The things we do because of love

Ben1

I caught myself staring at the back of Gwendolyn’s head, studying the way her golden blond hair parted and flounced into a perfect angular bob. Her friend Keri that was sitting next to her said something and she chuckled making her shoulders shake.2

“Ben, You okay dude?” Trevor asks.3

“Yeah, just a little out of it today.” I say shaking myself out of my daze.4

“You were staring at Gwendolyn again.” He says.5

“I was not.” I say trying not to sound defensive.6

“Ha-ha she is pretty cute.” He says.7

“Thanks,” Gwendolyn says turning in her seat and winking at me.8

I swear I blushed, but I couldn’t tell if it was noticeable. I looked at Trevor and he just looked shocked. I kick him and his face changes to an unusual scowl.9

“What’s with you?” I ask as we walk home after school.10

“She winked at you and paid absolutely no attention to me…” he mumbles.11

“Is it so bad that a girl actually paid attention to me and not you?” I ask.12

“It’s not that, it’s the fact that she didn’t even look at me, I’m not use to it.” He says.13

“You’re just jealous.” I say.14

“No, I’m just shocked.” He says15

“That a pretty girl winked at me and you’re used to getting all the positive female attention?” I ask.16

“Yeah, it’s just weird for her to all of a sudden show that she actually heard our conversation, she would normally ignore it then laugh with about it with her friends later.” He says.17

“You’re looking way too far into this.” I say.18

“It’s not normal behavior for her.” He says.19

“What do you do in you’re free time? Study the ways girls act in certain situations?” I ask.20

“Yeah pretty much,” he says.21

“Then you have way to much free time.” I say laughing.22

“This isn’t a laughing matter, how could I lose her attention to you?” he asks.23

“This isn’t a competition.” I say.24

“Maybe not to you, but I’ve been trying to get her attention for a while and you don’t event do anything and she just hands you a wink out of nowhere.” He says.25

“Dude, chill out it’s not like she likes me or anything, she just thinks it’s nice that I think she’s pretty.” I say.26

“Sorry, I guess I am jealous, that’s really petty of me.” he says.27

“Wow did you just use petty to describe yourself?” I ask.28

“Yeah so?” he asks.29

“It’s just really out of character.” I say.30

“I feel bad, I overreacted and it was stupid.” He says.31

“Besides, I like punk girls more, they normally have better personalities.” I say.32

“So you don’t like her?” he asks.33

“I don’t know, she’s pretty but I don’t know what she’s like and I don’t want to be with a pretty girl I don’t have anything in common with me, I wouldn’t be able to be myself.” I say.34

“Oh.” He says.35

“I’ll see you, later.” I say walking down the sidewalk to my house.36

I open the door and walk into the kitchen. I open the refrigerator and grab a soda. I set it on the counter and grab a bag of potato chips. I was about to sit down at the table when I saw a girl sprawled on the table. She had short spiky blond hair with alternating green and orange tips, she was very busty and was wearing a black long-sleeved t-shirt and back skinny jeans with a neon pink studded belt. She had three piercings in each ear. I stood there staring at her for a while before I realized that there was a girl sleeping on my kitchen table and I had absolutely no idea who she was or where she came from. I poke her shoulder and she twitches and giggles in her sleep. I shake her gently hoping that would wake her up and it does, she sits straight up and hits her head on mine.37

“Ow! That hurt, you big meanie.” She says glaring at me and rubbing her forehead.38

“Why were you sleeping on my kitchen table?” I ask.39

“Because I figured someone would get mad at me if I slept in their bed and the couch isn’t very comfortable.” She says.40

“Okay… Why are you in my house?” I ask.41

“Hmm… I don’t know, I just poofed here and then fell asleep on the table.” She says.42

“You poofed?” I ask.43

“Yeah, like magic or something, I don’t know what to call it but it happens to me sometimes.” She says as if that explained it perfectly.44

“Okay, so you have no idea how you got into my house, but this kind of thing happens to you sometimes and you didn’t want anyone to get mad at you and the couch is uncomfortable so you slept on the table.” I say.45

“Yep, that’s pretty much dead on.” She says.46

“My parents are never going to believe this.” I say shaking my head.47

“Probably not.” She says getting off the table and taking my soda and opening it and drinking it.48

I looked at her in disbelief and she looks at me with innocent eyes.49

“Oh, this was yours wasn’t it?” she asks.50

“Yeah.” I say.51

“I’m sorry,” she says.52

“It’s fine.” I say.53

“I don’t really think before I do things, it gets me in trouble a lot of the time.” She says tracing the rim of the soda can.54

“Where are you from?” I ask.55

“Ohio, and where am I know?” she asks.56

“Richmond, Virginia.” I say.57

“Of course, I get poofed into another state, my mother is going to kill me.” she says.58

“Why? It’s not your fault you got poofed here.” I say.59

“You’re right it isn’t but she thinks I’m a evil little witch trying to runaway from home, but I’m not smart enough to do that.” She says.60

“Not smart enough?” I ask.61

“If I was smart, I would have left years ago, or called child protective services, but I’m too afraid to.” She says.62

“Am I right in assuming your mother abuses you?” I ask.63

She nods looking down at the can in her hand.64

“What about you’re father?” I ask.65

“He left us years ago, my mom blames me for him leaving. But he was smart to get out of there while he could.” She says tears trickling down her face, messing up her eyeliner and mascara.66

I walk over to her and hug her against me gently, letting her cry. She cries silently, I was barely able to tell she was crying except for her tears. The tears stop flowing and I wipe away a straggling tear. The girl I was holding now was quite different from the girl I had found on my table.67

“What’s your name?” she asks in a whisper.68

“Ben.” I say.69

“Thanks Ben.” She says hugging me.70

“What’s your name?” I ask.71

“Rita,” she says.72

“Your welcome Rita.” I say.73

She smiles up at me and I see happiness sparkle in her eyes.74

“Can I go wash my face, I know my make up is completely messed up now.” She says.75

“Yeah, the bathroom is just down the hall on the right.” I say. 76

She leaves and I smile thoughtfully to myself. She’s just the kind of girl I like, I think to myself, but I still don’t know anything about her. 77

Rita78

“Great, my make up is completely screwed up.” I say to myself.79

I scrub my face trying to get all of it off, I rinse the soap off and all of the freckles I was trying to hide now showed. I dried my face with a towel and decided that I didn’t look too bad without makeup; just not as good as I would like to look. I walk out of the bathroom and back into the kitchen where Ben was sitting there on the counter and staring at the wall with a dazed smile on his lips, his cute, little, very kissable lips. I sit on the counter next to him and he doesn’t even notice.80

“That must be a really good daydream.” I say.81

“I wasn’t daydreaming.” He says indignantly.82

“Yeah you where, only some one daydreaming could stare at a wall as intently as you were.” I say teasingly.83

“Whatever.” He says.84

I laugh and he smiles.85

“If my parents say it’s okay, do you want to stay here?” he asks out of the blue.86

“What do you mean?” I ask.87

“Do you want to stay here, in Virginia?” he asks.88

“I want to but what about my mom?” I ask.89

“We can think of something to do about her.” He says.90

“What if she comes looking for me?” I ask.91

“How will she know where you are?” he asks.92

“What if your parents say no?” I ask.93

“If you tell them you’re story they won’t be able to.” He says.94

“We can try, but I can promise you that this plan won’t work.” I say.95

“Sure it will.” He says.96

“What about school? What about food, I don’t want to be a burden on you’re parents and I can’t get a job to pay them for back for it.” I say.97

“You can come to school with me and you won’t be a burden, plus my parents are rich, it won’t be problem, and it’ll be better than living with your mom won’t it?” he asks.98

“Yeah, but…” I say.99

“But what?” he asks.100

“Why?” I ask.101

“Why what?” he asks.102

“Why are you being so kind to me?” I ask.103

“Because you shouldn’t be living with someone who abuses you, you need someone who can take care of you.” He says.104

“You are such a romantic.” I say shaking my head.105

“Please stay?” he asks.106

“If your parents say I can but I’m not going to beg them, and I don’t want you to either.” I say.107

“Fine.” He says.108

He gets off the counter and I follow him. He walks down the hall and up the stairs and into a room I’m assuming to be his. He sits on his bed and I just stand there in the doorway not sure whether I should sit or not.109

“You can sit down, you know.” He says.110

I awkwardly sit down next to him on the bed.111

“What’s your favorite color?” he asks.112

“Pink, you?” I ask.113

“The color of your eyes.” He says then blushes when he realized what he said.114

“What’s your favorite band?” I ask.115

“I don’t really have one, you?” he asks.116

“Anyone who plays rock.” I say smiling.117

“Favorite activity?” he asks.118

“Shoe shopping.” I say.119

We ask each other questions like this for a while and when we ran out we just sat in silence for a little bit. I lean in to kiss his nose but he flinches slightly and I end up kissing his lips. He quickly ends the kiss by pulling away blushing like a tomato. I giggle slightly and confirm that his lips are indeed very kissable.120

“Are you okay?” I ask when the blush doesn’t fade and he zones out.121

“Yes.” He says.122

“Are you sure? You’re still blushing.” I say.123

“I’m fine,” He says.124

“So if I give you a real kiss I should expect you either to go into a comma or faint right?” I ask teasingly.125

He leans in and kisses me on the lips. I lick his lips, wanting entrance to his mouth. I could tell this was his first real kiss because it took him a while before he realized why I was licking his lips. He timidly opens his mouth and I explore tangling with his tongue. He pulls away from the kiss too soon but I can’t complain because that was the best kiss I’ve ever had.126

“Wow.” I say.127

I watch as he passes out and I giggle. I sit there for a while expecting him to wake up but when he doesn’t I go downstairs and get a glass of cold water and take it back upstairs. I flick some of it on his face and he still doesn’t wake up. I pour the glass on his face and he wakes up sputtering.128

Ben129

I hear giggling and the next thing I know water is being poured on my face. I wipe water out of my eyes and see Rita standing over me giggling with an empty glass.130

“What happened?” I ask.131

“You kissed me then fainted.” She says still giggling.132

“That’s just great.” I say.133

“The kissing part was, but the fainting part not so much.” She says smiling.134

“If you tell anyone that I fainted…” I say trailing off.135

“Who would I tell? And why would I do that?” she asks.136

“I don’t know but just don’t.” I say.137

“I won’t.” she says.138

“I’m going to go get a towel.” I say139

“Ok.” She says.140

I walk down to the linen closet and take a towel and dry my face and try to get most of the moisture out of my hair. I walk back into my room and Rita is staring out the window in horror.141

“What is it?” I ask coming to look out the window as well.142

“That’s my mom.” She says.143

“Why is she here, I thought she was in Ohio.” I ask.144

“I did too.” She says.145

“I won’t let her hurt you.” I say hugging her.146

“I’m going down there, stay inside.” She says.147

“I’m not letting you go down there by yourself.” I say.148

“You have to, I don’t want you getting hurt.” She says.149

“Fine but if you look like you’re in trouble then I’m coming out.” I say.150

“Fine.” She says.151

I follow her downstairs and she walks out the front door. I watch from the window as she walks down the sidewalk.152

Rita153

“What are you doing here?” I ask my mother who looked incredibly pissed.154

“I came to get my ungrateful daughter.” My mother says, spitting acid with every word.155

“Your ‘ungrateful’ daughter is leaving you like her father, never to come back, to be free of the wretched woman that you are.” I say.156

“You can’t leave me, I own you, and you’re under my protection.” She says.157

“Protection from what? A good life? You tried to shelter me from the world, telling me that everything was worse outside of your ‘protection’.” I say.158

“And it is.” She says.159

“No it isn’t you lying witch, I have experienced kindness, and I will never go back to you.” I say.160

“You know that no one will accept you for who you are, you’ll have to lie constantly, never able to feel like yourself around someone.” She says.161

“You’re the one who couldn’t accept me, I am what I am and if you can’t accept me then just leave me alone.” I say.162

“You wretched little brat. No one could ever love you, not even your own father loved you enough to stay.” She says.163

“He left because of you, and you know it, he saw what a horrible person you were and couldn’t bear to be near you, he loved me and still does, he keeps taking me from your clutches and putting me in safety if you can’t call that love then you’re heartless.” I say.164

“She’s right you know.” A voice from behind me says.165

I turn slightly to see my father.166

“I hated the fact that you could treat your own flesh and blood the way you do, I had to leave, I couldn’t take my child with me because you would have involved the law, but now, I’ve seen and heard enough I want my child and there is nothing you can do to stop me.” my father says.167

“Kevin, let’s be reasonable.” She says.168

“I tried to be reasonable while I was married to you, I’m done with you and so is Rita,” he says.169

“You can’t get away with this.” She says.170

“I can and will.” He says.171

He snaps his fingers and my mother disappears. I run to my father and hug him.172

“Rita, I’m so sorry I left, but the judge wouldn’t let me have custody of you, he assumed that I had abused you not your mother, I’m so sorry sweetheart.” He says173

“I know, and I don’t care as long as I never have to see her again.” I say.174

“Mr. Burns, what are you doing here?” Ben asks coming out of the house.175

“I came to get my daughter.” He says.176

“Oh.” Ben says disappointedly.177

“Don’t worry, you’ll still get to see her, I’ve enrolled Rita at your school.” he says.178

“Dad, can I go talk to Ben, he’s got to be really confused.” I say.179

“Go ahead.” He says.180

I walk over to Ben.181

“Are you ok?” he asks.182

“I’m fine.” I say.183

“Mr. Burns is your dad?” he asks.184

“Yeah.” I say.185

“And how did your mom just disappear like that?” he asks.186

“It’s magic, my dad’s a warlock, my mom is a witch and so am I.” I say.187

“So you’re dad is the one who keeps poofing you places?” he asks.188

“Apparently.” I say.189

“So, you’re not going to live with me?” he asks.190

“No, but I’ll see you at school and I’ll visit.” I say.191

“Promise?” he asks.192

“Promise.” I say.193

I hug him and he smiles.194

“Your dad is looking at us weird.” He says.195

“Yeah, I know.” I say.196

“You should probably go,” he says.197

“Bye.” I say kissing his cheek.198

I walk away and I could tell he was blushing. He walks back up to his house and closes the door.199

“So you like Ben?” my dad asks.200

“He’s pretty cool.” I say.201

“Come on I have all your stuff at my house,” he says.202

He poofs us into his house and I smile.203

“I’ve missed you daddy.” I say hugging him.204

“I’ve missed you too, angel.” He says.205

We stand there hugging for a while and when I finally let go he takes me up to my room. I have the attic as a room; it’s beautiful and gives me privacy. My bed is under the window and my dresser and vanity set are against the wall, and my bookcases line the other walls. The carpet was a light spring green and the walls were a bright pink. I saw something on the dresser. It was a small box, with a bow on it. I open it and pull out a cell phone. I loved it. I flopped on my bed and sighed in relief, everything was going to be so much better now. I go downstairs and find my dad sitting on the couch watching the news.206

“I’m going to take a shower and then go to bed, I love you.” I say kissing his cheek.207

“Love you too sweetie.” He says.208

I walk back upstairs to the bathroom and close the door. I take off my clothes and turn the water on. I test it with my hand and get in. I quickly wash my hair and condition it. I linger in the shower for a few minutes then get out and dry off. I wrap my self in a towel and take my clothes and head up to my room. I put my pajamas on and slip into my bed. I drift of to sleep feeling at peace at last. I wake up in the morning and get dressed. I put on my makeup, black eyeliner, mascara, pink lip-gloss and blush. I brush my hair and spike it. I grab my backpack and head downstairs.209

“Morning Rita.” My dad says from behind the newspaper.210

“Morning dad, when does school start?” I ask.211

“8:45, I can drop you off on my way to work if you want.” He says.212

“That’d be good, but only today, I plan to walk in the mornings and back home once I know where I’m going.” I say.213

“Okay.” He says.214

I make my self some toast and put peanut butter on it. I eat my toast and daydream about Ben. He was really hot, but I could tell he didn’t think so. He had the most gorgeous green eyes, and the most amazing smile. He was around 6’2” and very muscular. His golden brown hair was cut in a very preppy style, it was straight then flipped just above the ears. I finish my toast and go brush my teeth.215

“Rita, you ready to go?” my dad asks.216

“Almost.” I say reapplying my lip-gloss.217

I head downstairs again and grab my backpack. Dad drops me off around the corner from school because I didn’t want to look like he dropped me off. I walk up to the school and hear someone shout my name. I turn and see been walking towards me. I smile and he walks me to the office to get my schedule. He tells me that we have all the same classes after looking at my schedule and I figure that my father planned this so I’d know someone. It was before classes started so Ben walked me around the school to show me where everything was. While we were walking someone grabbed Ben’s and my backpack handles and stopped us.218

“Ben, who is this cutie?” a guy with blond hair and blue eyes asks.219

“Trevor, Rita, Rita, Trevor.” Ben says.220

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Rita.” Trevor says kissing my hand.221

“It’s nice to meet you too.” I say resisting the urge to jerk my hand away.222

“Come on Rita.” Ben says putting an arm around my shoulders and guiding me away from Trevor.223

“He tries way to hard.” I say.224

“Yeah I know.” He says.225

“I’m guessing you guys are good friends?” I ask.226

“Best friends, we’ve known each other forever.” He says.227

“That’s cool.” I say losing interest. 228

Ben229

I was pissed at Trevor for just assuming it was all right to flirt with Rita. I’d have to tell him that she was off limits. Rita leaned against me as we walked and I smiled. We drop our stuff in our first block class and walk around some more. When the warning bell rings we head to History class and sit down. The teacher teaches as normal not even updating Rita on what we were learning but it didn’t matter because she just doodled. I notice that she doodled a picture of her holding hands with a guy, encircled with a heart. The guy she was with in the drawing was much taller than her and I wondered if it was I in the picture, or if I was just being hopeful. I start daydreaming about her, imagining she and I kissing. I look at the clock and try and focus on the lecture. When the bell rings we pack up and head to our next class, Algebra. We sit next to each other at a table and Trevor sits in front of Rita. The teacher hands us worksheets and we work on them quietly. I glance over at Rita and she’s finished her work and is doodling again, this time drawing herself as princess, with the crown and gown. She starts to work on drawing a knight on a stallion, although it looked more like a donkey. She glances over at me and sees that I’m staring at her art. She quickly covers it and pretends to check over her work.