By the Book

Chapter Six: Bridging the Gap

The car hummed steadily beneath us as we cruised back toward Portland, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the highway. I balanced my phone between my ear and my shoulder, steering with one hand while Ben scrolled through his own phone in silence beside me. 

"Yes, Mom," I said, my tone patient but firm. "I've got it under control. He's staying with me for the week. And no, I'm not going to let him sit around playing video games the whole time."

Her voice crackled faintly over the line. "I just don't know what to do with him anymore, Kara. He's so angry all the time, and it's like I can't get through to him."

"I know," I said softly, glancing over at Ben. He had his earbuds in now, but I could tell he wasn't listening to anything. "We'll figure it out. Just focus on work and Dad, okay? I've got this."

Mom sighed, the weariness in her voice cutting through me like a knife. "Thank you, sweetheart. You're always picking up the pieces."

"That's what big sisters are for," I said lightly, though the weight of it settled heavily on my shoulders. "I'll call you later, alright?"

"Alright," she said, though she still sounded reluctant. "Drive safe."

"I will," I promised before ending the call and setting my phone in the cupholder. I flexed my hands on the steering wheel, trying to shake off the tension. Silence filled the car for a moment, save for the low hum of the engine. I glanced over at Ben, slouched in his seat with his earbuds in, staring out the window.

"Your music must be really interesting," I said dryly, noting how the cord wasn't even plugged into his phone.

Ben's head jerked slightly, his cheeks flushing as he yanked the earbuds out. "It's just... quiet," he muttered, not meeting my eyes.

"You mean you're eavesdropping," I said, though my tone lacked any bite. "If you have something to say, just say it."

"I wasn't eavesdropping," he shot back, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "It's not like I wanted to hear Mom complaining about me."

"She's not complaining," I corrected. "She's worried. There's a difference."

He snorted, crossing his arms. "Feels the same."

I tightened my grip on the wheel. "Look, Ben. You're not making this easy for anyone. Mom's doing the best she can. You could meet her halfway."

"Yeah, well, maybe she should stop treating me like a little kid," he snapped, his voice sharp.

"Then maybe you should stop acting like one," I said before I could stop myself.

The silence that followed was heavy, and I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to soften. "Look, I know you're frustrated. I know things are... complicated. But you don't get to take that out on everyone else. Mom doesn't deserve it, and neither do you."

Ben stared at the dashboard, his jaw tight. "You don't get it."

"Then explain it to me," I pressed, glancing at him briefly before returning my focus to the road. "Help me understand, Ben."

He shook his head, his hair flopping into his eyes. "It's just... hard, okay? Everything's hard, and I don't know how to... stop it."

My chest tightened at the rawness in his voice. He was trying so hard to keep everything bottled up, but it was spilling out in ways he couldn't control. "I know it is," I said gently. "But punching Jake Whitman isn't the answer. It just makes things worse."

Ben huffed out a bitter laugh. "You didn't hear what he said."

"I know he was out of line," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "But, Ben, you have to learn how to rise above it. I'm not saying it's fair, but you're better than this."