Serenity

09 Fire Breathing Ifrit

CHARLIE

I was inside the unused music room sitting at the piano while Ben paced back and forth. It was hard to focus on playing the right keys with Ben pulling at his hair frantically.

"Ben, would you quit freaking out?" I asked annoyed.

"I can't, Taylor and Johnny were flirting with each other during Chemistry while they were sitting right in front of me," He fretted.

I was wondering why Ben hung out with me in the music room today instead of going to eat outside with Taylor. It's their ritual, they both eat on the steps for half of the week and then eat with Taylor's friends the other half. It's a compromise to help Ben out with his social anxiety. Thankfully Taylor's friends have been excepting of Ben's goober ways.

"That doesn't mean anything. You know Taylor likes to flirt sometimes when she's bored," I mentioned.

Ben frowned as his face sunk.

"I know," He sulked. "But they just seemed so... cozy. Eck it's disgusting."

"You know what's even more disgusting? Me not getting the proper peace and quiet I need to write this song."

"You write everyday and are rarely home. The least you can do is take some time to console me about my Taylor issues. I know Mia's getting tired of hearing about them."

I shut my eyes tightly. My hands played a very flat abrupt note on the piano.

This idiot.

No wonder Mia's been so mopey lately. Maybe that's why she's gravitating more to hanging out with Chase.

"Is Mia having lunch with Chase right now?" I asked.

"Yeah," Ben's large head bobbed. "And Taylor's probably sitting with her friends since I didn't show up on the steps, sadly including Johnny."

I'd rather listen to Nickelback than hear Ben complain one more time about Taylor.

"Can you call her and tell her to get over her. Say it's an emergency," I said.

Putting as much distance between her and Chase is necessary. Apparently he's been taking her out for milkshakes and walks through the dog park. I know it's platonic, I think, but I just don't want her associating with him that much.

He could say or do something to trigger one of her panicked attacks or horrible flashbacks. Chase wasn't there for all the treatment Mia had to go through, all the nights where she woke up from a nightmare screaming her head off. So why is he interested in reconnecting with us now? He wasn't so concerned when he got adopted by a rich family and went on to be a popular basketball legend.

I sucked in a sharp breathe through my nose.

"Taylor?" Ben asked.

"No, Mia you dope," I narrowed my eyes at him. "You can get double the consoling if she's here."

His eyes lit up.

"Good idea," Ben whipped out his phone.

A few seconds later I heard her pick up and Ben put her on speaker.

"Hey Ben, I'm glad you called," She answered. "Chase is in the nurse's office."

Another sour note struck the piano. I whipped my head around in Ben's direction and he appeared as surprised as I was.