I OWN NOTHING THIS IS A FICTIONAL STORY CREATED BY A FAN OF THE SHOW "THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER" WHICH IS OWNED BY BRENDA HAMPTON & THE PRODUCERS OF ABCFAMILY CHANNEL. THE PLOT OF THE STORY HOWEVER IS MINE. ENJOY!
FLOWERS FOR A GHOST
PLOT SYNOPSIS. Ben awoke from surgery after two days. Despite the apparent temporary death he experienced for 25 seconds when he flat lined he suffered no brain damage. Chloe thought for a moment that he no longer had any memory of her but he scared her into thinking he had amnesia. Chloe was scared because she read that people who have undergone surgery's like Ben's wake up with no memory or partial memory of their life. Many wake up with brain damage and revert to a child like state where the emotions, and mentality are never really in sync. Many wake up with loss of motor control to parts of their body. Ben suffered this affliction but slowly got back control over his hands and legs.
Unlike many thought Ben did not need summer school. In fact Leo was informed by the counselor Ms. O'Malley Ben only continued to go to high school for one class, and he was free to leave high school at any time after December. This shocked Leo who wondered why Ben kept such a large secret. However Ben claimed he was too weak to attend graduation. Leo and everyone else also wanted to miss going to the ceremony, but Ben forbid his family from missing it, on his behalf. Chloe really didn't want to go because she didn't really lcare for any of the people graduating. She had disdain toward Henry and Alice for being such crappy friends. She had no interest in seeing Grace graduate because. As for Amy she readily admitted that she would rather have shock therapy than watch her accept a diploma after all she did to Ben.
Leo was overjoyed his son survived and he seemed to be in good spirits, he was happy his family was now back together. He was so happy he planned a celebatory party for everyone to celebrate their graduation, and Ben's recovery. Unfortunately none of the teens noticed anything different about Ben accept one. That one was Chloe, who saw Ben only pretended. She noticed Ben looked as though he was always somewhere else when they were together, and she recognized that to he seemed to only be going through motions to make others appear happy. She noticed it because as a former prostitute it was an easy trick they used to make their clients feel satisfied with their performance.
Boykewich Home May 25, 2012
12:00 P.M.
Leo: Ben are you sure? I mean you look strong enough to stand, and you would only be walking for a few steps. You only get to graduate from high school once, do you really want to miss that?
Ben: Dad, its okay if I ever see that school again it will be to soon.
Leo: But, son after all the work you did, and all you have been through I would think you would want to go to your own graduation.
Ben: Why so, I can show everyone that I made it through?
Leo: Yes. Show you can show that even though you've been through almost everything you are stronger because of it.
Ben: ...am I... (ben said under his breath) Look Dad, I know what I have been through and so do you. It doesn't matter to me if anyone else knows how strong I am, as long as I know.
Chloe: I agree. But, that still doesn't mean we have to go, or that I have to go. I mean you don't have to be here all by yourself on your graudation day.
Ben: Actually, it does. Truthfully I want you guys to go so you leave, and I can have a moment alone. I love you guys, but after my surgery, and everyone visiting me, hanging around, always asking me if I'm okay, or if I need anything. You guys are really starting to get on my nerves.
Camille: Okay, we can take a hint Ben. Or a full on explanation. We're leaving.
Ben: THANK YOU! (acting relieved to be finally being alone)
Leo: Alright son, keep your cell phone on, and call us if you need anything.
Ben: Dad, you're only going to be gone a few hours. Hopefully I can manage by myself without getting into trouble. I hope, but we all know my track record.
Leo: Yes, we do. But, I'm trusting you. (hugs Ben and turns to leave.)
Camille: Okay sweetie, let us know if you need anything. (kisses Ben and leaves)
Chloe: (looks at Ben and a tear leaves her eye. She kisses him on the cheek and she hugs him tightly to her) You take care of yourself Ben...
Ben: (looks at her and he realizes she knows what he is really doing) I will. You do the same, little sister. And take care of them to.
Chloe: I will.
Chloe then wiped her face made herself presentable to her parents then turned and left as she got into the car to leave she made one last wave at Ben, before getting inside and leaving. Leo, and Camille waved to Ben from the car as they left. Ben waved back as they left with a smile on his face, and then said goodbye to his parents. Ben looked a little sad that he was not being honest with his parent's as they left, but it had to be done.
Ben then went up stairs to get ready for the rest of his life. He cleaned his room, showered, changed, and did his laundry. He then went into his closet, and uncovered the hidden safe that only he and Leo knew about no one knew about it accept for Adrian whom Ben showed the safe too when they were together. Inside Ben removed a manila envelope which held all of his newly made documents. Unlike Leo realized when he had Ben emancipated so he could marry Adrian he allowed Ben to gain access a hidden aspect. Children who have been emancipated by their parents have the ability to re-write their own life without worry of being able to be tracked by their parents. Ben changed his name only six months ago without Leo having any knowledge of this, not even the school had knowledge of this.
Ben also applied to have a new social security number by claiming his identity was stolen. Because Ben came from a highly influential family with a substantial income he was given a new number easily during a three month period. Using these documents Ben got a new pass-port with a new photo with a new look and hair do. He changed the look and hair do as soon as the picture was taken. He now once again looked the way he did when the photo was taken with his hair low in spikes with blond high-lights.
He pulled his wallet from the safe along with a disposable phone, and an introduction letter. This he wrote while on his father's stationary and computer. That was not the first time he wrote a letter like this the first time he wrote a letter of introduction was last year when Ashley Jeurgens called him to help her get into the cooking school in Italy she now attended. Ben thought it odd that Amy and the rest of the Jeurgens family never gave a thought to how Ashley was able to get into such a prestigious school without credentials. But, Ashley told him during that time when they became friends after Mercy died that her family seldom paid much attention to her, and usually gave her no notice. Ben felt sorry for Ashley being the middle child and passed over by her own family. He felt really bad when she said her family didn't even really try to get her to come home for Christmas and she thanked Ben for asking his Uncle Peitro to let her spend Christmas with their family.
Ben looked at the other items in the safe that he wanted to take with him. Mostly there were pictures, of he and his friends. There were several mementos to his life. A picture of he and his parents at their last anniversary together. There was the rocket he, Alice, and Henry used to win the science fair with the blue ribbon attatched. There was the silver hairbrush, comb, and mirror given to him by his dad to remember his mom. Also there was the marriage license he had with Adrian, he once had he and Amy's marriage certificate, but Adrian took that out right away, but she did let him keep the ring that he wore from that small time in his life. The last thing he had in the safe was Mercy's death certificate. He was saddened as he looked at this peice of paper, but he kept that because he didn't want Adrian to have any reminder of the pain they once suffered.
Ben then packed a bag with jeans, shirts, and undewear and a pair of sneakers. He checked his wallet to make sure everything was there. Inside the wallet was $500.00 dollars cash, and two Pay As You Go credit cards each with $1,250.00 on them. He also had a new identification card along with his new social security card. Hidden on his person was a bank card that had a hidden account with $10,000.00 dollars cash. All of this money came from the cash gifts he recieved from 18 years of birthdays money from his own account from working in the butcher shop, his time in Bolonia along with a savings bond he cashed that was given to him by his uncle for Mercy. He figured since his uncle refused to accept it back that he would use it.
Ben then took out six letters from the safe and was about to close it when he noticed Mr. Bear lying on his bed. He looked at the small stuffed toy, and stuffed it into the safe with everything else. The only thing that Ben did not have the heart to put into the safe yet was the necklace he wore around his neck that had his wedding band. One letter addressed to Choe's he placed on her pillow. Another letter he placed on the bed of Leo and Camille. He put another letter on his own bed addressed to Henry and Alice. The last two letters he placed in the mail one addressed to Amy Jeurgens Underwood at the butchershop. The last letter he addressed to Adrian Lee at what used to be their condo. He then went outside his home, and got inside of the cab he ordered.
Cab Driver: So where to kid.
Ben: Floral Shop.
Florist: Yes, hello may I help you?
Ben: Yes, I'd like an order of one dozen yellow roses, and one dozen pink roses.
Florist: That will be $75.00 even. She must be some special lady.
Ben: Yes they are.
Florist: Big occassion.
Ben: Yeah, I'm saying goodbye. (turns and leaves)
Cab Driver: Where too now.
Ben: Cemetary.
May 25 1:12 P.M.
Grave site of the final resting places of Sarah Helen Boykewich & Mercy Lee Boykewich
Ben: Hi mom, Mercy (crying) I just stopped by to let you both know that I survived my surgery. Strangely enough no matter how hard I tried Ricky's father was still the person who performed my surgery. Unfortunately he wasn't able to save me, I don't think anyone can save me really. I guess that's why I have to do this, and that is save myself. I came here to apologize too both of you for how I have acted. I'm not just talking about recently, I'm talking about my whole life up until now. I guess I tried to be more than what I was. I thought when I was with Amy that I was in love because she made me feel needed, that I was the one she wanted. But, I she didn't, and I guess on some level I knew that, I just didn't want to accept it. Mom you raised me to have more pride and respect for myself than that. I'm sorry for that.
Sorry for forgetting that if me being honest, kind, and strong for someone is not enough them then they are not enough for me. But, I guess I thought my relationship with Amy was a test, like the one you and dad had to go through when you were together. I remember how you said how difficult it was for you two finding out how difficult it would be to have a child, and then I came. You said that I came at just the right time but I never understood what that meant until Dad told me about your drinking problem. I wish you would have told me, but I guess you didn't want to ruin the idea I had of you in my mind. I thought that if I had hope, and stayed by Amy I could be the one she wanted. I'm sorry I was a fool to believe that mom. Real love is when two people have no doubts about what they feel about each other, and no matter what I felt for Amy I always had doubts about her feelings for me.
I'm sorry that I didn't listen to what others were trying to tell me. What dad, Alice, Adrian, and even Ricky were trying to get me to realize. If Amy loved me, she would have cared about me just as much as I cared about her, and she didn't. So I guess that was my bad for always only trying to see the good in people. I guess I should learn to see the truth about people, and not what I want to see in them. When I, became friends with her sister, she told me that she was sorry. She blamed herself for me and Amy getting back together just before John was born. She thought that if she wouldn't have encouraged me to go back to Amy my life would have been easier, but I think I would have gone back to Amy even without her encouragement. She still feel's guilty even now because I helped her get into a school in Italy, she said that she and I are kindred, because it seems no matter what we do for others it never really matters to them. I guess she's right about that.
Mercy. Baby, I'm sorry for EVERYTHING. I'm sorry for how I acted when your mom first told me she was pregnant with you. I'm sorry about how you were conceived in a moment, of doubt and heartbreak. But, I want you to know that you were not conceived in spite, or shame. No matter what anyone says or thinks, I was never ashamed of you, or your mother. I was ashamed of myself for not thinking before I acted. I felt guilty about you because, I was more happy being with you and your mom than I ever did with being with Amy. I felt guilty because I didn't think I was supposed to be that happy after hurting someone I was supposed to have loved. But, when you love someone they are supposed to make you happy, and I promise you being with you and your mom was the happiest I have ever been in a very long time.
I am sorry for how I acted when we lost you. But, I felt that you paid the price for what we did. I thought it was wrong, and it wasn't. I don't know why God took you from us, but I do know if you had lived I would have spent the rest of my life making you, and your mom happy. Ahem... I named you Mercy because I wanted you to be able to forgive you mother and I for what we did, and if you did die for what we did wrong I hope you can at least forgive you mother. She has had such a hard, and miserable life. She has done some bad things, but she is a great woman with a very big heart. You would have been so proud, and lucky to be born her daughter. I hope you watch over her, and make sure that she is happy, and that she has love.
I don't know what life has to offer me where ever it is I'm going, but I will keep both of you in my heart forever. I'm sorry I wont properly be able to keep my promise to you two, but I will try. I asked my sister Chloe to come in my place. I hope you watch over her as well she is such a great person. She had a very difficult life that she is trying to deal with, but mom, Mercy you would like her, and love her just as I do. Take care of Dad, and I hope you two make sure he doesn't blame himself for this. This is all my decision, and you have to let him see that. Guilt runs deep in we Boykewich men, and I don't want him to feel guilty about his screwball of a son. I love you guys. (wipes tears from his eyes and gets up to leave. He takes two of the roses and plants one flower on the grave of Dr. Bowman, and the other on the grave of Grace's grandmother.) Watch out for Grace she needs you guys, she may not have been my first love, but she was still very important to me.
(Heads to the gate turns around and says) ...Goodbye... (Ben gets into the cab.
Cab Driver: Where too now kid.
Ben: The airport. Oh and the name is Benjamen. Benjamen Newman.
Cab Driver: Okay, MR. NEWMAN.
Please Have the song "FLOWERS FOR A GHOST" by Thriving Ivory playing.
You disappear with all your good intentions
And all I am is all I could not mention
Like who will bring me flowers when it's over
And who will give me comfort when it's cold
When Leo and Camille get home they are surprised to see Ben is nowhere to be found, but they find the letter he left for them on their bed. Leo goes to immediately call the police and begin a search for his son, but Chloe and Camille both stop him. They both explain why they think it is best if he lets' Ben do this. Leo looks sadly at both of them and sits on the bed and begins to cry. Chloe and Camille both go to him and try to comfort him, but they also need comforting themselves. So they all comfort each other.
She took a plane to somewhere out in space
To start a life and maybe change the world
See I never meant for you to have to crawl
No I never meant to let you go at all
Oh, no
Oh, no
Don't ever say goodbye
Everyone arrives for the party hoping to see Ben in a better mood, but are all disappointed when during the party they are informed of Ben's actions. Everyone is distraught with themselves for him leaving. All accept Omar who only appears to be slightly annoyed, only for Adrian's sake. Cathy and Ethan decide to talk, and take a long, and much needed break from each other. They decide they will spend a summer apart, and figure out what to do next. If Cathy and he truly want to be together they will decide that if and whens he comes back for school the upcoming year. Ethan decides to truly get better in school and goes to summer school where he and Chloe get closer?
See my head aches from all this thinkin'
Feels like a ship god, god knows I'm sinkin'
Wonder what you do and where it is you stay
These questions like a whirlwind, they carry me away
Amy and Ricky still continue with their plans to be married, and have the ceremony in the backyard of the Jeurgens home. Amy and Ricky are even given a honeymoon paid for by Shakur and Margaret to Spain. Amy goes to New York, and lives in the apartment complex Leo provides. Living with her are Omar, and Adrian. Adrian convinced Omar to take Leo up on his offer since she was accepted to the same school as Amy and now they can attend classes together. Ricky stays in California, and being forever the opportunist he tries to help Leo deal with Ben's absence by taking his place. However things don't go as planned. For one person has been made the enemy he thought Ben was?...
Who will bring me flowers when it's over
And who will give me comfort when it's cold
Who will I belong to when the day just won't give in
And who will tell me how it ends and how it all begins
Oh, no
Oh no
Don't ever say goodbye
Grace and Jack do break up, they love and care for each other, but they know they are not meant to be. Jack says his good bye as she heads to school with Grant who was accepted to Yale. She is however irritated when she finds out Jack started to see Raven over the Summer since he was approved to date for his heroics with Chloe's Pimp. He is serving a 25 to life sentence for all of his crime with no possibility of parole. Alice goes to Princeton where she and Henry keep in close contact as he passes basic training, and is now an active member of the Armed Forces. Leo and Camille are helped by all of their friends and family, to help deal with Ben's leaving. But, some have blame and want answers to why Ben left, and some want even more...
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm only human
I said I'm only human
I'm human I'm human I'm human
Yeah oh,
Yeah, oh
As for Ben well his story isn't over yet, it is just beginning so keep reading... and get ready to meet MISTER. NEWMAN
I may write in accerts at a later date for the letters he wrote to Leo/Camille, Chloe, Amy, Adrian, and Henry/Alice. I may also give information about his surgery, and what happened after.
