The Voice that changed their Life (Good Charlotte Fan Fiction)

Chapter 3

Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The dial tone was going on and on but nobody picked up the phone.
"Do you have another number?", Benji asked Megan and she nodded.
The little girl was sitting on the big couch again. One of her pant legs was rolled up and you could see written numbers on her leg. She rolled up the other pant leg and showed Benji the numbers that were written down there.
"Who had the idea to write on your skin?", Benji asked as he typed the numbers into his phone.
"I had.", Megan said. "Mrs. Maleficent didn't want me to bring a bag with me because she thought I would lose it. But she still wanted me to be able to call the orphanage. So I asked her to write the numbers on my legs."
Benji nodded and smiled a bit at the little girl's idea.
"It will wash off anyway.", Megan added and looked at Benji's tattooed skin.
"Will those stay forever?", she asked.
Benji, who had another dial tone in his ear now, followed the girl's view and stroked with his free hand over his other arm.
"Yeah, they will. Each one of them has a meaning for me, you know. That's why I got them."
Suddenly his call was answered and he spoke into the phone: "This is Benji Madden, one of Megan's coaches. We are taking a break for about three hours. You could pick her up now and bring her back later."
Megan couldn't hear what the other person said. Only distant sounds could be heard. She laid down on her back and put her legs up over the backrest of the couch. Reaching her arms out to the sides she stared at the ceiling. A fan was slowly running in circles up there and she sighed. She didn't want Tim to come and pick her up. Sure, she liked Tim, but she'd rather stay with Benji. He was so nice to her and his hugs felt wonderful. She never wanted to leave his side again.
"Ah, that sucks. Yeah, no problem. No, seriously. I'll take care of everything. Yeah. Alright. Later."
Benji hung up the phone and sat down next to Megan on the couch after he put his phone into his pocket.
"We have a little problem.", he said. Megan pulled her legs from the backrest and turned around so she was now sitting next to Benji. But then she had another idea and just climbed on his lap, resting her back against his chest.
"What is it?", she asked and turned her head lightly so her cheek touched his shirt.
He wrapped his arms gently around her and rested his chin on her head.
"There was a pipe break in the orphanage and Tim has his hands full repairing the damage. He cannot pick you up now and Mrs. Maleficent is still not back from her appointment."
She could feel his voice vibrating in his throat while he spoke. Slowly his words drifted in and she didn't know what to say.
"Oh", she whispered and bit her lip.
Did that mean she could stay longer with Benji now?
"I would drive you over to the orphanage", Benji started and Megan's face fell.
"But", he added and took her hands in his. "You could also spend more time with me, if you want to."
Megan squeezed his hands once, then she let go of them, turned around fast and threw her arms around his neck.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes!", she squealed in excitement and hugged him tight, lightly jumping up and down on his lap.
Benji laughed and held her back.
"I'm glad you are in for that. What do you wanna do?"
At that question, her tummy decided that it had been ignored long enough and let out a loud rumbling.
"I am hungry", Megan whispered and a feeling of uneasiness washed over her.
She wasn't allowed to spend money because no one could pay it back. And if you want food, you have to pay for it. She thought they would have a 'The Voice'-lunch break, so that the show was paying for them, but it looked more like Benji had to pay now.

Benji felt the change in the girl's feelings immediately.
"What's wrong?", he asked and rubbed her back gently. "You know that you can tell me anything, right? I will try my best to help you."
"Well", she started and then she pushed her fears away and moved down from his lap. She turned around to face him, now sitting on her knees next to him.
"I don't have any money and I cannot pay anyone back anytime soon. But my tummy hurts and I want to eat something so badly."
"I'm glad you told me.", Benji said seriously and appreciated her honesty. "And don't worry. I am here for you and I will pay. You don't have to pay me back."
"No", Megan disagreed and shook her head fiercely. "I don't want you to spend your money on me. It is your money. And I know that people stop liking each other when it is about money and I don't want you to stop liking me."
Her tummy rumbled again and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hide it.
"Megan" His voice was calm and he didn't use one of her nicknames on purpose. "I want you to listen to me carefully now, okay?"
She nodded and met his eyes again.
"When I was a kid, my family was poor and we had no money as well. Now, thanks to our music and our amazing fans, I have more than enough money. I am an adult. I can spend my money on what or whom I want. And I want to spend my money on you. I want you to be happy and I want you to stay healthy. The last thing is only possible if you eat."
He gently put his hand on her shoulder and she tilted her head to rest her cheek against his knuckles.
"I want you not to worry about anything as long as you are with me. And I will never stop liking you. Let me take care of you, Megan."
Her eyes filled with tears and she nodded her head once. Then she jumped right back into his arms and buried her head into his shoulder as the tears spilled out of her eyes.
Benji held the crying girl and thought about her life and his life and what he had just told her. He 'liked her' wasn't even a strong enough description of what he felt towards her. She felt more like Harlow or Clementine, his nieces.
No, that wasn't true either. This feeling he had towards her was way stronger. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to be there for her. He wanted her to be happy, to have a great childhood and to grow up to be the most amazing woman she could become. He felt like a father towards her.