"Ben, stop the boat." Ben looked back as Sewee continued to churn up waves.
"Stop. The. Boat." I growled out. Ben Listened this time, shutting off the engine and sliding next to me. I was looking down at my feet feeling ashamed for being so stupid. I let the power my new flare had given me take over. Ben took my face into his rough hands and looked me dead in the eye;
"Tor I want to help you. Please don't be scared, but our boat is kind of right in the middle of the waterway. Can I pull out to a little back stream or something?"
I felt awful. Ben was going to miss school because of me. I knew this wasn't necessary. I am a big girl and I can handle myself.
"No. Ben I'm sorry, never mind. Keep going. You are going to school today and so am I." lie
Ben turned the boat key and started the engine. I smiled at how well he listened. Then I was disappointed. Ben turned the boat around and headed in the opposite direction. I opened my mouth to argue, but Ben beat me to it. He leaned over hesitating slightly looking at me, showing slight discomfort, and then quickly he placed a calming kiss on my cheek.
"Shhh its ok, I'd rather spend the day with you anyways."
My heart melted just a tad. I was about to say something when I got dizzy. The disorientation only lasted a second, and then I was fine. Well not fine, extremely embarrassed actually. I coughed slightly.
"Ben…" I mumbled quietly.
Ben turned around and smiled at my green eyes.
"Well wasn't that easy." His smile stayed on his face as he directed his eyes back to the open water.
I quirked my brow confused. Ben made no attempt to turn the boat back around towards our schools.
"Hey Ben- I'm fine. We should head back towards school." Ben shook his head slightly.
"Tor, since when have you been scared of a little hooky?" His innocent wink made me giggle.
I took out my red ponytail and let the ocean breeze shake it free.
Ben drove the boat to his favorite fishing spot. I knew it was his most secret spot to relax and think. I was honored to be taken here. Ben looked at my Bolton Prep uniform and shook his head.
"Well that's not going to work." Ben pulled his lip back thinking then smiled. He took off his usual black shirt and much to my surprise smelt it. I bit my lip to stifle back a giggle. Ben turned and gave me a sheepish smile.
"It's clean and still smells- er- ok? Take it." Ben turned around the opposite direction humming quietly. I looked at the black shirt for a moment, tracing the creases with my finger. I pulled off my Bolton shirt, sweater and tie and placed them on the bench before slipping on the large shirt. I smiled at the way it fit, still warm from Bens body heat. I forgot that Ben was still turned around.
"Sorry, you can turn around now."
Ben turned and just looked at me. Feeling awkward I held out my arms and gave the oversized Tee a little spin.
"How do I look?" I bit my lip slightly feeling a little nervous.
Ben breathed out slowly.
"Wow. Nobody's ever looked that good in a men's shirt."
What I know was only seconds felt like much longer. Today started out as my first day being a normal girl and it frightened me. Then I found something new, primal deep down; and that scared me. Now I am with Ben Blue trying to figure out this whole 'girlfriend' part I was supposed to be playing, and I'm nervous. I wanted it to work, I wanted us to work.
I tucked the extra fabric of the shirt into my Bolton skirt, and moved closer to a still shirtless Ben.
"Are we going to keep playing dress up or do something fun." I thought about winking but dismissed the idea almost instantly. Ben smiled again. I don't think I've ever seen Ben smile so much in my time living on Morris, let alone in one day. Ben silently slipped off his socks and sneakers, and rolled up his jeans just a tad, then jumped off the boat into the shallow water. I scrambled to get my long socks and dress shoes off. Barefoot on Ben's boat I looked at my stupid skirt. I didn't want to spend the day in my skirt. Playing with my lips began to think. Well Ben's shirt is almost long enough I could use it as a dress and just be in my underwe- Nope. Nope. Nope. Jesus Victoria get your head on straight. Ben's loud voice stopped me for thinking of more dumb ideas.
"Hey Tor you going to stare yourself over here, or do I need to come carry you?" Ben blushed as he finished his sentence. You could tell he was trying out his freedom of the 'boyfriend' title. I climbed off the boat into the shallow warm waters.
"I can walk, however if you're offering to carry me everywhere I'm not going to object." I trudged barefoot across the narrow stream, meeting Ben on the sandbank. I was about to ask Ben what he had in mind when my phone buzzed. I pulled it out of the waistband of my skirt.
HI: Tory normal humans have to go to school. We don't have an excuse anymore.
I winced at Hi's text. It wasn't fair of me to skip school without telling them, and it was even worse of me to not tell them my reasons. I felt my heart break for Hi. He tried joking about being normal way too often. I don't think the other boys realized how hard he was taking it. Ben must have noticed how bothered I was by the text because he gently put his hand on my shoulder.
"We can talk to them tonight." His voice was so reassuring I gave in. I leaned in closer to his warmth, feeling so safe, even though we were in the middle of nowhere by woods and possibly alligators. Ben spoke again quietly;
"I wasn't planning on waking up today and spending the day with you Tory, but I wouldn't have wanted anything else. I never got the chance to tell you how I feel about you, and I want to. Right now."
I placed my fingers on his lips like I did the night before.
"Ben its ok, you don't need to say anything."
"No. Tory I do. I have to."
"Okay Ben I'm listening."
Ben froze slightly, like he didn't know how to string his words together. Then he grabbed both of my hands. He moved to sit down in the cool sand, and I copied his movement. Once seated he tugged me forward, just a little, until I was on his lap. I let my head rest on his chest. He kissed my forehead so sweetly I couldn't help but close my eyes and smile. I thought about how long I've wanted this. I never thought we would work; I had been too scared to let my protective wall down. I was surprised at the other side of Ben I had seen throughout the morning. He was so gentle, sweet, and…happy. The quite, moody, emotionless Ben was a fading memory. I began to wonder how my packs future would have changed if I would have acknowledged my feelings for Ben earlier. Ben cleared his throat before speaking;
"Tory when I first saw you, I was shirtless on the beach trying to help a stranded sea turtle. I had never been so flustered by a girl. I almost dropped my shirt twice trying to slip it on. Then I threw a Frisbee and almost cracked your skull open." Ben paused to take a breath, while I snorted slightly at the memory. My first day on Morris was a quirky adventure. Ben continued quickly;
"When you went into the bunker alone I couldn't believe it. I'm not going to lie; I was worried. The whole thing could have collapsed on you. So obviously…I followed you in." I smiled as Ben paused again. Closing my eyes I squeezed Bens hand slightly. He squeezed back before continuing;
"That night I texted Shelton and Hi for multiple hours, trust me, they were annoyed. They threatened to march over and show you the texts. They were all about you of course. I talked about your freckles and eyes mostly. I wasn't in love with you then, actually I was just…confused. All my life I grew up with snotty southern bells covered in more makeup than actual skin. Then you show up. Your skin wasn't falsely colored to a color resembling a carrot, and your eyes stood out on their own without the help of eye- er crayons(?) you know the kind that make girls look like raccoons." With that last comment I laughed.
"Eyeliner silly, the word you are looking for is eyeliner. But hey, between me and you I liked eye crayon better."
We both erupted in a mix of snorts and giggles. Ben hugged me tighter; I could tell he was done speaking. He didn't need to say anything else. Ben was looking out to the open creek lost in thought, a stupid grin still on his face, making it impossible to wipe away one from my lips. I tilted my head upwards, looking at his soft face. He tilted his head down causing some long black hair to slip from behind his ear and tickle my nose. Without saying anything I reached up and tucked it behind his ear. He tilted his head just tad and landed a soft kiss on my lips.