Rey Kanata is a senior in high school, a girl from the city who just moved into the country life surrounding Mishawaka, IN. When she takes a class in Agricultural Science as the only elective needed in order to graduate, her life changes irrevocably...
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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.
