⍟ Broken Strings {A Chaos Theory x Male Reader Story - Ben}

𝟹. 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚑

"Your parents, what?" Darius probes.

"We just don't talk much anymore, but that's okay!" Sammy responds with cheer, although the sadness in her tone is evident.

"I'm keepin' busy!"

"Did I mention I'm really into capoeira now?"

"Whaaaat is that?" Ben whispers.

"Literally no clue." Y/N sighs under his breath as he pours lemonade into the glasses.

"You know what they say, when life gives you lemons, add sugar." Sammy smiles as she places little umbrellas in all the cups.

"Sammy, we have to t--"

"Oh! Sammy, you ding-dong! Of course, you wanna go out back and see her!" Sammy loops an arm around Ben's and leads him outside.

"See who?" Darius asks as he and Y/N follow after them.

"Bumpy," Y/N glances back at him, "Did you... not know?"

"Dang it." Sammy whines as they make it back to Bumpy's pen.

"Not again!" She charges out into the open grass, Ben right behind her.

"Come on." Y/N directs Darius with a heavy sigh.

"Why are we running?" Darius calls, jogging after him, "We do not have a good track record with running!"

Y/N stops behind Sammy and Ben at the bottom of the hill, Darius skidding to a stop behind him. The four of them marvel at the sight of Bumpy chasing a butterfly around the field.

Ben's face lights up and he runs over to her, Sammy close behind.

"I didn't know she was here." Darius smiles, coming up beside Y/N.

"Sammy and Yaz snuck her out here right before the whole Mantah Corp Island investigation." Y/N explains, sliding his hands into his pockets.

"I guess you missed a couple details, locked up in your cabin and ignoring your phone." Y/N elbows Darius playfully.

"I guess so..." Darius nods slowly.

"But it's cool," Y/N grins, "You're here now."

"Right, totally." Darius nods slowly.

"Hey, uhm, we've gotta get outta here!" Sammy calls over to the boys.

Y/N and Darius join her beside Ben and Bumpy and watch as the headlights of a car hastily approach.

The car zips around the corner and faces straight towards them.

"Who is that?" Ben asks, shielding his eyes from the light.

"Trouble." Sammy straightens up.

"Get out of the way!" Y/N shouts, pushing his friends along as the car speeds towards them.

It barrels towards Bumpy, but she whips it with her tail, causing the vehicle to spiral out of control.

When the car finally stops, the driver opens the door and falls out onto the grass. Bumpy stalks towards him angrily, ready to protect her territory.

"Bumpy, no!" Sammy shouts, stepping between them, "Get going!" She shoos Bumpy away.

"Carl?" Sammy places her hand on the man's shoulder as Y/N approaches, "Are you okay?"

Carl slaps her hand off, "Did you see that thing!? It's trying to kill me!"

"Hey!" Y/N steps towards the angry man, "You're the one who came and tried to run her down with your truck!"