27

Amora

"Carrie, I'm so not happy right now. How are you going to make me sleep at that old treehouse with those crazies!" I exclaimed, dragging my bag behind me.

"Well did you want me to sleep there by myself!" She defended, turning around to wait for my response.

"But you have yeah-yeah! I got no one!" I whined, sadly following behind her.

"No! You got me.. and Benny?" She suggested, with her lips slowly curling up into a smirk.

"No. Don't even Carrie!" I stopped her immediately, covering my ears.

She laughed as we slowly approached the treehouse, looking up to see the light peering out with loud chatters from everyone inside.

I grunted as I pulled myself up and wiped my hands, before looking around to see everyone sitting around.

"Geez! What do you have in there?" Squints laughed, pointing at the bag in my hand.

"Nothing four eyes. Shut up!" I scolded him, pushing his head back before walking off.

I continued to drag the bag behind me, letting out a groan here and there from the heaviness when suddenly I was stopped.

Benny stood in front of me reaching over and taking the bag from me."I got it" he offered, immediately taking it from me once he noticed I was struggling.

I watched him grab onto it making a smile threaten to spread onto my lips, but I quickly stopped and forced myself too not.

I rubbed my eyes, letting out a huff as I looked away.

"Who wants s'mores?" Hams called out, motioning towards the little set up he had.

"Ooo! Me!" Carrie ran in between Benny and I, quickly rushing over.

I shook my head backing away before turning around and taking a seat as I watched Carrie happily take her s'more, practically drooling over it.

——

I glanced up from the cards in my hand looking around to see everyone looking down at theirs, with deep concentration.

My eyes flickered back down before a smug smile grew across my face, as I placed down a card onto the middle of the table.

"What!" Squints and Bertram shrieked, immediately shooting up from their seats.

"How is this possible!" Hams shouted, throwing his cards onto the table angrily.

"You've won 4 times already! No, you have to be scamming here" Benny shook his head, pointing his finger at me accusingly.

"Oh no sir, you're just really bad at it!" I mocked, smiling once he groaned in frustration.

"Ah! I'm finally beating you!" I squealed, clapping my hands excitedly as I looked down at the table.

"Wow, you've finally been beat Benny man" Kenny shook his head, patting Benny's back comfortingly.

"What! No I haven't, we're playing again!" Benny shook his head in denial, quickly setting everything back up.

Soon after the new round the game grew closer to the end, making everyone fiddle in their seats having no idea who was going to win.

My eyes flickered over towards Benny, making him glance at me."You're not beating me there's no way" he insisted, shaking his head in denial.

"I totally am! And.."I just did!" I smiled, before placing down a card onto the table.

Immediately everyone groaned and bursted into angry, frustrated, protests.

"You can't be serious" Benny groaned, looking down at the table in shock.

Immediately I shot up in excitement, clapping my hands happily.

"I won, again!" I squealed, jumping up down excitedly at my victory.

"I totally told you!" I pointed down at Benny, cheering myself on.

He rolled his eyes at me before curling his lips up into a soft smile, as he watched my excitement at my win.

"Ugh! This game is bogus!" Carrie groaned, slapping her cards face down onto the table

"I can't believe I won 4 times!" I cheered, pulling the chair back out and sitting down.

"Yeah yeah because you cheated!" Yeah-yeah accused, pointing his finger at me.

"No way! You all just suck!" I defended myself, shuffling up the cards in my hand.

"Whatever, I call a stupid rematch!" Squints called out, snatching the cards from my hands.

I rolled my eyes at him before we started up a new game.

Of course, I won again.

——

I stared up at the roof resting my hands onto my stomach as I thought to myself.

Slowly I closed my eyes and attempted to sleep again, yet began to shuffle around struggling to try and find comfort.

Finally I gave up and let out a huff before glancing around to see everyone asleep on the floor.

"Stupid hard floor" I muttered to myself, huffing frustratedly.

I pushed myself up and slowly stood, carefully walking across the room.

I slowly stepped over everyone trying my hardest to not step on anyone, when I suddenly stopped seeing Benny that laid on the floor sleeping.

I paused, titling my head with a slight smile. His hair was slightly ruffled with a bang that fell over his forehead, with him completely wrapped up in a blanket.

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head finally looking away before turning around and quietly walking out of the room.

I looked around to see the scary looking dark yard of Mr. Mertles house, making me glance back contemplating whether I should go back.

I shook that thought out of my mind as I walked over and rested my arms onto the railing, thinking quietly too myself.

I let out a huff continuing to stare out for a few minutes, jumping once the floor creaked behind me.

"Oh my god! How many times!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands into  my hair frustratedly.

"Sorry" Benny laughed, rubbing his eyes lightly."What are you doing out here?" He questioned, walking over and standing next to me.

"Nothing. I thought you were sleeping?" I questioned, furrowing my eyebrows once I looked back.

"I was- well tried too. You move around a lot" he explained, letting out a small laugh.

I slowly nodded, pausing and widening my eyes in realization that he was awake as I was awing over him when I thought he was sleeping.

He smiled at my expression before resting against the railing next to me, with me slowly eyeing him once our arms touched.

"Why are you out here?" I asked, briefly glancing over towards him.

"Because you are?" He replied simply, shrugging his shoulders.

I rolled my eyes looking away and glancing back out into the yard, leaving silence between us.

"Y'know you never finished telling me about.. your mom" he cleared his throat, glancing over towards me.

I rolled my eyes again and let out a huff."She died a few years ago. She was in a car accident, that's it?" I shrugged, letting out a sigh as I rested my arms onto the balcony.

"Oh. I'm sorry" he frowned, looking over and giving me a sympathetic expression.

He reached over too rub my back, making me immediately lean back and step away.

Immediately his eyebrows curled up into a confused scrunch, as he quickly apologized.

"Sorry. I was just trying to-

"I know. It's fine I just" I stopped myself, slowly stepping back to the spot I once was."I don't like people touching me I guess... for some reason? Sorry" I shrugged, not knowing what to say in the moment.

"Oh, I thought it was because you were too disgusted by me to even go near me" Benny gave a light laugh, attempting to lighten the mood.

I rolled my eyes once more before cracking a small smile."It's not that. Well partially yeah, but no" I shook my head, looking back out into the yard.

"Then what?" He asked, with his voice coming out more soft than usual.

My eyes flickered over towards him before I shook my head."Nothing, it's nothing doofus don't worry about it" I shook my head, shrugging off his question.

Once I didn't get a response I slowly looked over to see him staring at me, examining my face as if he was trying to read my mind.

"There is something. You can tell me, it's ok" he insisted, giving me a soft kind smile.

I shook my head once again, beginning to contemplate with myself.

"Why are you even asking? It doesn't matter" I replied sharply, turning over to fully look at him.

His expression softened, as he looked down to floor. "I don't know. I care about you though, there's clearly something up" he admitted, with a simple shrug.

I stared at him feeling my face slowly begin to heat up from his words, making me finally look away from him.

"Ugh I- I don't even know myself. I guess, it's because I don't get much.. love? Not like romance love but..." I sighed, finally blurting it out.

"I mean, my dads a total crazy, angry, maniac all the time that's too tough to show any affection towards me.. his only daughter!" I explained, shrugging as I attempted to explain why I felt the way I felt.

"And, my mom. Well from what I remember, was all of that. She truly did show me she loved me when he didn't, at least that's what I tell myself. I guess, I'm just still upset that's she's gone"

"Plus! The other total idiot that I last dated in the past. Was an absolute hothead! And not the good kind. He had way too many anger problems" I rambled, resting my head against my hand.

"Wait- did he hurt you or something?" He stopped me, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

"What, no? I-I mean... no? I guess he got angry at me a lot but.. I don't know" I attempted to explain, looking down to my hands as I grew nervous.

"Y'know he did have lots of problems going on with his life so.. I guess I don't blame him-

"He hurt you!" Benny cut me off, immediately twisting his expression into anger.

"Oh my god. It's not a big deal ok? That's all gone already" I waved it off, turning away from him.

"Not a big deal? Amora, are you kidding me!" Benny insisted, flailing his hands around being baffled at my reaction.

"I know but its whatever, just drop it. Please " I ordered, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

"How the hell did that happen with your crazy dad?" Benny sighed, finally changing the subject.

"Oh, my dad was furious when he found out. I guess that's also why he's a loon" I shrugged, cracking a small smile.

Benny sighed as he shook his head before resting back again the railing."I'm sorry that happened to you" he whispered softly, with sympathy and sadness laced in his tone.

"It's way whatever, I already said that that's gone and done with" I sighed, shaking the memories of the boy away.

Truth is, I did know it was a big deal and it was bad. I guess, me being too weak and pathetic too do anything about it still upset me so I just simply brushed it off?

Hm, weird how I just figured this all out right now.

Silence grew again between us as I stared out thinking to myself, when the sound of the floor creaking made us both whip around.

"I didn't know we were having a party out here?" Hams exclaimed, walking out with Kenny and squints who trailed behind.

"Geez you two couldn't invite us?" Kenny snickered, walking over and standing next to me.

"What are you morons doing?" I sighed, slowly letting go of the railing too turn around.

"We're here too hang with you guys, what else?" Squints laughed, shrugging like it was obvious.

Squints threw his arms over Benny and I, pulling us away and back into the room with hams who searched for his s'mores equipment.