"Being Ben's"

25. We're going on a trip

Ben went downstairs before I did because I honestly laid back down and did not want to get back up because it was still warm in the bed were he once laid and I took comfort in that.

Once the elevator door opened to the last floor I saw Marcus smiling at me. My eyes widened and I looked away. "Good... morning." I cleared my throat. He smiled bigger. "Morning. You hear we're moving?"

"Oh yeah... Ben's told me." I looked down at my bare feet against the cold tiled hallway in the kitchen. Ben made breakfast already and was setting the table, I could tell by the dishes in the sink. "Did he tell you where we're going?" Marc asked with a raised eyebrow. I found his curiosity a bit funny and chuckled. "No, I don't know yet and I don't think he does either."

Marcus shrugged. "He probably does he just doesn't want to tell us." He started brewing himself a cup of coffee then looked at me. "What about your family?" He questioned. I sucked in a breath then shrugged, looking away. "I don't know."

"I'm sure Tío will let you seem them before you go."

I smiled thoughtfully and nodded. "That's not exactly my worry." I looked to the mug Marcus was tapping on with his fingertips. He looked at me. "Then what is it?"

"My... parents, they don't want to see me or let me see my sister whose in the hospital." I sighed quietly. Marcus made exaggerated motion while his eyes. "Parents smarents." I took a long sip of his coffee. I watched the steam come up from the cup. "What do you mean?"

"I mean parents aren't shit. I mean look at Abuelo and I didn't even know my dad. I think the world would be better without parents like the ones we have."

A growing up without a dad is different from growing up with a dad who pretends your not there but I get what he's trying to say. "You're making it sound like it's just fathers." I reached for a mug to brew coffee in. He shrugged. "Maybe it is... hey, what happened to your ne-."

I reached up to my neck and puffed out my checks. "No- I mean nothing... uh... mosquito."

"I'm... well alright then." He said standing pinpoint straight with his lips pressed into a thin line. I pursed my lips and sighed. "Don't you have homework to do or something?"

"No..."

That was convincing.

"It can wait." He rolled his eyes. "It's not due for... I don't know another week." He said shrugging. I rolled my head towards him. "Can it?"

He slumped over. "You sound like my uncle." He groaned, then narrowed his eyes. "Actually, I guess you kind of are now."

"I'm not old enough to be your uncle. I refuse that responsibility."

"Too late."

I frowned. "Go do your homework." I pointed into the hallway. He rolled his eyes, getting all huffy. "What're you going to do?"

"Not homework." I said. His eyes narrowed over the coffee mug as he obnoxiously slurped his coffee but he walked away, going upstairs.

——

I took a walk then came back in to watch some tv. I'm not even sure how much time had last but when I heard the front door open I turned off the tv and hurried to the foyer.

"Okay... thank you." Ben was saying on the phone. "See you soon." He was slightly smiling and I knew this would mean good news for us. I looked at the briefcase he had in his hands. I was about to ask what it was and what in it until his voice that was directed at me broke my thoughts.

"Where's Marcus?" He said looking up the stairs. I followed his gaze. "Well, he said he was doing homework the last time I talked with him."

"I'll go get him. We need to go."