[ it's funny, in a lot of ways, how they both can come from a place so hard and so awful, and somehow still fall victim to easy teenager awkwardness. it makes her smile, just knowing this doesn't change. not for ben, not for her, not for anyone. ]

I can tell. [ it's just a little bit of teasing. but when she looks back over to him, the smile should be enough for him to tell. ] I didn't really have a choice. I moved in with my friend from home when I got here. [ not that she's lived on her own, either, but she didn't have to worry about it even when she got here.

but it's not bad. bare, maybe, but clean. organized. she knows that he's from a place where he's not sued to having things, so having them even here must be hard for him.

( she can't help but wonder what she could add, how she could help, but then has to stop herself because that's stepping in way too fast and way too hard and she's not sure if either of them need that )

that's when ben goes to sit on the couch, settling in a way that makes it obvious he's letting her choose where she wants to sit. the thoughtfulness of it has her smiling, walking over a couple of steps behind him and settling directly next to him on the couch. directly next to - but with a couple of inches of space between them. she's curious. ]

See, I was excited to see the comeback. You can't get my hopes up like that and not deliver.