feel the noise } { of coffee and paparazzi

[braveandstupid]

[Elena is out getting her morning coffee, more like mid-morning because Spring Break, and she’s currently lingering on line, trying to make her decision. Ben is online as well, in town because of general musician reasons. Ben comes up behind her to see the menu better and accidentally bumps Elena’s shoulder.]

Elena: [turns in surprise as she takes a step forward, not recognizing him at first] Sorry.

Ben: No, my fault. I swear I'm going blind sometimes, or else they need to make their menus bigger. [flashes her a grin, glad she doesn't recognize him. But then he realizes she looks familiar and is trying to remember the name] Elena, right?

Elena: [turns at the sound of her name, watching him for a moment. Elena is a bit more detail oriented than most and after a minute her eyes widen in surprise.] Ben. Hi!

Ben: Hey. Didn't realize I'd run into anyone I knew. How've you been?

Elena: Good. Spring break, so I'm practically relaxed.

Ben: Yeah, I didn't realize it was break when I came out to visit. Not that I don't love my little cousin, but I'm going to need a break from this vacation

Elena: [she laughs] Only a few more days and she'll be back to school again.

Ben: Yeah. Just hoping Dean doesn't go off on some job before then.

Elena: I don't know about that. There's a lot of work around here - he probably doesn't have to go very far. [she is intentionally vague because she doesn't know if Ben is in the know, but even then it doesn't seem like something they should talk about here openly]

Ben: [he hasn't been a part of it since he was eight, and he barely remembers it. But he kinda knows the basics.] Hope not. I was hoping to get to spend some time getting to know him

Elena: I think he'd like that. [Elena knows these things. She's intuitive]

Ben: [it's her turn at the coffee counter] Hey, can I buy you your coffee? Teachers are very underappreciated. [and underpaid in his opinion]

Elena: [blinks at first, surprised, but nods] Yeah. Okay.

Ben: [lets Elena order what she wants, and then gives his and pays easily] Count it as a down payment to Olivia's teacher appreciation gift.

Elena: [she smiles a bit, before moving to the side to wait for them to fix her coffee] Well, this teacher is feeling very appreciated, so thank you.

Ben: [he grins, leaning back on the counter as they waited] So, your brother worships the ground you walk on, just so you know.

Elena: Well, I am pretty awesome. [complete with hairflip] Though he probably also thinks that I'm equally annoying when we spend too much time with each other.

Ben: Probably. I don't have siblings so I wouldn't know.

Elena: So it was just you and your mom?

Ben: Yeah, for the most part. She dated a few times, but never really settled with anyone. Then I started my job and it became hard for either of us to have any kind of meaningful relationship

Elena: That sounds ... really lonely, for both of you.

Ben: I'm young. I'll find time. And she tells me that she can find a guy if she wants to, but I still feel like it's my fault.

Elena: Sometimes being in a relationship isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Ben: So you have guy troubles too? [reaches to get their coffees and hands hers over to her]

Elena: [takes her coffee] ... I did, back home in Mystic Falls. Things were ... very complicated. But when I started college I knew I needed a fresh start for me, and it's probably the best thing I ever did for myself.

Ben: Well that's good. I mean, getting control of your own life is really the best thing to have.

Elena: Definitely. It was really hard, but I know it's better for me in the long run. [though it probably won't stop Damon from showing up and harassing any of her future boyfriends]

Ben: So what made you decide to be a teacher then?

Elena: I've always loved writing - [and they're heading over to a table because standing in the way is awkward] - so English was definitely going to be my thing, and I've always kind of liked working with literature. Alaric encouraged me to try teaching and it stuck.

Ben: And Alaric is your... mentor?

Elena: Alaric was my history teacher, and he kind of turned into my and Jeremy's guardian after my aunt died. He's ... been amazing, I don't know what we would have done without him.

Ben: [Jeremy had mentioned about his parents but hadn't realized how much more...] It's good you had him.

Elena: [and it is a lot more than that too] It is. He's been great.

Ben: So is he here too with you now?

Elena: Yeah. He's teaching history.

Ben: Same school? That's.... [odd]

Elena: They lost ... a lot of teachers recently. We got lucky job wise.

Ben: I guess so.

Elena: [she shrugs] It's a little weird, but it works for us.

Ben: Does he grade you on your teaching performance?

Elena: [she laughs] No. He does not grade me anymore.

Ben: [laughs as well] Good, because that would be awkward.

Elena: It would. [and he's really in no place to judge] So what about you? How did you get into music?

Ben: I liked it as a kid. Seriously, couldn't get enough of it, and mom was just glad that mp3's existed otherwise I would have a room full of cd's. I taught myself how to play the guitar, and ended up trying out for one of those singing contest shows.

Elena: And the rest is history?

Ben: Pretty much. I think out of all those shows, only a fifth actually get to cut a second album and less get their own tour. I managed to break both those.

Elena: Good for you, then. I don't ... really know much about music - other than the fact that I like to listen to it.

Ben: It's a crazy business, and it can swallow you up if you let it.

Elena: Do you worry that that's happening to you?

Ben: Sometimes. But it could be worse. I mean, I never finished school so it's a good thing my mom invested a lot of my money because I won't know how to work at a real job when this ends. And I managed to avoid having friends with drug and alcohol problems so I never got into a lot of trouble.

Elena: I appreciated that, with Jeremy. Not that he had a huge problem but ... it's something he's struggled with.

Ben: He actually told me about it. I fired a roadie because he was trying to score, and he told me about the problem he had as a teen. Your brother's a good guy, though.

Elena: He is. He's been through a lot. I'm just glad things seem to be working out for him now.

Ben: Hopefully he'll take my advice and get into some kind of art and design school. Musicians are always going to need artists to help them.

Elena: I think he'd really like that.

Ben: Me too. I'd offer to take him on my next tour, but he... [Ben's voice trails away as he notices someone outside snapping photos. He shuts his eyes, then moves to get up.] Excuse me, Elena, I need to go deal with something quickly.

Elena: [looks confused as she glances back over her shoulder and oh shit that's a camera. Her head whips back around again and she prays that they didn't actually catch her face]

Ben: [he storms outside quickly, angry but holding back from yelling as he approached the cameraman. They talked for a bit until finally Ben just snatched the camera out of the man's hand, tucked it under his arm and pulled out his wallet. He gave the man a few hundreds and let the guy walk away, then just took a moment to close his eyes and hang his head before making his way back inside]

Elena: [has been internally freaking out for those ten minutes, trying to decide what to do. By the time Ben's coming back, she's getting to her feet and cursing herself for not thinking about the fact that she was having coffee with a celebrity.]

Ben: [gets back and sees her getting up. He offers her a small smile and holds out the camera] Need a new camera? I have about a dozen back home.

Elena: [she smiles a bit at that, before shaking her head] No. But ... I should go. I didn't realize how late it was.

Ben: [his eyes drop a bit, but he nods as he licks his lips] Yeah, no problem. Should probably get back myself.

Elena: [it's not his fault, but she's spooked. Her face softens a bit.] This was nice, though. Maybe you could come by the apartment one night and I can pretend to have cooked dinner. It'll be you, me and Jer. [provided Jeremy doesn't conspire against her and ditch her.]

Ben: Well, I'm only in town until Saturday before I head to my mom's for a bit. But I can pass through again on me way back to the studio in May.

Elena: [the disappointment isn't much, but it's there. She nods all the same] Sure. Just give me a call.

Ben: Well, I'll need your number to do that. [he pulled out his phone, putting in the password and then starting a new contact.]

Elena: [she nods sheepishly at that, before rambling off her number]

Ben: [he puts it in, then sends her a text message] And now you have mine. In case you're bored and want to talk.

Elena: [she pulls out her phone, and saves the number] Got it.

Ben: Well, thank you for the chat, Elena. Tell Jeremy I said hello.

Elena: I will. It was nice seeing you. [and with that, she'll make her way out.]

Ben: [will watch her go, then sigh to himself, grabs his coffee and goes to head back to the Winchester house]