𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 (𝘣𝘹𝘣)

five

tw:self harm, talk about cancer

**
"Oh wow. Mom, I love it."

Olivia turns around to face Benjamin. "Really? You don't think it's too much? Like...I'm not too old for it."

Benjamin laughs at her and stands up. "You look so good. Zach's gonna love it."

Alicia, Benjamin's aunt walks into the shop. "Oh my god, yes! Please tell me this is the one."

"I'm thinking it is!"

Benjamin smiles at them. Alicia nods her head. "Tell your mother this is the one. She looks gorgeous!"

Benjamin gives a thumbs up. "I agree."

Alicia smiles and throws her arm around his shoulders. "How ya been, kid? Heard you got some high-tech job out in Massachusetts."

"Oh...Uhm, yeah. It's...Cool, yeah. It's cool."

"Cool? Listen to yourself. Smartass. Does this mean you can fix computers and shit? Cause my Macbook is broken."

Benjamin laughs and nods his head. "Yeah...I know how to do that kind of stuff."

Olivia nods. "Mhm. Benjamin took an extra five-hour class on computer engineering cause he was bored."

Alicia fake gags and shakes her head at Benjamin. "Bored? Oh no. I don't know where you got that from."

Benjamin chuckles and feels his phone vibrating in his back pocket. He grabs it and sees Noah's caller ID on the screen.

Alicia looks down, smiling. "That your boyfriend?"

Benjamin looks up and shakes his head, smiling. "Uh, no. My ex, actually."

"Oh no. Drama?"

"No, not really, I'll explain later," Benjamin answers the phone, putting it up to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hey. Where you at?"

"I'm with my mom and my aunt. We're looking at wedding dresses. She already had one picked out but...The seamstress fucked it up."

"Oh damn. I was just wondering if you could swing by my apartment. I need to talk to you."

Benjamin nods. "Okay. Is everything okay?"

"Just...Stuff with my mom. I-... The doctors gave me a bunch of papers but I can't understand them and...You're all smart and know stuff."

"Okay, okay. I'll be there in like an hour? Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Thank you."

"Of course. I'll see you later, bye." Benjamin hangs up the phone, sending a quick text to Gabi that he'd be late coming home.

Alicia raises her eyebrows, a smile on her face. "Not dating, huh? What's so important about him?"

Benjamin lets out a forced laugh, shrugging. "What's that mean?"

"You get a vibe when you talk to him."

"I do not get a vibe when so talk to him. We've just...been through a lot together."

"Mhm."

**
Benjamin grabs the key that Noah had given him the other day, unlocking the door. "Noah? Are you home?"

Benjamin notices the influx of clothes scattered across the floor. He sets his bag down on Noah's couch, picking up some of the tee shirts.

He sets them down on the couch before organizing his coffee table. Noah walks out of the bathroom. "What're you doing?"