Love hurts…
I do not own Ben 10
"I'm dating Kevin…" she said
Ben simply stared at his cousin in awe. When he found his voice, he spoke
"Gwen, this guy tried to kill us a few years ago. Why are you dating him? He tried to kill YOU. What gives?"
"But he's changed Ben. He's different now…"
"So what? He's still our enemy. Would you date Vilgax if he changed?"
"Ewww… no way…" Gwen shuddered at the thought
"Why? Because he's not human?" asked Ben sarcastically
"You're just jealous that's all…" said Gwen and Ben's face turned red with anger
"I'm not jealous! I just don't want you to start dating the wrong guy…"
"Well I'm fine Ben. Thank you…"
"I don't think so…"
"Stop worrying it's fine…" said his annoyed cousin
"Fine. Just be careful. Okay?"
"Fine" said Gwen and got up from her chair and left. Ben stared at his cousin disappear in the distance and then stared blankly at his empty smoothie cup. Gwen barely touched her smoothie and usually he'd gladly finish it for her; but now he didn't want to eat a thing. He sighed sadly as he put his elbow on the table and rubbed his face in it. He sniffed as a single tear made its way down his cheek. He got up and drove home. When he walked in the house was empty. So he walked up to his room and walked in and closed the door behind him. He sat on his bed and a closed his eyes. He sighed softly as he reached for his pillow, placed it against his face and screamed into it with agony. The truth was he was jealous of Kevin. He's never felt so jealous in his life… truth is he's in love with Gwen. He's loved her for several years now and the idea of her being with someone else, especially someone like Kevin tore him up inside…
Ben spent that weekend mostly in his room. His parents knew something was wrong and tried to coax him into telling them what it was but he refused. The only person he feels comfortable consulting with was Julie but she broke up with him last month so doing that wouldn't be possible or appropriate. Fortunately for him his mother knew he would talk to her so she called Julie herself
"Hello?"
"Hi Julie this Sandra speaking"
"Oh hi Mrs. Tennyson. How are you?"
"I'm okay but Ben isn't doing so hot…"
Despite breaking up with Ben she still cared about him
"What's wrong with him? Is he okay?" she asked worriedly
"That's just it. We don't know. He won't tell us. You're the only one he would tell what's on his mind at times like these and we need your help. Ben has spent the last three days in his room and he hardly ate. He doesn't even want to go have a smoothie. We're really worried about him. Can you help us?" Julie could tell there was a slight pleading tone in Sandra's voice. She knew Ben loved smoothies and he was usually a big eating machine. If he doesn't want any of that it must be serious
"Sure. I'll come right over…" she said
"Thank you…"
Ten minutes later Julie knocked on Ben's front door and was greeted by his mother
"Thank you for coming Julie" she said and placed her hand on the girl's shoulder
"No problem Sandra…"
"Is he in his room?"
"Yeah. He's been there all day…"
"I'll see what I can do" said the girl and headed for Ben's room. She gently knocked on his door and the only response she got was an agonized groan. Puzzled by his odd reaction she spoke
"Ben it's me. Are you okay?"
No answer
Julie gently opened the door and found Ben lying on his bed with an empty bottle of liquor at the foot of his bed
"Where did he get THAT?" she thought
She sat down beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Ben snorted and woke up
"Gwen?" he said groggily
"No Ben. It's me…"
"Julie?" he said
"I told you already it wasn't my fault. I didn't eat your bunny slippers…"
"Ben, what are you talking about? I don't have bunny slippers…"
"Oh yeah that's right…" said Ben in a goofy tone and sat up
"You have doggie slippers right?" he said and pointed at her and wobbled in his place. He was obviously drunk
"Ben where did you get that liquor bottle?" she asked and pointed at the empty bottle on the floor
"Oooh… ttthhhat…" muttered the boy as he pointed at it
"From my parents' liquor cabinet… it's great. Helps you with the pain…" said Ben and hiccupped
"Ben what pain? I'm here to help. Would you please tell me what's going on?"
"What's going on? Hick. I'll tell you what's going. The love of my lifffe… is dating Kevin… Hick…"
"Gwen? You're love of your life is Gwen?" asked Julie sharply
"Yeah!..."
"You do realize she's your cousin right?"
"Uh huh…"
"And you do know you shouldn't be dating your cousin right?"
"Uh huh…" he said again as he wobbled
"Does she know how you feel?"
"Nope. Never had the guts to tell her. Didn't think she felt the same way…" Ben's voice was still groggy and he was still wobbling in his place. He hiccupped again as Julie spoke
"Then I suggest you tell her. When you're sober that is…"
"Why? She's dating Kevin…"
"Because I know you well enough to know that if you've gone so far over the deep end about her dating Kevin you must love her a lot. Try it Ben. You might be surprised
"Yeah!... that's a great idea Julie. Thanks for the tip…" and with that he fell backwards onto his pillow and lost consciousness. Julie sat there sadly and looked at him as he snored loudly. A single tear made its way down her cheek. It pained her to see him like this. She never knew that love (or lack thereof) could cause so much pain. She got up from his bed and planted a kiss on his cheek as he slept
"It'll be okay Benny… I promise…" she gently and stroked his cheek with her finger which seemed to have soothed him a little bit. She then grabbed the empty liquor bottle and headed downstairs
"How is he?" asked Sandra
Julie was silent for a moment until she spoke
"You might want to sit down for this…" she said and presented the empty bottle as Ben parents exchanged worried looks…
"So all this depression was because of a love triangle?" asked Carl
"Yes but I don't think you understand the magnitude of the situation. Ben seems to really adore her. I know she's his cousin and he shouldn't date her but I think you should give it a chance if it works because it will kill him to be torn away from her. Doing that could bring him to a worse condition than he is now. It could even make him suicidal…"
The two parents exchanged horrified looks by the idea
"Thank you Julie you've been very helpful…" said Sandra as the girl got up
"So what are you gonna do?"
'Well for starters we're gonna call Gwen and tell her Ben could really use her company. We'll let them take care of the rest"
"What about Kevin?"
"That's up to him and Gwen…" said Sandra
"Okay. Let me know how he's doing…" said the girl and walked out of the house.
Meanwhile Ben was lying awake on his bed and was crying his eyes out onto his pillow…
'Love hurts…' he thought
To be continued…
Talk about a change of style. I hope you like it so far…
NOTE: this story does not in any way, shape or form encourage alcoholism in general and teen alcoholism in particular. Any teen or other alcohol consumption influenced by this story is solely the victim's responsibility…