Take Care of Yourself

(Day 160: Friday Afternoon)

"I can't believe the school year's already over," Ben frowns as he watches Doug zip up his suitcase.

He grabs it and turns to him, "Ben. I have to ask." before he pauses, searching his eyes for the truth. "Are you going to be okay, going back home?"

Ben nods, "Yeah."

Doug continues to frown, "Right." before he nods in return. "Take care of yourself."

"You're not leaving now," his eyes widen.

"Ben," Doug hesitates, "I have to catch the train." He watches as Ben looks away and runs a hand over his face. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

Ben feels his heartrate increase as the tears intrude his eyes and his voice crackles, "Why wouldn't I be?"

He looks over him, "I really wish we could have done something."

"Yeah," Ben attempts to pull himself together, before he halfheartedly laughs, "Me too."

"Mother?" Ben voices, as they sit at the restaurant table.

"Yes?" she inquires.

His words escape him, and his eyes shift down. How could he possibly ask why she wanted to divorce his father? It couldn't have been anything good, and if the lawyer's right he probably wouldn't want to know. Not right now. He wets his lips, "Can you pass the salt?"

After she gives it to him she comments, "Must be nice, not having to worry about schoolwork for a while. Now you have time to implement some real ideas into the community."

"Yeah," his eyes shift in unsureness.

She looks at him in suspicion, "Honey, what's wrong?"

He takes a moment, before he faces her, "Technically speaking, someone could move out at a younger age if both the parents and child left the authorities out of it."

His mother cautiously frowns, "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that the castle won't be safe for them," he excuses. "Father can barely tolerate us, and supposedly he loves us. He hates villains. What do you think will happen?"

She glances over the wide open area, "This is neither the time nor place for this conversation."

"Travis is getting them soon," Ben reminds her. "Now's the perfect time."

"King or not," his mother emphasizes, "you are still but a child. You can't possibly go out on your own so soon."

Ben sighs, "Mother."

"And where would you live?"

He shakes his head, "Where does anyone live?"

She laughs, "You're a royal. You're going to need more security than that."

"Mother," Ben tries to reason.

"No," she asserts. "You're my son. You're not leaving me." He stares at her, unable to speak, and she lets out a breath in embarrassment, "Pardon me. That came out wrong."

"No," Ben quietly understands, before he meets her eyes. "It's fine."

"It's just," she attempts to explain, "your father wouldn't make it easy."

He continues to frown, "It's fine. I get it."

His mother pokes a fork into her salad, "As for your friends, they can stay in the East Wing— still give them a tour, of course, so they don't get too curious— and then the amount of time your father has with them should be minimal."

Ben nods, "I was thinking the same thing."

- Posted: 02/21/2019

- I had a hard time researching this, but maybe some of you will know. The actors that play Ben and Mal in the movies, do either of their eyes contain a black ring around the iris? This would just be something really good to know continuing forward.