𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 | 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐳 ✅

ｓｉｘｔｅｅｎ

"Why did you move here, Marcus?" It takes a few moments for him to create some sort of response, not having a definitive answer to that question. So in the end, all Marcus can do is given a simple hum. It makes Benny sit up a bit, looking over to see the dark skin looking through one of Benny's baseball magazines while laying on the edge of his bed.

"If I knew, I would tell you, Benny boy," he sighs. "All I know is my ma got married again and now I'm here." The magazine falls through his hands, landing on his shoulder with a soft pat. He turns his head, giving Benny a simple shrug. "Do you not like me, Benny?" he teases, a smirk on his perfect set of lips.

"It's not that!" he exclaims, the words tumbling on top of one another. "It's just no one ever really moves here. It's a small town," he clarifies, leaning back against the headboard. He shifts, the bed groaning beneath him as he tries to get into a comfortable position.

"Well, I'd rather not talk to him. But you can ask him if you want," Marcus scoffs, an airy laugh passing his lips soon after.

"What's wrong with having a stepdad?"

"Do you have one?" Benny shakes his head no. "Well, my innocent friend-" Marcus groans, sitting up on the bed, hand instantly going to his abdomen. He brings himself to the center of the bed, sitting crisscross in front of the boy. "I've had friends who have had nice stepparents before. But this guy my ma married is a bit off," he groans once more, his face contorting in pain for a split second.

"What do you mean?" The first memory that comes to mind from that question is the incident in the car. It makes Marcus tense up, every muscle in his body tightening and releasing a few times. Benny notices immediately, seeing jaw clench up as the muscles on his abdomen tense before releasing. He can even see Marcus' hand clenching, the veins running from his knuckles to his forearm becoming a little bit more prominent when he does so.

"Nothing important," he shrugs, placing a ghost of a smile on his lips, giving Benny a quick glance before lying back down on the bed with a silent moan. "What are your parents like?" he asks, giving him another glance. He watches as a small smile forms on Benny's face, but his eyes give off a hint of sorrow.

"My dad is alright. He works a lot so I never really talk to him. When we do though, it's nice. He's also a good cook."

"And your mom?" He watches as the small smile disappears, Benny biting his bottom lip.

"She...She passed away a few years ago" The words come out softly like they're made of a delicate piece of glass. Marcus bites the inside of his cheek, turning his head to look up at the ceiling. Taking in a deep breath through his nose, he breathes out, "My dad died trying to become a soldier." He doesn't bother looking at Benny, already feeling the boy's eyes on him.

"I'm-"

"Don't apologize." His words come out in a chuckle, the faintest of smiles on his lips. "Not like it's your fault. You shouldn't apologize for stuff like that," he states, turning his head to look at Benny. He sees the faintest tinge of red on the boy's cheeks. It makes him wonder if Benny is always blushing or if he only gets flustered around him. Giving him a once over, he notices how Benny is fidgeting with the end of his shirt as his bottom lip is trapped between his teeth. He also notes how his eyes won't meet his anymore, making Marcus sit up on the bed for the umpteenth time now. "What's on your mind, Benny?" His question gains his attention for a split second, the boy giving him a quick glance before looking back down.

"I-Um-" he clears his throat, trying his best to create a coherent sentence. "I-I-Uh...You said you liked me, r-right?" He glances up quickly, seeing Marcus nod his head slowly before looking back down.

"What about that?"

"I think I-I may l-like you too," he states. His bottom lip is trapped by his teeth once more, his fingers now pulling at any loose strands coming from his shirt.