Ben And Erin
TW: abuse, swearing
————————————
Erin hid under her bed, stifling sobs. She heard his footsteps nearing, his hands shuffling on the walls.
“Where ya hiding Erin?” He sniffed. “Git OUT!”
Erin whimpered and heard him chuckle. His boots came in her room.
“Got ya!” He looked under the wrong bed. It was her chance.
Erin slid out from the bed and snuck to the door. Halfway there, he started running for her.
Erin screamed as he grabbed her wrist.
“Pa, please!” Erin sobbed. “Let me go!”
He slapped her cheek. “Don’t fucking tell me what to do!”
“HELP! Someone-“ Erin started to scream but was stifled by her father’s hand.
He pulled her head close to his mouth, his hot breath in her ear.
“There’s no one to help you here little bitch,” he whispered.
Erin bit her father’s hand and ran for it. He bolted after her as she got to the door, raging.
Erin grabbed the knob and ran through, but was pulled back by her father’s hand around her ankle. Her face landed straight in mud as rain poured over her. Erin kicked him off and stood up, running through the storm.
She knocked on his door, makeup smeared, her cheek throbbing, and teeth chattering as she waited.
And Ben answered, his face going from tired to concerned.
“Erin?” Ben whispered.
“H-hey,” Erin choked out, her voice tight from crying. “Can I stay here for a while?”
Ben stood at the door, astonished.
“Oh shit. W-what happened?” He asked, scooting her inside.
“Home,”
“Come up to my room.”
Ben looked at his best friend. What did she mean her “home” happened?
“Do you want to take a shower?” He asked, steering her to his jack and jill bathroom. Sneaking into Leina’s room as to not wake her up, he grabbed Erin a shirt and matching pajama pants as she bathed.
“Here,” he said, sliding his hand under the door, giving her the clothes.
A few minutes later, Erin came out with her hair in matching pigtail braids and Leina’s pjs.
“Thank you.” She whispered.
This was not the Erin Ben knew. The outgoing, silly friend he’d grown to like. Something was definitely wrong.
“What actually happened,” Ben said, sitting down with her on his sofa.
“Nothing alright?!” Erin snapped, hurting Ben’s feelings.
“Oh my fucking god.” Ben whispered. “It was him as wasn’t it? Your dad is a freaking asshole.”
Her head fell on Ben’s shoulder, asleep, not even hearing his turmoil of anxiety.
The bell rang as Erins third period ended. She walked to the lunchroom and ran into Sebastian and his loser friends.
“Hey weirdo,” he smirked, eyeing the bruise on her cheek “Did I do that, or are you that clumsy?”
The toadies laughed at his pathetic joke. Erin stood, silent, not in the mood for this.
“Never mind, why do I care? You’ll get a matching one today.” Sebastian laughed, grabbing the cuff of her shirt.
Even though she was a head shorter than him, the fire in her eyes burned.
“Go ahead. You won’t ruin your chances to get into Princeton University on me.” Erin challenged.
“Hey shut it!” He said, winding up his fist.
Erin punched his nose,swift and quick, his squeak of fury comedic.
Sebastian touched his nose as he let go of Erin, looking at the blood on his finger.
“You’ll pay for that bubblebitch!”
Erin laughed sarcastically. His old nickname for her, when they dated.
“Yeah I bet booboy!” She laughed over her shoulder.
“What were you thinking?” Ben asked. “He’s literally gonna kill you for that Erin!”
“He won’t.” Erin rolled her eyes.
“Why not? Because-“
“Because he called me bubblebitch.”
Ben looked at her. “W-what? What did you reply to that?”
“I called him booboy.”
Ben laughed dryly. “Really? That sounds like 9th grade all over again.”
“No, I’m not gonna date him again. Remember last time?”
Ben shuddered. “The time he tried to drown you while he was drunk? Yeah, I remember. You still haven’t thanked me for helping you out.”
“Ha ha.” Erin said sarcastically. “Thank you for jumping in Micheal Deeners pool during his birthday bash and ripping my drunk boyfriend off me.”
“Of course.” Ben smiled, bowing like he was the host of a game show.
“Speaking of parties, you wanna go to one later?” Erin asked. “Trent Smith is throwing a rager at his beachside mansion. Sebastian probably will be there, but hot college kids will too.” She elbowed him knowingly.
“You know what?” Ben sighed. “Why not? Life couldn’t get crazier.”
“No f-ing way!! Is my boring little twin brother going to be social?!?” Leina giggled.
Ben rolled his eyes. “You can’t call me little! I’m the one with a license here!”
“Fine fine fine!” Leina smiled, turning to her closet. “You almost ready?”
“Don’t laugh!” Erin said to Ben, completely ignoring Leina. Slowly creaking the door open she came out.
“Ta-da!” She grinned, wearing a short silky teal dress that made her look much taller than her height at 5”0.
“You look… so cool.” Ben blushed.
Erin turned to the stairs. “Now let’s get out of here before your mom realizes we’re drinking and partying the night away!”
Ben laughed.
“Oh fuck yeah!” Erin whooped out the car window.
Ben hopped out of the car, wearing church clothes because he didn’t usually do parties like this.
Erin touched his cheek and he felt a tingle of joy throughout his body.
“There’s something on your.. oh! Got it!” Erin said. “Have fun!”
“Wait! You’re not staying with me?” Ben worried.
Erin laughed. “You want to head to a bar with me? I thought you hated drinking!”
“I-um I- “ Ben sighed. “I guess I’ll be… somewhere then?”
“Let’s meet at the beach in an hour.” Erin called over her shoulder. “See ya!”
———
Erin pushed through the rager until she smelled wine. Surprisingly, a friendly face was operating the bar.
“Spence!” Erin called as he turned to her. “How are you?”
“Erin! Hey there! I’m doin fine!” Spencer looked down at the counter. “Your usual?”
Erin nodded.
“I can’t believe..” she heard coming from the beach.
Ooh a fight? Erin thought, her mind wondering as she walked down the stairs to the beach.
“It was just a stupid pep rally!” Sebastian scoffed. “It’s not that deep!”
Ooh good, Leina’s gonna get beat up. Erin thought, rubbing her hands together She deserves it after stealing my boyfriend.
“I don’t care! You promised! Promises mean that you’ll do it, and I put my trust in you! That’s what matters!” Leina yelled back.
“I’m done with this!” Sebastian said, walking away.
“Wait,“ Leina said, touching his shoulder.“Please just promise-“
“Hey!” Sebastian growled at her, grabbing her wrist tightly. “Don’t tell me what to do!”
Erin shut her eyes. Isn’t that what Pa always said? As much as Erin wanted to see it, she couldn’t let Ben’s sister get beat by her ex.
“Sebastian, leave her alone alright?” Erin shouted, stepping forward from the crowd. “All she wants to do is make up. If you couldn’t tell, then I guess you are as dumb as you look!”
Sebastian whipped his head around, steaming. “I’m dumb!?”
“I’m not the one who tried to drown my ex!” Erin shot right back.
Dozens of oohs came from the quite large crowd around the three.
“I’ll show you who’s dumb!” Sebastian smirked as he threw Leina to the ground and ran at Erin.
Erin cracked her knuckles. This, she thought. This is gonna be fun.
Ben stood in the crowd, looking lost. He never liked Sebastian, no matter how hard he tried to make him.
“Sebastian, leave her alone, alright!?” Ben heard, coming from the opposite side of the circle surrounding Sebastian and Leina.
Ben barely heard exactly what else the voice said as he kept trying to place it.
Though as Sebastian threw Ben’s sister to the ground, he saw a glimpse of purple streaks of hair from the challenger and immediately knew it was Erin.
“Oh shit!” Ben said as he realized Sebastian threw his sister to the ground!
“Leina!” He said, leaning against his sister. “W-what happened?”
“Sebastian didn’t go to the pep rally.” She said, massaging her wrist.
“Yeah I know that.” Ben said, shaking his head. “What about Erin? Why was she involved?”
Leina rolled her eyes at Ben. “You’re so obsessed with her! Anyway, I’m- well I don’t know why she’d help me, because I’m not her favorite person.”
“Hey I’m not obsessed with her! She’s my best friend.”
Ben looked up to see how the fight was going.
He looked up just to catch a punch in the face from Sebastian’s friend Jesse.
Bens eyes aggressively watered, and he tenderly touched the bridge of his nose, wincing.
“What was that for!?” Leina yelled, standing up. “Leave my brother out of this at least!”
Jesse slurred, touching her cheek. “Whyy don’t you shut up your pretty facccee and let your chhheating hotttie deall with your problemsss?”
Leina stood there in shock and disgust, pushing Jesse’s hand away and turned to Ben, her face so white she looked like a ghost.
“Cheating..?” She whispered, her shock turning to rage. “CHEATING!? SEBASTIAN-“Shh!” Ben putting a finger to her mouth. “I don’t think he’s in the mood to… talk.” But what Ben really wanted to say was, ‘I don’t want him to hurt you.’
“Ohhhh, my sssweet!” Jesse smiled, holding Leina’s hand in his as he talked.
“Stop it Jesse!” Ben said, standing up. “Go get some water, or better yet, GO HOME.”
“Wow,” Jesse growled, pulling Ben close to him. “I love a man who tells me what to dooo!”
“Oh HELL NO!” Ben yelled, trying to pull away. “I’m not gay bro!”
“But you’d be better that wayyy! Stooop wasting your time on… what’sherface…oh, Erica, when you could have me instead!” Jesse droned on, still holding Ben and curling his hair with his fingers.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Leina holding in a laugh.
The next time he tried to escape Jesse’s grasp, he slipped out. Oh thank fucking God. Ben thought, exhaling an unpleasant breath.
“Bye,” Ben said. Now time to deal with my best friend’s ex and sister’s boyfriend.
Sebastian flew a punch at Erin’s face, her slender build easily avoiding. She ran behind him and jumped up on his back. Though it did come as a surprise to him, she weighed far too little to push him down.
He leaned back, falling on the floor and crushing her under him. Erin cried out in pain but rolled out and looked at her opponent.
“Go easy on me now will ya?” Erin scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Are you trying at all?”
Sebastian boiled. “Could you learn to shut up your shitty mouth? You’re getting annoying.”
“Getting? Aw, you still love me. Sorry but it’s just a little too late, after the fact you’re dating someone and all.”
“Oh my fucking god.” Sebastian growled. “You don’t know when to quit. All you want is to keep fighting other people, not just me. Why don’t you get that nobody cares about you!”
Erin went silent, staring him dead in the face. “Anything else?”
“What are you hiding under all that violence? Low self-esteem? A broken heart? Bad home life?”
Erin stiffened up, her eyes darting around. Sebastian rose his left eyebrow with curiosity after his last question.
“Oooh, the bad girl has daddy issues!
Ha-“
Erin ran at Sebastian and pushed him down, doing it easily.
“Stop Erin! I-I think Seb gets it.” Ben’s voice came from behind, his hands in front of him, reaching out for her.
Erin grabbed his shirt, pulling his face up to hers. “Now just keep your ego down, shut up your ass and leave us alone, alright?” Erin kissed his cheek, giving him a smirk. “Now run along, booboy.”
🩵
Word limit!!! Wow 🤩