Love Is a Bunch of Stupid Decisions

Chapter 14

"Char. It's been, like five hours. You need to step away from the laptop."

My eyes were burning, struggling to focus on the screen in front of me. On it were too many open tabs- emails, reports, Mean Girls social media, contact information for journalists and theaters we'd be touring at. I looked at the time in the corner of my screen- 1:34 PM. I had started working at 8:30 this morning... had it actually been 5 hours already?

"Ben, I can't. There's still so many things I need to get done," I groan, rubbing my temples.

"Can't you get someone else to do it? Aren't you in charge of, like, 10 people?" Ben asks as he starts rubbing my shoulders. "At least take a break and eat something, you haven't eaten all day. I can even go get us Chinese food."

"I guess..." I say hesitantly. "But 15 minutes for lunch, that's it."

"Better than nothing, I guess," He says, chuckling lightly. He kisses the top of my head before heading out the hotel bedroom door to find us some Chinese food. I hurry to get as much done as I can before he comes back with our food.

"So, is something going on with the show that's making you work a lot more?" He asked, the two of us sitting on our bed cross-legged as we eat our Chinese.

"Well, I'm trying to get in touch with a few different journalists in our Texas stops, to see what coverage we can get there. I'm also getting a head start on some things for Michigan. Maybe if my parents turn on TV and see you guys performing, and know that I did that, they might actually be impressed." I roll my eyes.

"Part of me wants to tell you not to keep trying to prove things to your parents... but part of me wants you to be my badass girlfriend and totally rub your success in their face." Ben responds, casually.

I burst out laughing. "Now that's the kind of support I need in a relationship."

Not much later, I'm back in front of my laptop, slowly checking things off of my to do list. Ben is on his way to the theater now for the show tonight, so I was on my own for a while. I only get up from my spot if it's absolutely necessary- to go to the bathroom or eat something- but other than that, I'm in the exact same spot when Ben gets back from the show at 10:30 that night. Working on everything for at least 12 hours has left me agitated and exhausted, to say the least.

"Please tell me that you've moved from that spot when I left." He chuckles, tossing his bag on the bed.

"I have." I say dryly, my eyes not moving from my screen.

"So... are you going to be done soon?" He asks cautiously, sensing my mood.

"Probably not." Do ever sense yourself being snappy with someone, but you're too exhausted to stop yourself? That was me currently.

"Come on Char, it can wait. You'll be able to work better tomorrow once you get some sleep," He says, his hands gently massaging my shoulders.

"Ben, I'll be fine. You don't have to take care of me." I snap. His hands freeze on my shoulders, and I can sense him trying to figure out what to say.

"Sorry for wanting to help you."

"I didn't ask you to help me, Ben. Can you just let me work?" I say, looking up at him for the first time since he walked in. I did my best to read the look in his eyes. I could usually read him like a book. But this time there was too much going through his head- confusion, anger, tiredness from show, and concern for me.

He turns around without a word and heads to the bathroom, turning on the shower. I take a deep breath, letting my hurting head rest in my hands. I felt awful, but I really needed to get this stuff done today. I knew that Ben had good intentions, but right now, I just needed to hustle.