Consequences

Six

Emerson

"What do you think she meant by that?" I asked Ben, as I took another bite out of my sandwich. We cut last period and headed to get some food. I hadn't talked to either Eve or Ethan since that morning. 

"I don't know... Maybe she is planning on hurting him?" He joked. I slapped his arm, telling him that it wasn't funny. He smirked at me and finished his last bite. We sat in awkward silence for a while. 

Ben and I have never been like this... We only ever talked when he was around Ethan, so this is a new step for us. Why we needed to skip all the other steps and go straight to sex is beyond me, but this would do. I continued to stare at him while he scrolled through his phone. I really liked him... More so after the other night, but I couldn't act on it. I wanted to so badly... 

We stood up, I grabbed my cup of coffee and we headed down the street to the parking garage. We walked in silence again. I sipped on my coffee, continuing to listen to the wind take up our silence. I take another large drink to warm me up. 

"So, Emerson... Would you want to do this again? With me? Maybe in a later time frame? With better food?" Ben asked me. I choked on my drink and slapped my hand over my mouth to refrain myself from spitting it out.  He smiled at me... A different smile... Almost like he was nervous.

"W-What?" I gasped. He nodded. 

"You heard me." I nodded at him. I did hear him. I heard him perfectly...

"Ben... I don't think...-" I started. 

"It would be a good idea... Yeah I figured you would say that..." He finished for me. I smiled at him sympathetically. "Hear me out... Ever since our... That night... I can't stop thinking about you. I know that is the cheesiest line I could've given you but its the truth... Just give me one chance to show you what we could become. If your brother can be happy, can't you?" He asked. He watched me intently, looking at my features for any sign of an answer. 

Do I want to do this? I mean I have feelings for him and I do want to be happy, but I can't hurt my brother like this... It wouldn't be right... But on the other hand, I am always thinking of others and how my actions could affect them without putting my own happiness in the mix... I think I deserve to be a little selfish every once in a while.

"Yes." I told him. His eyes light up and his grin widens. I smile back at him.

"Really?" He asked me. I nodded and he wrapped me up in his arms, twirling us around like a little girl. He noticed that and set me down, blushing. I pinched his cheeks, right where his dimples are. 

"You're too cute..." I told him. His smile faded. 

"Don't call me cute... It's demeaning for a man." He said. I laughed and put a hand on my stomach. 

"It's a compliment..." I giggled. He smiled at my laugh, but was still a little upset. 

"I understand that, but I should be calling you cute..." I nodded at him and stared at him waiting. "What?" He asked me. I giggled again and we continued walking.

"So... Where are you taking me on this date?" I asked him. He chuckled and turned to look at me. 

"That, cuteness, is a mystery..." He said as we walked to his car. I smiled to myself, finally accepting what is about to come. A lifetime of mysteries and happiness. 

~

"Emerson?" I heard Ethan call my name from the kitchen as soon as I walked into the house. I shut the door and walked around the corner to find Ethan and Eve sitting at the counter. 

"Where have you been? It's seven and school was out at three..." Ethan asked. I cringed, knowing that I would need to lie to him.

"I was with a friend..." I said, seeing Eve cringe with me. She knows that I was with Ben because all three of us have last period together... She must not have told Ethan.

"What friend? Eve is the only other person you hang around besides me..." He said. I glared at him and shook my head. 

"Whatever..." I said. I began to walk away. Ethan grabbed my arm, pulling me back to them. 

"Just listen to us please..." Ethan asked. I sighed, knowing they at least owe me an explanation. I sighed and walked over to the other side of the table, where Eve was not sitting. 

"I'm listening..." I said. Ethan rolled his eyes at my attitude and looked at Eve. She cleared her throat and directed her attention towards me.

"That night... I saw E... Ethan... Roaming around outside. He was upset and looked unwell so I asked him if he needed a ride back to the house... He declined multiple times and I basically had to drag him into my car... After we made it here, we began talking... One thing lead to another and we ended up waking up next to one another... We weren't sure what we had done or if we had done anything, but we only assumed..." She paused. What she said reminded me of my night with Ben. Its almost identical. "After Friday, we talked and hooked up once more... Just to see if we wanted this... Now here we are..." She finished. I nodded as I took in all the info that had been dumped on me. 

"Okay... So... You two are a thing now?" I asked, just to clear it all up. 

"Yes, Emerson, we are a 'thing.'" Ethan said. I nodded and grabbed a drink before walking upstairs. Ethan followed me. "So... What are you thinking... You know, about all this?" He asked me. I pondered for a bit. 

I don't like the idea of it, but its unfair of me to tell them what to do because I am with Ben... Or maybe I am, I don't know. I do know that I can't be hypocritical towards them otherwise I am being a liar. 

"Okay." I said, point blank. He perks up an eyebrow. 

"Okay?" He asked. 

"Yes... I am okay with it... Just please don't hurt her... I would hate to lose my best friend because of your idiocracy." I told him. His eyes light up as he jumped over to me, wrapping his arms around me. 

"Thank you Em. It means a lot to have your support..." He said. I laughed and hugged him back. Eve came in, smiling and I motioned for her to join us. Soon I was in the middle of my own hug sandwich.

As we pulled away and they left my room, I was brought into an intense thought. Would Ethan be as supportive of Ben and I? Should I tell him sooner or later? What's the best way to approach that conversation?

Whatever I decided had to have been better than what was going to happen.