Risk || Benj Nielsen

04.

the party had started and the house was full but benj, olivia and koosh were still watching in the camera room.

"dude, come check this out." koosh laughed as he watched the monitor, "katrina is hammered."

olivia now sat up on the couch with benj's legs swung over hers as he lay down, both of them staring at their phones, "no, thanks." olivia dismissed the ire friend.

"suit yourself. it's pretty cool." koosh shrugged and continued his creeping.

however, benj still wasn't a fan of his plan, "it's not cool. it's the opposite of cool." he sighed, sitting up and removing his legs from olivia's lap, "look, i know it's not easy living in kayvon's shadow, but i honestly believe that if you just be yourself, people would see what an awesome guy you are."

"be myself?" koosh thought about it.

"yes." olivia spoke up, "benj is right, koosh."

"let them know the real me?" he continued thinking about it.

benj nodded, "exactly."

"nah, that'll never work. my plan's way better." koosh laughed.

olivia sighed dramatically and threw her body back on the couch as benj said, "your plan is weird and probably illegal. oh shit. go to camera three!"

"hey, now you're getting it." koosh said as he switched to camera three.

olivia watched as a video of bailey and alyssa entering the party and greeting some friends.

"bailey's here. isn't she the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" benj stared at the girl.

"ah, she's okay." koosh said, "your sister, on the other hand, is looking fine as fuck."

benj let out a breath and said, "moment of truth. you coming?"

"i am, i wanna say hi to bailey." olivia stood up from the sofa.

"i'm gonna give it another minute. let this simmer rise to a boil." koosh announced, his eyes not leaving the monitor.

benj followed olivia out the door saying, "good luck with that."

bailey smiled as benj and olivia walked down the stairs, olivia holding one cup and benj holding two.

however, they were stopped when ruby - benj's carpool driver - held out a fist and hit him in the no go zone. olivia gasped as benj groaned in pain and ruby laughed.

when benj stood up, ruby took his drinks from him. he then continued towards bailey, olivia following.

"you okay?" bailey asked benj, smiling at olivia.

"ah, just ruby being... funny. you know, carpool stuff." benj didn't sound very confident, but bailey nodded anyway, "you look great, by the way."

"thanks. so how's your first party? everything you always dreamed of?" bailey asked.

"so far, so good. i don't know a lot of people, so it's a little awkward." benj answered.

alyssa was quick to say, "well, it's about to get more awkward because you have no one to talk to." she grabbed bailey's wrist and held her hand out to olivia, "you coming, liv?"

"uh, no. i think i'll stay with benj." olivia told them and bailey nodded.

"okay, well, meet us outside later, we need to talk." bailey winked at the girl and olivia nodded as they went off.

"what does she need to talk to you about?" benj turned to his friend.

"oh, i don't know. probably something that happened at school." olivia shrugged it off and walked further into the party, benj following close behind.

***

music was blaring through the house as olivia and benj leaned against a wall. olivia was drinking something she had gotten from the kitchen as a couple pressed up against the wall beside them.

the pair looked over at some guy waving them over. after a minute, they walked over to the two people they had never met.

"hey, did you want us to come over?" benj asked as olivia finished whatever drink was in her cup, the liquid burning her throat.

she had poured some alcoholic drink into her cup, however she wasn't entirely sure what drink it was.

"yeah, uh... what's your deal?" the stranger guy asked benj.

"in...in, like, what sense? like, personality-wise?" benj asked, awkwardly.

the girl beside the guy who'd called them over suddenly spoke up, "wait, aren't you alyssa's brother?"

"yeah, i'm benj." he greeted her, "and this is my friend, olivia."

"me and your sister used to do gymnastics together." she smiled, "i'm jessica."

"no shit! you're alyssa's bro?" the guy asked them and when benj agreed her continued, "dude, what did your sister do to her face?"

"don't be an asshole! jeff!" the girl scolded him as he laughed.

"hey, what? i like it! it looks way better." he laughed.

"yeah. i don't know, man. it's not really my place to say." benj spoke up.

jeff laughed and said, "i like this kid. he's loyal. come here." he bent down and brought benj closer to him, "are we gonna fucking party tonight or what?"

"i think so." benj spoke, his voice unsure.

"don't give me that half-assed, one-foot-in bullshit. commit to me. right now. are you in?" jeff asked again.

benj looked to jessica and then to olivia, both of them wore smiles on their faces, "okay. yeah, i'm in."

"motherfucker, let's go!" jeff screamed, "alright. get out of here. i'll let you know when it's time."

olivia looked at her cup and said, "i need another drink." and the pair of them left, walking towards the kitchen.

olivia grabbed a drink from the table and poured it into her cup, "do you even know what you're drinking?" benj asked and olivia shook her head, "liv, you should be more careful."

"why?" she asked, testing whether it was because he care or because of bailey.

"i need you on your a-game. i can't have anything ruin my chances with bailey and you're meant to be helping me." he sighted.

"fuck off benj." she shouted, "seriously, fuck off. all i ever hear is "oh bailey this, bailey that." what happened, benj? you never pay attention to me anymore. you know, just leave me alone."

olivia walked away from benj, pushing her way through the crowds and getting to the bathroom before benj could stop her.

she downed her drink and gave it five minutes before heading for another one.

drink after drink and soon she was hammered. this was not going to end well.