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Look Alive, Sunshine
five
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It started about ten minutes ago. Ben knew there would be consequences coming to visit his sister but he certainly was not expecting a growing reception, he shifted when he heard more giggling come from the door and he wondered why that terrifying Ms. Peabody was allowing the girls to clamour like this. Ben had planned to step in, confront his sister and leave without a hassle; sitting in the girl's dormitory under the scrutiny of giggling girls was far from the plan.
Actually he had been surprised Ms. Peabody let him stay at all knowing how notorious she was with male students but he quickly understood that the staff must have been told of their family's circumstances. It felt a bit crap knowing that everyone knew and giving them special attention, even with the special treatment he would still pick to have no one know.
Ben frowned slightly when he heard another giggle and he checked his watch wondering where on earth his sister was. The last she saw of her she was leaving campus with Johnny Vincent and she has not been to the rest of her classes, and now it was getting late enough for him to begin to worry.
He glanced to the side, tired of keeping his eyes glued to the floor but refusing to acknowledge the girls by the door. A particular stuffed bear on her bed caught his eye, the sheer size of it was so ridiculous that he would recognise it anywhere; it was the very same one he and Matt had tried to win Natasha.
'…Anyone but Johnny Vincent…'
"What's going on? Get out of the way!"
The girls quickly dispersed and Natasha eventually stumbled through into the room, she took one look at Ben and quickly made the connection in her head, she slammed the door shut behind and sighed.
"Hey, I appreciate you coming all the way but you should go soon, curfew's in a few minutes," she barely looked at him as she walked by and placed her bag down on the dresser. Natasha paused as she turned to look over her shoulder. "You don't want Ms. Peabody catching you in here… wait… how did you get in?"
"Don't worry about that," he stood up and stopped by her bed, picking the bear up. "I've been looking for you all day."
"I was off campus, sorry," she offered him a smile but she quickly realised that he was not going to let it slide. She glanced between him and the bear. "What?"
"Were you with Johnny Vincent?"
"So what if I was?" she asked stiffly, smile disappearing as she returned to unpacking the bag. "Is there a problem here?"
"I just don't think guys like him are right for you."
"And guys like Ted Thompson were?"
"No, I understand that now which is why I don't want you making the same mistake…!"
"Yeah well, he's not Ted," Natasha finally placed the bag down and walked over, taking the bear from her brother. "He's nothing like Ted."
"Look, listen… I'm just worried about you," he sighed. "You haven't been acting very… you lately. In fact, everyone's worried."
"Well I mean, how can I?" she asked coldly. "After everything that's happened how can you go on as if nothing happened? Don't you care about our brother at all? You haven't shown up once since he woke up, he's been asking for you constantly!"
"I- of course I care, Nat! He's my twin," his expression twisted and he looked almost pained by her accusations. "I just… need some time, alright? I want nothing more than to see him but… I… it's difficult."
"It's difficult for all of us," Natasha sighed as she placed the bear down and tiptoed up to hug her brother. "But I promised him I'll get you there and I'm counting on you to show up next visit."
"… That's this Sunday, right?"
"Mhmm," she released him with a small smile. "We'll head there together from campus?"
"Yeah, sounds good," Ben returned the smile. "… Did Johnny get you that bear?"
"Oh yeah, isn't he cute?" Natasha smiled as plopped herself down on the bed and hugged the bear. "His name's Mr. Snuggles."
"Mr. Snuggles?" Ben repeated distastefully. "Did he come up with the name?"
"No," she shook her head. "He liked Fred but it wasn't happening."
"Well I don't like the guy but Fred's sounding pretty good than the likes of Mr. Snuggles," Ben chuckled as he ducked down to avoid a light slap from his sister, he grinned as he shuffled back and bent down to pick up his backpack from the floor. "Well then I'll be off now."
"Hey, wait a minute!" she called after him. "You hung up on me!"
"What's this?" Ben asked.
"When we were last on the phone you hung up on me!"
"I don't remember anything like that," he shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Well I better go! See ya!"
"Ben! That's for hanging up on me!" she ran up, grabbed his arm and poked him in the chest. Then she poked him again. "And that one's for Matt, for you taking this long to finally agree to visit."
"Alright, alright," he swatted her hand away with a smile. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know what to say at the time."
"I know, it's alright," she nodded as she stepped back. "I'll see you Sunday then."
"You know it," he was heading to the door but he paused before he opened the door. "And Nat?"
"Yeah?"
"You seem better."
"… Thanks, I do feel better."
"… Let's hope it lasts."
Natasha did not reply to that, in fact she might have scowled at him before she turned around and prepared for bed. He supposed he deserved that kind of response, they had been making good progress after all but… there was just something not quite right about the whole situation. How easily she has run into Johnny's arms, a guy who's practically a stranger to her and her world.
At least his visit was done. It has taken a lot longer and took way too much out of him but it was finally done. He has done most of what he set out to do, find out her whereabouts today and speak about Matt, he has not quite managed to ask her to stop seeing Johnny but at least she was aware of his disapproval… although he had put it not so eloquently.
"Oh hey, Ben."
"Hi," Ben responded without even looking since he was still preoccupied with his thoughts. He had not noticed the two girls standing close to him until someone grabbed his arm. "Oh, god. What?"
"Uh Ben, being rather rude are we not?"
Ben looked up and resisted the urge to frown. He should have guessed it was Mandy standing in front of him and by her side was none other than Pinky who leered at him in a way that made him uncomfortable. They both wore their pyjamas and it appeared they were heading back to Mandy's room… the room she used to share with his sister.
"So, you've certainly caused quite the commotion," Mandy eyed him coarsely, raising an eyebrow as if to look surprised but they both knew that she knew what he had been here for. "So what brought you here?"
"I had to speak to my sister…" Ben replied as he looked for a way to step around the girls but they had him trapped. "Can I help you girls with anything?"
"Like you, we are just concerned about Natasha," Mandy feigned a voice of sympathy. "I mean with the rumours going on around… Happy Volts… and Johnny Vincent of all people. We're all very worried about her."
"And do you actually believe that crap?" Ben was beginning to lose his temper, he hated the condescending tone Mandy used to speak about his family but he knew better than to go off at her.
"Well we all saw Johnny for ourselves," Mandy scoffed with a smirk. "But your sister being crazy…? Well it was Pinky who told me, she said she saw her coming down from Happy Volts."
"I did, I swear it," Pinky piped up. "I was with Derby, he saw it too."
"Huh, really… say Pinky, what are you doing here anyway?" Ben asked with a charming smile, knowing a sure way of distracting Pinky was to get her to start talking about herself. "Thought you were usually holed up with that sorry bunch at Harrington House."
"Funny you should ask," Pinky sighed as she blinked furiously. "That whore Lola moved into Harrington House a couple of weeks ago cuz' well you know, Johnny dumped her and she's all over Gord. I can't stand the sight of her much less having her around so I moved out and Mandy offered me the spare bed in her room."
"Oh no, you poor girl. Best to you," he cooed as he stepped closer towards her, towering her slightly as he smiled down which caused her to giggle. He managed to slip past her and head down the corridor. "Well I hope you two ladies have a good evening. I'll be off then."
"Goodnight Ben!"
Safe to say this whole experience had been horrendous in every way possible and it was going to be a long time before he felt comfortable enough to walk into this building even knowing that he would be welcomed.
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Sunday came quickly and although he has had time to mentally prepare himself Ben still felt nervous standing next to his sister at the rusty gates of Happy Volts. Natasha led the way with a familiarity that he wished he possessed, and in fact, he felt rather guilty for not having. They entered the facility and took a few turns before stopping outside one of the wings which Natasha explained was the one for patients not well enough to be up. With each step he only got more anxious but he knew there was no running now, he made a promise and it was about time he showed his sorry face to his twin.
The orderly greeted them with a warm smile and Natasha introduced Amanda to the younger twin.
"So this is the brother I've heard so much about," Amanda shook his hand with a bright smile. "Matt always speaks about you. He's going to be thrilled to see you."
"Right, yeah…" Ben only just realised he had his fists clenched subconsciously, he was gripping so tight that it hurt slightly. "Um can we see him now?"
"Yes, of course. Follow me this way."
As if she felt his nervousness, Natasha held her brother's arm and squeezed it with a reassuring smile as they walked down the hallway where they eventually stopped outside room A09. Amanda gave the siblings look before she lightly knocked on the door and opened it.
"Matthew, you've got visitors."
"You've got this," Natasha whispered as she headed on in first, releasing his arm as she went in to greet Matt. "Hey, guess who's here?"
It was a familiar sight, Matt was sat up on the bed staring out the window and his expression hardly changed when he saw Natasha at the door, she offered him a smile as she stepped out of the way to let Ben in. Natasha grinned as she watched Ben step into the room, obviously still uneasy with a strange look on his face.
"Hey Matty," Ben mumbled. "It's been a while."
The older twin visibly stiffened when he saw Ben, his expression was unreadable as he slowly climbed out of bed and walked towards them. Natasha expected a happy reunion but she was beginning to grow nervous when Matt has not said a word yet. She held her breath as Matt stopped in front of Ben, they were still the same in every possible way but the scars from the accident were still fresh on Matt's body; he was noticeably thinner and his hair cut short from when they had to perform surgery on his head.
"… What took you so long?" Matt eventually said, his tone serious but he slowly cracked a smile. Matt pulled his twin into a hug and laughed ecstatically. "Aw man Benny… it's been… been…-."
"I know," Ben squeezed his eyes shut when he heard Matt's voice cracking, breaking the front he had tried so desperately to put up for him. "I know Matty, I'm sorry I wasn't there… I know it's been difficult… I'm so sorry."
Natasha and Amanda exchanged happy looks before the orderly showed herself out to give the siblings some privacy. As the brothers spoke Natasha hung back and let them have their moment, knowing that their reunion was a long-time coming and far more personal for the twins. She watched with a silly grin on her face and she was surprised when Matt pulled glanced around Ben with his arm held out towards her, without a thought she ran to them and joined their hug.
"Aw, thank you Nat," Matt held her close. "You're an angel we don't deserve… I am very sorry about what happened last time."
"Don't mention it," she hugged him back one last time before pulling away. "I'm just glad you're doing better."
The rest of the day was spent just casually hanging out with Matt, there was a lot to catch up on and much to be said between all three of the siblings. Amanda came in every hour to check on their progress and with each visit she looked brighter as she jotted down her observations into her clipboard.
Natasha would have thought that football was a touchy subject for him but Matt was genuinely curious about the state of the football team since he's been gone, all was going well until he asked about her and Ted.
"Oh… uh…" Natasha trailed off, avoiding her eldest brother's gaze. "We- um broke up a while ago."
"… How long is a while ago?" Matt asked.
"About two weeks after the accident."
"… That bastard, he's always been a prick," Matt's demeanour changed entirely and she knew that she best tried to calm him down worried he would have another outburst. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"
"I didn't think it was important… I'm sorry," Natasha spoke quietly. "Plus I didn't want to worry you when you had enough… problems."
"Matty, just let it go," Ben held his twin's forearm. "He's not worth it."
"… I guess so, yeah…" Matt attempted to smile as his composure relaxed again. "Anything else interesting happen recently? Nat doesn't tell me anything."
"Oh, well, our baby sister started seeing someone else," Ben smirked. "Guess who."
"Bif?"
"Off."
"… Who else is there? Uh… one of the grease-kids?" Matt tried and his twin nodded back. "Er… Peanut? … Ricky? Oh no, not Ricky-."
"Johnny Vincent."
"Johnny-? Really?" Matt turned to his sister. "You're dating?"
"I guess we're kinda seeing each other," she tried not to sound too giddy but she knew she was grinning ear-to-ear. "It's very recent though… and I'm not even sure so…"
"Well I hardly know the guy…" Matt seemed to contemplate on it. "Wasn't he dating that catty girl for the longest time?"
"Yeah, Lola… I think they broke up a few months ago," she became uneasy under her brothers' stares. "I had a run-in with her a while ago but Johnny stood up for me."
"Good then," Matt patted her head. "Hope things work out for you two."
"Thanks," she smiled back.
Towards the end of the day when visiting hours were coming to an end, Amanda came in to check up on the siblings. She gave Natasha and Ben a few minutes to say goodbye before escorting them out, and she sounded enthusiastic about today's progress and thanked Ben for coming because it has made an obvious and drastic difference. She even said that if his condition kept improving it would only be a short matter of time before the doctors considered discharging him.
"That's great news," Natasha beamed. "And from then on it won't be long before he can come to school again."
"Well, that might still take a while," Amanda smiled at the girl's eagerness. "But if he does improve I don't see why he can't recuperate at home under familiar surroundings."
"That would be amazing," Ben nodded back.
"Ben, you should visit more often," Amanda turned to him. "He seems to respond well towards his family but especially with you. It might be because you two are twins, or maybe because you two were in the accident together; whatever it is though, it's working."
"Right, yeah…" Ben forced a smile and nodded again, this time rather stiffly. "Thanks for today."
Once outside Natasha let out a large sigh and stretched her arms towards the sky.
"This is so great, he's going to be better in no time," she exclaimed brightly. "… So what now? It's getting pretty late."
"I got ball practice," Ben said as they headed towards their bikes. "Coach's putting on extra evening sessions for the game end of the month so I'm just gonna rush ahead first, alright?"
"Go for it," she waved. "I'll see you at school tomorrow."
Ben quickly said goodbye and told her to take care on her way back before he disappeared out the gate first. Stopping by her bike, Natasha took a moment to just collect herself and think over today's visit, she was nothing but ecstatic about today and she felt relieved knowing that the topic of her brother's discharge was considered without her having to bring it up.
Natasha jumped slightly when a guard's voice came from behind her and she hurriedly climbed onto her bike and pedalled out of the gate so they could close it after her.
She was not sure what came over her exactly but she decided to stop in town for some snacks before heading back to the dorm. As she stopped outside Yum Yum Market she noticed that there was an odd number of bikes parked outside, she noticed this because she did not have room to park her bike and she was about to leave for another store when she caught a glimpse of leather through the shop window. She immediately hopped off her bike, pushed it against the bike closest to the door and headed inside.
A strange sight greeted her. There must have been at least five of greasers gathered inside all looking as if they were ready to smash the place… and perhaps they had been about to with the way Johnny was speaking.
"And why the hell would you not sell em' to us?" Johnny growled at the poor clerk. "You're lucky me and boys don't clear this place out!"
Unaware of Natasha's presence, Johnny continued to harass the clerk. Standing close to the door was Ricky who had spotted her instantly, he gave her a friendly smile and filled her in on the details. Apparently the greasers had to head out to Bullworth Town to buy spray paint since the market over in New Coventry had run out, the clerk from the usual store even said he would put in a good word for them but it appeared it did not happen since the clerk from the current store was refusing to sell them any.
"Look buddy," Johnny suddenly made a grab for the clerk's collar, dragging him over the counter so that they were looking each other in the eye. "You've got exactly five seconds to bring me all your spray paint or I'm gonna knock your-."
"His teeth out? His hair off?"
Johnny snapped as he released the clerk, practically shoving the poor man back causing him to almost trip, and snapped his head around with a heavy glare at someone fool enough to dare mock him only to find his lovely sweet gal. He went dumbstruck and could only watch as her pretty lips curled into an innocent smile.
"… I was gonna say 'face clean'," Johnny dropped his hand and turned around to face her completely, doing that dipping his head low so to see her face thing that she grew to adore as time went on. "I didn't know you were here."
"Hm, that doesn't sound very threatening," she chuckled. "I only just got here… spray paint, right?"
"Yes."
"Sir," Natasha stepped around Johnny and addressed the clerk with a bright smile. "I'd like this pack of crisps and if possible a box of spray paint please?"
"U-Uh," the clerk looked between Natasha and Johnny, and just knew that he was faced with a new dilemma now but he decided it was time to just simply give in given the way the situation seemed to only worsen. "What colour?"
"Colour?" Natasha turned to Johnny and he tapped her head, running a finger through her hair. Natasha gave him a smile before she turned back to the clerk. "Red, please."
The clerk disappeared into the back hurriedly and returned with a large cardboard box, its contents clinked together as he wobbled out and heaved it onto the counter next to the bag of crisps.
"That will be twen-."
He began punching some numbers into the cash register when all of a sudden the greasers all began to move as if on cue. The greaser from behind her, she couldn't even make out who, ran forward and grabbed the box off the counter and ran off. The rest ran out of the store leaving both Natasha and the clerk dazed.
"I'll see you in a bit, doll," Johnny leaned into her with a grin and gave her a wink before running out to join his boys. The gesture was short and far from sweet, and it sent a shiver down her spine and left her cheeks feeling warm… in a way opposite from how Johnny Vincent usually made her feel…
"It… appears you've been robbed," Natasha smiled at the man sheepishly. "How much again?"
"…Seventy cents," the clerk looked as if he was about to cry. "Thank you for your patronage."
Without looking back in case the clerk did decide to retaliate, she marched out of the store after dropping her coins and picking up her snack. She dumped the crisps into her backpack and began cycling down the road as fast as possible. She kept an eye out for Johnny or any of his friends as she pedalled but it was as if they vanished completely, her first guess was that they probably ran back to the tenements to stash the stolen goods; she would try to follow them if only New Coventry wasn't so… unfriendly. If she did not have Johnny with her she did not feel entirely comfortable being there herself.
She paused at the junction, cycling onto the pavement as she looked ahead at the archway leading into New Coventry. There shouldn't be anything else stopping her but her own nerves, she assumed she was generally welcomed by Johnny's friends; Ricky's inclusion of her earlier in the store should prove that to some extent but yet…
"What's with the sigh?"
Natasha turned around and found Johnny standing by her, his hands tucked in his pockets leisurely and a sloppy smile present on his frustratingly handsome face. She began to climb off her bike.
"You…"
"Me?" he pulled his hands out of his pockets with another playful grin, knowing that she was about to burst. "What's the matter, doll?"
"How could you do that?!" Natasha demanded, ramming one of her small fists into his chest. "How could you rob the man's store like that? You are awful, Johnny!"
"Well I had the cash but I wasn't gonna pay that asshole after all the trouble he put us through," Johnny scoffed, taking her bike handles from her. "Shall we walk and talk?"
"I think that was called doing his job?" Natasha followed after him when he began walking. "And I'd like my bike back, please."
"Where you heading? I'll pedal."
"No thanks," she tried to take the handles back from him but he wouldn't budge. "Johnny!"
"What, did what happened upset you that much?" he stopped walking entirely and turned to her, face now serious and he actually looked rather frightening but Natasha was going to stand her ground.
"Yes, it upset me," she took a deep breath before looking him in the eye. "You committed a crime and I felt terrible being a part of it."
"You choose a weird time to have a conscience for this kinda thing when we've all done some illegal stuff being the kids we are from this town," Johnny shrugged and Natasha became speechless. Obviously she was no saint herself with the shenanigans she got up to in the past with the jocks and the kids in their town were generally quite rebellious… but the way Johnny spoke… she knew he was implying his rough upbringing on the opposite side of the Vale. "You've done your fair share of underage drinking I bet."
"… That's not the same," she frowned. "… You know that's not the same, Johnny…"
"Do I? Seems like the same kinda shit to me."
"… Right," she did not know how to respond, only that she knew this was a side of Johnny she had not considered anticipating when she should have realised it sooner and been expecting it. "Could I have my bike back please?"
"… Here then," he spoke in a tone that sounded almost cold as he passed it back to her. "I'm going."
Just like that he left her standing there and she couldn't do a thing but watch him leave. It should not have ended like that… there was still so much left unsaid but honestly she had no clue what to even say. So far being with Johnny has been nothing but a pleasant experience because he has been nothing but sweet with her but she knew of his reputation, the stories and rumours that circulate around about the greasers; she should have given it more thought so to be ready when being faced with this situation.
She tried not to overthink it and become even more upset but it was only the natural thing to do and she just felt even worse with every moment that passed. She did not know what to make of this side of Johnny that she had only caught a small glimpse of today, it may have even been something she had subconsciously been overlooking in fear of disliking what she might see, but she knew that it was something that they could work out together.
Natasha wanted nothing more than to speak to Johnny and clear the air between them, and she wondered if she went after him now if she could catch up to him but the thought of chasing him into New Coventry and have a potentially heated conversation did not sound very appealing…
That was when she realised she didn't even have his phone number.
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This is the part where it starts to steer away from the original story.
Hope everyone is enjoying!
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