Ben671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUzaRpcMQI
671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEjAnwItMd
January 1, 2005
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Same day
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Even though I was trying really hard not to listen to the girls through the wall, I could still make out bits and pieces of their conversation. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD5NWS0SfZ
Okay, maybe I didn't try that hard.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO1tMI0G7F
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Okay, fine I didn't try at all. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2nEOMdmC7
In fact, I might have tried really hard to listen. If only the guys would have shut their stupid mouths, maybe I could have at least heard the loud redhead.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdkSMUSBNB
I heard Vanessa yell something about good sex in Kat's life. Shit, were they talking about me? 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2i5fJHHm4
I've never been so fucking insecure about a girl before. What the hell is wrong with me?671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3fP9ULJH9
I couldn't make out anything Kat said, but Vanessa's voice came through clearly. She practically yelled about Kats ex being unable to satisfy her.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiJPa1yAk9
I tried to hide my snicker, but Kai stopped mid sentence to glare at me. "What the fuck is so funny? I haven't even got to the good part."671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF954uOxmO0
I couldn't think up an excuse, so I went for an apology. "Sorry, bro."671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwA5qoD8VE
"Just ignore him, he's smitten with his new girl." Nate betrayed me.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3QdXuUfNT
"What the fuck, man?" I tried to think of more, but I was in shock. Smitten? Who says that? 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7EPmnxD2v
"Just telling it like it is, bro." Nate smirked. Asshole.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxPNv85nxE
"Whatever. She's definitely not my girl." I crossed my arms defensively, hoping he would take the hint and back the fuck off.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXzLiGSkwF
As soon as we heard the girls screaming at each other, I was on my feet, ready for... what? 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGALH5uBVv
Was I worried about Kat? What could I even do? She barely even liked me. She would probably just turn her wrath on me.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3gxv2oDgU
Nate stood up and clapped his hand down on my shoulder. "I got this." Thank fuck. I blew out the breath I didn't realize I was holding.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMJcc16ZkD
I tried to focus on Kai's story, but my mind kept drifting to Kat.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC7kagFirG
Damn, Vanessa was the only one with Nate when he returned.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9i3XbqR93
Where was my little hurricane?671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH2sq7Nkri
"Hey 'Ness! Good to see you again." Luke smiled from next to the stove, waving the spatula in greeting.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TBrPNvXNq
Vanessa smiled and stepped up to the breakfast bar. "Hey Luke, where's Soph?" 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98kLrlnHLW
"Your guess is as good as mine." Luke grimaces as he moves to the opposite side of the breakfast bar.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2JVVEnWu7
"Uh oh... Trouble in paradise?" Vanessa pats his arm to console him.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5xsA6Qhtr
Fuck this. I can't sit here and listen to this small talk. I need to find Kat. I need to apologize. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEonnmCFAh
I wasn't sure where Kat would be, but I saw the redhead drag her into the empty room next to mine, so I knock on that door. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCyAeLh3rR
Even though she tried to turn me away, I was determined. She accepted my apology, but she seemed to withdraw afterwards. What did I do wrong? 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaik694aZ7m
I thought apologizing would make things better, give us a fresh start, but she said she didn't want to start over. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkQuRML2f8
And that made me fucking ecstatic. I wanted to remember everything, every little detail.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaZFgMV4iE
As we walk into the kitchen, Kai stops shoving food in his mouth long enough to be obnoxious. "Daaamn bro, your girl is smokin'!"671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hEiLOb23g
I smirk, giving a slight nod in acknowledgement, but I know better than to speak. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEzpXQW5y5
"I'm not his girl." Kat sounds offended. Oh shit. Shut up, Kai.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPp1gbJ4gK
"So sorry, my lady." She is full on glaring at him by this point and I'm resisting the urge to grab an umbrella and wait out the storm that's brewing.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeCEuLP7Hw
"I'm not your lady either." I fail at hiding the laugh that escapes out of me. Even though Kai had no idea what he was getting into, I could get used to her rage being aimed at someone other than me. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lzCvfl5Ur
Shit. Now she's glaring at me again. "Something amusing?"671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORJGnLfFBN
I drop the smirk and shake my head, hoping I look innocent.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwkHkn9OKk
Her eyebrows raise further, in question. "No, Kat." Feeling very much like the schoolboy who got caught. Guess I got detention.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQngqUWDqPT
"Sorry, Kat, is it?" His stupid face continues taking. Fuck, he's gonna get this whole house burnt down. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIqeAsQ2d6
Just shut up, Kai.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1lqYF60T5
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I'm sending a brain message to him.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi9ZVegtkK
Stop talking. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tH8zQelQp
671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllckPaoomv
Stop talking.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1DBAqV4mD
671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHygp3xfmNW
Stop talking.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKldgUx4mhj
Of course, he doesn't hear me, so he continues digging his grave. "I just assumed since Vanessa is with Nate-dog, Soph is with Luke and I'm pretty sure you aren't with me... Benny here is the only option."671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KKMMIMMvR
"Oh." She... wait. What? That's it? What the fuck? She would have murdered me. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Gf1P0zcI4
"Oh?" I say it before I can stop myself. What is wrong with me? She turns her little glare on me. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlsPDQDvvE
God, could she be more breathtaking? I want to worship her... and run for shelter at the same time. What is she doing to me?671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0vk7QZWLk
"Sorry, just ignore me." I try to cut off her rage before it starts, but fail. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG9rLRs7WE
"Will do." Her eyes avoid mine as she hurries out of the kitchen.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWNLzPGX6T
I follow after her. Of course I do. I am a glutton for punishment.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYy2QqPcUPY
But as I stand outside the door of my room, I'm at a complete loss. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8DY6N0ejC
I'm honestly not sure what I did wrong, other than piss her off... but I seem to do that simply by breathing. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2qnaKkBm2
I just want to be near her.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOehgi9fKa
Come on, Ben. Get a fucking hold of yourself. You are the man. You don't need another disaster. Remember what happened last time you - no, don't think about that. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcffwgwfYA
Focus. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvEz2nioOA
No relationships. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFtciuOoKF
671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGbE898O7U
No dating.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2lUEPYUXv
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No long term. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaLuWQEDv8
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No feelings.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQXkG6kuEE
That's the deal. Nate might have fallen off the wagon, but I know he will come back around. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ0xGUzpuh
Time to reign this in. I turn the knob and walk in without looking at her. That will make this easier. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIIOoWE2D4
I sit on my bed, next to her and stare at the floor as I begin my half-assed blow-off attempt. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDZWfqCMjL
"So, listen, Kat... This has been fun. But you know, I'm just like super busy right now and I just think maybe-" She cuts me off, which is good because I ran out of cliches to use.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJwV27Ns8Y
"Are you serious right now?" If her eyes could shoot lasers, I would be cut into tiny pieces... and she would probably enjoy it. A lot. "I can't even... I can't..."671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlnHlo2opB
She shakes her head and walks out the door. I swear I feel a piece of me follow her, but like the pussy I am, I stay behind. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOoyXXD4NC
She chose to run away from the shell that's left of me.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRf37Rq06v
So I let her.
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