Shades Of Blue

31. Naive

*WARNING FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING AND SMOKING)

Benjie

August

Age 17

"What a douche-bag. I can't believe I hooked up with that loser," Ellie said about Isaac as she guided her brother away from her circle of friends.

Benjie stayed quiet, his pride sore.

"I'm sorry he said that stuff," she told him. "Don't let it get to you. I know it's hard, but trust me, Isaac's opinion is worthless."

"I know. I was fine. You didn't have to make a big deal about it."

"I guess," she said as they approached the cooler she had brought along to the party. She removed two cans of beer and gave one to her brother. "It just gets to me."

Benjie cracked open his can and took a sip. "What does?"

"How people talk shit," she confessed.

"About me, you mean?"

She opened her beer and took a long gulp. "Yeah."

They sat down on a boulder on the rocky beach. "I don't care," Benjie told her. "You know that, right? It doesn't bother me."

"You say that, but," she shook her head, "I don't know. What people are saying now is pissing me off. It's just gossip but there are real consequences for this shit, you know?"

He snapped his elastic band against his skin. "What are they saying?"

She gave him a knowing look. "Moira's just talking shit 'cause she's jealous. She doesn't even mean it. She's not used to a guy picking his best friend over her. Thinks it's weird and makes jokes that you must give the best head in town to keep that man-whore satisfied."

"Don't call him that," Benjie mumbled.

"He is, though," Ellie asserted. "It's not fair to you."

Benjie chewed his lip, his gaze fixed on Neel as he made out with Moira at the edge of the water. He shook his head and almost chuckled, unable to process this pain. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't care who you date or bang. You know I'm always here for you."

"I'm not talking to you about this," he laughed anxiously. "Stop being mushy, it's creeping me out."

Ellie giggled and lit a cigarette for herself while Benjie stared at his best friend and lover. She knew something was going on with Neel. Of course she knew. She had probably known for some time now.

"He begged me to come here," he said quietly. "Then he forgot."

Ellie stared at him, then at Neel. "Your guy's sloppy when he's drunk. He talks a lot."

Worried, he had to ask; "what has he said about me?"

She shrugged. "I dunno. He always talks about how wonderful but confusing you are. I just assumed he's had a crush on you for a while and doesn't know how to handle it. If he talks about you like that in front of Moira, I don't blame her for suspecting."

Averting his gaze from Neel and Moira, Benjie lowered his head and focused on his hands.

"You love him, don't you?" Ellie wondered, her eyes now on the happy couple.

Benjie got up from the rock to stretch out his legs. "Yeah, I'm not telling you shit," he informed her. "I'm gonna head out. You good here on your own?"

"I can take care of myself," she smirked as he walked away.