Sinners ── B. Watts

Conclusions

CHAPTER 9
Benny's room, 23:20

"Nothing," Benny said absently. As soon as he finished wiping the carpet, he immediately stood away from Violet and tossed the cloth back in the sink. "My mother used to point out them too," the young man struggled to speak.

It was clearly unpleasant for him to talk about his family with a stranger but he still wished to satisfy her wish and state his reasons. No one, not even close people to him knew much about Benny's past or his present. He was more or less a loner too, pretty cold-hearted moreover he felt comfortable that way.

To be honest with himself, Benny didn't actually picture Violet as a genuine stranger, they were quite acquainted with each other. And thanks to their mutual passion, they were behaving almost naturally in the presence of the other one. Whereas he and Violet had a moment, Benny had started to get his emotional hurricane in full force, something he'd never thought he'd experience with someone. For a very unexpected reason, Benny wanted to pull Violet into his vortex, to blend her feelings with his. He'd been there before, maybe Violet hadn't, but he knew there was a thing that could ease everything out. He just had to swallow down that bitter pill. It would have helped them.

"How was your mother?" Her voice was soft and measured as she broke the silence.

Benny bored into her eyes, "She's still alive," He replied quite bluntly and rested on the couch. Violet didn't move from the ground.

The woman held his gaze and nodded very slowly, waiting for Benny to answer her question, "And she's a nice woman. Very old, though," he pointed out with a sigh. "Listen, I really hope to afford you more clarity about my family but maybe some other time," Benny stared down at the chessboard highly strung, making it obvious that it was not something he wanted to talk about, "You should work on your defenses and attacks, by the wa—"

"Why?" Violet digressed from the subject, her voice detached and cynic. She wished to persuade him otherwise, make Benny speak about what was pressuring him so much. There was probably no other occasion for them to exchange experiences or maybe empathize with each other in the near future. She didn't know if she wanted that to happen either, but Benny had been willing to help her and Violet had started to feel the same way.

Or maybe it was one-sided.

Violet waited until he grunted back, "What makes you think that if you don't hate me the way you did two days ago wants me to spill out everything about my private life?" Benny spat everything out, his accent making every word he uttered seem charged with import and authority, "So, why do you care? Why now?"

Violet's jaw dropped, "Why do I care? Why do you? You're the one who invited me here!" She stood up. Anger started to boil deep in her system as she was gesturing towards him, "And I thought we were over that...thing," Violet crossed her arms at her chest.

"Well, we are," Benny said in a firm, unhurried voice and got up from the couch, "You literally started to cry next to me, was I supposed to pat your shoulder-friendly and leave you there?" He explained.

The anger in her eyes showed the scared child within, the girl who was taught to fight and starved of the love she craved and couldn't receive. Benny could see the pain beneath it and her soul drowning in this persona she'd carved to fit a world of indifference, "So you did it out of principle. What a gentleman you are," Violet nodded disappointedly.

Benny spoke, using a tone that could prevent chaos, "Why wouldn't I?" he lied. "We barely know each other, Violet. We're a few matches away from finally being opponents again. I am not Townes, you know? I'm not your friend," He clenched his jaw and walked towards the cloakroom where Violet's purse was.