what if → Benny Rodriguez

18 | fire

my face is burning, "cmon." i pull Benny away from my annoying parents outside onto the porch. "i'm so sorry. my dad has known you your whole life and now he decides to act like this."

Benny just smiles. "Feels good honestly. at least now i know i'm out of the friend zone."

"right." i chuckle.

-

"thank you so much for letting me stay here." Harper says and sits quietly at the foot of my bed.

"i'm always here if you need anything." i sit down next to her and take a deep breath, "you don't have to tell me... but i'm just wondering: what's going on at home?"

Harper scoots further onto the bed and hugs her knees. "it's a long story."

i glance at the clock, "we have time. the boys don't want to meet up until 7 and it's only 5:30."

"okay..." she hesitates.

"i won't judge you." i reassure her, "i have my own family issues."

She smiles at me, "well, everything was fine until my dad died in a car crash two years ago. in fact, my life was perfect and i had everything i could ever want. we basically lived in a mansion in Orange County. my dad was an oral surgeon so he made all the money our family needed and my mom never bothered to get a job."

"i'm really sorry Harper. about your dad." i look into her sad, ocean eyes, and reach out my hand to hers.

"it's okay." she breathes, "everyone has their time i guess."

"yeah. everyone has a time."

"but, anyways, my mom almost instantly got a new boyfriend when she realized that with no more income we'd lose our beautiful house. we still have some money left over from my dad, but it's being used up quickly by my mom who only seems to care about drugs. i truly believe she doesn't even love her boyfriend. she needs him and his money. i'm not even sure if i matter to her at all." she sighs, "she's been broken since my dad went. she used to be the PTA mom. involved with me and the community. and really involved with my dance. i used to be a competitive dancer, but that also unfortunately fell apart. dance is expensive. but, we recently had to give up our house and move here to the valley and to a smaller house. there's constant arguments and..."

"and what?" i take notice to Harper suddenly tensing up.

"and my mom's boyfriend... he hits me." her voice breaks. "and my mom does nothing but sit there with her pot and watch me get yelled at and abused physically and mentally."

"Harper..." i squeeze her hand, "i'm glad you told me. we have to tell someone that-"

"no! i'm telling you this with trust that you'll tell no one." she stands up abruptly.

"what your mom's boyfriend is doing is not okay, though. and your mom... she needs help."

"Brinley please." she breathes, "can i trust you?"

i stand up slowly and pull her into a hug. "yes." i say hesitantly. all that's going through my mind is that I need to tell someone. i don't want to betray Harper's trust, but if i don't say anything and things get worse i will never forgive myself.