Hope you like this chapter, there's some set up and some romance. Standard Disclaimer, I don't own any of the BC characters - just my imagination.
After a fair amount of negotiation the couple ended up at Applebee's. The restaurant wasn't packed, but it was just crowded enough to be kind of loud. The hostess seated them and moments later a waitress began rattling off specials and drinks much too fast for either of them to catch. At the same moment they glanced at one another with the same look in their eyes which caused grins to sprout on both their faces. Laura spoke up, "the gentleman will take a beer, whatever is on tap, and I'd like a large glass of water and a cup of tea, please." The young waitress bounced away. Laura started giggling. John was a little confused, "what did I miss, princess?" Laura shook her head, "nothing except I've an overwhelming desire to call our waitress Tigger." John still looked confused, "You know, Winnie the Pooh's friend the tiger who bounces on his tail." John shook his head, "you are just a little nuts, but it's cute so I don't mind." Laura stuck out her tongue at him. They looked over the menus and made their choices; John got a burger and fries, Laura got a salad and a side of fries – a choice which John teased her about. "Doesn't the order of fries fuck up the healthiness of the rabbit food?" Laura laughed at his comment for a minute, and when she caught her breath she replied, "I like rabbit food and I didn't get it to be healthy, but simply because it made my mouth water, and I think the fried chicken on top of it will sufficiently fuck up the healthiness that fries shouldn't matter. Besides don't you tell me regularly that I shouldn't lose any weight or a stiff wind will carry me off?" John smirked, "very true princess, I can't have that happening so I guess I will just have to keep a tight hold, eh?" Laura laughed again, "yeah and between us we are one whole functional person, I have two hands and you have two legs." He smirk but didn't retort because he really didn't want to hurt her feelings and she was touchy about her leg. Their food arrived and they ate in silence for a while. When John finished his burger he asked, "So where do you want to crash tonight? There's only ritzy hotels on this side of town." Laura shrugged, "I think I want ritzy for a few days, so I was thinking maybe that Holiday Inn right down the street." John's eyebrows went up, "It's your dime babe." Laura nodded, "that it is and I wish to spend the weekend in a bit of luxury since I've decided not to go home till at least Monday. You are welcome to stay, or come and go as you wish; I'll make sure you have a key to the room."
John looked her over carefully; he noticed the circles under her eyes and the faint hint of fear behind her fearless facade. "Tell ya what, I ain't never really staid at a place like that, so I'm gonna drop you off and make sure you get settled, then I'm gonna take the car back. I'm gonna come back and steal all that girly alone time you were hoping for and stay the whole damn weekend with you." Laura beamed at him, her cheeks blushed a bright red. "You know you don't have to…" John interrupted her, "what part of that previous statement mentioned had to? Fuck it, you get to stay in luxury why can't I do it too." He smirked at her. They both knew what was really going on, but were content to leave it in the subtext of their conversation. Laura paid the check with her credit card and they got up to leave.
They walked out to the car hand in hand, but before they reached it someone started shouting, "Yo Bender! Bender, man hold up!" They both stopped and John scanned the area; he saw a group of his buddies heading towards them. There were maybe 5 or 6 guys who came up, some Laura remembered from school, but several she'd never seen before. She moved a little behind John because they looked really out of it, on something. "Hey man, Jonesy got some sweet shit you gotta try man. It's out of this fucking world. We're out looking for some trouble, or maybe some chicks, or you know what ever comes up. Haven't seen you in fucking ever, dude. Come on out with us, you always know how to find shit that's fucking off the hook." John's demeanor changed like slipping on a coat. "Really shit head, are you blind, stupid, or too fucked up to notice I have my own business happening?" A number of them laughed, "You could share hop-a-long hottie there." Laura felt the tension in John level up as he pushed her further behind him. "I don't fucking share Jonesy."
John had one hand in his pocket and surreptitiously handed the keys to Laura behind him. She got the message and while he kept them talking; entertaining them with the fight he supposedly broke his hand during Laura slipped away to the car, got in, and locked the doors. John finished his story and one of the guys noticed Laura was gone. "Aw man Bender, you fucking suck. You let the chick slip away. That mean you're free to come and party with us? We're gonna find some shit to fuck up." He shook his head, "Jackass, what part of broken hand or I was on a date didn't you fucking hear? If she disappeared because I was held up by you block heads I'm beating the shit outta someone, get me?" Jimmy, one of the guys Laura recognized from school asked, "what happened to your rich bitch?" John shrugged, "I moved on, what of it?" Jonesy started walking away, "Bender's gonna turn my high into a downer, great story smart ass. Let's go boys he's not going to be any fun, besides, now he has to go and find his little girlfriend cause we scared her off." They all laughed and followed Jonesy. When they'd left the parking lot John walked over to the car and knocked on the window. Laura opened the door for him. She was curled into a ball on the seat, her head on her knees. "Hey babe, they're gone." She nodded. "Sorry, I'm bad for your reputation." John sighed. "For fuck sake, I don't give a fuck what those guys think. I don't take the shit Jonesy hands out anyway. I don't even know what the fuck most of it is, and I don't take shit if I can't identify it. Besides, weren't we talking about luxury?"
Laura uncurled a little and nodded. She didn't say much until they entered the hotel where she turned into a little socialite. She knew all the right things to say to the guy behind the counter, even how to smooth over little things like being underage by getting the room in John's name. Everything went smooth as silk; John had no idea she could put on such an act. He figured it would have made Claire sound like a country bumpkin. They got on the elevator and he let out a chuckle. "Smooth moves you got there, Princess." She fucking curtsied at him, which made him laugh even more. His laughter made her start giggling. They arrived at the room still laughing. Laura got a room called a King suite; John wasn't sure what the hell that meant. However, he was suitably impressed as he followed her in. He whistled as he looked around; the bathroom had a sunken tub big enough for two and a shower, there was a small kitchenette with a bar and two barstools, a king sized bed, a couch, coffee table, two wing back chairs, and a desk around a huge entertainment center containing a large TV with cable and a remote control! "Holy shit babe, this place is almost as big as my house!"
Laura flopped down on the bed and chuckled. She rolled to her side and watched John checking everything out. "I spent months of my childhood living in rooms like this or even bigger suites. It kind of depended on who mother was screwing at the time. I never thought I would miss it." John stalked up to the bed, picked her up and threw her further up and over on the bed so he could stretch out next to her. "I can't figure out how someone as small as you are can take up so much space." Laura gave him the finger and retorted, "I'm not that damn small. You talk like I'm a midget or something." John laughed, "nah, you're not a midget, course that might be useful, you wouldn't have to get on your knees…" Laura rolled over and smacked his chest, "don't even finish that sentence John. That's just wrong." John knew she wasn't mad because she had a twinkle in her eyes. "So… so, do you want to just order room service all weekend or were you planning on getting supplies for the kitchen?" Laura put her head on his chest and snuggled up to him. "I was figuring on getting supplies, but having room service now and then. Why?"
John shrugged, "Just curious I guess…do I want to know how much this room costs?" Laura shook her head and closed her eyes, "probably not, but you don't have to worry about it, so don't. Suffice to say it costs enough that I should probably get a job one of these days." She rolled off of him suddenly. "What's up?" John asked, confused by her action. "I'm tired; it's been a long and trying day. If I snuggle up to you I am going to fall asleep and you have to leave. I don't want to get comfortable and stuff." John moved to the middle of the bed, "get yourself comfy, and ready for bed if you want Princess. I was planning on putting you to sleep, returning the car and getting back before you woke up." She bit her lip. "Promise you'll come back?"
John sighed, anyone else would have had him snapping, but there were tears glittering in her eyes and she looked fucking terrified. He wasn't particularly gentle, but he didn't really snarl or snap at her. "Didn't I say I would? I'll be here when you wake up, I fucking swear. Now shimmy out of those clothes so I can put you to sleep properly." He gave her a lascivious leer. He was fighting with himself, why was he treating this girl differently than anyone else? Fuck, he wasn't this nice to Claire, course he liked Laura even more than he liked Claire. It wasn't like she was made of spun glass or some shit, but he just had this overwhelming need to protect her, it was like a fucking addiction – he needed to see her sweet smile, hear her witty remarks. Seeing tears and fear in her eyes felt like his old man punched him in the gut. What the fuck was wrong with him?
While he was having this inner debate, Laura stripped off her skirt and blouse and hung them over a chair, got out of her panties and bra – John looked up just in time to see her pull them down – laid them over the other arm of the chair, and then she raced to the bed so he didn't get a proper look at her gorgeous little body. Damn. "What's your rush sweets? It's not like its cold in here, or you've got to worry about anyone but me seeing." Laura shrugged and proceeded to distract him by grabbing his shirt and pulling him into a kiss. She licked his bottom lip and they began an even deeper kiss. She reached down to the hem of his shirt to pull it up, he let her and broke away from the kiss long enough to pull the shirts over his head. He really stopped thinking at all when she ran her hands down his chest and started unbuttoning his pants.
John moved himself over Laura, letting her push his pants and boxers down; he kicked them off without ever breaking the kiss or removing his hands from her body. He moved down to kiss her neck pushing the covers down he kissed down her throat and opened his eyes to look up at her. Laura's eyes were closed and she was running her fingers through his hair. He looked down at her perfect breasts and got instantly pissed. They were covered in nasty bruises like someone had tried to crush them with his hands. Laura felt him tense, "please, baby… John… don't…don't let him ruin this… don't let what he did to me make you stop… please… I need you… need you to love the pain away…. "John took a deep breath and let it out then he started kissing her breasts licking and suckling everyplace he saw a bruise. He proceeded to do this over her entire body. His kissing and loving mouth on her body made her come before he ever touched the most intimate part of her body. John felt like a king when he felt it. He'd kissed all the scars on her legs; when he moved up to her thighs he felt her body tighten and heard her moan.
He kissed her belly, laid his head on her letting her come down before he continued. His hands continued to stroke her thighs and belly. "You all right there sweets?" He asked with a chuckle. Her answer was a slightly moaned, "mmmhhmm, just don't stop, I'll even beg if I have to." John chuckled in the way only a man in the midst of pleasuring his woman can, "Princess, I haven't even begun." He grinned when he heard her whimper. John knew he was good, but damn she was so sensitive. He didn't think he'd ever had a woman come so many times. After they'd both come, John let himself rest on top of her, leaning on his elbows so he didn't crush her or fuck up his hand, but she felt so good he just couldn't bring himself to leave her inner warmth yet. She was small enough that she could kiss, nuzzle, and lick his neck and chest while he relaxed on and inside of her. He was stunned to feel himself get hard again quicker than he ever had. She moaned and wrapped her legs around him, not allowing him to move much as she clenched her muscles and ground against him. He'd never felt anything like it; he knew she was a virgin before him, but hell she was a fast learner. The second time they rolled around and writhed for almost a half hour before he came again, she came several more times. Afterwards he had to pull out because of how sensitive he'd gotten. He lay with her; stroking her hair while Laura fell into the sleep of a fully satiated woman. He drifted a bit, but after about an hour he looked at the clock, it was almost 2am, he had to get the car back. He so didn't want to leave, but he couldn't leave his ma hanging after she'd been so cool to Laura.
He slipped quietly out of bed, Laura whimpered a little so he tucked a pillow in the space he had been taking up; to his surprise it worked and settled her down. He turned on the light in the little kitchen so he could get himself dressed and grab his things; before he left he went through a short checklist: wallet check, room key check, car keys check. John slipped quietly out of the room ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head a bit to wake himself up. He took the stairs down to the hotel lobby. He nodded at the dude at the desk. "Leaving sir?" John shook his head, "I'll be back in just a bit; we forgot a few things." The guy nodded, "take care and I'll see you when you return." John considered how fucked up the little interaction was, people who looked like that desk clerk normally didn't speak to him, let alone behave as though he was someone important enough to be called sir and shit.
John got home with no problem and breathed a sigh of relief at the lack of lights on inside. He opened the door as quietly as possible. His old man was passed out on the couch with what looked like a case of empty cans on the table and floor around him. He laid his mother's keys on the table and walked to his room making sure to follow the delicate path around squeaky floor boards. Once in his room he grabbed a clean shirt off the pile on his dresser, looked around, decided he didn't really need anything else and opened his window. No reason to chance waking anyone. The clock in his room read 2:45; his hand was throbbing. He wished he'd remembered to take one of those pain pills before he'd left the room. He thought he might have been a bit too active considering, but in the midst of it all he wasn't feeling any pain at all.
As he climbed out his window he heard loud voices from Laura's place; what he heard pissed him off. From inside he heard a bunch of guys talking, all of whom sounded about as smart as his dumbass father. "Thought you had some kind of fuckin hottie for a kid." Another voice, this one he recognized as her old man replied, "Yeah, she's smoking, but she's a whiney prude, and a fucking cripple. Her mother musta really worked her over since she gets all fucking squirmy if I get near her, stupid bitch. She's fucking disrespectful too. I don't even know where she went, little bitch probably won't be home tonight." A third man said, "Well that's probably for the best, since we don't need a cripple getting in our fucking way – you said you had the garage all set up like a lab. We gonna get cooking so we can high and make some fucking money?"
Laura's old man replied, "Smart man, let's go." Bender heard a bunch of moving around then a door slam. He remembered her saying she thought he was doing meth, was the dumb motherfucker really gonna set up a fucking meth lab? Jesus Christ, he needed to get the fuck out of the neighborhood and figure out a way to get Laura out too.
As John walked back towards the hotel, he scanned the basically empty streets of Shermer. Fuck he wanted to get the hell away from here entirely, not just his shitty neighborhood. He started thinking about how incredible things were with Laura, she didn't put up with his shit, but she didn't fight with him constantly and she didn't want him to be something he wasn't. For a while he really thought things might work out between him and Claire. But his world and hers were just too different in the end he guessed. Laura's life was as fucked up as his was though her experiences were different. After all the fancy shit she knew growing up, Shermer had to suck. John was not sure what she saw in him, but he was crazy about the little Brit. He reached the park still thinking when out of nowhere the group of guys he'd run into at the restaurant were suddenly surrounding him. "Bender man, knew we'd see you again tonight."
John was tired and really just wanted to get back to the hotel. "Oh? What made you so fucking sure of that?" Jonesy said, "Intuition, somehow I just knew. Dude, you got any smoke?" He shook his head; I got a pack of cigarettes if that's what you're asking, but none of the other. Besides I thought you guys got all fucked up this evening?" He decided playing the game would get him gone faster. One of the other guys, a burner whose name John could never remember said, "Yeah, we fucked some shit up, but the downside is sucking something fierce." Another guy, Tommy, smacked the dude in the head. "Shut your fucking mouth stupid; ain't nobody's business what we were doing tonight." In the distance Bender heard sirens; whether they were cops or an ambulance he didn't know and really didn't care. However, the guys around him got wide eyed and without another word scattered into the park. John shook his head, shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking again.
He got a couple of blocks further, and saw the restaurant where they'd had dinner. He was happy because it meant the hotel was just a mile or so up the road. He put his casted hand inside his coat; since the cool of the night was making it ache even worse. He looked down for a minute and shook his head, trying to clear it from fatigue and, he guessed, pain. When he looked back up he saw a cop car pull into a parking lot blocking his way. Bender sighed, just what he needed, more interruptions. The policeman got out of the car, and gratefully, it was a guy John knew. Bender was tired enough not to remember the cops name so he simply said, "evening officer."
Officer Jim Braden had picked Bender up any number of times; it was rarely because he was in trouble, but because the cop wondered why the kid was walking in the middle of the night. He'd often seen him beaten and bruised, but the kid would never press charges against his old man. Braden had grown up in a similar situation and felt for the boy. Tonight however he was after a group of guys who'd smashed a bunch of windows and possibly robbed a number of stores. When John got closer, Braden notice the circles under his eyes. "You doing alright tonight, son?" Bender fished a cigarette out of his coat and nodded while lighting it. "Yes sir, I'm just trying to get back to my girl. She went and got a room for us for our anniversary, and I'd like to get back to her before sunrise."
"Have you been with her all night?"
John took a drag off his smoke and nodded, "well right up till I had to go return my mother's car – didn't realize it was such a long walk back."
"Have you seen anyone else out tonight? There's been some trouble this evening."
"Saw some people back by the park, but I didn't go and have a chat or anything. What happened?"
Braden noticed John had one hand stuck into his coat, "whatcha got beneath your coat?" Bender sighed and pulled his hand out from the warmth of his coat, "one motherfucking cold broken hand, why?" Braden shook his head, "call it professional curiosity." John chuckled, "professional curiosity my ass, but whatever gets you through the night." John suddenly had a bright idea, though he wasn't sure it would come to anything it might just make him look good. "Hey I smelled the strangest shit earlier, any idea what smells like I don't know sulfur and burning hair? Made me fucking sick to my stomach." The officer tilted his head, "I can think of a few things, where'd the smell come from?" John shrugged a little, "I don't know it was somewhere around my house, just got a whiff of it on the breeze, it was nasty man. Do you need me for anything or can I keep trudging to the nice warm bed and nice warm girl I have waiting?" Officer Braden smiled, "I can give you a ride if you like; I don't think I'm gonna find who robbed the stores tonight." John did a double take, "there were robberies? And people call me a fucking criminal." Braden laughed, "Yeah, I know better you're mostly just an ass. Look I'll even let you sit in the front; you look like shit."
"Normally I'd have some witty come back, but I'm really fucking tired and my hand hurts, so if you are willing to take me the last bit I'll take it. I'm headed up to the Holiday Inn." Bender could not believe he was accepting a ride from a cop, but there it was. He was tired and hurting and well, Braden had always been pretty cool – or at least not treated him like shit. "What happened to your hand if you don't mind my asking?" It took Bender a minute to realize he'd been asked a question, "uh accident at work you could say." Braden chuckled, "you could say? Is that some kind of code for something else?" John shrugged, who was this guy gonna tell? "I had a choice of smashing in the face of a jackass I work with or punching the wall, and stupid me chose the wall. Hell even the boss told me to just punch him next time." Braden glanced over, he'd been watching John for the last five or six years; he could have turned into one of the biggest problems in Shermer, but he hadn't. Sure he probably smoked, and maybe even sold pot, but he wasn't generally a breaking and entering type. Or at least he hadn't been in over a year. "What the jackass do?" John shook his head, "He said shit about my girl; I must be fucked in the head. I mean this dude, he's an ass, but generally an alright dude and I was going to fucking beat his ass for talking about her. How fucking dumb does that make me?" Braden laughed, "doesn't sound dumb at all really, kid. Sounds like you're in love." John didn't respond because he was afraid the cop might just be right.
Officer Braden knew that the Holiday Inn was at least a mile down the road. He also knew John lived at least a couple of miles back. He wasn't sure how good the tip on the kids in the park was, but he was willing to check out the neighborhood. The whole department had recently been briefed on the rising problem of home grown crystal meth labs and the rise in heroin. Braden dropped John off at the hotel and told him to get some rest.
As John walked in the desk clerk welcomed him back. Bender just had the energy to nod at him as he went by he trudged back to the room, each step seemed harder than the last, but as he entered and locked the door behind him he saw Laura. Maybe the cop was right, maybe this was love. All he knew was that he wanted to pull the girl into his arms and sleep for a week. He had the presence of mind to strip and take a pain killer before crawling in behind her. About the time he was almost settled Laura rolled over and opened her eyes. "You're freezing sweetheart. Here put your poor hand on these pillows and snuggle in, I'll warm you up." Her voice was thick with sleep and she was still trying to take care of him. He did as she asked, and snuggled into her warm body. Laura wrapped her arms around him and kissed his chest sleepily. He'd already started to warm up and fall asleep when he heard her mumble, "Love you John Bender."
Back at the park, only one guy saw John talk to the cop, but he also saw him climb into the cruiser like they were buddies; Jonesy had some questions for Bender.
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