Benefits

Ch. 52: Come Out and Play

Come Out and Play- The Offsprings

"You got a keep them separated."

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I wake up to a bird hitting the window. My eyes widen, but relax when I see who lays next to me, facing me I should say.

Jake lays there soundly. His eyes closed shut softly, his lips red just from the pure color of them, his hair... dry?

Usually if he he's still asleep when I wake up... which has only happened once... his hair would be damp. To show at least that he has showered and gone back to sleep. He has slept through the night, and is still asleep from the absurd bird that hit the window with a tweet.

His face is relaxed; more so than I've ever seen before. In the night, it became humid somehow. Causing both of us to stay to our sides, but our arms interconnecting. Always having contact. I raise my head up towards his night stand, reading the alarm clock.

7:30am.

Probably the earliest I've woken up when schools not in session. Stupid bird.

I lay my head back on the pillow for a second; slowly untangling Jake's arm with mine. I need to use the restroom.

He stirs a bit, but his eyes stay closed.

After our heart to heart last night. We both took showers, separately of cours
I walk across the cold floor boards, taking my time. Afterwards, I go to Jake's kitchen for a cup of water.

"Happy thanksgiving." My eyes connect with Jake's older brother. He sits on the chair by their dining table. His shirts off, and only a pair of sports sweats attain to him.

My feet is half away from the cupboard. Realizing I'm only wearing one of Jake's shirts. My cheeks redden, and my arms subconsciously covers my chest. "Hello."

His eyes travel up and down my body, which continues my further feeling of being uncomfortable.

"So I see you're going to be staying over more often." He bites his lip with a chuckle.

Usually Terry's disdainful to me or sarcastic, now he's just being weird.

"Does that seem to be a problem?" I raise my eyebrow to him.

"No, not if you're going to prancing around in just a shirt."

This is flirting territory, and I don't particularly like it; especially from Terry. "You shouldn't say things like that." I glare at him.

"Maybe you shouldn't wear things like that in my house." He counters.

"Are you sure it's your house?" I say. "Most of the money that is paid monthly is from Jake right? Or am I wrong?" I scratch my head to add affect.

His smirk drops, he abruptly stands up. "Listen, blondie- just because you and Jake are fucking each other doesn't mean you really know him. He's a fuckup. Just like me. Just like my father. So just because he says he loves you or some bullshit, doesn't mean it'll last. He will break you, and if not; the people around him will."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a warning." His glare furthers, his blue eyes widen along with his heavy breathing.

"So since you're damned, that makes Jake as well." I raise my voice.

"We're all damned, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that!"

"What the fûck is going on!" I hear a booming voice, or rather Jake's voice.

I didn't realize that Terry has travelled from the kitchen island towards me, only when Jake steps between us I can breathe again.

"Nothing." Terry's smirks again, causing me to roll my eyes. "Nothing, brother. Just having a little heart to heart with your fuckbuddy." He looks straight at me the whole time, not glancing at Jake. Jake's seething, and he steps closer towards Terry.

"Don't call her that." He grits out. His chest puffing out, making him look madder then before.

"Then what do I call her, Jake?" He finally breaks eye contact with me to Jake. He's still smirking, but I can tell he's irritated. I don't know exactly what at.

"Her name's Dawn, that's all you need to know."

"Oh I see. Have you finally confessed your love." He puts quotations up. "To get in her pants of course."

I hear myself scream before I can remember what happens next. Jake pushes Terry into the kitchen counter behind him.

Terry flares his nostrils, he's already back on his feet. There foreheads press down against each other. "Back up." Terry seethes.

"Make me." There's an almost smugness to Jake. He knows he's more capable in beating Terry, and Terry knows this.

"You may win your little fights, but how long have I been in the ring?"

"How long have you been out of the ring?" Jake's hand comes fast against Terry's neck, squeezing his neck until Terry's vein pops. Terry struggles against him, trying to grasp his knuckles, but he doesn't budge. "If I ever catch you disrespecting her again, I will not hesitant to-."

"To what?" Terry chokes out. "Beat me up." Jake's hand squeezes harder.

"No." He laughs deviously, a laugh that I've never heard before since I've met him. "I'll kick you out."

"My name-s- is- is- on the lease." He chokes out again.

"Then I'll move my ass out when I'm 18 and nobody will pay the bills. You're ass will be out by the next month."

That shuts Terry's mouth up.

"Got that?" He bangs Terry's head against the cabinet.

Dad bangs my head against the wall.

Terry doesn't respond.

He bangs his head again. "I said do you got that!" He's about to do it again, but I put my arm on his shoulder causing him to freeze.

"Get off me, Dawn." He grits out.

"Jake stop! Please. This isn't right. Take me home now." I didn't want to go home, but I also didn't want to be here either in this moment.

"Listen to your girl, Jake. Don't want to fûckup around her, yeah?"

"Jake, ignore him." I'm afraid if I touch his shoulder again he will do something he will regret later down the line, and I don't know how I feel about that.

There's a moment of silence, and then nothing. He drops Terry, letting him properly breathe for the first time.

"Get your things." Jake doesn't move a muscle.

I rush out of the heated room. Muffled words are still exchanged by one another, but I can't make it out. I get out of my pajamas, and into my clothes from last night. I grab my phone that's by the door.

Terry now sits at the table, drinking a cup of coffee. He doesn't look my way when I walk past him; towards Jake. Jake's somehow dressed, but I don't how. Considering he never came to the room.

I look back at Terry, only to feel Jake's hand grab mine.

No words are exchanged as we drive back to horrendous house I live in.

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A/N: You're all probably hella surprised I updated so quickly. Well surprise bitchessss. Lol. I'm officially out of high school, so that gives me more time to write, and hopefully gives me more motivation to keep on writing because I'm stuck rn, but I'm hoping the writing gods will grants me some inspiration. Sorry this chapter is short, there's literally no excuse why. I just didn't want to make it long? I guess lol? I hope you like this chapter tho, and ofc like and COMMENT your thoughts about the chapter or about the characters or maybe even predictions! Thank you all so much for sticking around and reading. Love y'all so much! ❤️

Happy summer!