It Was You

Chapter 30

My head was throbbing. I don't know why, but it hurt so bad! I tried opening my eyes, but there was a really harsh light and it made everything worse. I then tried moving my head away, but I suddenly felt incredibly dizzy and nauseous. Oh, God...

I threw up. All over my bed. I didn't even realize I was in my bed until I opened my eyes. Honestly, it felt so good to throw up and I wouldn't even have really cared...if Ben hadn't fallen victim to my projectile vomiting. "Oh my God...Ben, I..." He sat up, groaning and looking at the redish, pinkish color of my puke on his chest and arm.

"I think I deserved that," he said, his voice hoarse from sleep. My parents came rushing in a moment later and saw the scene I had created. "Oh, Ben, honey...okay, let's get you cleaned up." Mom helped Ben carefully get out of the bed while dad came over to me. "Feel better, kiddo?" He asked. I nodded, but then suddenly felt the urge to do it again!

Dad immediately saw and picked me up and rushed me to the bathroom. He got me to the toilet right on time. "Yeah, you just keep doing that," he told me. "I know the perfect hangover breakfast, so just hang tight here while I go make that, alright? Even if you don't feel the need to throw up, make yourself. It's the only way you're gonna feel better."

He ruffled my short hair and left with the door wide open. I put my head against the toilet and sighed. I felt awful about Ben. I hope he doesn't leave right away so I can apologize. And what did he mean by he deserved it? I had questions, but I don't think I'll be able to get them out because I kept throwing up!

It felt like an hour had passed when there was a soft knock on the door. I brought my head up from the toilet and saw Ben standing there. He was freshly showered with oversized clothes, that I recognized as dad's, on. "Want some company?" He shyly asked. I nodded, so he came over and sat down next to me.

"Ben, I am so sorry," I told him. He gently shushed me and said, "Don't, it's fine. I probably should have taken that into consideration before getting into the same bed with you. The amount of times I've done that is astounding, so I'm not sure why I didn't think of it." He put his hand on my back and gently rubbed it.

"Now, it's me who's sorry, Cass. Last night, I was a complete dickhead. It was supposed to be a fun night and I cocked it up by trying to make you jealous. That wasn't my intention at all at first, but then you got so riled up and it got me so angry. It got me angry because I couldn't believe you would think I had a thing for Hallie. I wanted to prove you wrong and I took it too far. It's my fault you drank, it's my fault you threw up all over me and it's my fault that you're miserable at the moment. We should have talked it out like reasonable adults, but I was thinking with my knob and not my head. I'm sorry."

I leaned my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his waist. "I honestly don't remember much," I told him. "I do remember us both being immature about the whole thing, but it's kind of a blur after I drank some awful tasting punch." He chuckled as he told me, "Well, it will be quite the story if you want to hear it. One thing I can't get over was how Whitey was grinding on you and touching you. It got me so fucking mad, all I saw red. I nearly throttled him."

I closed my eyes and tried to remember that, but I couldn't. "I don't remember that, but I do remember how much of an asshole you were being at the restaurant." He flinched at that and said, "Yeah...that one was on me. You were being the adult and I definitely was not. Is there anything I can do to make this up to you? Can I take you out tonight or we can stay in? Anything you want."

I felt the urge to throw up again. After a moment, that's what I did with Ben rubbing my back. "I'm guessing staying in is going to be the choice," he said. I only nodded, afraid that if I opened my mouth, more puke might come out.

A few minutes later, dad came in with a towel over his shoulder. "Breakfast is ready," he announced. "Ben, I made you some, too." Ben thanked him before helping me up. Standing made my stomach feel even worse. I went into the kitchen and saw the greasiest looking hamburger I had ever laid my eyes on. It was a giant patty with lettuce, tomato, bacon, even an egg and hash browns. "This is what your grandfather would make me when I came home drunk off my ass," dad told me. "Believe me, it helps."

Had I not been feeling like death, I might have thought this was the most delicious looking burger. Unfortunately, it looked revolting at the moment. Ben, on the other hand, was practically done with his before I could get started. "This is amazing," he told my dad. "I'll have to remember this."

I slowly put the burger in my mouth and bit off a tiny chunk of it. It tasted amazing, but the moment it went down my throat, I wanted to die. "Eat up, kid," dad encouraged. I whined and took a bigger bite, then another, and then another. I could only eat half of it before running back to the bathroom to puke it up.

Today was going to be the absolute worst.

Fortunately, once I stopped throwing up, I did start to feel better. I still felt like shit, but it wasn't nearly as bad as this morning. Around noon was when I thought taking a swim might help out a bit and it certainly did. The cool water seemed to help my body drain out the sickness. Ben didn't join me, but rather sat on the lounge chair and read a book my mom had let him borrow.

When I got out, I felt so refreshed and relaxed. "Feel better?" Ben asked as I dried off. "Infinitely better," I told him. "Why don't you go home and change? I'm sure your parents are a little worried, too." He looked to his watch and said, "Yeah that might be a decent idea. I'll come back in a few hours and we can have a little date in the carriage house? How does that sound?"

I kissed him for the first time since yesterday and told him, "Sounds great! Also, um...don't get mad, but I do think we need to discuss yesterday a little more. This isn't a fight I can just put behind me." He nodded and said, "I understand. Tell you what, when I come back, why don't we go to our spot in the woods and talk about it. After that, we'll come back here and relax."

Nodding, I told him, "Deal. I'll see you soon?" He gave me a loving, tender kiss, then said, "See you soon."

**

When Ben came back, he drove us to our spot in the woods and we took a stroll while discussing yesterday. We went into more detail about it and agreed that it was our biggest and most ridiculous fight. I did, however, drop a bomb on him. I did a lot of thinking all day and came to the conclusion that if we had a fight like this one again...we should probably take a break.

"I don't agree with that," he scoffed. "Cass, couples fight. We're going to be having a lot more over the years, so you're saying the next one deserves a break-up?" I rolled my eyes because I knew he wouldn't understand. "Not just any fight, Ben," I tried to explain, "One like that, where you make me go to a party where the girl I told you I was uncomfortable with is going to be. Where you try and make me jealous for good sex. Where you use me."

Now, he seemed to understand. He also seemed to be way more guilty about it. I don't think he thought about it as using me. "You're right," he eventually said. "I promise, though, I am not going to let myself do that again."

After that, we made out by a tree for a few minutes, then headed home. On the way, he picked up pizza, soda, dessert, and flowers. He handed me the flowers with a kiss on the forehead and a promise to be a better boyfriend. Honestly, he was the best boyfriend, but had a bad moment. I let him know that, but he wouldn't listen.

When we got back to my place, we went into the carriage house and had our date. We watched movies, played video games and ate until our stomachs hurt. Neither of us felt comfortable having make up sex when my parents were only a few yards away in the house, so we opted to save that for another night.

By the time he left, it was nearly eleven. He wanted to get home and get some proper sleep, which I completely understood. We made plans to call Lee and Aaron tomorrow and have them over for an overdue movie night.

I almost immediately fell asleep after he left. Between the physical and emotional exhaustion, I needed as much sleep as I could get.