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

Thirty two: The Arm-Over-The-Shoulder-Thing

After Macy had filled me in on everything that happened—long story short, Macy talked about having a gorgeous wedding and Jamie reminded her it was going to be less than perfect in her mind—we all went to a small night club for dinner, squeezing into one of the booths and ordering a round of beer. An interesting choice, I know, but it was popular here and they served steak.

"So what did everyone do when we split up at the hotel?" Luke asked.

"Me and Jamie went to the sun room and looked out at the gardens. Everything's frozen, but I think it's prettier that way." Macy said, her and Jamie's finger interlocked, as if nothing happened. I was glad, proud of Jamie that he found a way to make everything okay again without my help.

"I went to the library for a while and then back to the rooms." I said as I sipped my drink. Benny nodded and confirmed that he did the same.

Everyone else talked about what they had done, what rooms they found, who they interacted with. We ordered a few minutes later and once we did, Chris stood up, holding his glass to the sky.

"A toast," he started, all of us raising our glasses to the heavens alongside him. "To friends, new experiences, and snow. Oh, and to Adelaide, happy birthday." He grinned and we clinked our glasses together in the air, all taking sips.

"And," I stood and raised my glass like Chris had "to my mother. She probably would have said something inappropriate right about now, but the only thing I can think of is.." I took a deep breath and grinned, looking to the ground "here's to you mom, I hope it's cozy down there." My friends laughed, cheering, and connected their glasses over the center of the table like before, taking large gulps. I sat back down, smiling a little and folding my hands in my lap.

I felt Jonathan squeeze my right hand and as I looked to him he gave me a reassuring smile, I smiled back gratefully. Then from my left, Benny casually put an arm over the back of the booth and let his hand hang over my shoulder. When I glanced at him, he was staring forward with a blank expression, and sipped his beer.

I was a bit perplexed, and slightly irritated. Jonathan looked annoyed with Benny as he did this and it seemed the truce they had come to was being challenged. I sat up straighter so Benny's arm wasn't around me and pulled my hand away from Jonathan, grabbing my glass and taking a gulp. I adopted the same blank expression as Benny and stood again.

"I'll be right back." I sighed. Jonathan got out of the booth so I could get out too and I walked to the door.

Immediately as I opened it I was greeted by a wave of bitterly cold air, the hairs on my arms standing up. I wrapped my arms around myself and took a cigarette from my pocket. I realized I didn't have a lighter and cursed at myself. I looked around me to see if there were any other people who had broken off from their group that might have one. The only other person on the street was a homeless man sitting against the wall and staring into space.

I sighed angrily and leaned against the wall of the club, watching as traffic went by. I wanted to give Benny and Jonathan some space to stop thinking bout whatever the fuck is between them. For some reason, I trigger it, and it's only pissing me off. If Macy's been right this whole time and they're fighting over me, I don't understand why some girls enjoy this.

The door to the club opened and Benny stepped out, looking around the sidewalk for me. When he spotted my glare he walked over and flashed that cocky smirk.

"We have got to stop meeting like this." He joked.

I let my grimace fall and smiled a little, standing up straight. "Do you have a lighter?"

He reached into his pocket and flicked the lighter open, a small flame materializing in his hand, illuminating our faces. I leaned over and held the cigarette that was dangling from my lips over the flame, taking a small drag and blowing smoke out my nostrils.

"You okay?" He questioned. I shrugged a little, looking back at the green, red, and yellow lights of the city.

"Why are you and Jonathan still pissed at each other? Because it's really just starting to make me pissed at both of you." I said, a twinge of anger in my voice.

"We aren't. I told you—or, I guess you heard for yourself—we're good now."

"Then what was that whole arm-over-the-shoulder thing back there?"

He pursed his lips and shoved his hands in his pockets, looking to the concrete beneath us. "No idea what you mean."

"Oh come on, don't act cute, that was obviously meant to tick him off. What is your guys' deal??"

"What if I just wanted to do that?"

"Bullshit, why would you?"

"Well, maybe I had to stretch, maybe it was cramped, maybe it was more comfortable," he stepped a foot closer and grinned a little. I had to resist the urge to slap him. "Maybe I just wanted to mark my territory." I changed my mind and decided not to resist. I slapped him across the face, hard. "Ow, shit- come on, that was a joke." He pressed a hand to his cheek, which was growing redder by the second.

"Well it wasn't funny." I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. He laughed a little and shook his head, obviously finding this amusing.

"Sorry, I thought I would try and lighten the mood, you're so serious about this."

"Yeah, well," I paused, thinking for a minute. I had been uncharacteristically serious about the unnecessary, irrelevant, and ridiculous drama going on lately, and I hated it. I don't know why it irritated me so much but I don't think it's accomplishing anything. "..you're right, I'm sorry. I just would prefer my friends to get along rather than at constant emotional war with each other."

"That's understandable. But I mostly meant about us."

"Us?"

"What everyones thinking, saying, shoving down your throat."

"Well it's not the most enjoyable thing being told what you feel by other people."

"I know, I understand.. but I'm just wondering.. is there not any truth to it?"

"What do you mean?" I sighed, wanting to get this conversation over.

"I mean, if everyone is telling someone something, and only that one person is saying it's not true, how come everyone's saying that thing in the first place? There's a grain of truth in everything, Adelaide."

"I-" I started. "We-" I stuttered. "You-" I stammered. Benny raised his eyebrows as if to say 'go on..' and I groaned, running my fingers through my hair.

"Yeah, I thought so." He smiled a little.

"You want me to slap you again?" I said, placing a hand on my hip. He laughed and took his jacket off, wrapping it around my shoulders. I gave him a look and he shrugged.

"You're freezing, and I refuse to believe chivalry is dead."

"I am perfectly fine." I insisted.

"Uh huh. Come on, let's go inside before your feet freeze to the ground." I nodded a little and as we were about to go inside, the homeless man called out to us.

"You take care of that young lady, son. While ya have the honor." He said in a gruff voice, a small smile peeking out through his thick facial hair.

Benny smiled back and nodded. "Oh, I plan to sir." He put an arm around me for affect and I looked up at him, a brow raised. He just shrugged and squeezed my shoulder a little. We finally went inside, and he didn't let go until we sat down, the rest of the night a total success.

***

A/N:
I hate myself and love myself for this chapter. Let me now if you lean towards the former or the latter because I need to know when to cut off the cringe.
Also, apologies for the delay! I've been out of town for the week and haven't had internet. I will return to a (somewhat) regular posting schedule ASAP.  I am going to be starting a new book, so the chapters for this fic may be coming a bit slower as I work on that new one, but I will be writing as much as humanly possible. Thank you for reading!
Later lovelies <3

-Rat