Stalemate // The Queens Gambit //Benny Watts x OC

Seventeen: The Least I Can Do

    I'm not sure how, but it seems we never really run out of things to talk about. I've only met so many people like that and it's nice to have another. We talked for almost three hours before Benny yawned.

"You tired?"

"A bit. I'll survive though."

"I think its going to stop raining soon, I can walk you home."

"Well then what would be the point of me having walked you home?" A small smile jumps to his face and I chuckle.

"Yeah, I guess you have a good point." Just as he's about to respond the phone rings and I hop up to get it, glancing at Benny playfully as I pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Adelaide? Hello, its Leo." My face immediately grows serious and I wrap my arm around my stomach, trying to fight of the bile threatening to climb up my throat. I was starting to accept the fact that my mother was gone and I've been doing better, but when me and Benny were talking, it seemed like her death was a million miles away. I would even go as far as to say I had forgotten for a while. To suddenly get such reminder of it literally speaking into my ear almost knocked the wind out of me.

"Hi Leo. How are you?" I ask, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"I am alright. How are you?" His R's roll like waves because of his heavy mixed accent.

"Good, thank you."

"I'm glad. I just wanted to tell you that I am about to board the flight to New York. Are you available tomorrow to talk over details about the funeral?"

"Yes, yes of course, when do you want to meet?"

"Anytime is alright. I will be quite jet-lagged no matter what." He laughs softly and I manage to chuckle.

"Okay, how about.. 1pm? There's a little diner I'm at few times a week if you want to meet there."

"Perfect, my hotel is on Lime Street I believe, the eh, Hilton Inn?"

"Oh that's just a few blocks away. Okay you'll go left from the Hilton and then onto Main Street and the diner is called Eddies, big blue sign in the window."

"Delightful, I will see you tomorrow, au revoir."

"Salut." I hang up and go back to the couch, Benny eyeing me, eyebrows raised in curiosity. I give a tight-lipped smile and pull my legs up to my chest.

"Everything alright..?" He asks.

"Yeah, great. Sorry- what were we talking about?" His face shifts into suspicion and I scold myself for not being able to deal with this more discreetly yet.

"Who was that?" He presses. I decide to stop trying to hide it from him, there was no point.

"Leo. My mother's boyfriend- ex boyfriend. He's on his way here with her and we're meeting at Eddie's tomorrow to go over.. funeral arrangements." Benny stares at me for a moment, brow knitted with concern, then he sighs and gets up.

"I'll make coffee." He walks to the kitchen and I stay there, thinking.

Once the coffee is made, he hands me a mug and sits next to me again. "So funeral arrangements?"

"Yeah," I laugh wryly and shake my head at nothing in particular. "I've barely talked about it with Macy. She insisted on helping me with everything but even with her help It's difficult. I just wish all of this would be over already."

He thinks for a minute and sets his mug on the table, leaning back and resting one of his legs over the other. "Well, I could help. I'm no Macy but I'll try my best."

"Oh no, I couldn't ask that of you. I've already cried on your shoulder too many times, I can't keep bothering you with my own issues."

"Hey don't worry about it, my shoulders are plenty strong. Besides, what else are we gonna do?"

"Well.. If you really don't mind it, the help would be nice."

"Great. So what do you need to figure out before tomorrow?"

I hop up and get a binder with papers and pictures in it for the funeral. I lay it out on the table and we both lean over it, looking at the pictures and guest list and budget. We go over everything, modifying, adding, subtracting, until we have a decent plan of what it's going to be like.

By 7pm I finally put everything back into the binder and set it on a side table, flopping back into the cushions. My back was sore, my eyes hurt, and I was mentally exhausted. I could tell Benny was in a similar state as he rested his head against the back of the couch and closed his eyes.

"I think that's the most efficiently anyone's ever planned a funeral." I say, staring at the ceiling.

Benny laughs softly, eyes still closed. "And who knew it was so draining. I can't remember the last time I was this tired."

"Me neither.. hey I think I'm gonna go to bed, do you just want to sleep over here tonight? I doubt you'd make it halfway home before collapsing and falling asleep in the street."

"If it's alright that'd actually be great. you're probably right."

"Of course. I'll get some stuff for you." I pull myself off the couch and shuffle to a closet, getting out a few blankets, a sheet, and a few pillows with fresh pillow cases. I shoo Benny off the couch and pull the sheet over the cushions while he puts the cases on the pillows.

"Thanks for letting me stay. Hey, I'll make breakfast tomorrow to pay you back."

"It's really no problem, if anything this is me paying you back."

"For what?"

"Well I just met you- what? Two weeks ago? And since then you've gotten me home safely after I ranted to you while completely drunk, hung out with me just to make sure I didn't end up drinking myself to an early grave, helped me tell my father that my mother died, sat in about a hundred dressing rooms while I made you carry my things, walked me home in the rain, and helped me plan a funeral." I list off, finally done setting up the couch.

"You're right. When you put it like that, I think I should at least get the bed." He jokes.

"I think the couch is actually more comfortable than the bed but hey, all yours." I joke back. He really does deserve so more than just being able to crash at my shitty apartment for the night. "How about I make breakfast tomorrow, and you get to ask me three favors in the future. I think that's pretty close to fair."

He thinks about it for a moment and then holds out a hand. "Deal." I shake it and we stay like that for a minute, a big boyish grin dancing just beneath his expression.

"Well, just let me know if you need anything." I finally broke the silence, letting go of his hand and taking our mugs to the sink.

"Thanks, goodnight Adelaide." He called, sitting on the couch.

"Night Benny" I say just before I shut the door to my room. I change into pajamas and sit in bed, picking up the book I didn't get to read today because of Benny. I can't seem to focus though, thinking of the days events, so I put it away and turn the light off, sinking into the blankets. Looks like this is the second time today I won't be able to read on account of Benny Watts.