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homerfreak2011

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Ben ran through the doors behind the police, dodging them. He made his way to the couch and sat down by Julia. “Honey…” His voice was barely above a whisper. “What’d you do?”

Julia still had tears in her eyes. She shook her head.

“Come with me.” He took her hand and pulled her off the couch. She hesitated, but followed. His stopped and looked her over. Smiling slightly, he kissed her and pushed her toward the door. “I’ll be right back… go wait for me in the hallway.” The police didn’t look at them, but Ben was still whispering. She obeyed him, making her way to the hall.

When Ben came out, he was carrying a pair of her jeans. She looked down, instantly blushing. She had forgotten that she was only in Ben’s shirt. Ben kissed her cheek as she slid the jeans on.

“Benny?” She looked at him.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Did I screw up?”

He took her hand and walked her down the hallway. “Tell me what you did exactly.”

“Momma called… and I answered.”

He stopped and turned to her. “What?”

“I didn’t know it was her! I just opened it and said hello…”

“Could she hear you?”

“No… but she thinks the person that answered the phone is the one that murdered me… so she called the cops…”

Ben nodded, wrapping an arm around her. “Let’s just walk awhile ‘til them dicks are outta my apartment.”

The two walked. Out of the apartment building, through the streets, to an old pool hall. Ben put his hand comfortingly on Julia’s lower back and guided her inside. She was hesitant, but with his encouragement, she walked right in.

He led her through the clouds of cigarette smoke to the back of the place, into a tiny room with a pool table. This room, too, was flooded with smoke. Julia waved it out of her face, coughing a little. Ben took her hand and pulled her in front of him, between him and a small group of people.

“This is Julia.” The five looked at her like she was a 9-year-old trying to fit in with a world of teenagers. “She’s… new.”

The tallest, a blonde guy with green eyes, stepped forward with his pool stick. “Why did you bring her here?”

“I’m helping her, Ricky.”

“You’re risking your fucking safety for some whore.” A different guy, black headed with brown eyes, gestured to me. “That’s stupid!”

“Keith! Get off her fucking case!”

Yet another guy, this one blonde with hazel eyes, stepped forward, holding a redheaded girl’s hand. “Ben, look who we found.”

Ben’s eyes lit up. He seemed to forget that I was even there and ran to the girl, hugging her. He lifted her in his arms. “Meredith!”

The girl smiled and kissed his forehead, laughing. “Benny!”

“I missed you!”

“Wow…” He put her down and looked her over. “I missed you too. You’ve gotten so… beautiful.” He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her again.

Julia felt a sick feeling beginning to grow in the pit of her stomach. Without a word, she turned and silently slipped out of the door.

* * * * * * * * * *

Julia sat down on a bench in the park. She was lost as hell, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. She let her head fall into her hands, painful tears running down her face.

What was Meredith? An ex girlfriend? An ex lover? The one he was with when he died? It killed Julia how he looked at Meredith. It tore her heart in two. He was Julia’s, yet when he saw Meredith, it was like Julia didn’t even exist.

“Hey, sugar lips.” A tall, scraggly looking guy sat on the bench next to her. Before Julia could react, he had her pinned against the bench and was leaning in to kiss her.

“What the hell?! Get off me!” She clawed the man in the face, making deep scratches.

He yelled, but didn’t get off. He put his hand on her throat and slammed her head back into the bench. Then, suddenly, the guy jerked off her. Julia sat up, seeing Ben chunk the guy into the grass. After kicking the guy in the stomach, Ben sat down next to Julia, putting a hand on her cheek. “Are you alright?”

Julia nodded slightly, avoiding Ben’s eyes. “I’m fine… Just leave me alone. I don’t need you.”

Ben looked hurt, but didn’t back away. “What the hell, Julia?”

“Go help that Meredith bitch…”

Ben cut his eyes at her. “Don’t you dare call her a--”

“A what, Ben? A bitch? What the hell else do you want me to call her? Why the hell do you even care?” She crossed her legs, turning away from him.

He put his arm around her shoulders. “Julia, she’s my little sister…”

Julia instantly felt like shit. She freaked without giving him time to explain. That had always been one of her bad qualities.

“Don’t be mad at me… please…” He hugged her.

She pulled back from him, looking into his eyes. “No, you don’t be mad at me.” She kissed him. “I love you. I’m sorry I freaked.”

He smiled and hugged her again, holding her up against him. “I love you too, baby.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t explain. I just got excited. I haven’t seen her in years… Hell, that’s my baby sister.”

“She looks older than you.” Julia snuggled against Ben’s side, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“She is, now. Kinda… She died at 20... She’s been dead 8 whole years and I didn’t have the slightest idea… how crazy is that?”

“So she’s… 3 years younger than you?”

He nodded. “She was your age when I died. I haven’t seen her since.”

Julia looked down. “I’m sorry I ruined that.”

He kissed her cheek. “You didn’t… Now how about you tell me another story, eh?”

She leaned against him. “Do I have to right now?”

“Well… you can always save it for the bus ride.”

She looked up at him. “Bus ride?”

“Julia,” He took her hand, squeezing it. “I’m gonna take you home. I want you to see your family before you have to worry about whether or not you’re gonna pass. I don’t want you to just leave like I did. Trust me, baby… it’s worth it.”

Julia smiled, new tears forming in her eyes. “I’m gonna get to see Momma? And Daddy? And Kyle?”

He nodded. “You won’t get to talk to them, and they won’t know you’re there, but yeah, baby. You’ll get to see them… You’ll get to be there. I know it’s not much, but maybe it’ll be enough.” He stood up, pulling her up after him. “Is that a yes?”

She nodded eagerly.

“Then we leave tonight.”