Constant-Alec Benjamin

Closets

"That's unfair."

"No it's not, Reyhan, I'm just trying to play the game."

"But you know I was so close to getting the color set, why would you buy Indiana Avenue?" She insisted as he stuck out his tongue at her.

"That's the way it works, you brat."

"Fine. Watch me buy South Carolina Avenue, you punk."

"Oh you won't, I'll never let you."

She rolled the dice, and walked her little shoe right onto South Carolina Avenue.

"Kaching, bitch."

"Oh wow, we're name calling now?"

"You're the on who called me a brat."

"Because you are a brat."

Reyhan's phone began to ring and she got up from Monopoly to pick it up. Alec watched her expression fall considerably. He knew her job was tough, and sometimes it took a great toll on her. He also knew she'd never give it up, she loved what she was able to do. Although sometimes, it took a drive to her place and an extra set of keys to actually wake her up and console her to get out of bed. It had only happened twice in their year and a half long friendship but it was depressing to see one of the happiest people he knew be that sad. 

"13? That's unbelievable." Her voice was soft, and her eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah I'm coming, just give me 15 minutes, I'll meet you at the scene."

She hung up and took a deep breath. "Sorry about ending game night so soon, but there's a case."

"Hey, it's alright, don't worry about it." He got up from the floor and walked the length of the room, giving her a tight hug. She buried her head into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent as fresh tears threatened at the corner of her eyes.

"She was only 13, Alec." She whispered.

"I know it's hard. But you have to go and analyze that crime scene to smithereens, and then put that perpetrator behind bars, k? I am so proud of you for what you do." He drew back. She smiled weakly.

"I have to change."She stated with a laugh, the tears pooled at her eyes as she gestured to her sweats.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea." He made a face at her and got a pillow chucked at his face.

She returned not moments later with a much more work appropriate outfit and grabbed her shoes quickly.

"Don't worry about all this, I'll clean up before I leave, OK?" Alec offered kindly and saw her face relax with gratitude.

"Thank you so much, you're an angel!"She gave him a quick high five and left faster than the speed of light.

Alec began to pick up the Monopoly pieces, it was strangely eerie in her apartment without her cheerfulness. He began to notice the monochromatic grays, blacks, and whites that adorned the apartment. For someone so bright, her decor style was very sleek and sophisticated. He quietly cleaned up and sang to himself before deciding to put the game away in her closet.

He came face to face with the little white dresser inside of her closet which had picture frames displayed on the top.

There were a couple pictures of Reyhan's sisters and her, her mom and dad were also in some of them, but the biggest frame was of a 4 or 5 year old girl with chestnut bangs and a micheivious glint in her eyes, somewhat identical to that of Reyhan's herself. It was an old photo, marred by time, but for some reason Alec couldn't get it out of his head. It became even more disturbing when he found a picture of the little girl swinging in a playground with 6 other girls who Alec concluded as Reyhan and her sisters.

There was a 6th sister?

He searched in the rest of the frames, but the little girl was no where else. Besides, Reyhan had only ever mentioned having 4 sisters, not 5. 

Eyebrows furrowed, he thought to himself. Who was this girl? And what did she have to do with the silent, sorrowful that crossed over his friend's eyes from time to time?

//

"Hey!" Reyhan held the phone to her ear as she greeted Alec on the other side.

"Hi!" He replied. "Listen, this is very last minute, but I need a little bit of a favor."

"Sure, anything!"

"I am supposed to go to a wedding this weekend, back in Arizona. I was gonna go with Christine, you know, before we broke up, and I already have two tickets reserved, so will you come?" 

"Oh sure, no problem. I'm sure I can find a formal dress somewhere inside my closet." She answered as she finished chopping cucumbers and went to her room in search for an appropriate outfit.

"Speaking of your closet, whose that little girl, in that big picture frame?" Alec questioned. He wasn't sure if he was overstepping, but his thoughts were confirmed when he heard her breath hitch suddenly.

"No one."

"It has to be someone, but if you're not ready to talk about it that's fine."

"Is there a dress code?"

"What?"

"For the wedding." 

Alec wasn't sure why she'd changed the topic so abruptly. "Umm, no, formal I guess is all they said."

"I have this satin blue dress, hold on I'll send you a photo, but I also have this other one my sister gave me for a halloween party and I'm not sure how appropriate that is for a wedding." 

Alec's phone dinged as he got two photos from Reyhan. His mouth fell open when he saw the second one. "I don't think the second one is appropriate for a wedding at all, Reyhan." He stuttered. 

Both were photos of her, but the second one brought heat to his face. The dress was a formal gown made of tulle in ash gray with thigh high slits and a neckline that left little to the imagination.

"Hmm, you're right, I'll wear the blue one I guess."

If Reyhan had noticed the waver in Alec's voice, she didn't acknowledge it, but Alec felt like someone had splashed his face with cold water.

Had she looked like that all along?