Brewed to Perfection

Part 31

We'd watched the rest of the episode that was playing on Tv and I weirdly didn't feel tense sitting next to Benjamin. In some odd way it reminded me of when me and my brother used to watch movies together.

Maybe it was just because I felt so alone for a long time, having someone close felt comforting. Even if it was Benjamin who was making me feel that way.

A sudden tug of throw brought me back to the moment. "What are you doing?" I asked, whilst tugging the blanket back over my legs.

"You're hogging the blanket. I only have one leg covered fully" Benjamin retorted before tugging lightly again.

"Hey, I let you watch the show you wanted, and also exerted the minimal energy I have to retrieve the blanket. If you've got one chilly kneecap, you'll just have to deal with it."

Benjamin shot me a funny sort of glare.

"Boo hoo, stop being such a baby and deal with it"

Benjamin started to laugh. It was awful.

His laugh was perfect. My Dad always used to tell me and Robbie that when he met Mum it was her smile he fell in love with and I never really believed it.

I never really understood how you could love someone's smile or laugh or face without knowing who they even were.

But man, Benjamin's real laugh was like an enchanting melody. Made to draw the poor soul who had heard it right in. He was a siren and my ears were the unlucky victims, paddling closer and closer to the rich, beautiful sound.

I'd heard his laugh before. The taunting cruelty of his tone, but this time i couldn't hear that anymore. It was genuine and I didn't know what to do about it.

A flicker of sunlight reflected on Benjamin's face for a split second and It felt like I had been slapped in the face with his beauty. He was beautiful.

Benjamin stopped laughing and suddenly his face fell flat. His caramel eyes now piercing into me. "What did you say?"

"Huh?" I asked, confused by the question.

"Did you say I was beautiful?" he questioned, sounding weirdly angry. He stood up suddenly.

The blanket lifted too, a gust of cold air chilling my entire body.

"Did I say that out loud?" I asked, more to myself than to Benjamin.

It was embarrassing that I said that outloud, but I'm sure Benjamin had been told that exact statement around a million times in his life.

Benjamin was standing now, his body blocking the Tv screen. His fingers thread through his messy hair and I just watched. Not really knowing what to say, or why he was reacting so strangely.

"Are you ok?" I asked almost sheepishly. Annoyed at myself for making him uncomfortable when we had actually been acting 'nice' all morning.

Benjamin's expression turned cold, and I felt like the past had slapped me in the face again. I knew that expression.

"Why did you say that?" He sounded almost threatening.

"Woah, I'm sorry if I upset you in some way. It just sort of came out. Trust me, I thought I was speaking in my inner monologue." I told him honestly.

Why was he angry at being called beautiful, shouldn't that create the exact opposite reaction?

"You can't just say things like that Maeve." He moved away from the TV, and reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I really didn't mean to, it's just the sunlight fell on your face and you just looked... i don't know what i'm saying, i'm rambling and because i'm awkward i'll probably just keep going until someone stops me-"

"- next time keep your thoughts to yourself. I'm not some piece of meat."

Benjamin wasn't even looking at me now, and I had never felt so confused in my life. Was I one of those awful people that objectifies someone? I didn't think I was. So why did I feel like shit?

I stood up from the couch and walked over to Benjamin. I gently reached for his arm, trying to get his attention. I never realised an accidental compliment could make someone so upset.

Benjamin snatched his arm away from me, his eyes darkened. "Don't touch me Stormy."

I flinched. "Were back to this? really?"

"Back to? Please don't tell me you thought we had become besties over the space of 12 hours?" he mocked. And I felt like I was going to be sick.

Something inside me told me I would need to be seated for whatever he was going to say next. I walked back to the couch and sat, waiting for the blow.