Chapter Text
“Rey, come on!” Dad yelled from the front door.
“Coming!” she squeaked.
Sixteen-year-old Rey Skywalker was currently putting on a little mascara in her bathroom.
And her dad, Luke, was rushing her. Ergh.
They were on the way to lunch. Lunch with—
Rey groaned and gave a final swipe of the makeup before darting downstairs to Dad. He looked at her.
“You took forever on your makeup?” he asked.
“Leave me alone,” Rey scowled.
Luke huffed. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
Rey rolled her eyes and left the house, Dad locking it behind her. She got in the passenger’s seat and buckled her seatbelt. Rey crossed her arms as Dad got in.
Her and her dad weren’t…close, exactly. Luke didn’t like feelings or talking about boys or girl things like periods. The only thing they really chatted about was his job or how school was. Both answers were always, “Things are good” or “My day was fine”.
Typical father-daughter relationship.
The drive to lunch was quiet.
So, they didn’t really talk.
And she hoped this…lunch meeting thing…they were going to wouldn’t be awkward.
But it probably would be because Aunt Leia, Uncle Han, and Rey’s cousin, Ben, were going.
She hadn’t seen them in five years.
Yeah.
Five years.
Rey was eleven years old when Uncle Han and Dad got in a massive fight, resulting in never speaking to each other again.
And that meant never seeing her cousin again, too.
Her cousin and her best friend.
Rey remembers the fight like it was yesterday. It was the worst day of her life, sobbing and watching Ben get dragged away from her and into Han and Leia’s SUV, pulling out of the driveway, never to be seen again.
They were all strangers now.
She didn’t really know Ben anymore.
So yeah.
It’d be awkward.
Awkward to see them for fucking lunch.
And it was weird.
The way they made up.
Luke said that Uncle Han had called him randomly one day. It was a butt dial. Dad was concerned, so he called Han back again.
And he answered.
And then, the rest was history.
They made up. Talked for a long time.
Whatever.
Rey wished it’d just go back to how it was. Rey didn’t really like Uncle Han that much and Aunt Leia was fine, but a little annoying and Ben—
Well, she did miss Ben.
Ben was the best cousin ever, growing up. She remembered playing Smash Bros with him in his basement. She remembered racing him after school in their backyards. She remembered pulling on his nice, black hair to be funny and them giggling about it. She remembered climbing up in her tree house and getting this close to kissing him one day when they were eight-years-old.
Rey remembered a lot.
And yeah.
She loved her cousin, Ben.
But his family was a mess, so Rey just thought it’d be best to go back to how it was. Not talking.
But that wasn’t an option, because here they were, thirty minutes later, at Maz’s diner. They drove so far because Aunt Leia, Uncle Han, and Ben lived an hour away. So, this was between them.
They used to live down the street.
Then, the fight.
Then, they moved.
So yeah.
Anyway.
Rey got out of the car and squinted because it was really bright out. It was also hot as shit, being early August.
Dad got out and dialed Aunt Leia, trying to find them.
“Can’t we just meet them inside?” Rey asked, groaning. “It’s a small diner.”
“Oh, hush,” Dad grumbled.
They started to walk in the direction of the diner when they—
There they were.
Dad grinned and Rey’s heart dropped. She knew she was going to see them but now that they were here it was just—
Just different.
She saw Han and Leia first.
They looked older. Five years must’ve been a lot for them or something. Jeez. Leia had let her grey hair grow out. Uncle Han had wrinkles and sunspots and just looked a lot older. Rey supposed five years was a long time.
Then, behind them—
Oh.
Ben.
He was—
Shit.
Ben was unlike his parents, because in the last five years, he looked…good. Very good.
He was tall. He was always tall, but now—seventeen—he was really fucking tall. Taller than his dad. His hair was longer, too. It was to his mid neck. Rey liked it this length. It looked…good.
He looked…again…good.
Huh.
He was seventeen now. A year older than Rey.
Almost a man.
And yeah.
He looked like it.
Rey swallowed and walked toward them.
And Ben was staring at her just like she was staring at him. Ben licked his lips. Swallowed.
Dad hugged Leia and Han. Rey just stood there. So did Ben. Just looking at each other.
Then.
“Rey!” Leia squeaked. “You are so grown up! Look at those legs! Gorgeous!”
She gave her a hug and squeezed.
“Thanks, Aunt Leia,” Rey choked out.
After Rey was done being squeezed to death by Leia, Han gave her a pat on the shoulder. Dad hugged Ben. And then—
Ben walked up to Rey. He said, “Hi.”
“Hi.” Rey smiled politely.
She gave him a side hug. He smelled really good. He ran warm, just like she remembered. Ben loomed over her, also just like she remembered.
It made her feel something strange inside that she ignored.
Anyway.
“H-How are you?” he asked.
Rey let go of Ben and they all started to walk toward the diner, parents leading them. Ben and Rey walked side by side. Rey peeked up at him while they walked. He glanced down at her.
Rey blushed and looked away.
She didn’t know why she was being so awkward.
They were cousins.
Former best friends.
She shouldn’t be fucking awkward.
“Good,” she replied. “You?”
“Good. Ah, yeah. Good.” Ben seemed awkward, too.
She peeked up at him again. He glanced at her. Then, they both looked away.
In the diner, they all sat together at a big booth. Dad and Rey were on one side. Ben, Leia, and Han were on the other. Ben sat across from Rey.
And they kept looking at each other shyly before returning their eyes back to their menus. A peek. A glance. Then, back to the menu. A peek. A glance. Then, back to the menu. A peek—
Dad and Leia and Han talking about stupid shit until the waitress got to them.
They ordered drinks. Waters and teas for The Oldies and Dr. Peppers for Ben and Rey.
Ben and Rey used to call their parents The Oldies.
It was really funny.
Rey frowned a little, realizing that their joke was years old. Maybe Ben wouldn’t remember.
As The Oldies were talking, something hit her foot below the table. Rey furrowed her brow and looked at Ben. He was smiling softly.
He must’ve lightly kicked her with his foot.
Rey rolled her eyes and motioned at The Oldies. She put her hand up and made it look like it was talking, mimicking the adults. Rey mouthed, “Blah, blah, blah.”
Ben smiled.
Rey giggled.
Then, their drinks arrived. Rey sipped on her pop and so did Ben. They kept peeking at each other between looking over at their parents and half-listening to their conversation.
Then, they ordered food.
And then, Leia decided to include Rey in the conversation.
“So, Rey, are you thinking of college?” she asked her.
“Yeah.” Rey nodded.
A beat.
Luke nudged her. “Tell them where.”
Rey gave her dad a look before speaking. “Um, maybe Colorado? I’ve been looking at UC Boulder. It’s a great school for—”
Leia clapped. “Ben was thinking of one in Colorado! Weren’t you? The Colorado School of Mines. Wonderful school for engineering.”
“You want to do engineering?” Rey asked him, peeking across the table.
Ben looked at her like he was surprised she was speaking to him.
He nodded quickly. “Yeah. Yes. I am. Yes.”
Rey smiled. “Me too.”
“What kind?”
Rey shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe architectural. You?”
Ben nodded. “Design engineering is what I think I’m going to major in if I get accepted to Mines.”
“Oh. Cool.” Rey played with her hands in her lap. “I can’t believe we—Like, what are the odds we both want to do engineering in Colorado?” She laughed.
Ben smiled. “I know.”
Leia chimed in. “Can’t believe you two will be going out of state. Are you looking anywhere else? Anywhere in state? I don’t want my babies to leave!”
Her baby?
Rey hadn’t seen the woman in years, and she was her baby?
Rey laughed. “No. My sights are set on Colorado. Maybe Berkeley in California if I can get in. I dunno. We’ll see. But I’m not staying in Texas. Not in this shithole.”
“Language,” Dad warned.
Rey heard Ben chuckle.
Then.
Dad frowned. He spoke to Leia. “I can’t convince her to stay.”
Leia rolled her eyes. “I can’t convince this one to stay, either!” She nudged Ben. “Oh, these kids. I’ll tell you what. They just don’t listen. It’s their generation. And you know what else?"
“My back has been bad for ages,” Han said, interrupting his wife.
“My knee kills me!” Dad said.
Leia huffed.
The Oldies had dropped off from their conversation, so now they were talking to each other.
So, it was just Ben and Rey.
Ben mumbled, “The Oldies sure haven’t changed. Not caring about what we have to say. Always complaining.”
Rey’s brows shot up and she grinned. “You remembered! The joke! The Oldies!”
“The what?” Luke asked, butting in.
“Nothing,” Ben and Rey both said at the same time.
Dad shrugged and went back to his own conversation.
Ben and Rey giggled.
Then.
“So, you at Washington?” he asked. “That was the feeder school before…you know. I moved.”
Washington was her high school. And yes. He was right. That was the high school he was supposed to go to.
“Yeah,” Rey answered. “You?”
Ben nodded in understanding. “Oh, nice. I go to Mansfield now.”
“Ooh, fancy,” Rey teased. It was the rich kid school. Fitting. Ben’s parents were loaded.
Ben kicked her leg lightly under the table again. He was smiling.
Rey felt herself blush again.
“So…” she started. “You do any sports?”
Ben nodded. “Soccer. You?”
“Yeah. I do soccer, too.” Rey giggled. “We’re kind of—It’s actually creepy how alike we are after not—You know. After not seeing each other forever.”
“Yeah. Kind of weird.”
Their food arrived.
Luke and Han talked about football while Leia decided to talk to Rey again.
“Dear, you really must eat more.”
That’s what she had to say?
Rey sighed.
“Mom,” Ben said. “Rey looks fine.”
Rey peeked at him. He looked apologetic.
But he said—
He said she looked fine.
Maybe he thought she looked…good.
Maybe.
Rey didn’t know why she just thought that.
Anyway.
Leia went on. “Oh, it’s just that you’re so small, honey.”
“Mom.”
Rey looked at Leia. “I eat just fine, Aunt Leia."
“Maybe you have a fast metabolism. What a blessing,” Leia said.
Rey rolled her eyes and picked at her food.
Leia added, “But still, you should e—"
“Mom. Enough,” Ben told her.
Rey kept her eyes on her plate.
Leia sighed. “I forget how sensitive your generation is. Fine. I won’t say another word.”
Ben kicked Rey’s leg again. He mouthed, “Sorry.”
Rey mouthed back, “It’s fine.”
She ate her burger while Ben ate his salad.
She wanted to laugh at him. Say, “Pretty boy!” like she might’ve done five years ago.
But they weren’t like that anymore.
Weren’t close like that.
So, she didn’t say anything at all.
While The Oldies chatted, Ben spoke to Rey.
“So, your favorite color still yellow? Like mustard?”
Rey laughed. “Not mustard yellow!”
“I know,” Ben said, grinning. “Yellow, like light yellow. I remember.”
Rey went red. He remembered.
He fucking remembered.
Maybe he replayed their memories together over and over in his head for the last five years just like she did.
Maybe.
“Yours is blue,” Rey said confidently. “Blue like the sky. A light blue. To match my light yellow.”
The tips of Ben’s ears went pink. “Y-Yeah. Blue. Light blue."
Then.
“You remembered.”
Rey smiled. “Of course, I remembered.”
They just…looked at each other.
The tips of Ben’s ears went even more pink than they already were.
Rey took a big bite of her burger, distracting herself. She was just—
She was feeling things.
Weird things.
Soon, lunch was over. They were done eating and the table was cleared. The Oldies were still talking, wrapped up in conversation. Ben and Rey just sat there and listened in.
Until they were done.
They got out of the booth and walked outside.
The Oldies were talking by Han and Leia’s car. Ben and Rey walked to her dad’s car.
Ben and Rey stood awkwardly in front of each other for a few seconds before giggling. It was just so awkward. This whole thing.
Rey decided to say something.
“This is so fucking awkward,” she finally said.
Ben laughed. “I know. I just—We used to be so close and now, thanks to our fucking parents, we’re—”
“I know.” Rey smiled.
Then.
“You look—” Ben started. He ran a hand through his hair. “You look good. Like—Grown up. You look—Yeah. Prett—Just…good.”
“Oh,” Rey breathed. She bit her lip. “You look, ah—Same. You look good. Grown up, too. Yeah.”
She wanted to say: You look kinda hot and it’s freaking me out.
But didn’t.
Rey peeked over at their parents, still talking by the car a good distance away.
Then.
“Reybies.”
She blinked.
“Wh—”
He called her by her nickname.
He remembered.
He fucking remembered.
Rey grinned. “Satellites.”
That was his nickname. For his satellite ears.
Ben smiled.
Then, he picked her up and hugged her. Rey squeaked.
“Ah!” She giggled.
Ben laughed and spun her around.
They used to do this when they were little, too.
“You remembered!” She laughed.
Ben stopped spinning. He grinned. They looked at each other, Rey still in his arms.
“I remember everything, Rey.”
She licked her lips. Looked into his nice eyes.
She really fucking missed her cousin.
And she didn’t know what was wrong with her because—
Because as Ben held her, his arms around her, she started to feel more things. Things she felt while in the diner.
Things she wanted to ignore.
Rey put her arms around his neck. Her chest was rubbing against his.
Then, Rey put her forehead on Ben’s.
Something they did when they were younger.
“Remember this?” she asked. “Forehead kisses, we called them.”
Ben nodded. “I remember everything, Rey,” he said again.
She peeked behind him and looked at their parents, still chatting away.
Rey put her forehead back on his.
“A kiss,” she said softly. “For, um—For our first time seeing each other in forever.”
Ben smiled. He put her down.
Then.
“Hey, can I get your number?” Ben asked.
Oh.
He wanted—
Oh.
“Yeah!” Rey got excited. “Here, it’s—”
Rey told him her number.
He texted her.
Unknown Number
Hi
Rey smiled. Saved his number in her phone. Texted him back.
ben
hi
He grinned at his phone. “Thanks.”
“Yeah,” Rey said, still fucking smiling like a little kid. “So…text me?”
Ben nodded quickly. “I’ll text you.”
“Okay—”
“Come on, Rey!” Luke called out, getting in the car. He appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Rey rolled her eyes. “I gotta go.”
“Yeah, my parents are—I’m sure they’re waiting and—” Ben stopped. Squeezed his eyes shut. He was being a little awkward again. It was cute. “I’ll go. Yeah. Okay. Bye, Rey.”
Rey gave him a side hug.
But Ben turned it into a full-on hug.
Her face was pressed against his chest and her arms were around his middle. His chin was on her head, and he was just so big, swallowing her.
“I missed you,” Ben said softly.
Rey peeked up at him.
“Missed you more. You have no idea.”
Ben shook his head. “I missed you more.”
Rey laughed.
He bit his lip.
Then, Dad honked his horn.
They let go of each other and Rey motioned to her dad’s car. “I should go.”
Ben nodded.
“Text me!” she said.
Ben nodded and started walking toward his own parents’ car. “I will!”
Rey bit her lip and gave him one final look before she got in the car.
“So, that was fun, hm?” Dad asked. He put it in reverse and started to back out of the parking spot.
“Yeah.” Rey agreed. “Fun.”
Dad said, “I’m so glad you can be close with your cousin again. I mean, I know he lives an hour away, but it’s better than nothing. He really is such a great kid. I regret that fight so much. You know, maybe—”
Rey tuned her father out.
And she just thought about Ben.
About how he was in her life now.
About how he held her.
About how cute he was.
About how he had her number.
About—
Yeah.
When they got home, Rey ran up to her room and locked the door. She yelled at her dad that she’d be taking a nap.
She didn’t know why but she—
Rey got under the covers and shucked off her shorts and underwear.
And she thought of a warm body, hugging her. Then, touching her. They were faceless.
Rey was too scared to imagine a certain someone.
And then.
Ben texted her right in the middle of her fingering herself.
She nearly threw her phone across the room.
ben
Has your dad shut up about lunch? My parents won’t stop talking about it.
Rey got out of bed and washed her hands quickly.
Then, she texted him back.
dad wouldn’t shut up the whole way home
lol
hes so happy we’re all talking again
My parents, too
But seriously.
They have not shut up.
Lollllllll
that’s funny
Yeah.
Then.
So, what kind of music do you like?
Rey grinned at her phone and got comfortable in bed again.
Alt indie shit
I like a lot of different artists
wbu
I like 80s music
LMFAO
What?
thats so dorky
it’s cute
It took him a moment to text back.
Oh haha
aneywy
anyway**
Lol
So, what have u been up to for the last five years LOL
Haha, nothing much. Just surviving school. You?
ugh same
it’s been rly hard keeping a 4.0
I know, right!
I work really hard to maintain it.
school can kiss my azz
Haha
So, when does school start up for you?
They were both about to start their senior year. Rey was young for her grade because—when Ben and Rey used to go to the same school—she insisted being in his grade. Rey took the tests. Aced them.
And she was put in his class.
She replied.
grrrr
next tuesdsay
Tuesday*
Oh cool. Mine is on Monday.
I wish we went 2 the same school
Me too.
Rey bit her lip.
She texted back a reply.
hey
we should like…hang out lol
Yes.
Please.
Then.
Do you have your license yet?
ya
you should come to a football game of ours
our team is rly good
That sounds like fun : )
I would really like to hang out
We should get burgers at Maz’s again.
Meet in the middle
My dad is gonna kill me about gas but yes we should totally do that
fuck our parents for keeping us apart!!!
Haha, I know right
Then.
So, why Colorado?
4 school?
I just wanna be in the mountains
I like snow
Me too.
The mountains part, I mean.
And it’d be cool if we were both there.
We could keep each other company
yeah
I would rly like that <3
Rey wasn’t sure why she put the heart.
She just—
Yeah.
Anyway.
Their conversation went on from there, talking about school to what position in soccer they liked the most to their favorite books to Rey’s plant collection to—
They talked all night.
And then, they talked all day the next day, too.
And the day after that.
And the day after that.
They talked about their parents and how annoying they were. They texted about their best friends, saying they should all get together and meet. They talked about everything under the sun.
They stayed up until four in the morning texting. Then, five. Then, six. Rey wasn’t getting any sleep, and she didn’t even mind.
And it was like things were back to normal.
Ben and Rey.
Rey and Ben.
They were on their way to becoming best friends again.
Like five years ago.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
It was a Sunday when they were texting again. The conversation stopped because they both went to eat dinner with their parents, but then, bored, Rey struck up the conversation later that night.
Late late.
ben
we should FT
What is FT?
Oh good. He was still up.
FaceTime lol…nerd
Ouch.
hehe
Yes
erm, yes what?
Yes.
We should FaceTime.
Rey giggled at her phone, something she did a lot while texting her cousin.
rn?
I’m with Armie right now, but maybe when I get home!
We’re doing a late thing before school starts tomorrow
So I’m with him right now.
okie <3
: )
Heheheh <33 : ))
: )))))))))
Lol are we having an emoticon-off?
I think so
Shouldn’t u be hanging out with armie?
Actually, I’m going home. I’d rather talk to you
Rey swallowed, looking at the message.
He’d rather talk to her.
Oh.
Rey grinned like a little kid again.
Always grinning. Laughing. Giggling. Kicking her stupid feet in the air.
When Ben got home, he texted her.
Call me.
So.
Rey FaceTimed him.
It rang.
And then.
His face popped up on the other end.
Rey blushed.
“Hi.”
He smiled. “Hi.”
Rey scrunched her nose. “This is awkward.”
Ben laughed. “It shouldn’t be! We’ve been talking all the time.”
She went red. “I know! I’m just—I’m just awkward.”
He bit his lip. “No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am!” Rey was the one to laugh now.
“I like your laugh,” he said. Quiet. “I missed it.”
Then.
He asked, “Do you remember when we’d laugh in your tree house? For hours?”
“Yes, of course!” Rey exclaimed, thinking of the memory. “How could I forget? We’d laugh about the birds making funny sounds and I’d laugh about your big ears and—”
“Hey!”
Rey giggled. “Sorry, Satellites.”
Ben smiled. He looked at her. Just looked.
Rey went red again.
She liked the way he looked at her.
“We should FaceTime like—like, every day,” Rey said suddenly.
Ben nodded quickly. “Yes. I would—Yes. Please.”
She giggled again.
And they started to talk.
Really talk.
They talked for hours on FaceTime.
They stayed up until one in the morning, until Ben finally said, “I have my first day of school tomorrow…”
“Oh shit. Sorry!”
“It’s okay. I’d rather—I’d rather talk to you but I really should go to bed.”
“Okay! Good luck tomorrow.” Rey smiled.
Ben bit his lip.
“Can I get a forehead kiss?” he asked. He seemed nervous. Nervous to ask.
Rey grinned. She put her forehead close to the camera. Ben did his, too.
“A kiss for good luck,” Rey said.
She put her phone back normally. So did Ben.
Then.
Ben smiled back. “Thanks. Night, Rey.”
She didn’t want to hang up.
But she had to.
Rey said, “Night, Ben.”
Then, she hung up.