Life Can Do Terrible Things // Ben Bruce

4. Song About Heartbreak

Picture: Ben
Song: Dirty Ickes- Sorority Noise (song at the end of the chapter, it's in the media section up above)

ISSY P.O.V

I was awoken early in the morning by Demi, informing me that she was leaving for work. I kissed her goodbye and rolled the other way, falling back to sleep. I woke up naturally later that morning, Tahnee was still fast asleep and cuddling a pillow. I sighed at her sleeping form, the worry for her bubbling in my stomach. I shook my head and picked my phone up from my night stand. I had three texts, all from Ben.

Good morning :)
What are your plans for the day?
Oh, you must be asleep. Text me when you wake up!

I chuckled and speedily replied
Good morning idiot ;) had a rough night last night but I need to run errands before work. What are your plans?

I quietly tip toed to my dresser so I didn't wake up Tahnee and picked out what to wear today. I stripped from my pyjamas in exchange for a white tube top tucked into high waisted black mom jeans paired with an oversized black cardigan and white low cut Converse. I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and apply some light makeup. My phone buzzed with a text from Ben
I'm literally doing nothing. Do you think I could join you?
I chewed on my lip before responding
Sure! Send us your address and I'll be there!
I was so excited to be hanging out with Ben again, even if we are doing boring stuff like grocery shopping. I headed out of the bathroom and back to my bedroom. I kissed Tahnee's head before grabbing my handbag and car keys and heading down the five flights of stairs to the apartment block parking lot. I hopped into my black Toyota and started to punch Ben's address into the GPS. I hooked my phone up to my car stereo and blasted the new Motionless In White album, enjoying the crunchy guitars.

After twenty minutes of driving, I pulled up outside the house I spent my Saturday night inside. I remember Ben saying he lives here full time while the other guys stay here for writing and recording. It was quite large and spacious from what I remember. He wasn't out the front so I beeped my horn a couple times in impatience. The large wooden door opened and Ben walked out. He shot a cheeky smile with a cigarette hanging out the corner of his mouth. He was wearing a large grey sweater, ripped jeans and dark Vans. A grey beanie was taming his wild brown hair. Ben started heading toward my car, all the while lighting his cigarette. He took a huge drag and blew out the smoke before getting into my car. He smiled brightly before winding down the window, extending the hand with the cigarette outward.
"Hello gorgeous." He leant forward and kissed my cheek.
A deep blush painted across my cheeks, hopefully disguised slightly by the rouge already on there. "Hey darling."
He jerked his head toward the window. "Do you mind?"
I shook my head and put the car back into drive.
He fiddled with my stereo and Motionless In White came back on in full volume, making Ben jump out of his skin.
"Fucking hell. I never knew Chris was that scary."
I started to laugh loudly as I tapped the steering wheel to the beat.
"So what are we doing?" Ben asked, holding in the smoke from the cigarette.
"Groceries and then maybe a little shopping. But first order of business is some breakfast." I explained, trying to keep my eyes on the road.
"Sweet. I couldn't be bothered making breakfast this morning."

Once we parked, we got out of the car, Ben stomping on his cigarette butt. We started toward the mouth of the shop which was crawling with peppy teenagers. Something I never got to be.
I had to grow up fast in my family filled with tragedy, illness, woe and eventually, death. I'm the oldest in my family, next is my sister Monique, she's a year younger and then my deceased baby sister Brook. We were a normal family, up until Brook was two months old, Monique was 13 and I was 14. Dad had been cheating on mum their entire marriage. He had mistresses all over town and we had no clue. At this age was when I started letting razors kiss my skin. My mermaid tattoo covers the scars well. All up both forearms are scars. Nobody really notices them, they kind of look like a trick of the light and only Demi and Tahnee know. Dad disappeared and I haven't seen him in nine years. I gave up after a while of trying to get in touch with him. Mum turned to alcohol and slowly drank herself to death a few months later. It turned into Monique, Brook and I. Monique and I took over mothering duties for four month old Brook. We were put into the care of my grandparents until I was 18 and Monique was 17 and Brook was 4 and I took custody.
Monique started mixing in with the wrong crowd and she ran away a couple months after I gained custody of her. I haven't spoken to her since. One day, Brook had a nosebleed on her fifth birthday, it wasn't a normal nosebleed, she lost so much blood she passed out. I took her into the hospital and they ran tests and it turned out she had juvenile leukaemia. I spent three years at her bedside, using inheritance from mum and my grandparents. The only people there for me was Demi, Tahnee and Mitch but Mitch didn't really care that Brook was dying. On December 21st 2012, Brook passed away. It was her eighth birthday. I was holding her hand and singing to her. She loved it when I sang. We had her funeral on Boxing Day and I sang the song I had written for her. I still haven't heard from my dad or Monique, neither came to the funeral. I doubt they even received the invite.