The Little Scout: Sweet Justice

Chapter One

Ben's POV

Since Jimmy and Melisa's death, Tessa had become a total different person. She seemed tougher and...Just different. She'd become a stranger to Ben. She wasn't the sweet smelling Tessa anymore; she was a tougher version now. "Hey, are you okay?" Ben asked her.
"Why wouldn't I be?" She replied. Ben opened his mouth to say something but decided against it, he knew she'd only snap at him. He just sighed.
"You've just...been different. You know I'm here if you want to talk."
"But I don't." She had a cold look in her eyes, Ben shuddered. He was losing her.
"Anything?"
"No." He laid his hand on her shoulder and she flinched.
"What's that? Is that blood?" He grabbed her arm and pushed the sleeve up. Deep cuts looked tidy and neat on her skin. "Tessa..." He started; she stared at him with hard, cold, eyes. "What have you done?" She had no answer. "Why?" Nothing. "How long have you been doing this?"
"Since Melisa died."
"Why didn't you tell me?" He was angry with her.
"I knew you would do this!"
"You could've been dead by now!" He shouted.
"It'd be better than this."
"Don't say that."
"If..."
"No. Tessa, no."
"Ben I have no one left."
"You have me, if that's enough for you."
"I'm not sure. I've seen how you've changed."
"So have you! You don't talk to me anymore; you keep this from me, Tessa I don't know who you are anymore!"
"Good." She took back her arm and continued walking.
"Tessa, please, don't do this..."
"I know everything, Ben; I know they still have contact with you. I've seen your spikes glow."
"They don't have contact with me; I don't know what happens but..."
"I don't even want to know, Mason." She spat.
"I know you blame me for Jimmy's death but Tessa..."
"It was your fault. You went hunting Skitter's Ben!
"And what about Melisa? Wasn't that your fault?" Just then, Ben felt his nose twist and it stated pouring with blood. He stumbled back as he clutched his nose; his own blood stained his hand.
"Don't you dare blame her death on me! It wasn't my fault that the Mech shot her. We tried everything to help her but it didn't work! Doctor Glass did everything she could to save her but it was too late. Ben, don't you dare tell me that it was me who killed her because it wasn't."
"But I get the blame for Jimmy?"
"Yes, because you were hunting Skitters!" She shouted.
"That was..."
"Guys, I understand that you're trying to work everything out but we need to get back." Sophie interrupted. "You know, to fix Mason's nose?" Sophie had changed too. Since they'd lost her in the woods two months ago, she was more sarcastic and funny. She'd become his lost Tessa and he was grateful for that.
"Yeah, sure." Tessa muttered, she gave him devil glares as they walked back to camp. The bleeding had stopped by now but Ben still had to go see Lourdes.

"She's been acting differently, have you noticed that?" He asked her. Lourdes stared at him and sighed.
"Yes."
"She's been..."
"I know, Dr. Glass told me. She keeps coming in with severe bleeding."
"How do I get her to stop."
"You can't...I've heard it's addictive. But it'll pass; Tessa doesn't stick to things like that for long. She just needs another ray of sunshine. She used to do a long time ago and then you came along."
"I was her..."
"Yes, she just needs to know your there, you still care."
"Lourdes, I think she's too annoyed now-"
"Ben, she needs you, yes you'll get a few broken noses but she needs you."
"God, why does she have to be so difficult?"
"It's Tessa, Ben, think about it." He nodded and she dabbed at the dried blood around his nose.
"But, sometimes..."
"She's a fourteen year old girl, what do you expect?"
"I honestly don't know."
"She just needs someone to stable her."
"I wonder what she was like before this?"
"Probably the same, just without the gun. When she first came to Dr. Glass she had various scars all ready."
"Isn't that supposed to be confidential?"
"Your her boyfriend, you deserve to know."
"Thanks." Ben smiled at her.
"Ben, Weaver wants to see you." Sophie stood in the door of the med bus, hand on her hip and her gun across her chest. He'd never seen her look so...dangerous. He stood up and followed her into his office.

It was basically just a desk. Ben stood beside Tessa but she took one look at him and moved further away. "What's up with you two?" He asked them.
"Nothing." Tessa replied, she clutched her gun tight to her chest.
"Yes there is. You bust his nose, Tessa, why?"
"He was being a jerk."
"That is not a valid reason, I don't know what you two have been arguing about and frankly I don't care, just sort it out for the love of God. Your both dismissed."
"Did you tell him?" Tessa asked Ben as soon as they walked into the rain.
"No."
"How does he know?"
"Maybes Sophie told him?"
"I'm sorry I snapped at you...it's just been a long couple of weeks."
"It's fine, I didn't...the nose..."
"Don't try to make it better, I said I was sorry."
"I know, I know." She walked away. "Hey, Tessa!" He shouted. Tessa turned around. "Nice...punch." He didn't even know what to say to her. Was he supposed to shout about her self-harm? No, that was private, something she'd tell him about when she was ready. She'd explain everything properly.
She smiled at him and walked away.
"Ben Mason, you stupid, moron!" He held his face in his hand and imeadently felt stupid. "Idiot." He muttered.