The days by his side

by M. C. S

“All right, a scrooge boyfriend is not worth. One more point for you, Benjamin,” Carla made a compliment.

  “I'm sure I'll get a lot more. Your friend is a lucky girl to have a guy like me as a boyfriend,” Carla rolled her eyes at Benjamin's modesty. Then Ben pulled me around the waist and placed a kiss on my belly over the uniform shirt. “I'm even luckier,” He said, looking up, making me face him.

  “Ben, there’re people watching,” I held his shoulder lightly away from him.

  “I’m like a leftover here,” Carla said, making a point of getting up and leaving.

  “There's too light already, who wants a candle?” Ben tried to make fun.

  “Ben!” Slap him on the arm,” Carla, you'll never be a leftover.

  “All right, maybe we can run out of light.”

  “The sunshine, Ben?” Carla said, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I think it's early for that.”

  I knew their argument would end when Carla said the last word. I ate my snack while sipping my soda, watching them both.

  “I was thinking,” Ben said after a few minutes in silence.

  “Do you think?” Carla replied, Ben ignored her.

  “You and me,” Ben caught me with his gaze. “We could go out tonight.”

  “I'm grounded,” I tried to remind him.

  “You're grounded to go out with me, but not with Carla. She could come to your house to pick you up,” now I can understand why he did not strike back at Carla's little barb. “Would you do that, dear Carla?” Carla was thoughtful. “I can convince Fernando to go,” Ben completed.

  “I can do what you suggested. But tomorrow. And you don't have to convince Fernando to go, dear Ben,” Benjamin smiled, his blue eyes winkling at the corners.

  “Seriously? I thought you wanted to.”

  “Not like that.”

  “My dear, I don't like to see you sad,” I hugged Carla from behind and placed a kiss on her cheek. I knew she was suffering for Fernando.

  “You don't want me around and don't hug like that,” Ben said, resting his hand on his chin and making an abandoned puppy face.

  “Big baby!” I said, releasing Carla and approaching Ben. I slid my fingers over his hair.

  “Only when I'm near you,” Ben rested his head on my belly.

  “I'm going to puke over there,” Carla joked.

  “You don't have to go,” I tried to intervene for her to withdraw.

  “I'll be fine,” and she has gone.

  “I don't wanna get away from my best friend just because I'm dating. I don’t like it.”

  “You don’t have to. I can share the attention. And I'm glad you're already familiar with the word dating.”

  I waited patiently for my mother to arrive while watching Supernatural. As soon as I heard the noise of her car, I began to relax of the fact that the philosophy teacher handed my cell phone in her hand. I settled back on the couch, put a pillow in my lap. I had my eyes fixed on TV, although I was curious to see the expression on my mother's face.

  As soon as she entered the living room, she threw my cell phone on the couch.

  “I won't do it again,” I tried to redeem myself.

  “Don't do it anyway.”

  “Did you read my messages?”

  “Unfortunately I couldn't figure out the password,” she was sincere. “I need to take a shower,” she said more to herself. “Elle, I just won't extend the subject because Beatriz said me to take it easy because you're a good student, and that was the first time this happened,” she paused before continuing. “Take care, Elle. You will need a good school curriculum if you want to be accepted to the college you have always dreamed of. Don't mess it up now.”

  27th Day

  It was the tenth outfit I had tried on. My stock of new T-shirts and jeans was already running out. Carla had managed to convince my mother to let us go out today. She used as excuse that next week was her birthday and she needed me at the mall to help her with some decorative items for her party. My mother trusted Carla and raised no suspicion that the real reason I wanted to leave home on Thursday night was Benjamin.

  “I'm feeling horrible!” Carla laughed at my nervousness.

  “I never thought I'd see you like this,” she had been sitting on the bed, her hands on the mattress and her legs dangling. “If I had known, I’d have brought a dress. Just didn't bring it because I didn't want to get your mother's attention. Come on!” she was trying to cheer me up. “Now let go of the hair. Guys prefer girls to wear loose hair.”

  “It makes no difference to me.”

  “In their view it does. And they prefer no makeup either. They like natural beauty better.”

  “But that's not why we should be convinced of it.”

  “Not at all.”

  It was past 7 pm, and one of the things my mother liked to do when she was home at this time was to watch soap operas. I had this advantage in my favor, since a soap opera was going on right now. But that did not stop her from noticing my loose hair. The only time my mother saw me with loose hair was when I washed it and let it dry naturally. But the soap opera looked more interesting than my loose hair, so she did not say much, though her look meant a lot.

  I said goodbye to her, and we headed for the bus stop. That was also in my favor. The bus stop was a five-minute walk from my house, and we did not have a good view from there, thanks to a huge tree that surrounded it. So that meant there was no risk that if my mom happened to decide to go out and see the movement of the street, she would be able to see Ben with us.

  He was already there when we arrived. Benjamin wore trousers and a blue shirt that highlighted his eyes even more. He gave me a silly smile, making me smile in a way only he could do.

  “I was waiting patiently for you,” I leaned over him, not caring which of our neighbors might be looking at us at that moment. I placed a quick kiss on his mouth. “I need to tell you, you look beautiful!” Ben said, his eyes twinkled as he looked at me.

  “I'm dressed the same as usual,” I said, blushing at the way the beautiful word came out of her mouth.

  “I have so much to tell you.”

  “I think you better leave do it later,” Carla said, interrupting Benjamin. “Wrong place. I didn't bother convincing Elizabeth to let Elle out so you could screw it up by hanging out here.”

  “We're not hanging out,” I defended myself.

  “I wouldn't mind if we were.”

  “Great! Conspire to embarrass me.”

  The bus took a few minutes to arrive. Which made me wonder if I could really get away. As soon as we entered, a new concern came to us. Benjamin again did not know where we were going. We sat on a bench near where he was.

  Carla was grumpy that Benjamin did not know exactly where he was taking us. Leading us are exactly the words. Carla would sleep in my house, so where I would go, she would, so that no mismatch would happen. She would split up from us when we had the place, with a cell phone in hand would be easy to meet later.

  “So, Benjamin, have you made up your mind?” Carla asked for the third time.

  “If a nightclub, funk ball, or any party please you, I have several options.”

  “Definitely not,” Parties, dances, and I didn't match. I preferred a movie theater, a trip to an unfamiliar city or the comfort of my home. Right now, the only of those options that fits with me and Benjamin was cinema. But he was not in the mood to go to the movies, but to a club he used to go to before the accident.

  “Please,” Ben clutched my fist as he begged. “Please.”

  “There's a lot of people.”

  “When we get inside, it will seem like there are only the two of us,” he answered, winking at me.

  “I’m a minor.”

  “I also was when I attended the place. Cooperate with me! Just tonight!”

  “Ben, what if you get hurt?”

  “I’m no child. Please.”

  “Carla?” I wanted her consent, if she would go, I could not make Carla's night un
happy to make mine happy.

  “Nightclub! It’ll be cool,” she answered.

  “That's it girl!” Ben said and they both gave a high five.

  “I can't believe I'm doing this,” I said as we waited in line at the club.

  The security guard looked at Ben, narrowed his eyes and was thoughtful for a while. He looked again until he greeted him. A flash of recognition crossed his eyes.

  “Ben, I can't believe it's you!” he said full of excitement, bent down to hug him. I wondered who in this town Ben did not know, maybe the people behind us, who were already annoyed by the security delay in clearing the line. “I thought I'd never have your presence here again.”

  “Me too. I need a favor,” Ben told him. “Release the entrance of these two.”

  The security man cleared his throat, after a few seconds of thinking, released our entrance without making too much fuss.

  The dancing sound of Avicii's music dominated the venue along with the colorful lights.

  The nightclub was already full, and I wondered how Ben could get the chair inside. The strong smell of drink and cigarette wrapped my stomach. This definitely was not my favorite place; people dancing did not match my lifestyle. I was not going to dance; I did not want to look like a dull worm on the floor.

  “We need a more private place,” Ben said.

  Carla asked permission among the crowd, as I tried to guide Ben's chair. She had heard many sweet talks as she tried to make her way through the crowd. We went to a corner, where the number of people was smaller.

  “Buy me a drink, please,” Ben asked Carla.

  “No!” I tried to intervene, taking the money from Ben's hand. “We didn't come here for that.”

  “So let’s dance,” Ben said and pulled me into his lap.

  “You're disdaining again,” Ben nodded, took the money from my hand and handed it to Carla.

  “Anything?” Carla asked, and Ben nodded.

  “I just want to get rid of you,” Ben said in a whisper, and Carla in response showed her middle finger to him.

  “I don't believe you will obey him.”

  “Relax, Elle. I won’t buy more than one,” I watched Carla disappear into the crowd. Ben put my face between his fingers, bringing it close to his face. I looked around, trying to find someone I knew.

  “There's no one looking at us,” he said, trying to speak louder than the music that lulled the night. He pulled me a little forcefully closer to him, kissed me without fear, and I returned with the same intensity initiated by him. “I'm liking it,” Ben said, pulling his lips away from mine. “Don't be shy, Elle,” he kissed the tip of my nose.

  “I'll try,” I threw my arm around his neck and kissed him.

  Carla was taking too much to return, I began to suspect she did not want to be between me and Benjamin.

  Ben looked away, fixing it in another direction.

  “What a nasty sight!” he said.

  “Nice to see you too, friend. What’s up, skinny?”

  “Hi bomb man!” I said to Marcos, who returned with a wry smile. “You wanted to come here because you knew we were going to meet him here,” I said to Ben. Not only him, but a little apart, I located the other two stooges. They were reluctant when they approached. The skinny one named André reached out to Ben, who left his ex-friend’s hand still in the air. André lowered his a few seconds later, clearly embarrassed.

  “Good to see you,” said Bruno. Ben half smiled as if he disagreed with him.

  “So you are together?” André asked, still embarrassed. You are the daughter of teacher Ha... Elizabeth,” he corrected in time. “What's your name again? Ellen.”

  “It's Elle,” Ben replied sharply.

  “Who would say...?” Bruno said, and Marcos scolded him with an intrusive elbow.

  “I said not to say anything. Ben doesn't like that we talk about,” Marcos said.

  “We're listening, so don't talk like we're not here,” Ben answered.

  Carla approached us with a glass of drink in hand. The three boys looked her up and down without disguising.

  “This is the goofy party,” said Carla. Both of us looked at each other and laughed. I am sure she remembers, like me, their stupid behavior at school. All that remained was to put a sign around his neck that said: I'm hot.

  “I remembered you were hot, but now,” Marcos said, resting his arm on Carla's shoulder. She in turn took his arm off, unkindly.

  “And I don't remember you having all those muscles,” Marcos smiled, not realizing the irony behind Carla's words.

  “I work out a lot. Some other day, I can teach you.”

  “I'm sure your methods won't please me.”

  “Shouldn't you be in college?” Ben asked, interrupting Marcos's attack on Carla.

  “I made an exception. And I'm glad I did that,” Answered, looking at Carla. “And you? I never thought I'd see you here again.”

  “I missed you,” Ben answered.

  “And you, skinny? Has your mother released you?”

  “Call me skinny again and I don't answer for myself.”

  “And I won't do anything to stop her,” Ben said, a mockery on his face. Then Marcos fired:

  “Jessica is here,” I was mute, looked at a completely pale Ben. It hit him hard, not only him, but everyone there seemed to have no reaction. No one knew what to say. Who did not know the tragic way their relationship ended? And why did Marcos have to touch her name in my presence?

  “Worm!” Carla was the first one who decided to talk. “You're disgusting!”

  “All right, Carla, enough,” I tried to stop her from continuing.

  “I don't like people like that.”

  “We'd better go,” André said, pulling Marcos by the arm.

  “I’m sorry,” Bruno said to Ben. “It was good to see you! Really.”

  “I'm going to the restroom,” Carla said, wanting to leave us alone. I kept noticing that she went out sipping the drink. I just hope she doesn't overdo.

  “Does her name said by someone else still mess around with you?” I finally asked.

  “I was just surprised. Sorry if I upset you.”

  “You seemed to be elsewhere when you heard her name.”

  “It wasn’t intentional. I like you, Elle. Believe me,” Ben caressed my cheek with his palm. I put my hand over his, interrupting the gesture.

  “You still don't seem to be here.”

  “I'm. Just believe me.”

  “It was all very fast. The way it all happened between us. We don't have a month of coexistence yet.”

  “Are you counting the days, Elle?”

  “What if I am?” I answered a little embarrassed, for looking like a psychopath. “This serves to confirm what I said. It was very fast, you're in love with me, if you really tell the truth.”

  “I'm,” Ben said, holding my waist a little tighter. “It wasn’t easy to face the truth ahead. It wasn’t in my plans to fall in love with you. And not for anyone. I just wanted to finish my third year, leave home and live my life without being in love with someone. It was then that I began to realize that I missed you when you weren’t present. How happy I was when the intercom rang and Laura or my mom came to announce that you had arrived. When I talked more about you than me to people. My dad said I was unbearable. My aunt and Fernando opened my eyes. Yeah, Fernando had a big part in that. And mainly when I wanted to hurt you, and I was hurt. Like that day I ignored you. I wanted to hurt you and I suffered the consequences. So if it's not being in love with someone, if it's not love, I don't know what it is. Do you believe me, or want me to make another list?”

  “I believe you,” I wrapped my skinny arms around his body.

  At 10:20 pm, we arrived in our neighborhood. We did not meet with Jessica, which made me happy, but I was still a little apprehensive about Benjamin's feelings about her.

  Ben entered first his house. Carla and I go to mine. As soon as I entered the gate, I looked towards Ben's house. He was at the gate
, waved at me and I did the same.

  My mother had left the living room light on. We tried not to make noise, I did not want to wake her up, mainly because we had not arrived at the agreed time.

  “Fucking Marcos!” Carla said, and sat on the bed.

  “Why do I think Ben still thinks about her?”

  “I'm sure he thinks about you more,” I sincerely hoped my friend was right.

  28th Day

  O ne of the worst things to do after a night of partying is to get up early. The week was not over yet. It was Friday, and we still had another school day. So even as my brain insisted that I should get some more sleep, my body overcame the fact that I should act like a good girl and get out of bed.

  Carla was no longer in the room when I woke up. I heard her voice coming from the kitchen. She talked to my mother. They got along well before we even met. Carla was always a good student, and her sympathy had already won Mom, despite the eight years old.

  I liked her company. Carla was the sister I never had, and I felt like she felt the same way about me. Like me, she was also an only child.

  “My mom wants you to come home for lunch on Sunday,” says Ben, while we were doing a double job. I concentrated on the activity, when I remembered that I had already eaten at his house on a Sunday. The ending was not very pleasant. I thought that maybe one day I could invite him for lunch at home too. My mother would not refuse. I could tell her that I had already invited Benjamin, she would not be unethical making me go uninviting. I know mother too well to know that she would not do that. “Are you listening to me?”

  “I am. Just wondering what you're trying to make me. In a kind of rebellious daughter?” a smile broke out on his face. “But I'll find a way.”

  “My mother already knows about us.”

  “Oh!” a surprised look crossed my face. I did not expect Ben to tell about us to his family, not now. “Ben, don't you think it's too early to say anything to our families?”

  “Early?” Ben looked at me, puzzled. “My mother likes you. So, regarding her, you can take it easy. Now, I think it would be early to tell yours. She doesn’t like me.”

  “It’s not like that.”