A/N; Sorry for the hug delay on this story. Had a big case of writers block. Any way ONWARD!


I sat near the lake's edge, digging my toes into the sand by the water, watching it froth back and forth. It was Ben's decision to not return to Mr. Smoothy's today, so I suggested we go to the lake to talk. His mom had packed us a lunch and we slipped our bathing suits on underneath our regular clothes. Within the time length of an hour (due to avoiding the paparazzi) we were here. I was waiting for him to come back from the car with the picnic basket and sunscreen, because, even though I look 'beautiful' (as Ben puts it) in my pink bikini, it's kind of causing me to have a sunburn on my pale skin.

"Sorry about the wait Julie." I looked up at the sound of his voice. His form blocked out the sun with his height, giving off the effect of a solar eclipse. When a cloud passed over the sun, I saw him clearly. He looked great in his green swim trunks, showing off his bare chest and his slight hint of a six pack (Hey, I'm only human aren't I?). When he sat down next to me, he let out a great sigh while staring up at the sky. His bright green eyes shone like emeralds and a slight breeze blew his hair just right, giving off the essence of perfection. Well he's perfect in my eyes anyway.

"What are you thinking about, Ben?" I asked, my right pinky finger curling around his left one. He glanced at me and smiled sheepishly.

"I'm thinking about my Grandpa, Jules," he told me, looking back up at the sky, his eyes reflecting the brightness of the sun. "He's more of a father to me than my own dad is. I say that because he believed in me and what I could do. And he did practically raise me and Gwen. Isn't that weird?"

I thought for a moment and replied, "Not really. I could see how that would work. Do you favor him over your dad?"

Ben then took on a really sour face and said, "Oh definitely." The venom at which he had said those words really concerned me. Did he hate his dad this much?

"Why?" As ridiculous as it sounded, that was my only response to his statement, which, on my part, was sad. His scowl deepened and he furrowed his eyebrows tightly enough that he looked like he had a uni-brow.

"He's a jerkwad," Ben said, venomously, and with no difficulty. "My dad is a sewer technician, and he's always wanted a son so that he could follow in his footsteps. When I was born, he was so excited. He couldn't wait to get me a computer, so when I was four, he got me one. When it turned out I was better at kicking around a soccer ball then I was at typing, any bond that was formed when I was born was hence forth, disbanded."

There he shut his eyes, closing them hard. Tears were beginning to form and I could tell he was trying to fight them. Then, as he opened them again, letting tears spill down his pale cheeks, he said, "If he wanted me to run away, all he has to do is say so, and I will, gladly. 'Honor thy mother and thy father' right? That's how I'll honor him if he tells me to runaway."

"You wouldn't go would you?" I asked him, tears coming to my own eyes. He felt so strongly about his father and leaving his family that it scared me. Would he actually leave? "You wouldn't leave me and Elaina, would you? Or Kevin and Gwen? What about your mom? And your Grandpa?"

He sighed, wiping the tears away from his eyes, his bare chest giving a giant heave as he did so. "No, Julie," he said, giving me a small smile. "No way I would leave all of you in this mess we call home. But the sooner I could leave my parents house the better. I can't stand my dad. And my mom coddles me like there's no tomorrow, but I can kinda understand that, me being her only son and all."

"My only question is where will you go?" I asked him, stroking his left arm with two fingers. He smirked and chuckled nervously.

"Well not at your house for the simple reason that your dad scares me," he said, shuddering. When I smirked at him, he gave me a little shove. Why are boyfriends always afraid of their girlfriends' dad? "Anyway, I think I'll move in with Kevin or my Grandpa Max. I'm always welcome in either house so it'll be no problem."

"What about me and Elaina?" I asked, lazily tracing his chest with my fingertips. He raised his eyebrows at me and smiled slyly.

"Well just an f.y.i., I'm planning on sticking around for awhile," he told me staring put into the lake, watching the sun reflect off of it's surface. "Now whether or not you two want to or not is up to you, of course."

I thought for awhile, practically loving the fact that I was keeping him on the edge of his seat. Then I said, "Well I'm not sure about Elaina, but we'll see about me."

Ben chuckled again and said, while slipping his arm around my waist, "You tease me too much. But then again that's why I love you."

I smiled lovingly at him and snuggled my head into his chest. As I was cuddling with him I couldn't help but wonder about the other issues that he had with his family. As though he had read my mind, he looked at me and said, "let's talk about this tomorrow, Jules. Right now let's just enjoy the lake."

"Alright," I said grinning and gripping his arm in an teasing sort of way. "Have it your way, Benjamin."

He grinned at me mischievously and said, "Sooo, want me to lotion your back?" That is when I slapped him on the back of the head, but it still didn't ruin our day at the lake.


A/N; Oh Ben. Why are guys such pigs? XD Laterz!

~Ellie~