Hiding Behind False Eyes (A Ben Bruce Love Story.... Kind of.)

Chapter Six- You'll Never Really Find Those Perfect Words

I was about to answer when Lyss and Danny came barging into the living room, pressing against the wall and apparently trying to eat each other’s faces off. Ben cleared his throat and they sprang apart, startled. Alyssa blushed. “Sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was in here…”

“I did,” said Danny. “I just don’t give a shit. Ben has seen me in much more awkward situations, right Benny boy?” Ben shrugged and nodded. With that Danny resumed kissing Lyss, who didn’t protest.

“Let’s give them some privacy,” I said to Ben. “I’ve gotta get cleaned up. My hair is horrible. Come on,” I said, pulling Ben toward the bathroom. When we opened the door we realized that Cam, James and Sam were inside. When they saw us they all stopped what they were doing; Sam had been using Alyssa’s makeup on Cam who now looked like an emo drag queen. James was sitting in the tub putting his hair into tiny pony tails with some elastics he had found.

“Holy shit lads, this isn’t even your house and you’re doing the things you do on the bus,” said Ben, shaking his head. “At least invite me next time.”

“Sorry, babe,” said Cam.

“S’alright,” said Ben. I stepped forward.

“Alright, ladies, plug in the flat iron,” I said. James handed it to me and I tugged on one of his pony tails.

“I’m going to go clean up in the kitchen,” said Ben. He flicked the bottom of my chin up with his finger, briefly looking into my eyes with a smile, and walked toward the kitchen.

I reached out to grab the flat iron but Sam beat me to it.

“I used to straighten Ben’s hair all the time,” he said with a grin, before taking a piece of my hair and running it through the flat iron.

“No wonder Ben’s so dim, you must’ve burnt right through his skull and given him brain damage,” said Cam.

I wasn’t sure what to do about this; I didn’t know Sam too well and his hand didn’t feel very steady. I decided to trust him. After all, he had at least done a decent job on Cam’s makeup.

Cam pouted. “Hey, my makeup isn’t done,” he said. “I still need that shit that goes on your eyelashes.”

James climbed out of the tub and helped Cam with his mascara. I began to daydream while Sam did my hair. Then I jumped with a little shriek.

“Sam! Watch it!” I said, putting a hand to my burnt ear. Sam looked mortified. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I really didn’t mean to do that!”

James was on his feet in a second, looking almost panicked. “Be careful with her, Sam!” he said a bit too fervently. “Are you okay, love?”

“I’m fine,” I said, and James took the flat iron out of Sam’s hands. James resumed the styling of my hair, but he felt calmer and steadier. I trusted him immediately, and I felt a warm feeling spread from head to toe as he quietly finished off my hair.

Sam looked at James, his expression unreadable, then whispered something to Cam and left the bathroom. I shot Cam a questioning glance.

“He’s calling a cab and going back to the bus,” he said.

“What?” I asked, confused. “We were all gonna pile into Alyssa’s car…! It’s not that far from here…”

Cam just shrugged, and left the bathroom. James and I were alone now, and he finished his work in silence.

He put down the flat iron and paused for a second, seemingly about to run his hands through my hair, then his hand dropped awkwardly back down to his side.

“Thanks, James,” I said, smiling up at him.

“No worries,” he said roughly, clearing his throat, before leaving me alone in the bathroom. When he got up and left, I felt something I was instantly ashamed of.

It was disappointment.

I didn’t feel anything for James. I couldn’t. I had Ben. Well, not officially, but it didn’t need to be official for him to take up that special place in my heart. I decided to let it go, the feeling was probably just an effect of the hangover anyway. However, I couldn’t shake that guilty feeling.

I washed my face and used some of Alyssa’s makeup, then emerged from the bathroom. The boys, excluding Sam, were all sitting on the couch. Suddenly, this felt like it was all just too much.

James’ P.O.V-

Standing there straightening Rain’s hair, I hadn’t known what to do with myself.

I knew I felt something for Rain, and I knew it was wrong. Ben was one of my best friends and I knew he was falling for her, but no matter how hard I tried to push away the feelings they kept coming back.

I knew Sam liked her, too. We had agreed that we wouldn’t fight over her, with or without Ben. By overreacting like that in the bathroom, I had put mine and Sam’s friendship on the line. I had broken the unspoken truce we’d had between us. So he had left, gotten away from the painful sight of Rain and I. With Ben it was different; Sam didn’t hate seeing them together because Ben had already claimed her. The problem was, Sam and I both wanted to be the one for her to fall back on when things fell through with Ben (which they usually did, even though he meant well). I wasn’t sure what I would do when I next saw him. Apologize, maybe, but that seemed like a bit much. Maybe it was time we had another talk.

Rain walked into the living room and I snuck a glance at her before looking down at my buzzing phone. It was Sam. At the bus, manager’s pissed, it said. We should talk.

I know, mate, I texted back before getting off the couch.

“I’m going to the bus,” I said, and didn’t wait for an answer from anyone before stepping outside and calling a cab.