"So, where is Benjamin this weekend?"
Olivia flips the page of the magazine she was reading. "With his boyfriend. They took a small trip out of town."
"Out of town? Where-."
"Yes, out of town. Benny is almost eighteen, Damien. Noah's parents said it was okay and so did I?"
"Okay what, so I just don't get a say in this?"
"No, you don't. I'm not about to argue this with this. If you have an issue, then you need to get over it. He's staying until Monday night."
"Monday night? That's-."
Olivia nods her head and takes a sip from her wine glass. "Mhm, school is closed, Monday. I allowed it."
"That's-."
Zach walks in the house, holding a bag of Chinese takeout. He smiles at Olivia. "Seems as if people have found out little spot, babe. It was crowded-...Oops, are you on the phone?"
"Babe? Who is that?"
Olivia shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "Nobody, Damien. Please, we can talk about Benjamin tomorrow."
"We can talk now. Let's talk about the man that just entered that house."
"You're not my father."
Zach sets the food down on the table, whispering. "Is that Damien?" He then makes a disgusted face at Olivia.
Olivia smiles at him, holding her hand out. "Okay, Damien...Okay, call you later. I need to go."
*
Benjamin watches as Noah pulls his pants over his legs, tightening his belt. "Something about you messing with your belt is weirdly attractive."
Noah chuckles and looks up at Benjamin. "What?"
"I don't know it just...gives me butterflies. Like when you drive? I like watching your hands."
Noah looks down to his hands, his brows furrowed. "What, bebesita?"
Benjamin walks over and grabs Noah's hands, "Cause, they're all nice and veiny. Plus you wear rings. Your hands are just attractive."
Noah looks down at Benjamin, laughing. "Mhm." He pats Benjamin on the head, smiling.
Benjamin reaches up to grab Noah's arm, stopping his hand from tussling his hair. "Stop, Noah. I hate when you do that."
Noah smiles. "I only do it cause you're short. Easily accessibility."
"You mean accessible? And I'm not short!"
"Okay one, I know my English is bad, two...You are. You're not even like...above average for men."
Benjamin rolls his eyes. "Yes, I am. I'm like...5'6."
Noah nods his head, looking up pretending to think. "Mhm, so you're just average."
Benjamin scoffs. "Whatever."
Noah laughs again and backs up, playfully shoving Benjamin. "You gonna get some clothes on anytime soon? I'm hungry."
Benjamin rolls his eyes and nods. "Yeah. Just give me a second. Gotta plan my outfit in my head."
**
Noah takes a bite into his pancakes, nodding his head. "Mmm. Fuck, I love food."
Benjamin smiles at him, swaying his legs under the table. "You're literally a child." Benjamin grabs a napkin off the table, wiping off Noah's face.
"Damn. Like...An hour ago I was attractive and now I'm being a child? Standards."
Benjamin giggles and feels his phone vibrating in his back pocket. He grabs it, glancing down to see his dad calling. He looks up and Noah, furrowing his brows. "It's my dad?"
Noah shrugs his shoulders. "Answer it."
Benjamin brings the phone up to his ear. "Hey, dad. W-What's up?"
"A trip out of town with your boyfriend? Seriously?"
"Oh. Uhm, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Noah and I have been planning this for a few weeks and Mom allow-."
"I don't give a shit. Let me repeat myself. A trip out of town with your boyfriend. We found the issue yet?"
"Oh."
"It's disgusting, Benjamin. It's better when your stealth, then not many people know."
Benjamin blushes and shakes his head. "I have to go, dad."
"Yeah. We'll talk about this next weekend, got it?"
"Mhm."
"Mhm. Okay. Bye."
Benjamin's dad hangs up the phone abruptly. Benjamin rolls his eyes, shifting in his seat a little bit.
Noah looks up. "What'd he want, bebesita?"
"He's just...Being my dad. Nothing new." Benjamin lets out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Moving on.."
*
Benjamin holds a shirt up to Noah's chest, tilting his head to the side. "Hm. Do you like it?"
Noah looks down at the shirt and shrugs. "Sure."
Benjamin furrows his brows and looks up. "Sure? So...You don't like it?"
"I never said that, bebesita."
"Then why'd you say sure? That's like you subconsciously saying no, but you say sure cause you don't wanna hurt my feelings."
Noah's lips turn up into a smile as he lets out a laugh. "What? I just said sure cause I don't care. I'll wear pretty much anything."
Benjamin nods. "Hm. Anything?"
Noah shakes his head aggressively. "No...No, I take that back-."
"We should buy you a dress if you wear anything."
"How about we buy you a dress. Makes more sense if you think about it."
"Okay, we'll both get dresses."
"I won't wear a dress. I'm built too weird for one. It would look wrong."
"What? How are you supposed to be built for dresses?"
"Just not like me."
"You're just saying this so you don't have to wear a dress. You'd look cute."
Noah shakes his head, grabbing the shirt from Benjamin's hands. "No."
**
Benjamin grabs his phone, setting a hand on his chest, trying to catch his breath. "Hello?"
"Hey, baby. How's the trip going? Are you guys having fun? Do anything fun yet?"
"Uhm. We got some breakfast and then went shopping."
"Yeah? What are you doing now?"
"Uhm. Back at the hotel. We're going to the arcade later so we came back just to hang out for a while."
"Sounds fun. Oh, did your dad call? I'm sorry about that."
"Yeah...It's fine. though. I'm not really paying much attention to him right now."
"Good. I'm sorry, I forgot to message you last night but Zach and I ate dinner and then fell asleep."
"Oh, that's fine, mom."
"Okay...Well, I'll let you go. Have fun, sweetheart. I love you."
"Love you too, mom. Call you later, bye."
Benjamin hangs up the phone, setting it down on the bedside table. Noah smiles and turns over, grabbing his face. "That was close."
"Shut up. I don't understand why I couldn't answer a few minutes after? Missed calls are a thing."
Noah chuckles. "Sorry. When my mom calls and I miss it I get cussed out pretty bad."
Benjamin giggles and pushes on Noah's chest. "That's embarrassing, she probably knows."
Noah shrugs. "At least she'll know I'm treating you right." Noah winks at Benjamin.
"Ew! You're so gross!" Benjamin pushes on Noah's chest again, beginning to laugh. "God, do you ever think before you speak?"
Noah laughs with him, shaking his head. "I'm just saying."
**