The Screenplay

Eilla woke up the next morning in Ben's dark room, deep in the blankets and sheets, Ben's hand resting protectively across her shoulders. She turned her head reluctantly to see the clock on the nightstand glowing an eerie red 8:12 am. It took her a few moments to realize that meant she was 12 minutes late to the store. It took her no time to decide she didn't care.

She turned her face back towards Ben, who was still in deep sleep, chest rising slowly and falling slower. Eilla stared for a bit then slowly tried to pull her left hand out from the blankets without letting the cool air of the room slip under the sheets and disturb her fiancee. Her fingertips crept slowly to the edge and over Ben's thick, muscular arm, she could make out the ring of her dreams in the red glow of the digital clock.

She faintly heard the ring of her cell phone which was still buried in her purse next to Ben's sofa. No doubt it was Theo, wondering where she was. Theo, Eilla selfishly determined, was far less important than this moment.

It was another fourty five minutes and two muffled attempted contants from Theo before Ben's eyelids flickered open. He shifted his head to see his clock, and cursed himself for not setting his alarm. "Eilla, are you awake?" he whispered.

"Yes, baby." She said, finally feeling comforable enough to move. She turned onto her side under his arm and nuzzled in close to his chest.

"I have a deadline," he said simply. "I'm late."

"Me too. Theo's been calling."

Ben tightened his arm around Eilla and with the other reached for the lamp switch. The sudden bright light made both of them squint and groan for a second, waiting for their eyes to adjust. Eilla instantly pulled her left hand up to get a good look of the ring in the light. "Are you going to tell Theo first?" Ben asked.

"Yes," Eilla said. "He'll be thrilled."

"I hope so," Ben grunted, propping himself up. "But we gotta go." He lunged off of the bed and into his bathroom, switching the light on and closing the door. Eilla slowly removed herself from the bed and went to call Theo.

Three rings later, the familiar voice answered the phone, but with some irritation. "Hi."

"Hey, Theo, sorry about this morning. I'm at Ben's and I overslept," Eilla said apologetically.

"Great. Good excuse." The irritation was more apparent.

"I know its lame but that's what happened," Eilla tried to defend herself.

"Whatever," Theo snapped.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I'm on my way but I have to go back to my apartment first."

"Are you serious?" The irritation had evolved into disgust.

"Yes, I'm in sweatpants and I don't have any clothes here," Eilla sighed. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just would like to get some work done and its not going well when I'm the only one doing anything."

Eilla hunched over and sighed. She had been neglecting the store lately, her Ben situation had made her absent to Theo for a while. "Theo, I'll be there as soon as I can," she said, preparing to hang up and leave.

"You know what? Don't. Don't come in. You'll just bitch about something and then neither of us will get anything done."

"Theo, what the hell?" Eilla asked, standing up straight again. "I had some stuff to deal with, and its over now so I'm back to work. Just cool it."

"Really? Stuff has worked out? Surprise, Eilla, you're stupid boyfriend has again overlooked the fact that you're selfish and irresponsible. He's perfect, always gone to write about basketball or whatever so you can sleep with your ex-boyfri..."

"Fuck you!" Eilla cut him off. "None of that is any of your goddamn business."

"That's great. But you know what is my business? This store. I want your half." Theo spoke sternly, never one to raise his voice.

"What?" Eilla was taken aback.

"I'm buying it from you, you're worthless," his voice was even softer, like he was regretting his words as he was speaking them. "I know you're engaged, Ben can take care of you now."

"Wha..." Eilla could not finish her question. How did this escalate so quickly? Theo was rational and thoughtful, he must have been planning this for some time. "Did Ben..."

"We've been talking about this for a while," Theo said plainly.

"Ben wants me to quit?"

"No, he wants me to buy your half." The anger had left his voice. This was now a professional business proposition and Eilla hated the way she was being talked to. Even when they argued, it was with care, it was friendly. Now it was as if they had never met.

"I'm coming, we need to talk in person," Eilla said softly, ending the call. She picked her purse up from the floor and slowly walked back into Ben's room to tell him goodbye. Luckily, the noise from Ben's shower made him unable to hear Eilla's conversation. She decided it was better to discuss anything with Ben after talking things over with Theo. She opened the bathroom door slowly, in case Ben was behind the door. He was, standing in his dark blue towel, still damp, almost gleaming. Eilla needed to see this. They had not had sex the night before, so this was the first moment she had to take in the man she was going to marry. She took a deep breath and let her eyes float over his skin, over the ridges in his muscles, over the drops of water still clinging to his shoulders, his quirky grin as he looked back at her wondering where the extended gaze was coming from. She peered up at him, letting herself take a moment just to look in those stunning green eyes.

"Can I help you?" Ben laughed slightly, beginning to wipe the fog from the mirror with a hand towel.

"No, I'm just... just going to leave," Eilla sighed. She let a smile escape her lips. "I will call you tonight."

"Love you, baby," Ben said, leaning over to plant a peck on her forehead. "Wait!" He said as she turned to exit. Surprised, Eilla stood still as Ben reached for her left hand. "Looks good." He said after a second. He leaned in then for a more proper kiss. "Bye."

"Bye," Eilla sighed, finally allowing herself to leave the steamy bathroom. Shaking her head happily, she threw on her hoodie and bounded toward her car, smile fading. Now on to fix things with Theo.