�I wasn�t surprised. Naomi told me over Christmas that you transferred. I actually thought about trying to find you here, but�� I let the words run off without finishing. What was I supposed to say? I was worried it might hurt too much. I thought it would just make me want to get back together with you. If I said those things, Ben would come back with �Does it make you want to get back together with me?� and I didn�t want to answer that.
�But what?� Why did Ben always have to ask so many questions?
�Oh, I guess I just didn�t.�
�Yeah. I understand that.� Ben sat, staring at the floor for a second. �So, do you like it here?�
I didn�t answer right away. The question caught me by surprise. �Yeah, I do,� I said finally. �It�s really fun. I�ve made some pretty awesome friends. My roommate�s pretty cool, aside from her usual drunken weekend state and I usually like my classes. How about you? Would St. Thomas have worked for you if it had your major?�
�You know, I don�t think it would have. For some reason, it didn�t seem right. I can�t really explain it though.�
Ben and I talked for a while about school and other things that had happened since we last talked. I ended up falling asleep while he was telling me a story, so he woke me up, said goodnight, and we promised again to stay friends.
Spring semester flew by and we talked basically every day. We were the best friends we had been all our lives and I loved it. I was almost starting to get over him again too. I even gave him advice on girls and helped him through dates as he did for me, even though I had sworn off dating and wouldn�t ever go on dates. He didn�t understand that one. I didn�t explain it.
We got through finals week by studying together constantly since we had three out of four classes the same. Finally, we�d finished our first year in college. Classes, and life, would only get harder from there, but we decided we�d face the challenge.
There was only that one catch. The one little thing that makes this not the end of the story. Yes, I had almost accepted the whole Ben-and-Rachel-not-a-couple thing. But, I most definitely did not like it at all. I really wanted to give �us� another try, but didn�t want to bring it up with Ben. I was afraid of what he might say and I liked having him back in my life, even if it was just as a friend.
That summer was perfect though. I worked during the day full-time and part-time at a night job, but when I wasn�t working I was hanging out with Ben and Naomi and most of the time Naomi�s boyfriend James. It was in August of that summer that more shocking news came from Naomi.
Ben and I were watching Disturbing Behavior at my house when my cell phone rang. It was Naomi.
�You are never going to believe what happened tonight, Rach!� She was so full of energy that I couldn�t tell if it was going to be a good thing or a bad thing.
�Well, then you�ll have to tell me.�
�James proposed! We went out to dinner and when he brought me back home, he asked if he could come in for a few minutes. He said there was something he wanted to ask me. He didn�t do the whole get down on knee bit, but it was still incredibly romantic. He said he knew we were still young and he knew we were still in school, but he couldn�t stand the thought of losing me. I didn�t really know what he was getting at, but then he took out a small box, handed it to me and asked if I would marry him. I almost cried, Rach.�
�Oh, Nay, that�s so wonderful!� Naomi talked so fast I barely had time to get these five words in.
�I haven�t gotten to the best part yet. There was no ring in the box!�
�That�s the best part?�
�He said he didn�t know what kind of ring I�d want, so he wanted me to go shopping with him. Isn�t this exciting? I�m going wedding ring shopping tomorrow!�
�That�s awesome, Nay. I�m so happy for you!� Naomi and I only talked for a few minutes more; she was tired and I found it hard to fake excitement for her. My best friend was getting married and there I was, watching a movie with a guy I loved and would marry in a heartbeat if he asked me, only he had no clue.
�So, Naomi and James are getting married?� Ben asked as I set my phone down on the floor.
I laughed a little. �Yeah, I guess so.�
�You don�t sound too enthused. Aren�t you happy for them?� Why did Ben have to know me so well? And if he did, did that mean he knew I still loved him?
�Of course I�m happy for them. It just seems so early. Not in their relationship, but they�re only nineteen. I mean, they aren�t even done with school. It�d just be weird, I guess.�
�You�re telling me that if someone, like a long-time boyfriend who you loved, proposed to you right now, you�d say no?�
Not if it was you. �Well, I guess if we�d been together long enough, maybe I�d say yes. But, I can�t picture myself getting married while I�m in school. I�d probably say yes, but want to hold the wedding off for a while.�
�I never would�ve guessed that about you, Rach. I had you pegged at the romantic type who�d get married any time, as long as it was the right person.�
I didn�t like the path the conversation was headed in, so I ended it. �Oh, well, it doesn�t matter. I�m not in that situation. I�m just happy for Naomi. But, hey, let�s get back to our movie now.�
�Right. Movie.� Ben laughed. �I completely forgot about that.� He put his arm around me (which he�d been doing a lot lately and I took as a good sign) and sat back to watch the television. All I thought about (until I fell asleep) was how awesome it would be to marry Ben.