Friends With Benefits

I Was Not Expecting That

Copyright 2021 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 retrival system, without the prior written permission of the author.



My parents settled on Olive Gardens which was one of my favorite places to eat. Being the pro pasta eater I am and what not. Sherry and I literally spent hours getting ready, fixing our hair, and me doing her make-up for her.

She was wearing a blue dress that went below her knee with her hair was put in a bun. My hair was half up and half down and I was wearing a red dress that went slightly above my knee. I felt like I looked good but inside I was a nervous wreck. Sure, my parents have already met Sean but what if they didn't like him? What if Sean didn't like my parents?

My family was there first and found a table. Sean said he'd be running a bit late and would met us there. I picked up the menu scanning up the list when I heard my father clear his throat. "So... Violet." He started, "Where did you meet this guy?"

Wasn't this a question for when he got here? "Uh, the mall. We kind of bumped into each other."

My mother actually squealed. "That is just too adorable for words! Let me guess you were thinking about romance and whims at that exact same moment?"

I blinked at her hard. "Geez mom were you in my head that day or something?"

She just shrugged and smiled. "I just know my child that's all. But Sean is a cutie honey, good job." She had a dreamy look in her eyes and I gave her a small smile.

"Did you kiss him yet?" Sherry suddenly piped up. "If you did you're so lucky. Were his lips yummy? I heard that lips can taste like skittles if you eat them all the time."

My dad made a hacking noise. "She is not kissing anybody. No matter how cute he is!"

My mom pat my dad's shoulder. "Sweetie, Violet is seventeen she can kiss whomever she wants. Do you know the countless times I've caught her and Elliot kissing in the hot tub out back? I never told you before because I assumed you would freak out."

The vein on my dad's neck looked like it was about to explode. "I am freaking out now!"

I groaned louder and buried my face in my hands. "Mom why would you say something like that to dad to all people?  And wait a minute why were you spying on us?"

Mom looked innocent. "What? Can a mother enjoy a few glances of young people in love ever so often? What if you drowned in the hot tub?"

"I think the dude in the hot tub with me would have saved me!" The mere mention of Elliot's name made me feel some sort of way. As to what that way was I still do not know.

"If I was there I would save you." Sean's voice came from behind me. I turned around to see Sean wearing a black suit. He had that goofy grin on his face that made me want to drop everything and wrap my arms around him.

"Hello Sean! Please take a seat." My mom's redness was not hard to be seen. Even my dad looked a little flushed. "My name is Shannon and this is my husband Markus. So, please tell us all about yourself."

Sean went into the story of his life purposefully leaving out the part of his mother and their family past. I knew it wasn't exactly perfect top of discussion upon meeting the parents for the first time but at the same time, knowing my parents the question would come up. After we ordered our food my father cleared his throat. Uh-oh. Bad sign. Always a very, very bad sign.

"So Sean. Have you had sex with my daughter because that would be highly inappropriate seeing as you just met her a week ago."

I had been sipping on my lemonade and damn near choked. He was kidding right? I laughed nervously and patted my dad on the back, forcefully. "My father is so hilarious! Tell him you're joking dad." My father shot me a look that told me he wasn't but looked at Sean anyway. "She's right. I'm just kidding."

My mom laughed nervously with me while Sean coughed trying to hide his embarrassment. Sherry looked like the most innocent one of them all. Smiling at everyone as often as possible.

"Well, I am very glad to be meeting you Sean."

"The pleasure is all mine." He answered. I caught his eye and smiled. The food eventually came and we started digging in and eating. Pasta has got to be the greatest creation.

A figure was moving frantically in the corner of my eye and I turned to get a better look.

I saw Elliot waving his hands around frantically a distressed look in his face. I don't know for sure but I think the man he was yelling at was his father. My mother's eyes traveled to where I was looking and gasped. "What do you know! Elliot Ritchers." At the sound of his name he stopped motioning with his hands and looked at the table. I swear to god, the tension in the air made my heart stop beating.

I had sent him a quick text when I got out the hospital telling him I was okay. And I meant to talk to him about everything, I really did. But for some reason I couldn't even think of the right words to say.

And it was so bizarre seeing him here, looking straight at me. He looked paler and more restless. If this was about a week ago I'd run over to him at full speed, give him a giant hug, then slap his shoulder and tell him he needs to sleep more. But I couldn't even muster a wave. I couldn't do anything but look away.

My mom however had the opposite effect. She waved him over and a few minutes later he was sitting at the table in between me and my father.

My father, the sell-out beamed when he saw Elliot. He patted him on the back when he sat down. "I haven't seen you around in the longest time. Have you been working on cars still?"

That was the one thing him and my father loved to do when I wasn't home or hanging out with the girls. They would work constantly on a beat up cars. I realized that my father was a better father to him than his actual father so I never minded as much in fact I normally encouraged. But for some reason, now it just felt weird.

Elliot gave my father a toothy grin. "Uh, yeah. I haven't been down at the shop in awhile though. I've only stopped by a few times a couple weeks ago."

My father nodded. "Same here actually. Since me and my wife cut down on my work hours we've been spending time non-stop with our daughters." There was a certain undertone in his voice that showed he wasn't too happy about it.

Elliot finally looked at me and gave me a look that said I am so sorry. I let out a giggle and the whole table looked at me oddly. Thanks Elliot.

"Sean here was telling us about his life and his new relationship with Violet." My mom said oblivious to the slight wince Elliot did. He quickly shook it off and gave Sean a smile. "I heard about the new relationship. Congrats. Violet's something." He mumbled. I laid my hands in my lap playing with my fingers.

"Yep. He's a lucky one." I muttered in response.

The waiting came with our dessert and placed it in front of us. "Wow! That was fast!" Sherry exclaimed diving into her strawberry shortcake. I looked down at my favorite pasta dish and suddenly lost my appetite. I suddenly was not hungry anymore.

Elliot glanced over at me nervously. "I was actually here with someone. I should probably head out."

My mom pouted. "Aw, are you sure? We'd really like it if you joined us."

Elliot didn't stop looking at me. "I'm sorry Mrs. Shay. I've really got to go. But I hope to see you guys around soon." He got up and without giving anyone a final glance slide away from the table.

My father huffed. "That's odd. Usually you two would be laughing about some type of inside joke. What happened between you too?"

Oh dad, there is so much I can't tell you.

"Nothing. He's been busy and so have I so we haven't really spent much time together." Or at all, my mind silently added.

I felt a hand squeeze mine and I looked over at Sean who was smiling. I forced a smile back at him. I wasn't sure if he fully understood why I was so uncomfortable with the topic but I appreciate the gesture all the same.

Dinner went by fast with barely any talking for the rest of the night. My parents told their stories to which Sean replied with his own and everything felt normal. I've never had my parents meet the guy I'm dating and it was new territory. But it was nice and I enjoyed myself.

Later, Sean kissed me goodnight on the cheek the spot remaining warm after his lips left my skin. I can't help but compare a moment like this to my past. If Elliot had been in this very position, he would take advantage of what he opportunity given. As in, he would kiss me passionately on the lips in front of the Pope if he got the chance.

Was that all I was doing lately? Comparing them?

By the time we all got home I was beat. I didn't want to talk and I didn't want to explain why I suddenly wanted to go to bed. My mind was whirling with thoughts that I could barely get a hold on to long enough to understand them. I wish there was something I could explain to all this.

Wait, of course I know who I can talk to. I know TWO people I could talk to.






"...And that's what's happened in the past couple of days." I said letting out a huge gust of air. Scarlett and Lena kept looking at each other and back at me. We were in Starbucks and since it was only Tuesday, barely any kids were here.

"So Elliot loves you?" Scarlett asked not bothering to hide her excitement. I nodded and wrapped my hands around the cup. "It's strange isn't it? All this time there was an entire reason why he broke up with me and I didn't even ask."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "You're not exactly an asking type of girl. You let moments like those pass you by but the really sad part is you barely even notice it."

I frowned and looked at Lena. "Is that true?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Well. Kinda. You know Elliot's a really good guy and he was--is--your best friend. So why you never asked him is beyond me."

Scarlett tossed her hair to the side. "I think, that you should be with Elliot. He knows you Violet and you two have unfinished business. Sure Elliot's like a brother to me but even I can't deny that he's totally hot."

"But I can't just do that." I should my head slowly. "I'm dating Sean still."

Lena nodded. "Exactly. I think Sean's a more stable person for you Violet. He is into the same things you're into and we all know you like the troubled soul types, if he doesn't have a difficult enough past for you I don't know who does. I vote staying with what you have."

I tilted my head to the side surprised at both of their votes. "But wait, Scarlett aren't you the person who always tells me how gorgeous Sean is and how lucky I am to have him?"

She blinked. "Yeah but--"

"And Lena aren't you always telling me that Elliot and I are meant to be together?"

"Well sure but--"

So what the heck are you two doing switching things on me like this? Everything is really topsy turvy lately. Maybe I should just be single."

"No!" Both girls said at the same time and I almost jumped.

"You guys don't want me to be single?"

There was silence for awhile and finally Scarlett was the one who broke it. "Look, after everything you just told me I feel like I truly get Elliot now. And honestly if it wasn't for his father you two would still be together. Truthfully, you're trying to tell me you don't still love Elliot? You just switched your feelings off all of a sudden because you're dating something new? I feel like you deserve to be with someone who really gets you and that's Elliot. You need to realize that."

I slumped back in my seat feeling more defeated than ever before. Half of me knew the right thing to do was stay with Sean and let Madison have Elliot once and for all but the other half of me, the one that still believed in true love and fairy tales, strongly believed that I was right for Elliot. That we should still be together.

I looked at Lena who's head was bent. "What do you think about all that?"

"I honestly think," She brought her head back up and looked me straight in the eye. "That you can't listen to what we're saying. Listen to what your heart is saying."

Scarlett rolled her eyes agin. "Nice Lena. Very Lifetime."

Lena ignored the dig and continued. "You have to trust in your judgement. Only you can choose who you want to be with. I'll tell you one thing, I don't think being single is going to solve your problems."

If I choose Elliot I could be hurting two people. If I choose Sean I could still be hurting two people. And if I choose being single i'm hurting all three. But I had to do what was right. I was honestly tired of thinking of others and getting hurt 24/7. If I really wanted to be happy I knew what I had to do.

I stood up from my chair. "Where are you going?" Lena asked. I took a deep breath. "I'm going to go tell the idiot I love him too."

Scarlett grinned and did a little hip dance in her seat. "Hell yeah that's what I'm talking about! Go do that romantic comedy shit and run after him!"

Lena nodded but looked a little disappointed. "Sorry Lena, but I have to do this."

"Just go, and promise me I get to write about this in my journal."

I started walking towards the go. "Go for it!" I called over my shoulder.

I broke out into a sprint, careful not to weave into the streets. But then Madison's came into my view. Her face beamed when she saw me but her eyes from what I could see were very crestfallen.

"Violet wait! I need to talk to you."

I slowed down but didn't stop. "I have somewhere to go Madison. Can I talk to you later?" I swallowed the guilty feeling down. Maybe she would understand? If I continued to think about her feelings I would change my mind. And I can't keep doing that to myself.

She shook her head frantically. "No, this can't wait.. I need to talk to someone about this. Someone I know I can trust."

I stopped right in front of her and started panting. "Okay. You've got my attention"

She bit her lip nervously. "Um.. well... Elliot and I had sex."

All the energy I had suddenly deflated. "You guys did? Why are you telling me this?"

Her eyes started to water and she tried to blink them away. "That's not all Violet. I... I'm also pregnant."

I was so not expecting that.











A/N-BOOM. CLIFFHANGER. It won't be for too long I promise. I think there's either one more chapter or an epliouge? I'm in a good mood so you might see it up later today. I have an ENTIRE second book I haven't even begun to edit through but since I wrote that more recently it shouldn't take too long. Thanks for all the comments and votes I read and see them all and try to comment on as many as I can. I hope you guys have an amazing week okaaaaay? Great.