Life & Love of the Tormented

Chapter Fifty Five

The flight back to Brisbane is short and sweet. I barely got through the ice coffee I brought with me, before we were preparing to land.

I'm in a much better head space than I was a couple of weeks ago when I went to Hervey Bay and even though I've still got some work to do on myself it feels good to be where I'm at right now. I honestly don't think I would have come back if I hadn't made so much progress and as much as it would be nice to see Carter it's best that he's away this weekend.

  Once I'm off the plane and have collected my bag I head toward the main part of the airport to meet Ben.

  "Meels!", he yells from across the terminal. Dressed in his signature black skinny jeans and band tee.

Fuck it's good to see him.

  "Hey fucker!", I say back before wrapping him in a hug. "It is so good to see you!".

  "You too Meels! And back in one piece now I see", he laughs awkwardly.

  "How was the flight?", Ben asks as we walk toward the sliding doors. One of his arms is draped over my shoulders.

  "Yeah it was alright", I reply, "Short and sweet", I say with a smile.

  "Oh! Just like you then?... except you're little more short and a little less sweet", Ben says teasing.

  I give him a jab in his side with my elbow. "Shut up! I'm the sweetest", I say in a high pitched voice, doing my best to bat my eyelashes innocently.

  "Yeah okay!", he replies rolling his eyes. We both know for a fact that I'm not.

"So I kinda told Carter you were coming down", Ben announces as we're walking through the car park, to his car.

I'm typing a text out to Mum and Ria. I caught an Uber to the airport this morning so Mum didn't have to take me so I'm just letting them know I arrived safe.

"Are you fucking kidding me dude!?", I say in disbelief almost dropping my phone.

"Well... see... he asked who I was going to see Patient Sixty Seven with and it kind of just slipped out", Ben dances to over the truth with a face full of guilt. "I'm sorry dude!"

"For fuck sake!", I declare. "I asked you not to tell him! He still went to Coffs though right!?", I ask bitterly.

"Oh yeah! Nah, he did", Ben replies.

"Thank FUCK!", I growl and take a few steps ahead.

  I give Ben the silent treatment while I cool off. When we get to the car, I put my suitcase in the boot. I don't know why it's so important to me that Carter not know I'm here. I'm just not strong enough to stay away from him yet.

  "Are you going to not talk to me the entire weekend now?", Ben asks with sadness in his voice.

  I ignore him. I'm going to let him stir and suffer for a few more minutes.

Once we're driving and exiting the airport car park, the annoyance I was harbouring has basically faded to nothing. Just because Ben did something stupid doesn't mean I have to be a bitch to him the whole time. He is one of my closest mates after all.

  "I forgive your stupidity", I say in an exaggerated huff before breaking into laughter.

  "Oh thank god!", Ben announces. "I was paranoid I'd fucked up your time home."

  "Nah, I mean it did annoy me but if he did still go to Coffs then I'm not mad", I say to him.

  "He did", he assures me.