Briana Miller

Chapter 7

Naomi opened the door slowly and peeked inside only to find her playing with an old doll, which was half-broken. The room was pale white with nothing but a bed and a small closet. Her heart twisted at the scene. Bennett looked at her with questioning eyes to which she shook her head.

"Briana?" She called softly and the girl looked up. Her eyes lighting up in a split second as she ran towards them. Both of them crouched down at her level.

"Guess what?" Bennett asked with excitement.

"What?" The girl was equally excited.

"You don't have to live here anymore. We are taking you with us." He announced. The expression on her face was something they would never forget.

"You mean with Jordan and Declan?" She asked impatiently and they nodded.

"You mean, I get to play with them?" She asked in disbelief.

The girl stretched her small arms and wrapped them around both of their necks as she hugged them. Both of their head touched with each other as they smiled.

****

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" Shouted Declan.

"No need to freak out, Declan. I adopted her." Bennett said in a bored tone.

"How are you gonna explain this to your dad?" He asked, staring at Bennett in concern,

"He doesn't need to know. Even if he does, I don't care." Bennett said.

"Why are fussing over this, Declan? Bennett, it's the greatest thing you've ever done. Congratulations, man!" Jordan said, smiling. Bennett looked at Briana.

"I am not fussing, Jordan. I am as happy as you are. I was just concerned about his family." He sighed.

"Does he look like he cares? Just look at her! She's so precious. I am so gonna teach her all the fandom references and...maybe graffiti too." He clapped his hands like a child.

****

Briana was fast asleep without making a fuss about the sleeping arrangement. But Naomi couldn't sleep. Her mind replayed everything that happened today. She got exactly what she wanted. She didn't even know why, but the girl that was sleeping peacefully next to her stole a big piece of her heart.

But now that she was officially their responsibility, one by one thoughts about her safety crossed her mind. She knew everyone would do their best to keep her safe, including herself. But why take the chance?

The first ray of light entered the room, it was dawn. She got out of the bed, careful not to wake her up and walked out of the room. Taking some chocolate ice cream from the fridge, she sat on the couch.

"You stole my ice cream?"

Naomi fell off the couch, but thankfully her ice cream didn't.

"My god, Bennett! You scared me to death." She looked up from the floor.

"Not my fault. You just didn't see me." He helped her up.

"I finished the Neapolitan last time, so I brought this one." She said.

"Oh"

"Bennett?"

"Hmm?"

"I never really thanked you"

"You did. Too many times for my comfort."

"You must really like her."

"I love her." He said. "But I adopted her because when I heard that the orphanage was known for being the best, I thought about how worse the other ones would be. I couldn't let another innocent soul go to the darkness. So I just decided to be the light." Naomi stared at him without saying anything.

"What?" He asked looking at her face in confusion.

"Do you know how amazing you are?" He nodded making her chuckle.

"And do you know you fulfilled another of my wish?" She asked.

"Yes, I heard that. It was my second reason for doing -" Not giving him the chance to finish the sentence, Naomi wrapped her arms around his neck and connected her lips with him.

Bennett blinked and froze for a good 30 seconds before his eyes fell shut as he slowly started to kiss her back. He tasted chocolate.

One of his arms went behind her back, pulling her closer. The other hand touched her cheek. She shivered under his cold fingertips.

Naomi ran her fingers through his soft hair, his bangs slightly tickling her face. She slowly pulled away, his eyes were still closed. They rested their foreheads against each other as both gasped for air.

"Was that your way of thanking me?" Bennett grinned.

"It was my way of saying...that I like you." She looked down.

"As a friend, right?"

"Does it look like I kissed you for making you my friend?" She said, irritated.

"I-I..."

"It's ok if you don't. I shouldn't have done that. I mean, I totally understand if you don't feel the same. I am certainly not someone you could wish for. Obviously you deserve bett-"

"You should learn to shut up sometimes, Naomi," He said as he pulled her into another kiss.

After finishing their ice creams, Naomi yawned. "Can I go to bed? I am super sleepy." Bennett chuckled.

"Of course you are. You just stole mine."

"Oh the cheese!" She said.

Yeah Yeah I know, boring author's note.

But I just wanna say thanks if you're reading my story. I know this story has an excessive amount of cheesy and cringy lines. But I would still tell you to at least let me know your thoughts.