Neighbors (boyxboy)

Chapter 34: Ben and Chris at the House

Chapter Thirty-Four: Ben and Chris at the House

Brian led a smirking Jack down the hallway, toward the bathroom. Ben and Chris watched them go. Then turned back to each other.

"Don't think for a second.." Chris started.

"I told you, I'm not stupid." Ben replied, and walked away.

The group of girls Ben had been walking with stood there staring. Unable to fathom what they'd just seen.

"Chris..." One of them braver than the other two. "Chris, did you and Brian break up? Are you...are you really dating Ben?"

Chris stared at her for a second and actually deigned to reply, "What do you fucking think?" Then stalked off.

The three girls left standing there murmured to each other, checking out the pictures on their phones. Then, in agreement, deleted the pictures they'd taken.

It was none of their business. Even though it was honestly very very interesting. They didn't do it for Ben's sake or Chris'.

But for Brian. They didn't exactly know what was happening, but no one wanted to hurt Brian. He'd only been here for a month, but everyone agreed. He was baby and worth protecting.

So no photos of Ben and Chris. Just in case. Just in case it somehow hurt the special green eyed boy.

But unfortunately, they weren't the only witnesses to this surprising moment.

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The next day, Ben woke up alone. Well, not exactly alone.

"Hey cutie. You want to kiss me, right?"

A big slobbery wet kiss with lots of tongue, at least on Ben's cheek. The former quarterback lay with his arms around a very different bed fellow. Bruno might not be boyfriend material, but he was Ben's sweet puppy, and hugging him was maybe even better than hugging Chris. Ben knew exactly where Bruno stood. He was not a doggo of mystery.

Wrapping his arms around his fur baby, Ben squeezed him and buried his face in Bruno's fur. Sighing, he sat up and luckily just saved the cactus from taking a nosedive off his nightstand with the mindless sweep of a furry brown tail.

He held the little cactus in his hands. Held it up so he could see all the sides, peering closely into the dirt, touching the tiny delicate flowers, being careful around the deceptively soft looking spines. The nightstand, although a good place for him to look at it at night, wasn't so safe. Ben checked around his room, trying to find the perfect spot to put the cactus, to protect it. He finally decided to just put it on the top shelf of his bookcase near his framed photos of Bruno and his parents. Nothing could get to it there. And maybe it needed some company. On his nightstand it was all alone. But now it had friends.

Smiling at his own stupidity, taking one last look at the cactus, he went downstairs to make breakfast. His mom and dad were both there. His dad shuffled around in the kitchen, smelling of the sea, his mom dressed and ready for work, her white button down crisp and clean, her hair back in a tight braid. They smiled as their son entered, followed by his lumbering companion.

"Want some breakfast, son? I'm making fried rice!" His dad loved savory food for breakfast, since it was almost kind of like his dinner. As a squid boat captain, he was out in the Sound at nine pm or so and didn't get home until almost six in the morning. Then some food and straight to bed. Ben was surprised to see him up at this time. His dad was usually asleep before he went to school.

"I made lots, just in case, um...." His dad looked over Ben's shoulder into the hallway. "Did...ummm...did...uhhhh?"

Ben smiled and shook his head.