The Devil's Playmate

THREE

   He knew how pleased Marcus was. Benjamin didn't even have to look. He could feel it.

After begging Emma not to leave him, the girl reluctantly took him back and continued to drill in a few more commands. Benjamin, with tears still running down his face, nodded and followed them without another word.

Emma had informed Marcus of what happened briefly after school, telling him not to worry about Benjamin straying for now. Although Marcus was still skeptical, one look at the boy told him all he needed to know.

Benjamin looked worse than he usually did. His whole face was paler than usual, and he couldn't stop scratching his wrist with a terrible expression.

Marcus smiled without warning, scaring Benjamin. He didn't expect Marcus to lift his arms and wrap them around Benjamin, hugging him gently while a hand snaked up his back and gripped the back of Benjamin's neck. It was like consoling a child.

"You know how Emma gets," Marcus began, "so, just make sure not to do it again, okay? It'd be bad if you were taken out of the group. We're the only friends you have, right?"

Benjamin sobbed a little and held onto Marcus tightly. He nodded in reply. Marcus was happy with his agreement.

That night at Benjamin's house, he noticed the time and thought to himself that he'd usually be out with Emma and Blythe.

Because of his sister never being around, Emma and Blythe took it upon themselves to always hang out with Benjamin to relieve his loneliness. This was also the time they'd go out and eat at various places in their town since Benjamin barely had any food in the fridge.

But Emma said they wouldn't be able to be together for right now. She was still angry and didn't bother dropping him off at his house. She let Marcus do that.

"Benjamin?"

He was startled when he heard his sister coming in from work. Exhausted, but still smiling, Lucy sat down a plastic bag and her purse on the table and bent down to hug Benjamin sitting down on the couch.

His sister, no matter how tired she was, was still pretty in Benjamin's eyes. They looked the same, except she wasn't the one with scratch marks on her wrist and terrible dark bags under her eyes. Lucy was taking care herself better than Benjamin was.

"You're home?" He was in disbelief. "You've never this early..."

"My boss felt bad about me always having to work overtime. She allowed me to clock out," Lucy explained. "I also have amazing news to tell you."

"What is it?"

Lucy grabbed the plastic bag from the table and took out an encased cake for Benjamin to see. It was small, but he was still surprised by it.

"We hardly ever eat cake," he stated. "What's the occasion?"

"My upcoming promotion."

Benjamin looked up. His eyes were wide. "You're getting promoted?"

Lucy grinned, happy to see his reaction. "It's crazy, right? I know it's been really tough for the past year or so due to money, but I think we'll be fine now. I'll still have to work overtime, but it won't be that often, so you won't always be home alone."

"It's okay! I don't mind being home by myself! I'm just glad we'll be able to see each other more... but I'm sorry you're going through this by yourself. I-I can go and get a job-"

"No, just stay in school," Lucy interrupted. "I'd like it if you'd go out and have fun with your friends."

Benjamin felt even more guilty. His sister was still young, barely turning twenty-one and yet she's the one having to take on their heavy burdens. He'd like it if Lucy could depend on him more, but she'd never allow him to help out. She insisted he'd have a regular high school life.