Ghost of You

The Ghost of You - Chapter 4

For the next week or so leading up to Christmas, Bender and I hung out practically every day. As much as I thought it would be really awkward at times, it wasn't and there were many a times where he'd, out of nowhere, hold my hand and I just let it happen. I really did like Bender, but the more time I spent with him, the more I started falling for him. He had a tough exterior and, sure, he was an asshole or a hard ass when he needed to be, but for the most part, he was a good guy. I mean, he teased me here and there but nothing I couldn't handle or dish back out.

He met my parents too and while Ma still had her doubts about him, she did her best not to show it. What surprised me the most was how well he and Dad got along, talking about a number of things from cartoons to movies. (Bender apparently "dug" movies. We had been to a couple since hanging out which was fun.) It was in moments like this, watching him interact with my parents or seeing him hold the door open for people or seeing him interact with kids, which I had seen him do recently when Berta and her brood came into town, which made me really fall in love with him. In these moments, he was most vulnerable and it was in these moments where I saw his true self. I loved it. I loved him.

Christmas Eve, Bender came over to have dinner with my family, which proved to be a lot more fun than I thought, especially when he not only opted for the kids table, but he taught Berta's little boys how to properly hock a lugey in the air and catch it. Berta was thoroughly disgusted and I was delighted. I laughed when I heard Berta gag, earning a wink from Bender.

After dinner, I excused myself, letting Ma know I'd be back in a moment to help her clean up. I had managed to make it outside for a second before I felt a flannel being draped over my shoulders. Bender stepped from around me and dug a cigarette out of the pocket, offering me one in the process. I shrugged and accepted as he took out a second one, placed them both in his mouth, and lit them before passing one to me. I took a drag and had a coughing fit. "Oh my God," I gasped and coughed while Bender laughed.

"S'matter, Cupcake? Can't handle the red?"

"No wonder the Marlboro man is dead. Jesus," I said and spit onto the ground before taking another drag, but not as deep this time.

"You know, you don't have to keep smoking it on my account," He said and he went to remove it from my mouth but I turned away. "No, it's cool," I said, "I'll finish it. I'm getting used to it now, but I'll be honest, I'll stick to my menthols." Bender made a "blech" sound accompanied by a look of disgust.

"Menthols," and he shivered as I laughed. "Hey, Riley?" I could feel a shift in his tone, Bender was about to get serious. I hadn't seen this serious side of him since Andy and Allison's place a week ago. It had been relatively light hearted since then. "This was fun."

"What, dinner?" I asked and he nodded. He stuck his cigarette back in his mouth and began to dig in his pockets again. He pulled out a small box wrapped in newspaper and held it out. I looked from the box to him and I immediately jumped to conclusions. He shook the box at me to take it before saying, "It's not that, just, open it Riley." I hadn't realized my inner thoughts had been so loud. I took the box and tore the newspaper off of it revealing a cardboard box. I opened it and gasped. When I looked up at him, he was focused on the contents of the box. "You,..." and I trailed off as a flood of memories returned to me.

....

"These are gonna be so bitchin'," Allison said as she lit the needle on fire again before sticking it through the rounded part of a purple guitar pick. It only took her a moment to stick a small silver hoop through the hole that was connected to a small chain with an earring hook at the end of it. "Voila," she said in a sing song voice as she held up two completed earrings for me to wear.