"It's really you.." He whispered.
I began walking away, clutching my side. "I wasn't lying to you. There is no reason to lie." I said angrily. He jogged to me, grabbing my elbow.
He looked at me intently, his cheeks turning red. "What did you want me to do? I thought you were dead all these years! What, was I just supposed to believe that you weren't? When they told me you were dead, I was heart broken. I cried for months! Then my parents abandoned me because I wasn't good enough. I'm sorry but, I hardly know you." He defended. I laughed slightly, turning to him angrily.
"That didn't stop you from judging me. It didn't stop you from laughing when those assholes hurt me. It didn't stop you from standing there and watching when Jack made me go near that fire!" I yelled, clutching my mother's necklace. "Listen Ben, I know how you feel-"
He scoffed. "You don't know how I feel at all. Your family is dead!"
"Yea, I know! I was fucking there! But I know what it is like to be alone. To be the outcast of everyone around you. It's suffocating. But you never stopped to figure that out about me, did you?" I growled. "We were best friends, Ben."
His eyes softened along with his grip on my arm. "I had to morph to what the people around me expected. Yea Keith was always there but I knew I wasn't as good as him. I'm still not. People expected me to be a douche bag. They expected me to be that 'perfect' jock. So that's what I became. I went down the wrong path a while ago. And it's too late to turn back now."
I pulled my arm from his grasp. "Ben, it isn't too late to change things. You were better than this. I know you-"
"Shut up! You don't know what it is like." He yelled, Starly flying away from their trees. There was a rustling in the bushes near us. It made me uneasy. "All I want is to be accepted for who I really am. But no one is willing to do that."
I lightly rested my hands on his shoulders. "You really think Keith, Kate, and everyone else wouldn't accept you as yourself. Ben, I've gotten a glimpse of who you used to be. I know you're better than this. Why can't you see that yourself?" I whispered. He opened his mouth to talk when I glanced behind him. Fiery red eyes stared at us behind a nearby bush. The Pokemon emerged from the darkness, its claws a piercing black. The Zangoose lifted its paw, ready to strike. I gasped, "Ben, move!" My arms pushed his body out of the way.
There was a ripping sensation on my arm. Blood fell from my arm, falling in drops to the grass. Slash.. it would have hit Ben right on the back of his neck. If only I had my styler with me. Ben began the capture, twirling the stylus in circles around the beast. Suddenly, Ben was thrown back, knocking him to his back on the ground. He grabbed at his chest, obviously lacking air. Zangoose pulled his hand back again, aiming for Ben's chest. "NO!" I screamed. Without a second thought, I sprinted to Ben, slamming my hands on either side of his head, shielding him from the furious Pokemon. My arms shook terribly. "Zangoose, we are sorry. Whatever we did to upset you, just know we are sorry and it won't happen again. Please, don't hurt him." I choked out, feeling flustered. I glanced back at Zangoose. He was now on all fours, walking back to his part in the forest.
Ben looked up at me, shock etched on his face. A deep blush spread through my cheeks as I scooted myself away from him, gripping my arm. Great. Now I have two gashes on my body. I'm so accident prone. "Summer.." Ben whispered. "You just saved me from two attacks.." He said in awe.
My blush deepened. "I-It was nothing. Don't think anything of it." I said looking the other way. "Just, help me to the nurse's office." He nodded and helped me to my feet. Chikorita followed behind us.
"What happened here?" The nurse asked sweetly, as I hesitantly took off my shirt. She instructed me to lay on the bed while she stitched me up.
I looked around the sterile white room. Ben was sitting out on the bench in front of the office. I don't know if he is still there. Part of me hopes he is. I don't know why. He put Chikorita in the Pokemon stables. I hope she'll be okay. "Two angry Pokemon. It's kind of a long story." I muttered, cringing as she stuck the needle through my skin and pulling it out the other side. "No numbing medicine?" I asked, flinching at the second loop.
"We ran out. The next shipment ins't until next week. So try not to rip these. If you do, we will have to do this over again." I sighed, nodding my head. Well I don't want that. About twenty minutes passed and she was done stitching my arm and side. I thanked her and walked to the door. Before I opened it all the way, voices began talking.
"Dude, it's her. From when I was real young. We were best friends and then her house burned down. Rumors spread saying no one made it out alive. She was taken away before I could confirm and I hadn't seen her since. I was so mean to her. And we were just out there in the woods when two Pokemon tried to attack me. She pushed me out of the way both times, taking the hit for me." That's Ben. "Why would she do something like that for me? I was terrible to her."
There was a slight pause. "Are you sure it's her?" That's Keith. I didn't hear a response but he continued on. "Then why are you holding back? I mean gods. You guys were separated for years and now you're back together? That doesn't exactly happen too often. Don't put it to waste. Do you at least want to be friends with her?"
Another pause. "She was my best friend. The only one I had. And while we were in the forest.. she told me she knew the real me and knew what I was capable of. She said I was a better person than what I was letting other people see. I didn't think that would change my mind but.. I want to change. I want to show everyone the real me. Summer was the only one to accept me when were little. I don't want to lose her again."
I stood there breathing shallowly. He really means it.. Someone called Keith's name from a distance. "Hey, I have to go back with my family. I'll see you later, Alright?"
"See ya." Ben said simply. I waited a few seconds before walking out, trying my best not to show pain. Ben stood up immediately, his cheeks somewhat pink. "Summer," he started, "I'm so sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for everything hurtful I did to you. And for everything I let happen. If you want to, I would really like to hang out with you more. Ya know, make up for the last -what?- eight years we've been apart?" A small smile formed on my face as I looked up at him. I can see the same boy I used to place with day in and out when we were children.
Without a doubt in my mind, I answered him. "Ben, nothing would make me happier." He smiled widely. Both our stomachs growled loudly. I clapped my hand to my stomach, momentarily forgetting my stitches. A small grunt escaped my lips but I don't think he noticed. "Except maybe some dinner?" I asked.
He smiled, holding his arm towards the dinning hall. We walked side by side, catching up on a few things. "I wonder how different thing would be if you were never taken away." He whispered slightly. I looked up at him and shrugged. "I know one thing for sure. I would never have gone down the wrong path." A smile spread across my face at those words.
We walked outside, towards a building. "I didn't know the cafeteria was outside." I said pretty stupidly.
"What do you mean? Summer, you've been here for a while now. How could you not know the cafeteria was outside in a different building." He asked confused. I'm almost afraid to answer him.
"I've never actually been inside." I mumbled. Ben's mouth fell open.
He stopped walking in front of me. "Then where have you been eating? Have you even been eating?" He asked.
I chuckled uneasily. "Wendy sometimes brings up food and offers me some. I try not to take too much but I get pretty hungry sometimes."
"Why didn't you ever come down and get something?" He asked, almost mad.
I looked up at him. "I didn't exactly want to get harassed in front of the whole school by Jack. It was either that or not eat and I chose not to eat. But it's fine. I rarely get too hungry anyway."
He looked at me with sad eyes. I froze when his arm made their way to my back and he pulled me to his chest, resting his chin on my head. He smells of the ocean and cotton. My body relaxed as I reached my arms around to his back.
We stood there for a few more moments, enjoying the comfort of each other. "I'm going to make it up to you, Summer. I really am. I promise to you right now, I'll never hurt you again. I'll always protect you. I don't want to lose you. Not ever again." I pulled away slightly, looking up at him. His cheeks were flushed with blush and he smiled sheepishly. I nodded my head slowly, feeling thankful for his company. "Come on, let's go feast." He smiled.
Okay, hopefully everyone enjoyed! By the way, I'm going to put up a new story of Ben and Summer's Christmas. It won't have anything to do with this story. So if you're interested, keep a look out. Anyway, thanks for reading! -A
