Haircut (Beth Harmon X Benny Watts)

Chapter 23

We walked with the whole crowd to the place where the weddingparty was held. I had hoped that we were going to drive towards it, so I could get away from all these people for a couple of minutes. But it was a ten minute walk so nobody cares but me.

Annette Packer was still holding my arm. On my other side was Harry. He was walking with his hands in his blazer and was telling me about how hungry he was.

I was slightly annoyed. Although I knew that they only wanted to protect me from all human eyes, I really only wanted to be with two people. Benny or Jolene.

I kept seeing bits of her white dress somewhere in front of me. She was surrounded by so many people, that I knew it was a lost cause to search for het anyway. I was also a bit scared that I might cry when I spoke to her. Because I was in front of the church, no one could see me crying, and I wanted to keep it that way.

I also glanced back a couple of times. I could see him clearly. He had thrown his black blazer over his shoulder and was talking to a tall man I didn't know. Benny didn't really seem interested in what the man was saying. It was probably neither about chess or him, I thought to myself.

I knew he was glancing at me from time to time and he knew I was looking at him too. We just couldn't time them right.

I considered walking over to him a dozen of times, but Annette was holding my arm so tight, that I was scared to hurt her feelings and let go. I had disappointed her before and I fell terrible about that.

Now she and Beltik were a thing, I needed to behave in front of another person.

"Beth?" Harry said. "I asked you something?"

"Owh, sorry, my mind was somewhere else." I replied rubbing the back of my neck. It hurted because of the constant looking around.

"Yeah, we've noticed, a couple of feet behind us to be precise." Harry rolled his eyes.

Annette giggled. "Harry, I don't think Benny is that bad."

"Yes he is, he most certainly is. He's arrogant, messy, and a gamble-addict."

"Maybe you're just jealous." I said underneath my breath.

At first I wasn't sure if he heared it. But he quickly threw me a death stare, shaked his head and tipped it slighty to Annette.

I knew what he meant. Of course he hadn't told Annette about the thing he had for me not more than over a month ago. And he most certainly didn't want that me to tell her.

I rolled my eyes. Than don't start talking shit about Benny, I thought.

Harry and Annette started to talk about their next date and for some reason their cuteness became a bit much for me.

I tried to zone out and stop my head from processing the words, but it didn't work.

I looked over my shoulder again. Benny was now talking to someone else, but he looked even less interested in this conversation.

Just before I turned around again, he looked at me. His hair had fallen in front his eyes again and you could see that he had tried to put it back, but failed. I didn't mind it, he looked a little more Benny in this crowd with happy, normal people.

He smiled at me when our eyes met and less than two seconds later he rolled his eyes and tilted his head towards the man, who didn't even notice that Benny wasn't listening to him.

I smiled, carefully pointing at Harry's back next to me and rolled my eyes. He grinned.

"Sucks for you." He mouthed sarcastically.

"Help me." I mouthed back dramaticly, with a smile.

He looked at me for a second, then at Harry, and the back at me.

He suddenly ended his conversation with the man next to him. I got the feeling it wasn't very subtle, because the guy looked frustrated.

He started to make his way through the crowd, politely shoving them to the side, making people throw angry glances towards him. "Idiot." I whispered smiling.

"Beth, what do you think is a good spot in Kentucky to have a picknick?" Harry asked, forcing me to look at him.

"I already told him that the lake is the best spot, it's so romantic!" Annette adds excitedly.

Right before I could answer, I felt an arm around my waist pulling me back. Both Harry and Annette looked shocked by the sudden movement. But I couldn't help myself and smiled.

When I looked in to his eyes, I immediately saw that he had a hard time not to burst in to laughter too.

"I'm sorry, I need to borrow Beth for a minute." He said.

Harry looked annoyed between the two of us, but Annette looked still startled. "Owh okay." She said.

Before I could say anything, Benny had already taken my hand and pulled me out of the crowd. I didn't know where we we're going, but I didn't care. I didn't mind leaving these strangers

Suddenly he stopped, just outside the line of people walking by. He was still smiling.

"Thanks." I said.

He raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were supposed to protect me from Beltik, not the other way around."

"I can handle Harry. But I can't handle Harry in love."
I said while I smoothened out my dress.

He scoffed. "Yeah like you haven't seem him like that before." He said as he was looking at the last couple of men walking by.

"Ha-ha-ha, funny." I said sarcastically.

It was quiet for a minute.

"You know this is actually my first time at a wedding." He said. "I usually don't have time or I just don't feel like it. I wasn't even planning on going to this one."

"What made you change your mind?"

He turned towards me and looked me in the eyes. There was a spark in them, not longer than a second, but I was sure I saw it. He took a fluff  of the sleeve of my dress.

"I had to babysit you, remember?" He said with a smirk.

I pushed his shoulder. "Shut up." I smiled.

"No I'm glad I came, even though al these people are boring."

"And normal." I added.

"Yeah, I get it. Normal is boring. I rather stick with the crazy figures."

"Same here." I grinned to him. "So let's go, otherwise Jolene is going to wonder where her favorite maniacs are."

He sighed. "Sure, that might be a good idea." He took my arm and started to walk.

"Yeah, great minds thinks alike." I said, as we walked behind the group of people who suddenly looked really small, from so far away.

We didn't say anything to each other, untill we reached a building with white balloons in front of it.

Just before we walked in, Benny leaned his head closer to mine. "You're so much fucking more than a great mind." He whispered.