Pomegranate

Seth - 5

After two weeks of deliberation, the time had finally arrived. A family decided to adopt Persephone. Meredith was afraid the Rotkers family would realize Persephone was still kind of ugly when they saw her in person and kept trying to tie a bow with a soft red ribbon around her neck. Persephone did not like the idea.

"So this is what empty-nesting feels like," Seth mumbled, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling.

"You're so dramatic." Meredith laughed, sighing in victory once the bow was finally in place. She sat down next to him in bed with Persephone on her lap, who kept trying to nip her fingers. Seth looked down at Persephone, the delicate bow around her neck and her moving snout smelling Meredith's hand. At Meredith, carefully petting her ears.

"I can't believe this is it." He held her shoulder, brushing her hair from her face.

"We did some good co-parenting."

"Yeah. Now, look at her. Asserting dominance and all. Last night, she bit me when I tried to brush her fur."

"What a strong, feminist, bunny we raised." Meredith scratched Persephone between her ears. "Ready to take down the patriarchy."

There was a knock on the door and Benji peeked in, carrying his violin case under his arm.

"Meredith told me to come," he said by way of greeting.

"To say goodbye to Persephone," Meredith explained.

Seth couldn't remember if Meredith told him about it and he just forgot. He didn't mind, either way. He watched Meredith pass Persephone into Benji's carefully cupped hands. He held the bunny like a precious crystal against his chest. Meredith laughed at him, and he smiled when Persephone bickered at his thumb.

Meredith was right; it had been hard to get to Benji. But after the night they spent studying, Seth felt like he was making actual progress. He and Benji started studying together, and Seth started stopping by Cafe Midnight more often, usually finding him there. 

He still stepped back to let Benji and Meredith have their own time together and didn't want to invade on that, but he could also feel this shift. When he got a B on his exam, Seth turned to Benji and hugged him. He barely thought about it, just squeezed his middle, still holding his exam. He stepped away a moment later, realizing how weird it was. Benji was tense with surprise, and Seth apologized, but it was like he couldn't contain it.

When the Rotkers family texted Seth that they were downstairs, he took Persephone, holding her up in front of his face. Her one eye looked right into him and her nose twitched. He held her under his chin and gave her back to Meredith.

"Be strong," She said and kissed him on the cheek. They had already agreed she would be the one to hand Persephone to the Rotkers. He knew he would just get emotional.

When Meredith left the room, Seth pulled his knees up to his chest and laid his chin on his kneecap. Both he and Benji looked at the closed door.

"Shit," he said, wiping at his eyes. "I knew this was going to happen."

"I'm sorry," Benji said.

"We had some good months with her."

Benji smiled and nodded in understanding. He reached out and held Seth's shoulder. He did it so awkwardly, his fingers stiff and unbending. Seth didn't move. He was looking at the quilt his moms made him of old camp T-shirts, pinned to the wall despite the obvious fire code violation.

 Benji kept looking at the door. When this hand remained on Seth's shoulder for longer, and Seth realized there were actual tears rolling down his face, his hand came up to cover Benji's. He wasn't sure why, but he turned his face, pressing his cheek to Benji's fingers.

For a full minute, neither of them moved or said anything. Seth was making it weird again, and he knew that. He was in love with Meredith, but she wasn't very good at comforting people. She would ramble and make Seth overwhelmed. 

In a way, he liked how Benji was just silent, but there. It was awkward, but natural at the same time. Seth wasn't sure if it made sense. He eventually dropped his hand, wiping his nose with his sleeve, and Benji carefully slid his hand from his shoulder. He produced from his pocket a sealed bag of tissues, and Seth accepted one. Of course Benji was prepared for that.

Seth was reminded of the week before, when Benji started telling him about a trip he and his family took to Yosemite, his words gradually becoming more casual, his guard coming down. Seth had remained still like any wrong movement could make Benji too skittish to continue with his story. It was strange, how measured and gradual Benji's interactions were, nothing like Meredith. Benji had blushed at the end of the story, apologizing for talking for so long. It almost made Seth laugh.

"You know," Seth started, speaking carefully. Scared kitten, he reminded himself, "Corey is having another party thing this weekend. Meri and I will be there. You should come."

"I don't know," he said, but this time it was less automatic.

"I don't think we'll be there for long. We were thinking of getting food afterward."

"And that's cool with Meredith? Me tagging along?"

"Of course." Seth half laughed at him. "She'll love it if you come with us."

Benji nodded slowly, looking at the floor and moving his lip from side to side.

"It's not usually my scene."

"It's okay if you don't feel like it. But I think it could be fun." Seth shrugged.

"Sure," Benji responded after a long moment. "Sure, I'll go."

Meredith opened the door back to the room. There were tears drying on her face.

"Stupid bunny." She hiccupped to herself, wiping her cheeks with her sleeve, and burrowed her face on Seth's chest, her arms going around his middle.

"There, there." He petted her hair, not letting her see he was also emotional. "She'll have a backyard now."

She nodded feebly. Benji offered a tissue to her. She blew her nose and hugged him, too. Benji held her middle tightly, his eyes closing for a brief moment, before letting go.

Seth watched them, and not for the first time, wondered if he wasn't just the guy standing in their way.