Ben POV:
"So, how did this happen again?" The nurse asked.
"I found my dads gun and I was looking at it and I accidentally shot myself in the shoulder. I'm such an idiot." Eliza laughed.
"Well your dad needs to learn to keep his gun away from the kids." The nurse said.
"Yeah." Eliza said. And the nurse left.
"Why are you lying?" I asked.
"Ben, please." Eliza said.
"Eliza! Your dad shot you! When are you going to realize how unsafe it is in your house!" I said.
"Keep your voice down!" Eliza said. "Listen, I'm gonna be fine. I just have to wear an arm sling for awhile. The bullet didn't hit any major arteries or bones. I'm gonna be perfectly fine."
"Yeah but that bullet could've hit your heart Eliza. I'm not letting this go. Either we tell the cops or you move in with me." I said.
"Fine! We'll move in with you." Eliza said. "But how am I supposed to tell my dad?"
"Let me handle that." I said.
"No! You can not talk to my dad! That's a horrible idea!" Eliza said.
"I'll be fine." I said.
"NO! Ben he will hurt you! You can not go anywhere near my father!" She said sounding worried.
"You can't stop me." I said and turned to leave.
"Ben stop!" She said. "OW!" She screamed. I turned around and she was holding her shoulder.
"Are you ok?" I asked running over.
"Yes, I was just trying to stop you." She said wincing in pain.
"Eliza, just let me help you." I said.
"I don't mind you helping me! But I don't want my dad to hurt you." Eliza said.
"I'm sorry, visiting hours are over." The nurse said.
"Ben, promise me you won't go talk to him." Eliza said.
"I gotta go. See you tomorrow." I said and turned and left.
"BEN!" She screamed. I have to talk to her dad. I came out and Carrie was sitting in the waiting room.
"Is she ok?" Carrie asked.
"She is going to be. But, you're sleeping at my house tonight. First though, we need to get your stuff from your house." I said.
"Ok!" Carrie said. She jumped on my back and showed me how to get to her house. "Hi daddy." She said quietly as we walked into her house.
"Who's that?" Their dad asked pointing to me.
"Ben cook sir, nice to meet you." I said setting Carrie down and reaching my hand out.
"Why are you here?" He asked. I awkwardly pulled my hand down as I saw he wasn't going to shake my hand.
"I'm a friend of Eliza's. I was just visiting her in the hospital, I heard about how she....accidentally shot herself." I said. "Can I talk to you sir?" I asked.
"Sure." He said glaring at me.
"Go get your stuff ready." I whispered to Carrie. She ran off to the room and I sat down on the couch across from their dad.
"Sir, I know you guys don't have a lot of money. And I know you are trying your....hardest to provide for Carrie and Eliza. But I know it can be hard. Listen, in my apartment I have an extra room that I would like to offer to Carrie and Eliza to stay in till you all can get back on your feet." I said. He glared at me for a minute and took a sip of his whiskey.
"Why do I care what they do?" He asked.
"Well sir they are your kids." I said.
"I could care less what they do. Those bratty kids only cause problems for me. I would be fine with them out of the house. Take em for all I care." He said. Carrie came back out with a bookbag on her back.
"I promise they'll be safe with me sir." I said standing up.
"Just take the girl already. Tired of hearing her bratty voice." He said. I looked over and Carrie was looking down at the ground. I walked over and picked her up.
"Bye daddy." Carrie said quietly.
"Get out of here." He said.
"Goodbye sir." I said and we left.
"He doesn't even care about me." Carrie said.
"Yes he does. He just doesn't know how to show it." I said. When we were back at my apartment it was about 3 in the morning and Carrie had fallen asleep on my back on the walk to my apartment. I laid her down in Josh's bed and headed off to my room. I got in there and Eliza FaceTimed me.
"Hey!" I smiled.
"Ben! I have been trying to get ahold of you for like an hour!" She said. "Where's Carrie?"
"In the room next to me, asleep." I said.
"Please tell me you didn't go talk to my dad." She said.
"I did. But he's ok with you guys living here." I said.
"Did he yell at you or Carrie? Or hurt you?" She asked.
"He only hurt Carrie emotionally. He told her he didn't care about either of you and wanted you guys out of his house." I explained. She sat in silence for a minute, looking down. "Eliza, it's all over. You are living here now. Everything's going to be ok." I said.
"I wish. He's going to ruin this in some way." Eliza said.
"Eliza, don't worry about him right now. Get some sleep, and I will see you in the morning before my show." I said.
"Thank you for taking care of Carrie for me." Eliza said.
"It's really no problem. Now go to bed." I said.
"Fine." She laughed. "Goodnight Ben."
"Goodnight El." I smiled. "Wait one more thing!"
"What?" She asked.
"Thanks for trusting me. I know that's hard for you." I smiled.
"You didn't really give me a choice did you." She laughed.
"Nope. Your stuck with me." I laughed.
"You know, I don't think I would want it any other way. Without you, me and Carrie would be sleeping on the streets right now." She said.
"I just wish I could've prevented that bullet from getting in your arm." I said.
"Yeah, well my dad can't be stopped." She laughed.
"Ok you really need to go to bed." I laughed.
"So do you! You have 2 shows to do tomorrow!" She said.
"Yeah, well I might call out for the morning show." I said.
"No! You can't do that! You will break so many teen girls hearts." Eliza laughed.
"Well then I better go to bed." I said.
"Goodnight Ben." She smiled.
"Goodnight." I said and pressed hang up. I turned off the lights and pulled the blankets up on me.
"Ben?" I heard a little voice whisper.
"What's up Carrie?" I asked sitting up. I saw a little figure standing in the doorway.
"I had a nightmare. Eliza always lets me sleep with her in her bed when I have nightmares." Carrie said.
"Uh yeah, you can sleep in here." I said. I moved over in the bed and Carrie ran over and crawled in the bed.
"I love you." She whispered. I sat there for a second comprehending what she just said. This little girl, who has gone through hell and back in her 10 years of life and who is the most precious 10 year old alive just told me she loves me.
"I love you too." I whispered and kissed the top of her head. In that moment, I didn't realize how much this little girl was going to change my life.
YOU ARE READING
Everlasting Love
RandomNYC born and raised, Eliza has grown up tough. She has practically raised her younger sister Carrie because her parents have been too busy with work. They live with their grandparents because their parents got their house taken away because they we...
