Friends With Benefits

The Times We Have

Copyright 2019 by TheShonelleAct

(Title and Cover may be subject to change) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or any means, or stored in a database retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

I found out Sean was one year older than me. He loved acting and he loved singing. He loved to write which was a plus. This guy was on paper perfect for me. You don't find that shit too often I'll tell you that much.

    I texted Lena telling her I was going to stop at Starbucks for a minute to think to myself. I fudged a tiny white lie. It's bad I know but I honestly had good reason.

   Lena and Scarlett are my best friends and I love them to death. I love telling them stuff about me but I'm always talking about my life and the things I was going through. The last thing they need is some more gossip on my end.

    I sat across from him crossing my legs. They were probably my best asset. Maybe I was showing off a little to this attractive stranger. Maybe just a little. "What were you doing in the mall besides looking for me?" He asked looking playful. I smiled at him. "Me and a couple of friends were at the mall to go to the movies." I explained.

   "What movie are you going to see?" he asked taking a sip of his coffee. His voice was casual but his eyes were alert.  "We are seeing Grease. It's classics week and they're playing a lot of oldies especially old musicals." I answered.

    "Oh." was his response.
Oh no was I supposed to invite him there? Did he even want to come? Was that too forward of me to ask? Should I leave?

  "Would you mind if I joined you?" He suddenly asked and I tried not to sigh in relief. "Oh, not at all. In fact I was hoping you'd ask." I said grinning. I leaned towards him and looked deep into his eyes. He looked back into them and I almost lost my gaze. Gray eyes are nice sure but light brown eyes are just plain magically. He smiled at me. "Violet... are you seeing someone?" He asked. I finally blinked my eyes watering from the strain. What should I say? I could mention Elliot but we weren't anything exclusive. Is it even worth mentioning?

    If I mentioned Elliot he might not understand and back off. But at the same time by me going out with Sean does this mean that me and Elliot are over? Was I willing to take that step yet? My head was spinning.

   "I'm single." I said finally settling on an answer. I looked down at my drink wrapping both hands around it. I fiddled with the top with my thumb and tried not to look back in his direction. A few seconds of failing miserably I finally looked up again. He grinned at me then and said, "I'm glad I came to the mall today Violet."
"Me too." I hope everyone else is as happy he did too.

   

   Everyone liked Sean. Everyone except Elliot. That part was unsetting but not surprising. Elliot always has a no new friend policy especially since we've been a tight group for so long. But the fact that I brought him in also probably isn't sitting well.

"Wow Sean you have been in a lot of plays." Lena gasped. I laughed a little. This girl was fascinated by just about anything anyone says. It is my absolute favorite thing about her. Scarlett was wrapped under Wren's arm who was whispering stuff in Scarlett's ear making her hit him occasionally. Elliot's arms were crossed across his chest and his eyes were elsewhere. You could tell he really didn't want to be here. I leaned towards him since he was sitting next to me.

      "You okay?" I whispered. He didn't look at me. "Yep." He answered slowly popping the p. His face was like stone which is different from what he usually acts like. "Liar." I spat narrowing my eyes at him. I rested my hand on his leg and his tense look faded into a relaxed one as he looked at me. "I'm just.... mad because Madison didn't show up. She promised she would and I really wanted you all to meet her. Everyone seems to have a date but me." he said glumly. "Not true! Lena doesn't have a date." I said. Lena was more of a studies first relationships later. Come to think of it she never dates anyone of the opposite sex. The same sex either.

    He looked at Lena and sighed. "You're right. I'm okay I promise. Enjoy your date." He said sincerely. I hesitated knowing very well that card. Whenever someone tells you to enjoy yourself as a distraction to their own problems it's a lie. They want you to burn a hole in your heart if you even think about ignoring them. I would know, I do it all the time.

     He forced a laugh. "Violet I promise I'm okay. Now talk to Sean. In fact," He drew his attention to Sean. "Sean, what else do you like to do besides act?" He asked. Sean seemed shocked. Probably because Elliot has been giving him the cold shoulder since he was introduced to the group. "Oh, uh, I sing a lot. Not just in the shower." He added with a wink at me and I giggled. As much as I try not too it slips out. Only to the cute ones though.

     Elliot nodded. "Interesting. We all go to this shop sometimes after school and there are some karaoke days. You should hang out with us sometime." He said with a smile. Wow, I looked at Elliot in awe. Maybe he really was okay. Sean grinned at him and nodded. "Yeah man, of course. Sounds cool."

   Wren of course had to interrupt the bromance. "I'm hungry." He muttered to no one in particular. Elliot pointed towards the food section. "Me too, You guys want to walk over there and let the ladies head into the movies?" He suggested. Both of the boys got up and walked over. Sean lingered for a second. "Save a spot next to you?" He said his eyes playful. "Oh of course, but if Michael B. Jordan shows up, your seat is automatically taken." I said with a smile. He winked at me again and turned on his heels towards the other guys.

    Lena and Scarlett was staring at me down. Can you imagine how scary it is when females stare you down? Terrifying is putting it mildly. "So when were you going to tell us about this guy?" Scarlett asked glaring at me.

"Uh, well since I only met him today... today." I replied.

"You should have run in the bookstore and told me. Texts are null in void if a boy is that hot." She said shaking her head like it was the most ridiculous thing in the world how I did not run through the bookstore to find her. "You didn't even warn me!"

     Scarlett made a tsk noise with her teeth. "Shame. I thought we were loved. Guess not." She said dramatically resting the back of her palm on her head. I chewed the inside of my cheeks. "I'm sorry girls, and stop that your making me feel like I'm in a soap opera." I pointed to Scarlett. "But, I really didn't mean to I promise. I didn't know what he was to me yet. As of now he is still my friend. That's it I swear." I put my hands up in surrender and made my best innocent face.

   Lena was more the mother figure while Scarlett was the crazy aunt. Both were looking at me sternly. "Fine.." Scarlett began, "But only because this guy is hot and I don't want you to mess this up." She said defiantly. Lena was nodding. "Exactly, we'll try out best to make sure you two last a long time. It been a super long time since I've seen you with someone besides Elliot. Which is good and all but if you don't have real feelings for him why do you stick around?"

   Because the sex is good my mind answered in a whiny tone.

  The boys came back and we started to head towards the theater. Sean was by my side his hand brushing against mine ever so often. My face heated. Well that and my body but that's another story. We walked in the room which was still lit up so we could actually see where we were going.

Don't you hate when the theaters dim the lights too soon? Seriously movie people, get on your damn job. Death can occur.

     Elliot through first, then me, then Sean, then Wren, then Scarlett, and finally Lena. The movie nor the previews had not started but even I knew that this movie was going to be long.