a/n: double update because why not?
Benjamin opens the door to the cafe and orders himself a frappuccino as well as a biscuit. He checks his phone once before looking back up to wait for his order.
Once he finally gets it, he walks over to the table, smiling at Gabi. "Hey."
Gabi looks up and smiles. "Hi."
Benjamin sets his stuff on the table before sitting down. "Don't be awkward...Talk."
Gabi nods. "Okay...I know I kinda already explained this...Well rambled but...I really am sorry."
Benjamin smiles and nods. "It's okay, Gabi. I know it seems like I'm...Distant but...You're my best friend, okay?"
"I don't know...Sometimes I just feel like, now that everyone has a significant other that...I'll just be the second choice or something. And I know I'm the reason Lucas and I aren't together anymore but...I don't know."
"I get that. Trust me, I do. Noah is my first official boyfriend and I've been the third wheel plenty of times. But I promise to try and make more time for you it's just...I fell in love."
Gabi smiles. "Aw...You're totally blushing right now!"
Benjamin shakes his head. "No, I'm not... ."
"Yes, you are! Oh my gosh. You're like...in love love."
Benjamin rolls his eyes. "So? What's been going on with you?"
"Well, Uhm...My parents are out of town...again."
Benjamin takes a sip of his drink. "Really? Again? Didn't they just get back from Miami?"
Gabi nods. "Yup. Three days ago. My dad tried to comfort me with his money."
Benjamin shrugs, "Well did you take it?"
Gabi looks up and smiles. "...Well, I wasn't going to but then I heard downtown is having a huge sale today."
"Oo! Can I tag along? I threw out a bunch of clothes and I'm kinda missing them."
"You're gonna start dressing like yourself again? No more of Noah's big ass hoodies and sweatpants?"
Benjamin laughs at that and shrugs. "I'm gonna try. Ease my way back into it. Try on my tight clothes and crop tops again."
"Ooo! I'm excited."
"Me too. I don't know I just feel like I can finally be myself again. Like I'm free."
**
Noah shrugs. "Girls like flowers and chocolate, right?"
Lucas looks over at him and furrows his brows. "Are we talking about Benjamin?"
"No. Well, yes. Two people."
Lucas still has a confused look on his face as he stares at Noah. "Elaborate."
"Well, it's for Benjamin cause I wanna surprise him next week for winning the competition thing...But, Elly's mom embarrassed her last night and I wanna cheer her up."
"You're gonna give flowers and chocolate to Elly? I'm talking about Elly, the girl who used to run with street gangs?"
Noah shrugs. "I thought she'd have a soft side."
"Try buying her a shooting game. Sure she'll be happy with that."
"For real. She's a bro to us, you know? Shouldn't we try and cheer her up?"
Lucas hums and looks up like he's thinking. "I got it. Donuts...Who doesn't like donuts? When my dad left my mom, I bought her two dozen donuts."
Noah looks over with wide eyes. "Two dozen?"
"She was heartbroken, man. I'm talking, playing Neyo, heartbroken. He was in repeat."
"I mean, okay. Guess we're bringing Elly some donuts."
Lucas nods and smiles. "Maybe we can even buy her a Neyo CD."
Noah shakes his head as he starts his car. "Why do I even put up with you."
**
Gabi holds up a shirt to Benjamin's chest, humming. "I feel like...This one is ugly."
Benjamin turns his head to the side, still looking at the shirt. "Really? Actually...Me too."
Gabi sets the shirt down and walks over to another one. "Hey! What about this?"
Benjamin walks over, tilting his head. "Hm." He picks up the shirt, holding it up to himself. "I'm gonna try it on, hold my bags?"
Gabi nods and grabs them as Benjamin walks over to the dressing room.
Benjamin walks back out after changing, looking at Gabi. "Yes? Or no?"
"Oh my god, yes! It's like the perfect length and you look amazing."
"You think so?"
Gabi smiles, "Oh just wait until Noah sees you. Girl, you think he's in love now?"
Benjamin giggles and nods. "Okay then. I'm gonna get it."
**
"This isn't her house, dude. Where the fuck did you take me?"
Lucas rolls his eyes. "You're the one driving. I didn't take you anywhere. And this is the address she sent me, why would she lie?"
Noah sighs and turns the car off. "Grab the donuts, man."
Lucas smiles and gets out of the car. They ended up getting a dozen donuts and some coffee.
Noah knocks on the door and looks at Lucas. "You better not make me look goofy."
"You already do."
Elly opens the door and smiles. "Wassup?"
"Hey. We brought a gift hoping to make you feel better. Uh...Where are we?"
"My sisters. I spent the night after...My beautiful night with the Harris' and my amazing mother."
Lucas hums. "Well...We brought donuts!"
Elly smiles and opens the door wider. "Come in, guys. I'm watching my nieces so, don't mind them." Elly turns and smiles, "Hey girls! Lucas brought donuts!"
Maya smiles, "Donuts!?"
"Mhm. Go wash your hands and sit at the table, okay? Go get Isa from her room."
"Okay, Tía!"
Noah shuts the front door and walks over to the kitchen table. "Where's your sister?"
"She and her boyfriend went out. I don't know where they just asked me to watch them."
Lucas sets the box down on the table before taking a seat. "How many are there?"
Elly picks up Lola who was in her playpen, "Well this is Lola. And then there's Maya and Isabella."
Noah hums. "So? What exactly happened last night."
"Yeah, your text to the group chat was so messy it gave me a brain aneurysm."
Elly rolls her eyes. "I would say something right now, but there are children around."
Maya and Isabella run over to the table. "We washed our hands, can we get one? Please?"
Elly nods and opens the box, letting them both chose their own. Elly points to their kiddy table, "Sit down and eat."
She then looks back over. "Okay so...Everything was good for the most part. She wasn't really, engaged in the conversation until basketball was brought up."
Noah takes a sip of his coffee. "Why basketball?"
"Well I was talking to Jazz's brother and I said something nice and that's what set her off."
Lucas furrows his brows, taking a bite into the donut. "You being nice is what made her mad? Is she fuck-...Is she freaking dumb."
Elly looks down at Lola and shrugs. "She started rambling about how it was all an act and I was playing nice."
"Wait-...I'm sorry, what does this have to do with her being homophobic? To me, it's just her being annoying."
"I said something about my sexuality and how she doesn't accept and then her and Jazmyne's mom started to argue. My mom said some tasteful slurs and I don't know...I got frustrated."
"I'm sorry, man. She's so-."
Lucas shakes his head. "That's messed up. I just don't get it...Like, why be like that? It's so easy not to be."
Elly shrugs. "I don't know. I haven't spoken to her since I came here right after Jazmyne's dad dropped me off."
"How'd they take it?"
Elly chuckles and grabs a donut. "Oh trust me. They were pretty pissed. Her dad threw her out."
**