𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐋, 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐣 𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐧.

eight

❝ GOD IT'S BRUTAL OUT HERE ! ❞

CHAPTER EIGHT
AUDREY LIKES BENJ???

but obviously nothing ended how audrey wanted it to— well in this case she didn't plan it ending like this but she kind of liked it.

"audey wait!" she heard someone running after her, benj sounded out of breath and the first thing that came into her mind was that he was in trouble again.

"jesus fucking christ dude, you scared me." she turned back, shaking her head as he stood next to her. "what'd you do now?"

"nothing and uh, sorry that was a little intense," he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, ever since he realized his feelings about half an hour ago he couldn't stop thinking about her, well even more than usual. "but you can't leave."

audrey was taken aback by his statement, shaking her head in disbelief as she furrowed her brows. "i can't?"

"well you can. you can do whatever you want— it's just you shouldn't." benj explained, trying to play this off.

"why's that?"

"because you promised we'd have a beer this summer." benj pursed his lips as audrey smiled at the memory. "remember?"

oh she remembered, that night she had slept in his bedroom because of alyssa's obnoxious snoring and the next morning when she woke up she was greeted by bailey taking a million pictures of them and blabbing her ear off about it the whole day.

until tonight that was probably the first time she and benj had a civil conversation.

she chuckled as she tilted her head to the right. "right and i suppose you're gonna hold me to that."

"well i just kind of figured you'd wanna keep your word." benj shrugged, he knew that when audrey promised something that she would actually stick to it. "'cause you're such an honorable person and all."

audrey exhaled as she pretended to think for a moment— a few seconds ago she was ready to leave the party and not look back but right now this didn't sound like a bad idea, right? "i do value a great deal." she nodded her head slowly.

benj couldn't believe that she was actually agreeing to this, when he chased her down he expected to be slapped in the face. "i know that's why i chased you down."

"alright sure i got one in me," audrey agreed as she motioned for them to go back to the party. she began walking and realized that he wasn't following next to her, she turned back and watched as he raised his fist in the air as a victory but immediately put it down when he noticed her, trying his best to play it off.

for a split second, she found herself actually enjoying his company.

"are you coming or what?" audrey called out, a smirk tugging at her lips.

benj quickly caught up to her, his cheeks slightly flushed. "yeah, yeah, i'm coming. just... uh, making sure you didn't change your mind."

"not yet," she teased, raising an eyebrow. "but don't push your luck."

they walked back towards the party together, the tension between them replaced by a more comfortable silence. audrey's thoughts drifted again to the strange turn of events. just a week ago, she couldn't stand the idea of being around benj for more than a minute. now, she was willingly sticking around for him, even though she had every reason to leave.

as they approached the house, the music grew louder, and the chaotic energy of the party enveloped them once more. audrey noticed the usual crowd—people dancing, others laughing, and more than a few stumbling around with drinks in hand, people playing shotgun and some even peeing in the bushes. it was the typical party scene.

"i'll go get us some beer," benj pointed towards the drink table where there was a beer keg and a few red solo cups.

"okay i'll be over there," audrey pointed to an empty coach.

audrey made her way to the empty couch, trying to process the strange mix of emotions she was feeling. the chaotic buzz of the party surrounded her, but her focus remained on benj, who had just disappeared towards the drink table. as she sank into the couch, she couldn't help but think that she was losing her mind.

this was benj nielsen for god's sake. she shouldn't be feeling this way about him, it was weird and disgusting and he was totally in love with bailey and she didn't really want a boyfriend right now— point is she can't like benj.

wait, what? like benj? oh my god she liked benj! audrey began panicking in her mind as she had finally come to the conclusion, he wasn't her type and he was dorky and everything she hated in a guy. so why the fuck was her heart so drawn to him all of a sudden.

it must be something she ate or drank that was making her feel this way, maybe it was the weather or chris getting onto her nerves and— oh who the fuck was she kidding, once the idea got into her head it hit her like a rock, harder even.

she liked benjamin nielsen, the same boy she had teased and made fun of for years. and to top it off she was pretty sure alyssa would murder her if she found out.

her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. it was a message from bailey, asking how she was holding up. audrey typed a quick response, telling her she was fine, but her mind was still focused on benj.

audrey rae was completely and utterly fucked.

author's note, this was a short one but at least audrey finally realized her feelings so we're all good