Pɾιɳƈҽʂʂ σϝ ƚԋҽ Dҽαԃ

ȶɦɛ ʟǟӄɛ

Holly shifted her jacket a bit as they walked to Ben's bike in an unusually awkward silence. Usually even when the two were quiet there was never an air of awkwardness between them. the quiet had always been comfortable and easy. Looking over at Holly Ben could tell that she seemed incredibly nervous her hair rippling with their usual flames but unusually the flames danced rapidly almost as if an alternative to nervous fidgeting. "There's nothing to worry about," He assured her, snapping her out of her nervous daze. "It's not gonne be much different than when were just hanging out. It the same thing just with a little extra effort on my part." 

She raised an eyebrow, "What's your definition of a little?" She doubted Ben would do anything halfway. 

He laughed sheepishly, "Okay a little more than a little bit." 

She sighed willing her flames to calm, "It's just, dating on the isle isn't exactly easy, most don't teach their kids how to love or have a health relationship, then a bunch of emotionally unintelligent teenagers start getting crushes and we're all stuck together in one place. Things can get messy," she ran her free hand through her hair and sighed. 

Ben looked at her, not with pity, no she hated that, but like he understood at least a little bit. "Things will be a bit different here. Most teenagers are emotionally unintelligent," Holly couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her. "But we have what I assume are better examples of health relationships." 

"Yes, because marrying your capture was a good idea on Belle's part." That got Ben to bark out a laugh, he had told his parents constantly that their love story was odd and unorthodox, it had always left a bad taste in his mouth, but he wasn't entitled to speak on his mother and fathers' business. "I also have never ridden a bike of any kind," she warned Ben as they got to his motor bike. 

In response Ben laid his helmet across the seat and took hers from her arm, "Is it okay to touch your hair?" 

She nodded, "the flames shouldn't hurt you." 

He still didn't move, "are you okay with me touching your hair?" he clarified. 

She blinked in surprise but nodded, no one had ever asked for her permission when it came to touching her in anyway, even Evie usually bombards her with make-up with no warning nor question to do so. Ben moved her hair behind her ears, making sure her face is clear then straps on the helmet under her chin, "That comfortable? It's not too tight right?" She shook her head feeling a little off balance from the new weight. He pulled on his own helmet and threw his leg over the side of the bike, kicking back the kick stand. "All you have to do is hold on to my waist, everything will be fine," he reassured her holding out a hand to her.

She hesitated for a very brief moment before taking his hand and hauling herself over the seat sitting snuggly behind him wrapping her arms all the way around his waist interlocking her fingers when the met and pushing her chest to his back. He lets out a soft chuckle but otherwise doesn't comment on the overreaction before starting the bike and riding off. 

Throughout the ride Holly slowly started to loosen up until she was only holding her hands to his waist smiling as the wind ruffled her hair sending small smoldering embers into the air. Soon enough, but too soon for Hollys liking they stopped and parked, "We have to walk from here there's a rope bridge and we can't ride over it." 

"You can do whatever you want, but are you ready to pay for the consequences of those actions?" Holly states automatically before looking horrified. 

Ben raised an amused eyebrow, "Being here already rubbing off on you?"

She shook her head, "I told you a lot of kids on the isle don't get raised right, me and Carlos took care of a lot of the younger kids. My dad told me that a lot when I was a kid and said I couldn't do something. It stuck with me, and I tell the younger kids on the isle that a lot. You can make your own choices good or bad but at the end of the day your gonna have to face the outcome."