Benny tells Erica, part II
Friday at school…
Benny stood at his locker, listening to Rory and Erica bicker about something as usual. He spent a lot of time with them, barely talking to Ethan anymore. As much as he hated it, every time Ethan was there, Sarah wasn't far behind. Benny gritted his teeth in frustration before looking at the blondes arguing next to him.
"Do you two ever stop fighting?" Benny asked, eyeing the other two. Rory just smiled while Erica scoffed.
"Well maybe if count dorkula over here didn't annoy me every 5 seconds we wouldn't be arguing!"
"But Erica you love me!" Their arguing continued as Sarah walked up to Benny. He just looked at her and she sighed before handing him a note and walking away. Benny frowned to himself and opened the note. In curly handwriting he assumed belonged to Sarah were two words. I'm sorry. Benny's frown deepened before crumpling the note and throwing it in his locker.
"I'll talk to you two later," Benny said, walking away from the annoying blondes. He just sighed to himself until he literally bumped into someone. "Sorry," he muttered not bothering to look. It wasn't until the other person spoke. Eyes wide, he glances down to the boy still on the floor.
"It's okay, I wasn't watching where I was going," Ethan mumbled, standing up slowly. His eyes connected with Benny's and neither boy looked away. "Um, so how are you?" Ethan asked, eyeing the taller boy. Benny just shrugged and shook his head.
"I've been better. I gotta go now. Bye."
"Bye." With that, the two best friends walked away from each other, not looking back.
Friday night…
Benny was sitting in his living room, looking over his spell book with his grandma. They both looked up when there was a frantic knocking at the front door. Benny's grandma got up slowly, answering the door to see a frantic looking Mrs. Morgan.
"Samantha, what's wrong?" Grandma asks, eyes wide.
"Sarah called and canceled last minute, saying she just can't come babysit. Do you think you could watch Jane tonight? Please."
"Of course. Benny," she said as she walked into the house, "I'm watching Jane tonight over at the Morgan's place. Want to join me?" Benny's head snapped up and his eyes widened as what his grandma said sunk in. Nodding, he throws his spell book in his bag and slings it over his shoulder, walking the short distance from his house to Ethan's with his grandma and Ethan's mom. Once there, Ethan's mom and dad almost instantly left. Benny just stood outside before sighing and heading inside. Immediately he saw Grandma doing some magic for Jane and Ethan was nowhere in sight. Jane glanced at him with a small smile on her face before jerking her head in the direction of Ethan's bedroom. Nodding, Benny headed up the stairs.
Stopping outside of Ethan's room, he knocked on the door, anxiously awaiting the okay to come in.
"It's open," Ethan's muffled voice said. Swallowing nervously, Benny opened the door.
"Hey, um, my grandma's watching Jane tonight. Sarah said she couldn't make it," Benny said, staring at the dark haired boy who lay stretched on the bed.
"Yeah she mentioned something about that earlier," Ethan said, nodding to himself really. Benny just stood there awkwardly, hands in his pockets. After avoiding each other for days, things were tense between them. Ethan sighed and sat up, scooting over so there was room for Benny to sit next to him. Benny did, trying to keep as much space between them as possible.
"Soooo," he said, dragging out the word.
"Soooo," Ethan copied. Everything was quiet until Ethan finally broke. "I'm sorry," he blurted out, avoiding the taller boy's eyes.
"Sorry? For what?"
"I never meant for it to seem like I was picking Sarah over you, or that I was spending more time with her than you. You're my best friend Benny, and always will be. I know I haven't been the greatest best friend lately but I swear I have my reasons. At first, I was just trying to get Sarah to like me. Then I saw how close you and Erica got and I couldn't help this insane anger that was just bubbling up inside me. I got so angry at how you were spending time with her and not me. Then I realized that's how you must be feeling seeing me with Sarah. Then I began to understand. I was hurting you wasn't I? That's why you were pushing me away and spending your time with Erica. I'm not sure why, but after that, Sarah helped me figure out what I was feeling wasn't really anger, but jealousy. I was so jealous and it consumed me. Sarah was helping me work it out. I ended up using her as a distraction until she made me realize the truth about what I was feeling." Ethan stopped speaking to catch a breath. Before he could continue, Benny spoke.
"Ethan, you just don't get it," Benny said, standing up in front of the other boy. "You just … you're my best friend! But the minute Sarah came over to babysit that first time you were swept off your feet with her. All you wanted was to get closer to her and just pushed me, your best friend, away! And while you were doing that, Sarah ended up pushing Erica away. We were all the other had! And what do you mean, Sarah was a distraction? From what?"
"From my feelings for you!" Ethan slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide with shock, a deep blush spreading over his cheeks. Benny's eyes just widen as his mouth falls open.
"Feelings….for me?" Benny mouths quietly. Ethan just nods, avoiding the taller boy's eyes now. "What feelings?"
"I was so … angry seeing you with Erica. Sarah helped me realize the anger was jealousy. I was jealous … because I possibly, maybe have feelings for you … that are beyond friendship… I'm not quite sure I'm still so confused. Then when you pushed me away even more I felt like my heart was breaking… Sarah helped me by being a friend. That is all Sarah is to me though, a friend." Ethan looked up at Benny with wide eyes. Benny just stood there, in shock.
"I…I need time to process this. I'll be back later," he said, walking away from his in shock best friend. Ethan just nodded as Benny walked out of his room. As he got downstairs he pulled out his phone, furiously texting Erica as he left Ethan's house. Once he got down the driveway she was there, waiting for him.
"What happened Benny?" As Benny told her what happened, her eyes just got wider and wider until they looked like they were going to fall out of her head.
"What are you doing out here and not in there with your guy? He just admitted that he may have feelings for you! Go Benny! Go! And let me know what happened!" She took off flying before he could speak. Taking a deep breath, he reentered the Morgan's house and made his way up to Ethan's room. Stopping outside Ethan's door he could hear talking.
"I told him. I actually told him. And he walked away."
-Silence- Benny figured Ethan must have been on the phone.
"No Sarah he said he had to process what I said. I think I officially lost my best friend."
-Silence-
"No don't come over. That would just make things worse I think."
-Silence-
"It would be worse because the whole idea was you to not be here tonight so he would come over so I could tell him. I don't think he likes you much right now."
-Silence-
"Maybe you should go see Erica, work things out with her. I know she would like that."
-Silence-
"I'm serious, Benny said something about you pushing Erica away when you hung out with me. Go see her; she is your best friend after all."
-Silence-
"Yeah talk to you later Sarah. Yes I'll let you know if anything happens but I don't think it will," Ethan said, ending the call. Benny took that his chance to come in.
"Hey E," he said, shutting the bedroom door behind him. He was about to say something when he saw the huge smile on Ethan's face. "What?"
"You called me E. You haven't called me that in a while." Benny just smiled before he sat down on Ethan's bed. Ethan stood there awkwardly before Benny tilted his head to the side, indicating for Ethan to sit next to him. Ethan did, smiling again. Benny looked at him before looking at his hands, a faint blush spreading on his cheeks.
"I wanted to tell you … God I don't know where to start E. Um, at first, I was insanely angry that you would choose a girl who you just met over your best friend that you've known forever. Then a couple weeks ago when I came over and was waiting for you in your room and you were shirtless with nothing but a towel on … I realized I liked you as more than my best friend. Then you just kept spending more and more of your time trying to win Sarah over, and I hated it. Then one day I was talking to Erica and we started hanging out, in hopes of making you and Sarah realize what you were missing. I guess it worked because here I am, sitting on your bed with you instead of you sitting with Sarah or me with Erica." Benny stopped talking and glanced at Ethan, who just sat there, mouth open in shock. He closed his mouth and just sat there, staring at Benny. Benny couldn't help but be kinda freaked out at how still Ethan was. Finally Ethan moved. He grabbed the front of Benny's shirt and yanked him to him, kissing him on the lips. Benny didn't move as Ethan pressed his lips to his. He just sat there, in shock. Ethan moved away and blushed, looking away from Benny.
"I'm sorry I did that. I just …I just wanted to see what it felt like," Ethan mumbled, face bright red. Benny just nodded, before slipping an arm around Ethan, pulling him closer. Benny smiled at him and kissed him lightly.
"And how did it feel?" Benny asked against Ethan's lips.
"Amazing," Ethan breathed, smiling. Benny smiled back before they pulled away. "Um, I need to …"
"Call Sarah?" Benny said, raising an eyebrow at Ethan.
"How'd you know?"
"I heard you talking on the phone with her. Its fine I need to let Erica know," Benny said, standing up and walking out of Ethan's room. He shut the door and stood there for a minute, listening intently as Ethan began speaking.
"Sarah! I kissed him!"
-Silence-
"Yes really kissed him, on the lips!"
-Silence-
"I know! And he said he liked me back!"
-Silence-
"I don't know, I mean, he didn't ask me out if that's what you mean."
-Silence-
"You think I should ask him out? I-I don't know Sarah. What if he said he liked me just to make me feel better?"
-Silence-
"You're right. He wouldn't do that. Well… he said he was going to let Erica know so don't say anything to her!"
-Silence-
"I'll let you know if we begin dating. Bye Sarah." Benny quickly walked down the hallway, ducking into the bathroom so he could text Erica.
He kissed me [Benny]
OMG what did you do? [Erica]
I kissed him back.
And?
And what?
Are you two together or not?
No.
Wow doofus, just ask him out already.
I will when I'm ready. How's things with u and Sarah?
Good, good. We're talking. She told me how she was helping Ethan with his crush on you ;)
Yeah he mentioned that. Anything else?
I asked her if she liked him and she said no she preferred blondes! So I might have a chance :D
That's great! Well I'm gonna go.
Text me if you two FINALLY get together!
I will.
Benny stuck his phone in his pocket before leaving the bathroom, heading back to Ethan's room. Opening the door slightly, he saw Ethan pacing, hands in his pockets.
"You okay E?" Ethan jumped in surprise.
"I didn't know you were there."
"I noticed."
"Will you go out with me?" Benny and Ethan asked at the same time. Both boys broke out in a smile before Ethan hugged Benny tightly. Benny pushed him away and grabbed his phone, texting out to Erica Officially dating. He looked up to see Ethan texting who he assumed was Sarah. Benny turned his phone off, throwing it on Ethan's bed. Ethan looked up and did the same, before Benny wrapped his arms around Ethan, never planning on letting go.
[A/N: I was going to end it right here, but just had to throw this next part in]
Monday at school...
Benny had his arm around Ethan's shoulders as they stood at their lockers, talking together. Looking up, Benny caught sight of Erica, Rory, and Sarah walking towards them. Erica was extremely close to Sarah, which caused a smile to come onto Benny's face. Ethan looked up and noticed them too, smiling slightly. He looked at Benny who just smiled back and tightened his arm that was around the shorter boy's shoulders.
"Good to see you two worked out your problems," Rory said, smiling that goofy smile of his. Benny and Ethan smiled back happily.
"You two make a cute couple," Sarah said. Erica just stood there silently. Sarah elbowed her so she would speak.
"I'm glad to see you two geeks are together finally. Now, I'm gone. Come on Sarah, don't pay attention to them," Erica said, pulling Sarah away. Benny just laughed and called out to Erica.
"Love you too Erica!" Erica looked over her shoulder at him, smirking before turning away and continued to drag Sarah with her. Benny just laughed again and looked back at Ethan and Rory talking. "Ya know," Benny says, glancing at Ethan, "I'm kinda happy I told Erica now.
…
FINALLY DONE! Goodness this one was waaaaaaaaay longer than I thought it would be! Well, next up is "Benny tells Sarah." Hope everyone liked this! Hit that review button and let me know what you think!
-JustMe133