zoe: Awwee stop it lol

Mike: Whatever lol it's true

Zoe: Ben, GO

Ben: Okay, okay, I'm going. Wish me luck

Mike: Good luck homie

Zoe: Go get her ;)

Ben's POV:
I laughed as I read their messages. I turned my phone off and slid it into my pocket, along with a screwdriver and some tools to disarm the traps, provided she didn't let me in. I slipped on some shoes and grabbed my keys.

"Alright, let's do this." I muttered to myself.

I walked to her dorm and took a deep breath before knocking. I started on the traps quietly. I saw 6, but some were more complex than others. I managed to disarm 2 before she even answered. So I knocked again. And a third time.

"Who is it?" She growled icily from the other side of the door.

She took so long to answer that I'd managed a third one.

"Pizza guy." I said sarcastically.

Another one off.

"I don't eat pizza Ben."

And another simple one.

"I'm aware. But why'd you ask who it is if you already knew?"

"I wanted to make sure. Plus I could tell by your voice. Now what do you want?"

6th one disarmed. 

She'd paused before answering each time so I managed to deactivate them all, even the complex ones.

"To talk to you?"

"Well I don't want to talk right now."

"So you're not gonna let me in?" 

"Nope."

"Okay then." I smiled to myself.

I started to walk away, and turned around and ran at the door. I slammed my shoulder into it and it fell over. I leaned against the doorway, smirking broadly.

Erica was on her bed reading a textbook in her usual black spy suit, staring at me in disbelief. But her expression changed rapidly. First shocked. Then mad. Then even madder. Then confused. She finally settled on shocked and mad.

"What the hell Ben!"

"Your door seems to have fallen over." I said innocently.

"You knocked it over!"

"Potato patato."

"No it's not! They're two very different things!"

I walked in and started to put the door back on the hinges.

"Stop whining. I'll put it back on." 

"Did you just tell me to stop whining?" 

"Yes I did. What are you gonna do about it?" I teased. 

"Ben."

"Erica."

"Benjamin Ripley."

"Erica Hale."

I looked back and saw her glaring at me.

"What? I thought we were saying each other's names?" I joked.

She looked like she wanted to say something but decided to just glare at me more instead.

I got the bottom hinges screwed back in and started on the top hinges. When the door was fixed I opened and closed it a couple times to make sure it was really fixed.

"There. All fixed. Now, let's talk."

"Get out." She said angrily.

"Nope." I smiled.

"Get out NOW."

"Make me." I taunted.

She tried to attack me, but I started walking towards her, making her crash into me. Our faces were inches apart. She backed up with an angry glare on her face, but I saw in her eyes she was scared. I kept walking forward with a small smirk. She backed up again and ran into the wall. I smiled at her.

"Why are you scared of me?"

"Who says I'm scared of you?"

"I saw it in your eyes when I stepped forward."

"I'm not scared of you."

"Then tell me what's scaring you so I can help. I know you're scared of something."

"I'm not."

"Then why won't you talk to me?"

"I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"Because you won't understand."

"I'm a pretty understanding guy. Try me."

"I'm not scared of you." She repeated quietly.

"I believe you."

"I'm not scared of you." She whispered again.

"Erica, are you okay?"

Her knees buckled and I put my arms around her to hold her up.

"Erica?" I asked worriedly.

No response.

I picked her up bridal style, gently and helped her sit on the floor, her back against the wall.

I sat across from her and took her hands in mine. She was shaking. Her eyes watered and I saw her staring off into space.

She kept muttering things to herself, but I couldn't quite hear what.

I pulled her back up carefully and brought her over to a little couch-like thing she had. I set her down and sat on the end of the couch. She managed to lay down across it. Her head was on  my right arm, which was on the arm rest of the couch to my direct right. I hugged her tightly. 

She was crying now so I moved her hair and tucked it behind her ear.

"Shhh. Don't cry. Hey, stop. Really, don't cry. It's okay." I whispered.

She looked up slowly.

"Please don't go." She whispered shakily.

"I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

I brushed some of the tears away with my thumb. I decided to take a risk and leaned in and kissed her forehead.

She looked up with wide eyes. But I saw a small smile play across her face. I closed my eyes with a smile of my own. I held her tight and didn't let go. 

She was still shaking so I kissed her. She was definitely surprised, but she kissed me back. She started to slowly calm down after it was over, so, all's well that ends well I guess.

It was silent before she spoke.

"Ben?" She whispered.

"What's up?" I said, matching her volume.

"Do you love me?"

My eyes widened and my head tilted in confusion. 

She blushed and looked away.

"Sorry. Nevermind."

"Hey."

She looked back at me.

"What?"

"Ask me again."

"Why? I already know the answer now." She whispered back, but I could hear the slight sadness in her voice.

"No you don't. I didn't answer because I was caught way off guard. I never expected you to ask that and especially not then. So ask me again."

"Alright. Do you love me?"

I smiled.

"Of course I do. You're one of my best friends. But, that kiss was just to calm you down."

Her sad expression returned.

"As much as the one in Vail was just to calm me down." I teased.

Realization hit. 

Her eyes narrowed and she sat up a little.

"Don't be mad! I'm sorry." I tried not to laugh. "I just wanted you to get a taste of how it felt. I know that was mean, but at least I only did it once instead of for 2 and a half years... right?"

She punched me in the arm.

"Still not cool Ben." She laughed and then pouted.

I kissed her again and whispered in her ear. "Does that make it better?" I teased.

She kissed me. 

"That does."

"Now, I'll ask again. Do you think you're ready for a relationship yet?"

"Nope."

I nodded in understatement, but that didn't mean I wasn't disappointed.

"I know so."

"Hey!"

"You did it so I got to too."

"I did it once. You did it for 2 and a half years. Mine was revenge." I defended.

She shrugged.

We talked for a while, but eventually fell asleep, me sitting and holding her, who was laying on the couch. 

A lot happened that night.

But all's well that ends well indeed.

Okay this took so long omg. Anyways, here's the long awaited update.