Zelda (Ben drowned X reader)

Chapter 8

I sighed and got dressed. In the end, I decided not to reply to either of them. First of all, Ben could read all of my messages anyways and start stalking Drew which would all be my fault. Second, I'm really tired. I headed downstairs to find my brother already preparing breakfast.

"Oh? Morning sis! It's rare to see you up this early. Couldn't sleep again?"

"Yeah..." I said, clearly more gloomy than I intended to be.

"You look down. Is it the stalker again?"

"I'm not sure... I think? I don't really understand myself lately."

"What's wrong, (n)?" This time he's clearly worried.

"I don't know... I guess I just need some time for myself. Need some time to clear my mind."

"Well, it's Friday so I guess the weekend would be a good time to do so."

He's right. It's a Friday and I shouldn't be so down. After all, I've been waiting for the weekend for so long and now I could finally have time to play. Why wasn't I excited? This was always a reason for me to be excited.

 I trotted off to school, squinting my eyes because for some reason, the sun really hurt them. This day was too bright for my mood. Well, in reality pretty much every sunny weather was too bright for my mood. The rays of the sun always made me feel so exposed. I prefer rain.

I headed to my first class and was, to my surprise, earlier than the teacher. How odd. But at this very moment I couldn't really give a shit about anything.

The teacher arrived moments later but I couldn't concentrate on anything he was saying. I just stared blankly at the board, my mind completely empty. I felt like a zombie.

 Suddenly, my phone vibrated and I took a look at it.

"Where are you?" From Drew. Since he seems like he wants something from me, It would be wise to reply to him.

"I'm in class. Why?"

"Oh. I'm free. I thought we could hang."

"Maybe later."

"Okies! :D"

Was Drew my friend now? I haven't had a friend for such a long so I don't know anymore how to be nice to someone. I wonder why he wants to hang out with me anyways. He's a rather popular guy, good-looking and friendly so imagining him hang out with a weirdo like me seems just out of place. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

Only a short while later, I received another text. But this time it was not from Drew.

"Please don't see him."

What's up with this guy? Why is he so jealous? It's not like I would ever have a chance with Drew so why is he so paranoid? If this was really Ben drowned, why would he meddle with any of my affairs?

"Why?"

"I hate it."

"For what reason?"

I waited for his reply but he did not respond like after ten minutes so I tucked my phone back to my pocket. I don't understand my relationship with Ben. He knows everything I do and I don't even know who he is. He's only sweet in co-op games but other than that I don't understand anything.

I browsed through the text messages he sent me in the past few days. Most of them were rather cute. The way he messages me is like he's boyfriend or something. Maybe he's already thinking that we're a couple and that's why he gets jealous.

An hour later my phone vibrated again and I guess he finally replied. I opened the message.

"Because I love you."

 ...Wh-what? He loves me? Why? How? What?

Class ended, and my teacher and classmates left the computer lab while I just sat there, staring at my phone in shock. This was the first time someone ever told me they loved me. My heart was racing so fast and I didn't know why. What was I feeling? Nervous? Scared? Yeah, I suppose I felt scared but somewhat in a good way. I felt special in a scary way. Wait this doesn't make any sense.

 I decided to leave the room since the next class was already coming in and I didn't want to be part of this. I walked out and decided to ask him why.

"Why do you say so?"

My fingers were shaking and my head felt hot and light. I haven't been emotional for years so I don't remember how to describe what I feel. I was probably anxious about the fact that I could ever be loved.

He finally replied to me.

"Because you were the only one who understood me. You were the only who had always been there for me. I wanted things to be this way forever but Father had to take our time away. I'm sorry you have to be lonely... but please don't replace me."

 I didn't know what to think. Who was this 'Father' he's talking about? When have we met? What did he mean by "taking our time away?"

"Have we met before?" I decided to ask him.

I was shaking all over, feeling extremely weird. Was he my childhood friend after all? But what had that to do with Ben drowned?

He replied and my heart pounded even faster. My fingers were covered in cold sweat as I pressed to view the message.

"Yes. We we're best friends and I loved you more than anyone on this earth. We were so close and always played video games together..."

I gulped. This was my childhood best friend after all! But why did he just contact me now? After so long? And why after reading the Ben drowned story?

"Why did you disappear all of a sudden?"

I took deep breaths to clam myself down. I did not want to hyperventilate before getting answers. I needed to know what happened to him.

"Because Father drowned me... and I could no longer be with you"

....

He... drowned? He's dead? Ben drowned.... His father drowned him... He's... a ghost?? Is this actually Ben drowned??

"Are you Ben drowned?"

My fingers were even shakier than ever. In fact, my whole body was shaking. I could feel my throat become dry and it was hard to swallow. It was even hard to text any message. My breathing was ragged and my eyes were blurry. The sun was shining bright and it was a rather warm day but I couldn't help but shiver.

He replied to me but I was afraid to see the message. I was afraid to know the truth. I was afraid to realize that this was reality. That the story of Ben was real.

I'm scared.

But I have to know.

 I dared to read the message.

"Yes. I tried to look for you after I died but you already moved away and I didn't know where to find you. But I'm so glad that I found you now."

 So... he died when me and my family moved. That's why he never showed up again. He was killed... by his own father?

This was all too much to take in. The ghost Ben drowned was my childhood friend. Is this real life? Am I dreaming? Is this all an illusion?

I don't know anything anymore.