Wanderlust.

23: Broken Noses.

Hand in hand Benito and I walked back to my house, Aaron and Ashley next to us. Diana and Marc had decided on staying at the party. We were all tipsy and so we made a lot jokes. While Aaron pulled out his key to open the door for us, I leaned onto Benito's shoulder. I was tired and my feet were killing me. When Aaron had opened the door, him and Ashley entered the house first. Benito looked at me, before he caught me by surprise by picking me up bridal style. I squealed and started laughing. Mind you, I was far more drunk than he was - he had only had three glasses of wine and a glass of champagne right after midnight. 

"Night guys." Aaron said, walking up the stairs. 

"Good night!" I responded as Benito carried me towards the basement. He had a toothless smile on his face, when he put my feet back on the ground. I started looking for my key in my purse while he wrapped his arms around me from behind, his face buried in the crook of my neck. Yawning, I pushed the door open. I didn't even bother hanging my jacket up, just threw it onto the small dining table in the kitchen and dragged Benito into the bedroom. It was 3am and I was tired but I was also nervous. 

"We wanted to take it slow, Alina." Benito reminded me, when I started walking him backwards to my bed. I let out a frustrated sigh and nodded. Benito started laughing and pulled me towards him by my hips, his hands resting on my ass. He was joking and so I rolled my eyes at him playfully. I wrapped my arms around his neck, when he leaned down to kiss me. 

Three hours later, we were sitting at my dining table, two bowls of cereal in front of us. In the meantime, I had taken off my make-up and changed into something more comfortable. Benito was sitting across from me only in his boxers. We were enjoying each other's company in silence, given that we hadn't been quiet at all in the bedroom. As I was fishing out the last couple of lucky charms out of my milk - I always kept the sweet marshmallow parts till the end, a habit I've had since I had been a child - somebody knocked on my door loudly. No, actually the person was banging on it. Benito looked at me with a confused look on his face, so I shrugged and walked over to it to open it. Simon burst into my apartment - he was drunk and very obviously furious -, followed by Tim, Diana and Marc. Everything happened so fast that I barely had any time to comprehend what was going on. Within seconds Simon had made his way over to Benito who had looked at my brother just as confused. 

"I'm so sorry, Alina. It slipped out of my mouth." my sister sobbed. At first, I didn't understand what she could've possibly meant but then the realisation kicked in. Immediately, I turned towards my brother who, right in that moment, punched Benito in the face with his fist. Simon had boxed several years, so I knew that he was capable of knocking somebody out with just one hook. Diana squealed in shock and I gasped. 

"You're an absolute piece of shit!" I heard my brother yell. Immediately, I got in between him and Benito, who was now kneeling on the floor. He was holding his nose and moaned in pain. 

"Simon, what's going on?" I asked, putting my hand on his chest to keep him at a distance, then I turned to Benito "are you alright?" I wanted to know concerned. Benito nodded slightly. Then I looked at my siblings.

"Did you think we wouldn't find out that you lied to her?" Simon questioned, still fixated on Benito. Diana was crying her eyes out behind him, constantly repeating that she was sorry about accidentally telling him. Marc was holding her, assuring her that this hadn't been her fault. I turned back towards Benito. When the first drips of blood, dropped onto my tile floor, I had enough and pushed Simon backwards. Given that he was not only a whole lot taller than me but, of course, stronger, he had no problem resisting my attempt at getting him away from Benito. Out of all people, it was Tim that came to my rescue. He gently grabbed Simon's upper arm and pulled him away from me. That gave me time to grab a cloth for Benito's bleeding nose. While Tim was holding Simon back, I knelt down next to Benito. Seeing him physically hurt made me angry.