Everlasting Love

Dates

Eliza POV:

"That was a horrible tv show." I laughed turning the tv off.

"Tell me about it." Joey laughed.

"Oh hey guys." Ben said coming out of the bathroom with only a towel on.

"Hey Ben, ever heard of clothes?" I laughed.

"Ever heard of this being MY APARTMENT." Ben said.

"What's up Ben?" Joey smiled.

"Not much dude." Ben said.

"No don't encourage this." I said to Joey.

"I'm gonna go get some clothes on then I'm going out to meet Chloe." Ben said.

"Have fun!" I said.

"Hey, have you ever thought about maybe moving in with me? I mean, I have an extra room you and Carrie can stay in." Joey said.

"Umm, I don't know. We feel really safe here, and it takes a while for us to feel safe somewhere." I said.

"Are you saying that I don't make you feel safe?" Joey asked.

"No, I'm not! I'm worried about Carrie. Ben is like an older brother to her now." I explained.

"Well maybe some change is new. I've got to go to work, think about it." Joey said. He kissed my cheek and then left.

"Did Joey just leave?" Ben asked walking out of his room. Well at least he had pants on now.

"Um yeah. I'm gonna see him again after he works though." I said.

"Ok well I'm off to meet Chloe." He said starting to leave.

"Shirt." I said.

"Shit." He said and ran back into his room.

"Anybody missing a small child named Carrie?" Bob laughed walking in with Carrie.

"Thanks for hanging out with her today Bob." I smiled.

"Anytime. We had fun!" Bob smiled.

"Where's Joey?" Carrie asked.

"He had to go to work." I said.

"Where's Ben?" She asked.

"Right here, heading out now." Ben said running out of his room.

"Shoes." I said as I saw he was barefoot.

"DAMN IT!" He said and ran back to his room.

"You think at 18 he would be able to dress himself." Bob laughed.

"Ok, now I'm out! Bye squirt, love you." Ben said kissing Carries head and running out. Carrie ran to play in her room and Bob sat down with me on the couch.

"What's wrong?" Bob asked.

"Joey asked me to move in with him." I said.

"And?" Bob asked.

"And I told him I didn't know, that me and Carrie feel safe here." I said. "But he seemed really upset about it."

"Do you not feel safe with Joey?" Bob asked.

"I mean, I do. But..." I said trying to figure out my words.

"You feel safer with Ben." Bob said.

"Yeah. And I've never felt safe before in my life. Nobody has ever cared about me and then I meet this total stranger who gives me Broadway tickets to see him perform, helps me with my parents, let me move in with him, helps me get a job, gets Carrie a job....he genuinely cares." I said. "And I've never felt this safe in my life. Holy shit. Bob...I think I have feelings for Ben."

Ben POV:

I rang the doorbell to Chloe's apartment and waited outside the door. Just then another man came up and glared at me.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Um I'm Ben. Nice to meet you." I smiled.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"I'm here to see my friend Chloe." I said. "May I ask who you are?"

"Her ex-boyfriend." He said. Well shit. Chloe opened the door and her eyes widened at the sight.

"Joe, what are you doing here?" Chloe asked.

"Thought I'd come by and see my girl again." He smiled. "What's with the baby?" He asked.

"Oh she's babysitting for me! Come here Allyson." I said grabbing the baby from her. "Don't we look just alike." I said holding the baby next to my face.

"You need to leave Joe." Chloe said. "Now, before I call the police." She said.

"Fine. But this isn't the last you will hear from me." He said and left.

"He does this like once a month, usually I have Allyson down for a nap." Chloe said grabbing her back from me. "Thank you for doing that for me."

"Anytime." I laughed.

"Well come on in." She smiled. "Sorry I couldn't get a sitter for today. Guess this date is going to include a baby." She laughed.

"I don't mind. Me and her are besties now." I laughed.

"She definitely does like you. Her eyes light up when she sees you." Chloe smiles.

"Careful, she might steal me from you." I laughed.

"Oh gosh, I always knew I'd have to compete with other girls for you but never thought they would have half my DNA in them." She laughed.

"Guess you will have to win me over." I laughed. I smiled and leaned in, pressing my lips against hers gently. I could taste her lipstick she was wearing on my tongue while I ran my fingers through her hair. I pulled back and pressed my forehead against hers. "Hmm don't know if I'm won over yet. One more kiss." I smiled and pulled her into another kiss. It was broken by the sound of Allyson laughing, playing with her toys.

"I promise next date I will get a sitter." Chloe said.

"Don't worry about it. You guys are a package deal. And I like this package." I smiled. "How about I cook us some dinner." I said standing up.

"No no no!" She said standing up and stopping me. "Last time you tried cooking you almost burned my apartment down." She laughed.

"But I've improved!" I said.

"I doubt it. But I think you need to take some cooking lessons." She laughed. Just then my phone started buzzing and Carrie was calling me from the house phone.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked answering.

"Ben!" Carrie said crying. "I don't know where El is." She cried.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"She said she was going out to meet Joey and then I tried calling her and she didn't answer and I called Joey and he said she left his apartment an hour ago. Ben I'm scared." Carrie cried.

"Don't worry, I'll be home in a couple minutes." I said and hung up. "Chloe I am so sorry but I have to go. Eliza is missing and Carrie is home alone." I said running to the door.

"Oh my gosh, do you need help looking for her?" She asked.

"I don't know, I'll call you. But I have to get home to Carrie right now." I said. Where the hell is Eliza? And why would she run away again? And leave Carrie behind?