"Being Ben's"

16. Oblivion

Later, when we had been done touring the whole city Marcus and I ate dinner without Rivera because he told us he was still going to be working by the time it was time for dinner.

"I should probably go... do my homework?" Marcus said as we sat at the table even after we paid the bill. I sneezed and nodded. "Yeah, probably."

"Okay." He sighed and got up. I followed him back to the hotel and up the steps. We both went into our separate rooms. I decided to get a warm bath after being in the cold city. When I got out I dried my hair with my towel and sat on the bed.

Not even a second later a knock on the door made me jump. I forgot we only had one keycard and I still had it. I opened the door and Rivera looked at me with tired eyes. I felt bad that he had to work all day when me and Marcus explored.

"You okay?" I asked as he walked in, grabbing the clothes he slept in last night. He nodded, yawning. "Busy... busy day. I need a break from talking to people."

"Oh..."

"Not you."

"Okay." I smiled slightly. He walked into the bathroom, getting changed and came back out to lay down on his bed. I shivered and sat down on my bed, wrapping the blankets around me. He looked at me with his hands behind his head. "Are you cold?"

"I'm fine."

"Bullshit."

"Not bullshit."

"I can hear your teeth chattering from over here." He chuckled getting up. "I told Marcus tale it easy on the running around because you still sick, I guess he didn't listen." He looked to the trash can that was filled with tissues from me wiping my running nose. I shrugged. "I think I'm fine."

"I should've brought the medicine."

I shook my head quickly. "I wouldn't have taken it. Plus, I think your soup helped more."

He chuckled as he threw the extra blanket at me and sat down on the bed. "Still cold?" He asked. I shrugged. "I'll be ok-."

He sat next to me so that we were face to face. I looked down at the space between us. It mine as well have been nothing. I felt my face turn bright red. "Riv-."

"Ben."

"What?" I questioned. He shook his head, smiling. "Call me Ben and calm down." He said putting a hand over mine. I looked at it and then took a deep breath. "Al- alright but what are you doing?"

"Pretending."

"Pre- what? Oh why? Wait..." I suddenly regret bringing up that idea.

Or... did I?

"We have to make them believe us, right?" He looked up and into my eyes. I looked away. "I guess... so."

I could feel the warmth from his body and I wanted it closer but I was afraid to move.

"I'm not even that close to you." He chuckled. His smile, his smirk really, I though I hated it but in this moment it made me feel... something. Not sure what that something was I looked away and clenched my fist. He put a hand to my forehead and I looked back at him. "At least you don't have a fever anymore."

I nodded. "Yeah..."

He took my hand in his and pressed his lips to my hand.

Why do I feel like this?

"Riv- Ben... You said you fired all your staff but aren't I part of you're staff?" I looked at him. He shrugged. "You're on a different payroll then they were... technically you're Marcus' staff since he hired you without my knowing."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "The website..."

"Sí, the website." He rolled his eyes. "I need to watch over what he does more carefully."

"I don't think he would like that." I chuckled. Ben shook his head. "I don't think so either. Sometimes I don't know what to do... I'm not fit to be a parent, I shouldn't even be an uncle."

I wanted to ask what he meant by that but I then I though I should just leave it alone. "You're doing fine, Ben. Marcus is... happy and he's fine."

"Yeah but I worry about him. I wasn't even the one who was supposed to take care of him after my sister passed, Emilio was. He would've done better... all of it is my fault and none of this would've happened if I..." he sighed rubbing his eyes with his free hand. I sighed softly and looked at him then moved closer to him, closing the gap between us. "It's okay." I put my head on his chest.

"It's alright." He said softly then he blinked looking at me. "You know, you're really oblivious sometimes."

"Oblivious..."

He chuckled, putting his chin on my head. "Yes, obvious."

"To what?" I asked. He shook his head. "Nothing... never mind."

I furrowed my eyebrows at him but let it go.