ROLEPLAY HQ - dirt-road-memories

Auburn skies mixed with purple hues as the black Mercedes car sped down the winding road, nothing but flat land surrounding the highway as it headed toward its destination. The weather was hot and humid making the air feel sticky. The windows on the Mercedes were opened, an arm hung out of the driver side window as a singular woman navigated the road. Her delicate hand riding the force of the wind, radio full blast playing songs she had tried hard to forget. Plump red lips mouthing the words to a song about heartbreak. Loose auburn waves of hair flying behind her headrest and moving around wildly. If she was honest with herself, she craved the feeling of freedom that she felt as she headed back home. The Mercedes slowed to a slow ten mile an hour pace as she came to the dirt road, her heart was hammering like a bucking bronco. The woman took the turn that would lead her home, to him... To the one thing that had her running from here all those years ago. She came to a stop as her car crept up to the old rusted iron sign Crossroads Ranch Her hands clenched tightly on the steering wheel as she leaned forward and stared. A lump the size of her fist rose to her throat as she slowly drove through that last barrier that was keeping her heart safe. .

09:49

The house was what one would imagine. White siding with accents of warm maple wood, a large wrap around porch with very worn rocking chairs. Large windows evenly spaced, with boxed planters filled to the brim with vibrant purple and pink flowers. The front door is vibrant red with delicate floral patterns decorating the corners. She shut off her engine and sat there a moment, a flashback of a tall young cowboy leaning against the railing, a smile that any woman would die for plastered on his face. She shook her head and the image faded, leaving nothing on the porch but the wind. It was now or never. She pulled the door open, one long heeled foot touched gravel, she pulled herself out and slammed the door. The wind picked up causing her hair to dance around her face’s delicate features. She walked to the trunk and pulled out her suitcase, as she shut the trunk the front door swung open to reveal a very homely woman with peppered gray hair. “Oh, my darlin! My baby...” She rushed forward, her floral dress swishing in the wind. Thick arms wrapped around her pulling her into a hard hug. “My baby’s home. Oh, my sweet Cheyenne.” Her mother pulled herself back to get a good look at her daughter. “Darlin, what in the world did you do to your precious hair? It’s so short! Well, I’ll be. Let me see you, turn ‘round.” .

09:49

Cheyenne obliged her mother’s request slowly turning, her heels grinding into the pebbled gravel. Her mother made unapproving sounds and shook her head. “You lost too much weight girl, where’s all yer curves? You’re as skinny as a rake! Well. I’ll fix that soon enough. Now come on, the boys are just about done for the day, an I got supper warm on the stove. Oh, your daddy will be so happy you’re home sugar.” Her mother pulled her along up the three front steps and into the home she had grown up in, the smells were the same as if she had never left, the smell of honey, hay, and biscuits. A small smile could be seen on the corner of her lips. Cheyenne removed her sunglasses as her mother took her suitcase, she looked around, a pang of guilt hitting her hard as she heard that warm familiar drawl coming from the dining room. Cheyenne felt her palms grow clammy and her heart felt like it stopped beating. Her mother grabbed her hand, unaware of the inner turmoil her daughter was currently experiencing. “Boys! Look what the cat dragged in on the wind!” Her mother shouted with excitement as they stopped right through the doorway to the dining room. Her eyes falling on that very familiar, very muscular back she had pined over in her teen years.

Ben was someone that had been very close to the family for years, dating back to when he began running around with their daughter Cheyenne. Someone he fell for for years, but he couldn't ever get the final part of the race finished. He looked back at those times as some of the happiest of his life, but when she left for the big city and the college, he all but gave up on his chances on seeing her every in his life again. His job options were scattered for a few years, having dropped out of high school while she excelled, he found himself doing a lot of manual labor in his life before he finally made enough money to begin his own lumber business. The only one in town now, since he bought the old property from the bank when it was foreclosed in 2012. He had been running it since 2014. He had just come by the farm today to see about maybe dropping off a load of woodchips or gravel for the family, they seemed to be able to usually take anything that he needed to get rid of, but once he was here, he was greeted with the news that Cheyenne was on her way back to town and that he needed to stay and see her. He continued to relent the entire time saying that she didn't wanna see him and I was a past memory she didn't want back, but her mother and father persisted and eventually convinced him that he would need to stay, just for the meet and greet, but before you knew it food began to be passed out on the table and it looked like he was staying for dinner. He was staring out the window over the old ranch over the horizon and he smiled, he remembered times when they would run around their like kids with no sense, he remembered the sleepless nights staring at the stars where he wished he would have kissed her... He remembered... her. As he turned at the sound of her mother's voice, the face was the same, but it almost seemed like a whole new person, "Hi Chey..."

To say that it was unexpected to see Ben was not an understatement, his voice called her name and it thrummed through her and she felt it in her bones. Cheyenne wasn't sure exactly how long she had been holding her voice but when her mother nudged her with an elbow in the direction of her childhood best friend, her childhood crush...her what if. She had not planned on coming face to face with the long forgotten, when she had left home she had intended to leave those feelings behind with her but just seeing him standing there beside her daddy at the table stirred something deep within her and she awkwardly held up a hand and waved. "... Hey Ben." Cheyenne had called to inform her mama that she was coming home only a few days prior and Chey couldn't help but realize her mama must have had some type of ulterior motive with him being here for dinner and it irritated her more than it elated her. She'd just gone through a nasty break up and coming home was supposed to have been a break, a vacation from the turmoil in her heart and here her mother was trying to set her up with the next eligible bachelor... that is if he was even single to begin with. She dropped her hand before moving over to give her father a hug and he kissed her on the forehead. "Glad you're home. Been too long." Mr. Brown released his daughter and watched her move over to claim a chair at the table, her eyes glancing at Ben. Her father cleared his throat and pulled out his wife's chair. "Alright, now let's eat. I'm starvin and that chicken is callin' my name." He pointed at the chairs and once everyone was seated Chey stared at her food until her mother was done saying grace. "Alright y'all. Dig in."

The four of them would find their ways to their respective seats around the rounded table, each of them taking a spot across from one another. Mr. and Mrs. Brown would sit across from one another and that would leave Ben and Cheyenne looking across the table at one another. He could feel the same thoughts that she had, there were ulterior motives in their actions here, and he was unsure of how he felt about it. He looked across the table of stemming foods, all of the classics, chicken, corn, mac and cheese, biscuits, mashed potatoes, green beans, beans, anything that you could have wanted as a good old Southern boy, but he almost felt his stomach turning. To say they left on great terms would not be a true statement. He didn't hate her for leaving, she wanted to better herself, she wanted adventure, she didn't need to be stuck in small town USA, but she knew that he couldn't follow her and that killed him to know that she thought about that and still decided to go. He blamed himself for so long, it hurt for so long, but now... He was free of those thoughts and a lot had changed, but surely she wouldn't know that. Not like her mom talked about him with her...

She had made a point to stop asking for updates on Benjamin from her mother a few years back when she had gotten into a relationship with a fellow classmate in college. The frequent updates her mom had given her had only made her feel guilty for needing to leave home to better herself. Cheyenne had always loved growing up on the farm but the city had always called to her like a dream she felt she needed to accomplish and no matter her feelings for Ben at the time she couldn't have stayed, and she didn't. She never would have imagined that four years later she would be returning home burned by the very dream she had set off for. Her mother cleared her throat and broke the silence that had settled in over dinner. "How long are you going to be down here for, sugar?" Her mother's brown eyes twinkled as she took a good look at Cheyenne. She had just taken a bite of her mother's famous buttermilk biscuits that practically melted in your mouth and she looked up from her plate, her eyes like that of a deer in headlights. Suddenly her mouth was dry and it took a bit for her to swallow the mouthful. After a few gulps of sweet tea Chey finally spoke, "Ah...I.." Her eyes moved over to Ben. "My trip doesn't have an expiration date..." What do I have to go back to anyhow? Mentally she shook herself and went back to focusing on her food as her set down his utensils. "What do you mean no expiration, don't you still have a semester left?" She could tell her father was irked by her comment and she adjusted herself in her seat uncomfortably. "I took the classes needed earlier...I'm pretty much done other than turning in my finals Daddy." She took another bite of biscuit and chewed it slowly. "Well I'll be, that's good news, ain't it Ben?" Her mother beamed him a smile before reaching over to grab the pitcher of tea and refilled everyone's glasses. (edited)

10:27

@Deleted User

The air around the dining room was so tense you could cut it with a knife, he didn't even know what to say or mention or even suggest at this point. He felt like a stranger here now, someone that was just invited randomly to the table. As Mr. Brown asked if it was good news, he put on smile, "Sure is," he said, but the genuine truth slipping out, "We have missed her around here." He would reach down and take a huge gulp of the sweet tea, making sure to savor the taste and wetting his dry throat, he smiled over at her before moving his eyes to the food in front of him. The fried chicken was something he loved when she made it, it was always devine. He could only imagine you would find something better in a five star restaurant. "Well, Ben," Mrs. Brown spoke up again, "How are things at the mill? Everything still on the up and up, and how's Kensley?" There is was, the elephant in the room had been dropped, he had no idea if she knew about Kensley, but the look on her face said she didn't.

11:34

@Nymphy ❦

Hearing him say she had been missed made her gut clench for a brief moment, the regret bubbling upShe had missed her mama's cooking more than she could have realized as she picked up her fork and dug in to her mashed potatoes. The creamy texture just the way she liked it. A few bites in she heard her mother and looked up with curiosity. "Kensley?" Her perfectly curved eyebrow rose in question. "Who's that?" She sat her fork down to pick up her glass of tea and took a decent sip of it as she waited for his answer. It wouldn't be a surprise if Ben had found someone in the years she'd been away. He had been popular in high school among the ladies before he had dropped out. Why would she have expected him to keep his life on pause as she went on to discover life away from him? They hadn't even expressed how they had felt about each other, as if there had been some unspoken rule that had kept them from finding out. She hadn't kept her own life on pause and with the thought of her ex her stomach churned even more. Cheyenne staired across the table at Ben, the awkwardness that her mother had released hovered in the air around them @Deleted User

"Umm," Ben finished the bite of the mac and cheese he took as she asked the question trying to find the best way to put this, "Umm, she is fine, Mrs. Brown... School has not been fun for her, but she is finally adapting." He looked down at the glass of sweet tea and took another drink before looking up at Cheyenne, trying to put it into words, how could she not know Kensley? If there was one thing he was sure her mother would tell her about, it was Kensley. "Kensley is my daughter..." Ben said as he looked down at the table for a moment, before looking back up at her with a half hearted smile. He could feel the tension that this set in the air, something that he never wanted if he saw her again, but did he ever expect to see her again? Back when things happened, he certainly didn't see it happening...

16:14

@Nymphy ❦

Shock radiated through Cheyenne. How had she missed something this big? Her mind replayed all the conversations between her and her mother about things going on back home. There had been a few instances where her mother had tried to tell her things but she had brushed them aside. Sometimes because she was busy with school and work, others her boyfriend at the time would complain and she'd end the conversations early to appease him. She swallowed the knot in her throat and set her fork down. "Oh." When had he had a kid? It'd been about six years now since she had left home. Was he still with the mom and why had she not found this out sooner? Cheyenne stirred the mashed potatoes on her plate, the white gravy with pepper flakes mixed in and she scooped up another bite. This time, the food didn't taste as great. Whatever conversation her mother was having with Ben got tuned out as Chey ate silently, her eyes not leaving her plate until she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. Setting her fork down Cheyenne pulled out her phone and glanced at the caller id. Frowning she looked up at Ben, then her mother. "I need to take this, excuse me." Face pale she slid her chair back and dropped her napkin beside her plate. "Sorry, daddy." She bowed her head sheepishly as she hit the green phone button on her screen, her voice already sounding defeated. "Hello?" Her heels clacked against the hardwood floor as she headed out the front door. There was a porch swing that she went to, taking a seat as she waited for what she knew had been coming since she had left the city a day and a half ago. .

04:26

"What the fuck, Chey." "Eric, I told you. I can't do this anymore." "So you just up and leave, saying goodbye on a fucking stickynote?" Cheyenne pushed with her feet causing the old porch swing to squeak, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "What did you expect me to do after I found out?" "To talk about this, fuck Chey. Where are you?" "I'm not- No, Eric. Look, I've got to go..." "Chey-" Click. With a sigh she leaned her head back and just sat there, her phone squeezed tightly in her hand to the point her knuckles were white. The old swing squeaked its protest as she continued to make it rock back and forth, the sound of a windchime could be heard faintly as a breeze stirred. "Welcome home." Her voice was hoarse as she spoke to herself, tears threatening to stream down her face. What was she running from, and what had she hoped to be running to? @Deleted User

Ben would continue the small talk and conversation with Mrs. Brown throughout the dinner, eating a plate full of all of her southern style fixings, but he did notice a complete lack of conversation from Chey. Was she stunned at this revelation, did she not have anything to say, what was going on in her head? All questions that swirled through his mind as he looked over at her occasionally and then, her phone rang. It must have been important, a business friend, a friend friend, or a lover, he had no clue, but the look on her face said something was not right with the number on the screen. He knew that about her. He watched her go out the door. For several more minutes, he had conversation with the Brown family regarding little things, including work that needed to be done around the farm lumber wise, but nothing much said about the phone call or her disappearing out the front door. As they finished, Mrs. Brown looked over at Mr. Brown with a look that said it all, "Honey, help me clean up the dishes," she said with a smile, "Work stuff can wait till tomorrow. Ben, go check on Chey and see if she got lost out there. She ain't been her in so long, she may have ran off and got lost again." Her smile was almost radiant as he looked up at her, causing him to smile himself and give a nod, but the butterflies in his stomach rose again. It was never uncommon to get these butterflies when he was around her, but for some reason, they tripled in size today. As he stood, the wood creaking under his work boots, he stretched his 6'3" frame out and gave a swipe to the ginger red hair and beard on top of his head before swiping down his shirt for any missing crumbs as he walked to the front door. He made sure that she was not having any conversation first before opening the screen door to the house, and looking over the field in front of them, "Your dad knew exactly where to put that swing for maximum viewing, didn't he?"

10:59

@Nymphy ❦

The peaceful silence had been disturbed, not that Cheyenne would complain. A small smile spread across her lips though it didn't quite meet her eyes. "I think mama chose the location but you're right. Perfect viewing point." She moved over a bit and patted the weather worn wood beside her. "Care to join?" She tucked her phone back into her pocket and sighed as another breeze blew through. She had enjoyed the city, loved the hustle and bustle throughout but there was just something about the country that couldn't be replaced. Cheyenne tucked her hair behind her ears after the breeze settled down before tucking her hands underneath her thighs. "So..." She glanced back out over the farm and watched as two birds flew by to land on the birdbath in the yard. "I guess I missed out on a few things while I was gone." That was an understatement but what else was she supposed to say? She bit her lip, "Didn't imagine you with a kid...but." Cheyenne paused for a moment her head tilting to the side as she continued. "I bet you're a great dad. Especially if you still have that sweet side to you that I remember." She wondered if she should apologize for not keeping in touch, for running off and leaving. Thinking better of it she shoved the though aside. Clearing her throat she continued. "Do I uh, know the lucky lady who made that happen?" Inwardly Cheyenne groaned, could she be any more awkward? @Deleted User

As Ben would move to sit beside of her, his eyes studied the horizon, remembering fun days they had on the ranch together. The fenced in areas were another world for the two of them growing up before he got in trouble, but now... All distant memories. He eyed the ground for a moment as he sat on the swing, her saying she didn't imagine him with a kid, "Believe me, I didn't either," he smirked as he looked at the ground, "But, once you see them, those eyes locking on theirs when they first come out... Man, it is life changing. Made me change everything." He nodded in thanks for the compliment, but when she asked about the mother, he had to just giggle, "Your mom didn't tell you anything, did she?" He sighed as he looked at the ground, "I don't know if mistake is the right word, or savior is the right word for what happened, but do you remember Kathleen Sturges?" Kathleen Sturges would have been one of the more alternative and 'emo' girls from around the area, but one of the girls that fit in with every clique in the school. She never had an enemy and she was one of the few that use to hang out in the 'gang,' as he would call it, that ran with everyone. "I was drinking one night, shock, right?" He laughed as he mentioned his previous drinking, "Well, she came to console me for something insignificant... I didn't talk to anyone for six months after you left. Depression, anixety, paranoid... It was bad. Well, she came over and turned me around. We were together for maybe a week afterwards before we decided that the relationship was just a comfort thing for us, we didn't love one another, but we were still very friendly. Well, apparently during that week, she got pregnant and let me know. Changed my life... I started doing better for that little girl. Kathleen is one of the big wigs in real estate around her now, how I ended up with the lumber mill. Didn't you all talk about this?"

She listened intently, her stomach sinking as he mentioned when she left. Her fingers dug into the underside of her thighs as she stared at him while he recalled the rest of his tale. "I-" Cheyenne looked away sheepishly. "I cut ties with most folks a few years back... and ah" Feeling awkward to admitting is she skirted the full truth. "And I told mama not to give me updates on you... I went as far as creating new social media accounts just to avoid seeing anyone from back home." Of course she left out that her ex had made her, and the many other toxic traits she only just recently escaped from. "Anyway..." Cheyenne shoved up from the swing and walked to the railing, the breeze picked up again and her hair whipped around wildly just like the windchime as it clanged noisily. "That's good for Kathleen. I guess good for her for helping you snap out of the mess I left behind too." She leaned forward on the railing and took a deep breath. "Sorry mama dragged you in to dinner. She..." Cheyenne turned around and stared at Ben. "I guess her habit of meddling didn't stop all these years." She shook her head, her bright eyes taking in his features. "I don't know what she was expecting to happen, but I'm sure it won't come to fruition. Ain't no reason she should be meddlin' in your life like that... even if-" She stopped her train of thought and cleared her throat. "I'll tell her to stop."

"Ah, that would explain why you disappeared," he would comment as she noted all the lengths she went to to avoid everyone in the town, "But, I understand, we can't keep the eagle's wings tied down. She had to get out and fly..." He laughed, but the heartbreak in those words that he felt inside was unimaginable. The life they could have lived together. He didn't know what he was thinking staying her, he should have chased her... But, that is the past. But her next comment, made a switch flick. Six years of anger and frustration, boiling to the point... "The mess you left behind," he smirked as he almost said with a silent growl, "You did leave a mess behind, didn't you...?" He tried to suppress some anger in his voice, but it really didn't work, "I like to think the people in this town support one another and that is what she did. However, don't disrespect her like that. Not your mom. She never meddled to begin with. She was helping a friend, someone she might view as a child that look up to her for advise and comfort, someone she was close too, get out of a position. I mean, it helps that she actually stuck around this town instead of going to some hoety totey university up in the big world, up in the clouds? How was that, huh? Was that fun? Disappearing from everyone that ever cared about you and then leaving them wondering what happened, what they might have done wrong, other then falling from their graces because they would rather stay where it is safe?" He stood as well, looking down at her, a small fire lit in his eyes, but the same calm tone, "About how you had to be told by a 'meddling person' that they no longer asked about you over the phone, how that broke your heart and took a long time to get over if you even are..." He straightened his shirt and looked at his feet for a minute, "I guess that makes sense. You didn't care for what I had to offer you before you left, and you are dismissing me now. So... I will just see myself out."

"That's not what-" She was shaking at the rise in his voice, the clearly noted anger in it and she literally shrunk on her spot. Cheyenne's hands knotted in fists as she tried to hold back the tears as he continued. The automatic fight or flight response pumping adrenaline through her body. Ben was so angry, and the hurt that he spoke of... she deserved it all, truly she did and so Cheyenne stood there and took it all even though she wanted to bolt from the porch in the very moment. When Ben was truly done she couldn't look at him though she could feel his eyes on her, like they were burning right through her and scorching her soul. She wasn't trying to dismiss him, not like how he was taking it but the words wouldn't form as she stood there, body trembling. The words that finally did leave Cheyenne's rose colored lips they were meek and the ache couldn't be hid no matter how hard she would try. "You're right... it was fun, I lived a life in the city and got the degree of my dreams..." I didn't. "I left where it was safe and learned how to fly because I wasn't scared of the unknown." She swallowed the knot in her throat. I flew too close to the sun and got burned. "As for the response to the rest of it... Ben-" Her phone began to ring again in her pocket and Cheyenne didn't pull it out, she tried to ignore the vibrations as they traveled through her. "I left because I was scared. More scared of you and what that might have meant, of destroying-" Her phone stopped vibrating and she shut her eyes tight. She couldn't do this, not right now. Shaking her head she moved around him only for her phone to start vibrating again. She knew who it was, but she wouldn't answer it. With her back still towards Ben, her voice came out barely above a whisper."I'm sorry." .

21:27

With a shaky hand she opened the screen door only to see her mother standing in the dining room archway, a curious look on her face. She didn't wait, instead she headed up the stairs and towards her old room, the screen door slamming against the frame a couple of times before it finally settled.

As she said she was scared... scared of him... it broke his heart completely in two. Never in his life has he ever wished harm or pain on her in any capacity, but to hear that she was afraid of him was a feeling that he never wanted, something he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. As he began to walk away, the words made him stop for a second and just wince, a tear rolling from his cheek. Before he would continue on to the work truck, opening the door, shutting it, not with a angry thud, but a sad click and started it. Slowly adjusting himself, he began to drive away towards his home. The tears continuing to flow. It took about 10 minutes for him to make it home, the lights of the two story colonial home on and spotted through the house. He slowly pulled in the driveway and took a moment to just sit in the driveway composing himself the best he could, but he didn't know how to do it. He stops the tears for the moment as he finally walks up the drive, to the porch, and up through the door, "I'm home..." he says as he walks through... "Daddy!" A small voice carries from the living room of the house through the hallway as a small girl with strawberry blonde curls and bright blue eyes come rushing through, "Me and Bethany made a pizza and we have dinner with the dolls and the dog didn't like the pizza, but he won't let us take it so we have to spank him, but he came back and gave me kisses..." He laughed as she continued on and on for a few minutes as he looked over at her babysitting, Bethany, a young blond girl who was no older than 19. "We had fun, everything okay, you were a little late?" "Just seeing an old friend and talking with them," he said with a smile as he looked down at the girl, "You can go ahead and go, thank you so much."

Up in her room Cheyenne threw herself down on the bed. Eerily her room was exactly how she had left it long ago and it only added to the ache in her heart as she laid there looking around the room. She felt out of place, like one wrong move and she would ruin the precious memories which had been one of her only solaces in the last two years. She grabbed the pillow and buried her face into it, the urge to cry finally winning out. They were silent sobs that rocked the old spring mattress causing the springs to squeak with each bounce. After a few minutes there was a light knocking on the door and Cheyenne already knew it was her mother before she even heard her name being called. "Chey, sugar, I'm coming in..." Eye make-up running down her face she peaked from her pillow towards her door where her mother's stout figure stood, a look of concern clear on her face as she shuffled over to join her daughter on the bed. "Want to tell me what that was all about?" Mrs. Brown's hand reached over and gently stroked her daughters hair. Cheyenne was quiet for longer than she probably should have, her eyes focusing on a dent small scrape on her wall. A distant memory her and Ben had shared from the first time she had snuck out to go to a party and she'd come back too drunk. He had helped her sneak back in only for her to trip over some clothes she'd left in the floor and the two went tumbling into the wall, his keys that had been in his pocket ruining the floral wallpaper her mother had worked hard to put up. She choked back more tears and rolled over to face her mother, her hand covering her eyes for a moment as she wiped away her tears. "Mama... " Mrs. Brown continued to gently stroke Cheyenne's hair as she patiently waited for her daughter to continue. "I...ran away." Her light gray eyes pleading with her mother to understand, to hopefully avoid being judged. "I regret running back then. I know you know how I felt about Ben back then... and now...mama." .

11:51

Another few moments of silence before Chey finally worked up the courage to admit something out loud that she hadn't even said to herself. "I don't regret running now. But I can't go back mama." Her phone had fallen out of her pocket when she had fallen on the bed. The screen lit up as it began to vibrate yet again, her ex's name clear on the screen. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore it, her heart beating quick in her chest. "Eric is that boy you were telling me about, yes? The one who told you to stop calling?" There was no judgement on her mother's face, only concern and Cheyenne nodded. "He-" She choked on the words as she looked away. "He can't find out I'm here." There was a hint of fear in her face as she spoke the words and her mother didn't need to hear more to know what had been going on. She'd long suspected and now it just confirmed, though to what extent of abuse her daughter had went through she still didn't know, and she wasn't sure her heart could take it. "Alright, shh child. Why don't we just turn this phone off, and tomorrow I can send you to town with enough money to get a new one. Fresh start and all?" She didn't wait for Cheyenne to respond, instead she picked up the phone and turned it off right then before tucking it into the pocket of her dress. "Alright, now why don't you wash up and try to get some sleep. It's been a long day for you." "Mm." Cheyenne didn't even so much as budge, her face burying back into the pillow as her mother stood and took one last look at her before she left the room. Mrs. Brown had hoped that inviting Ben to dinner would have been good for her daughter... She didn't quite know what was said between the two, but there was still some open wounds in more than one place and now she regretted trying to bring the two together in this moment.

"And the caterpillar went into his cocoon and when he woke up, he was a beautiful butterfly, the end..." he finished the story book that she loved so much, "So, you go to sleep so you can become a butterfly tomorrow too. Your mommy will pick you up from school and you are going with her this weekend to the lake, doesn't that sound fun?" "I don't know, Dad," she said with a frown, "I don't wanna fall in the lake and get eaten by a catfish or a dogfish." Ben could do nothing but laugh, "I promise you won't," he said with a grin, "Mommy and Derek will make sure you are okay, I promise." "Okay, Dad," she said as she rolled and tucked her head into the pillow, "Good night..." Ben walked to the door, turning off the light and shutting the door, "Good night, baby. Sleep well." As he would shut the door, he would find himself leaning against the door, between work, the Browns... Chey... today was so much. He needed a hot shower and a beer. He moved to the bedroom, sitting on the bed for a minute before falling back on it. It wasn't very long before he realized that he had fallen asleep after his head hit the pillow, something he usually did when he was stressed. Just fall asleep. But, the clock read 3am when he woke up.

The next morning Cheyenne had skipped breakfast, not quite ready to face the day. She wasn't sure exactly how much her mother ended up telling her father, or if she even knew the full extent of what was going on with her and she didn't want to have to explain any further. She knew she would have to eventually but right now she just wanted a few days to collect herself. It was the whole purpose she had returned home when she had fled her apartment that she had shared with Eric. She had spent three weeks planning it, practicing the plan with the only close friend she had made while in the city. All she had needed was to gather enough courage to actually leave and the opportunity had presented itself the night after they'd had a big fight. So many times in the last two years she had to cover up bruises, to make excuses for not making events that she was supposed to attend until finally she had finally had finally had enough. Eric had gotten mad over something simple, she couldn't really recall what had set him off but he ended up laying a hand on her yet again and this time the bruise it had left was more than just external. Stepping out of the shower Cheyenne stared at herself in the mirror, she looked like a shell of herself, an empty one. Shaking her head she wrapped her hair in a towel before heading to her room to finally dress for the day. Even with how warm it was outside she opted for long sleeves, thankfully the puffy sleeves of the sundress hid what it needed to and with a sigh of relief she set about putting on her make-up and then set to styling her hair. Grabbing her purse and sunglasses she headed down the stairs. "I'm just saying, cut her some slack. You don't know what it's like to be a woman when-" Her mother's voice carried up the stairs and she Cheyenne paused. "- I know the signs Jacob. I'm telling you that man she had bee seeing hurt her. I can feel it." .

15:40

Her heart plummeted into the pit of her stomach. Had her mother turned on her phone while she had been asleep? How much had she found out? Would she have to explain? She couldn't, she wouldn't. She was not a victim, not any more and she refused to be put in that bubble. Sucking in a breath she picked up her heels before bolting down the stairs and out the front door, the screen slamming against it's metal frame as she ran for the car. She heard her mother call out with worry but she didn't look back, instead she shut the door and started the car and quickly peeled out of the driveway and headed to town. Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tight that by the time she had made it to the outlet mall her hands throbbed when she finally let it go. Wincing she grabbed her shoes from the passenger seat and slipped them on. Once out of her car she locked it and slung her purse over her shoulder, her heels clacking against the pavement as she headed inside. The outlet mall was a lot bigger than she had remembered, the town must have finally voted to renovate and add more stores which Cheyenne was thankful for, even if she didn't want Eric to get ahold of her she still needed a phone. There were the loose ends at her part time job, her advisor...so many things she needed to clean up after she had left so hastily. Not to mention she felt guilty for not letting Hannah know before hand.

Ben would find himself in the normal morning routine, wake up, shower, moisturize and take care of the beard, slowly begin to creep into his clothes while he answered questions and emails he could over his phone in the morning before sneaking down to the hallway for breakfast with Kinsley. Scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. A favorite around the house. As they finished, he walked her up to the bedroom and dressed her for the day, including a sloppy looking braid as he was never good at them. "DAD!" She would say to shock him back into motion, "You are pullllling my hair!" "Sorry, baby," he said with a giggle as he kissed her head with a small tuck of the braids, teasing her, "Excited for school today?" "Yeah!" She proclaimed, "We are going to the playground and gym, and Timmy said he is gonna eat worms..." "Worms?" Ben said with a grimace, "Ew..." "I know," she said, "So funny..." She skipped out of the room and down the stairs before walking into the living room and grabbing her backpack. A couple weeks ago, she was crying for him and Kathleen before they made her get on the bus... Well, now she was out the door before he was. He couldn't help but feel pride as he watched her from the porch as the bus pulled up and picked her up as he waved. Ben went on with his day, the thought of Cheyenne in the back of his mind throughout the day, but he needed to get work done. --- However, Kensley was another story, after a fun filled day of school, she was picked up by Kathleen and Derek who made their way to the front of the pickup line, "Hello, my beautiful baby!" Kathleen almost screamed from the front seat of the car before hopping out and getting a big hug and putting her in the back seat. They all made conversation for a moment, Kathleen asking how her day was and her pretty much telling her the same thing she told Ben and how gross Tommy was. Kathleen made a note to talk to his parents at the next PTA meeting.

08:33

However, when they finally made their way into the mini-mall, things were done and she was nose stuck into an iPad in the car. Kathleen discussed with Derek, "I can't believe I dropped my phone in that toilet," she said with a couple of fingers pinching her nose, "Like, I should hire people to work on that stuff, right?" Derek shock his head and laughed, "Maybe, for right now, go and get a new phone. My treat," he said as he slide a credit card to her, Kathleen would smile, "You are a god send..." She would hop out of the car before Kensley would yell, "I WANNA GOOOOOO!" Kathleen sighed, "Come on," she said with a smile now, "But, no getting anything!" "Well, Daddy lets me get a new iPad every time we walk in this store," She proclaimed proudly before walking on the concrete of the minimall with Kathleen. "I highly doubt that Ben... Dad does that," She said quickly correcting herself before her daughter returned comment, but it was stopped as she accidently bumped into someone on the sidewalk. "I am so sorry..." Kathleen would say as she looked up to meet the ladies' eyes, "Wait... Cheyenne? Cheyenne Brown?"

Clutching the strap of her purse Cheyenne flinched involuntarily from being bumped into. Her heart nearly dropped as she heard her name. She moved her hand instinctively to cover the bruise that her dress hid as she turned to greet whoever it was that had bumped into her. "Oh it's alright mistakes hap-" Surprise hit her as her eyes rested on a very familiar figure. Out of all the people to run into... "-pen." She tried her best to hide her shock as she forced on a smile "Kathleen?" Cheyenne loosened the grip on her purse strap and lowered both hands awkwardly. "It's...been awhile." She chuckled nervously and wished she could just scurry away to the comfort of her car. After what had went down after dinner yesterday with Ben, to her mother finding out more about her ex and why she had come home it had almost been too much in such a short time. Cheyenne noticed movement at Kathleen's side and she moved a bit to see the girl by her side, partially behind her back. "Oh, this must be...your daughter?" She could see little hints of Ben in the girls facial features and she genuinely smiled. "I didn't expect to run into a familiar face so soon after returning home."

Kathleen froze in place for a moment, seeing a face that, through one way or another, might have lead to the creation of her daughter with Ben, but she couldn't help but smile at her. She looked so much different from back then, the shorter hair did wonders, "Oh. My. God..." she said as she smiled and reached in with a handshake, "Cheyenne, it is soooooo good to see you." "This is Kensley," she said as she put a hand on the head of the child who was now snaking her way behind her leg, "I think you might know her Dad a little bit better as well." Kathleen instantly regretting saying that, because he knew, he just knew that she had issues with everything just like Ben did.

The reaction she had received from Kathleen had not been what she had expected, the excitement was completely different from the reaction Ben had when he had seen her. Cheyenne took the hand and shook it, trying her best not to show she felt as awkward as she did. She put on her own smile and looked down at Kinsley. She knew that Kathleen probably didn't mean it in the way it had come out but Chey couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt from the words. Of course she knew Ben better, he had been her first love nervously Cheyenne nodded. "Well, he was my best friend for...years..." She glanced back down at Kinsley and crouched so she was on level with the girl. "It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Kinsley. Your dad is a very lucky man." Straightening herself she offered another forced smile to Kathleen. "I should get going... I need to grab a phone and I am sure my mom and dad are waiting for me to return home. Maybe we can get together some time, I may be needing to find a place of my own soon and Ben had said you were in real estate now?"

As Cheyenne would straighten up and finish your question, Kensley would look up at her with a look for a second but let her mother talk first. Kathleen would say, "Yep, got into it not long after Kensley was born," she said proudly, "Even sold Ben that mill that he got up and running. But, it has been an experience. I would definitely love to work with you, we have rentals, homes for sale, even property for building. And new phone!? Me too, I dropped mine in a toilet as I was trying to fix the plumbing at one of the rented places we have... Hiring people to do that from now on, but embarrassing right?" As they would begin to step towards the cell phone shop, the adults engaged in small talk, Kensley would continue to look at her with a quizzical look before she would step forward. Kensley had always been a vocal and confident kid, but the next question and comment she would say would hit both of them with surprise. "Miss Sheannee," she would say as she walked up and tucked on the side of the pants legs of her, "Are you the princess my dad tells me stories about...?" She watched for a second before continuing her story, "My Daddy would tell me a story about a princess with brown eyes and brown hair like yours but it was longer, and she had big red lips like your big red lips and she spoke with a voice that was angel-lick...?"

"I wish my problem was as simple as dropping my phone in the toilet. I'm just looking for a fresh start and well, easier just to get new everything, right?" Cheyenne wasn't sure why she was opening up to Kathleen even just offering that small tidbit. As they continued to walk she realized she was comfortable around her, though they hadn't been close before Chey wondered if perhaps Kathleen could be someone she might actually be able to call a friend in the future. Kinsley stepping forward had Cheyenne pause as she butchered her name in the cutest way she had ever heard. The question that came next had her cheeks flushing and it only seemed to grow the more the kid spoke. "P-princess?" She looked from Kinsley to Kathleen then back to Kinsley again. Ben had told stories about her to his daughter? Her heart was erratic as she tried her best to think of what to say. She wasn't used to small children. Cheyenne tucked her hair behind her ear. "I think...you'd have to ask your dad that question. I would say I viewed myself more as a knight than any princess." She chuckled nervously and moved to hold the door open to the cellphone shop for the two.

"GIRLS CAN BE KNIGHTS!?" She said excitedly, "MOM, I CAN SWORD FIGHT!" Kathleen would just giggle as she looked down with her nose pinched between her fingers, "You sure can, dear," she said with a smile, "You can do anything you put your mind too and you go the backing from everyone around you." Kensley would begin to swing her hands around like she was holding a sword as the two adults would begin to talk, "New start?" Kathleen would ask as she looked over at her with a frown adorning her face, "I don't know if I know what you mean, last I heard, you were in the final year of college and making a big name in the university up there..."

Hearing Kinsley excited about the prospects of possibly becoming a knight Cheyenne couldn't help but wonder if she had made an error in her comment. The girl seemed really excited by the prospect, and Kathleen's answer had been a good one. Girls really could do anything if they put their minds to it. It was a good value to instill. Cheyenne watched as Kinsley pretended to swing a sword and she couldn't help but find the girl extremely adorable. Kathleen's comment about the last she'd heard had Cheyenne look away sheepishly. "Yeah... Don't know about that." She looked around and sighed. "I made one wrong choice and it affected every aspect of my life. You know how it goes when you're young. You never really want to tell your parent's everything." Cheyenne walked over to the latest models of android phones and picked up a slick looking red one, getting the feel of it in her hand as she continued. "The city is... was good to me the first few years. I do almost have a degree. Just...fudged the truth a bit to the folks ." She wasn't sure why she was continuing to open up but the rest came out before she stopped herself. "But, meeting the wrong person can screw up dreams and make them become nightmares." She placed the red phone back down and moved a little further down. She didn't look up, didn't want to risk possibly seeing the judgement she so often got from others when a bruise had appeared, or she had tried to open up.

"I understand that," she said with a sigh, "It was like five months in before I could admit to my parents the baby was with Ben, he was definitely not a good position or person in the town at the time." She continued to listen as she grabbed an iPhone, one of the latest models, and held onto it as she waited for Cheyenne to decide on her phone, but listened intently, "Honey, do you need some help? No judgement whatsoever, we are here to help you. My husband Derek moved her from a shitty situation as well, and Ben and I helped him out of it to before we got in the relationship. Don't be afraid to ask... I swear if Ben knew you were back in town, he would take you in no questions asked, I swear. He still talks about you apparently, well, according to my daughter." She looked at her almost feeling a pressure in her heart, she was hurting and it was obvious.

14:40

@Nymphy ❦

"Ah" Cheyenne sucked in a breath and picked up a blue model of the same red phone she had held. The latest galaxy phone with all the works before she turned to Kathleen. "Ben...was at dinner last night. I guess my mom was trying to...I don't know what to call it." She walked towards the register. "We... talked, it didn't go well." She stopped talking once at the register and let the clerk ring her up. She paid for it in cash before tucking the bag on her arm and waited for Kathleen to make her purchase. "I didn't tell him...could you..." She rubbed at her arm where the bruise was. "please just keep this between us?" She chewed her lip for a moment and scrunched her eyebrows together as she continued. "I was the one that left, and you saw what that had done to Ben. What happened to me was nothing but my own fault, I honestly probably deserved it." Cheyenne shook her head. "Anyway. It was good seeing you, and getting to meet Kinsley. You two really made a great kid." She made a beeline for the exit after offering a wave to Kinsley and Kathleen. It had been a sweet offer of help, and Chey was sure she had meant it but just talking about it had worked her nerves up she couldn't wait around to hear what sort of response Kathleen would have had. Hopefully she wouldn't tell Ben, and he could continue just being at the safe distance he currently was. Once at her car Cheyenne made quick work of buckling and backing out of the parking lot. She wasn't quite ready to head home so instead she headed towards the only place that would possibly give her comfort right now. The old creek where Ben and her had spent a majority of their youth.

14:54

@Deleted User

She could only give her a pleading look and helpful smile when she reached down and began to rub her arm across the bruise on her arm as she mentioned they talked, "I am so sorry, Cheyenne, I am sure it was just ang..." before she could finish Cheyenne was already headed for the exit before she could say anything. Kathleen stood stunned for a moment before Kinsley would run up and ask her, "Where did the knight go, Mommy?" Ben was sitting at the office at the mill, one of the nicer ones that was finished first in the remodel, he was waiting for more money before we could upgrade the others, but Ben knew that he needed the more swangy digs to make sure that he could push clients for more woods. He clicked through emails on his laptop before he looked down at his phone vibrating, "Ben," the familiar voice of Kathleen said, "You know who I just saw in town?" "Cheyenne Brown," he said before she could even say, "I already spoke with her and..." "I am not gonna tell you again Benjamin Carter Dixon," Kathleen interrupted and he hushed quickly, "You ever speak to a person like I think you spoke to her, you will have to answer to me, you understand?" "What is this abo..." Ben could say before he was interrupted again. "She is a good girl and needs help getting readjusted. You need to be nicer to her and immediately, you hear me?" He felt like he was being read the riot act by his mother and she was someone that could talk to him like that. He honestly looked to her for opinions, help, and really anything he ever needed. He smiled as he answered, "Kathleen, you have to understand what happened there..." "I do, Ben," she said as she sighed over the phone, "Just be nice to hear. Work with her, she needs someone right now." Ben sighed as he agreed, making small talk about Kinsley before hanging up the phone and then texting Mrs. Brown, "Hi, do you have Cheyenne's new number? I would like to apologize..."

15:36

@Nymphy ❦

Mrs. Brown had been worried, after Cheyenne had ran out the door she wondered just how much her daughter had heard from the stairs. She knew it had been wrong to snoop through her daughter's phone but it was a mother's job to keep their babies safe, and in her mind that was what she had been doing. There hadn't been a lot on the phone but from what she had found, a folder of images documenting bruises, so many bruises she had wept all night and well into the morning after talking with her husband. Cheyenne hadn't been gone but more than a few hours but the worry in Mrs. Brown's heart only grew with the ticking of the old clock on the wall and not having heard anything from her daughter. When her phone had gone off she had hoped it had been Cheyenne finally calling to tell her where she way, but instead she was greeted by a text message from Ben. She texted him back, hoping that if anyone could find her daughter it'd be him. He was a good boy, better than that ex of hers. [Sadly no, haven't heard anything from her since she ran out this morning... Don't know where she is either. If I hear anything I'll let you know.] --

16:18

Chey parked near the side of the road on a side patch of dirt enough out of the way to not impede possible traffic. For awhile she just sat there in her car, head leaning back against the headrest. Deep breaths in and out to steady herself before the car finally got to hot to stand. She climbed out of the car, sure to lock it before she headed down the old beaten path. Even after all the years she still remembered which way to go, as if each bend and hill were ingrained in her leg muscles. It took a total of fifteen minutes to reach the spot they had once upon a time deemed their hideout. The old bench they had dragged there was still in its spot, though the wood looked so worn she doubted it was safe to sit without risking splinters. Sighing she slipped off her shoes and sat them down on the corner before turning and carefully making her way to the water. With all the shade from the trees the water was a bit cold but it didn't stop Cheyenne from climbing onto the medium sized boulder and letting her toes dip beneath the running surface of the water. The sound birds singing, the breeze blowing the trees and the water hitting the rocks nearby was a soothing soundtrack for her soul as she sat there. @Deleted User

[I think I might know where she is, I will make sure she calls you...] That was all that he could message back, he sighed as he looked down at the emails, this would have to wait until tomorrow. He slowly closed the laptop, putting the laptop and its charger in the bag before throwing it over his shoulder and letting his assistant managers know that he would be gone for the day, but would be back early tomorrow. They all gave nods as he walked out the door. It took maybe 20 minutes to get from the mill to their old hideaway, something that he never forget, but hadn't ever visited since their last trip. He smiled as he saw her car from yesterday sitting there. He would pull his truck in behind and give cars enough room to go by as well. As he looked down the path, he could see marks in the sand, he smiled as they were definitely fresh. She had just gotten here, possibly. He smiled as he walked up the path, one that he remembered greatly. He smiled as he seen the old drags they made for the bench, the winding path that was made from years of foot traffic. All good memories flowing back to him. As he approached, he could see her as she slipped her shoes off before carefully moving towards the water, and sitting still as she looked peaceful. He would make his way to the little bench that overlooked all of it before sitting on it with a creak in the wood. "You know," he said, his voice a little louder so she could hear him clearly, "I remember when we first stole this bench. They were getting rid of old Ramsey Park, and you were devastated. You were convinced that you needed something from that park to remember it. Instead of a piece of wood or something small from the playground, you insisted we needed that bench. I asked you where you would put it, you said you would figured it out... This thing was in my backyard for four months under a tarp until you finally decided."

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Hearing Ben's voice made her heart skip a beat but she refused to turn around, instead she looked up at the passing clouds, the memory in which he spoke playing through her mind like that of a movie. A warm smile playing on her lips. "That bench was important. It was the first place I ever saw you. Sitting on that bench, your knees all scraped up, snot running down your nose." Cheyenne sighed and splashed the water with her feet, her attention on the spray as it fell back down against the surface of the water. "I believe it was Billy Hawkins that had roughed you up...you were so small back then and new to town." She turned then glancing at him. "I fell for you right then, all at the age of seven." The smile on her lips dropped as her eyes met his, her heart doing a weird little flop. "I ran into Kathleen today.." Cheyenne turned back towards the water, her hands tucked in between her thighs. She had a feeling she had probably mentioned it to Ben, why else would he have shown up here? Another kick of her foot and the spray went higher. "Met your daughter, she's adorable."

"At age seven, huh?" He said with a smile as he looked at the ground, "You know, I think it was that time that I felt like you were the prettiest girl I had ever laid eyes on myself." He sighed as he leaned back slightly, the bench cracking and creaking again, "She is something else," he said with a faint grin still there, "Got her mother's smarts, my mouth, and her own personality. She is something..." "Why did we do what we did when you left? Why couldn't we have told each other how we felt then and not waited until the other person could hear it? Holding onto that pain of not saying anything for so long..."

"Yesterday..." Cheyenne paused thinking of the best way to word what was to come next. "When I had said I was scared. I didn't mean of you." She slid off of the rock and lifted the hem of her dress so as not to get it wet. She moved further into the creek, feeling the water move around her feet. Turning she finally face him. "I just meant... I was scared of losing my best friend. Crossing that boundary at the chance of being rejected and losing what we had was too much of a risk." Cheyenne shook her head and tried to ignore the knot that was forming in her throat. "So I decided to leave, I could have easily gone for my art degree here. But I chose to run, and you hadn't asked me to stay." She spun around then, her back towards him. "I pretended I was fine, focused all of myself over those first few months to my classes and my work. But then mom kept giving me updates on you and I could just see the damage I had done and I told her to stop. I regret that. I regret all of it but I can't go back, I can't undo any of it." She wasn't just speaking about him now, though he wouldn't know that. She let go of her dress to wipe at her eyes. "I made the very first mistake the day I left and I've been paying for it ever since. I'm not asking you to forgive me, God knows I don't deserve it..." .

"Why would I have asked you to stay, Cheyenne?" He asked, almost with a passionate tone in his voice, "I wanted you to have the world, you always wanted to travel and get away from this world. You didn't want to work at the ranch, you didn't want this town, you have said as much, but now..." He sighed as he leaned forward again, "Words were said last night, I can't help that," he said with a frown, "Years of torment, pain, addiction, depression... That all hit me at once. I was hurt. Hurt that you didn't think enough of me to say goodbye before you even left. It hurt for a while, but I hoped you were happy, you were being taken care of, you were... free." He looked up at her, "I know why your Mom did what she did. You are hiding something, Cheyenne. I can see right through you, like you can me..." he leaned forward a little more before he stood up, "Something happened in that town, something that you are hiding. That's fine. I don't want you to feel like you need to tell me. But, once you have been hurt, you always return to your comfort. That is us. Please don't leave your comfort again."

Each thing Ben listed was like another arrow through her heart. She didn't know how to respond at first, her heartbeat beat too loudly in her ears. She turned when he mentioned she was hiding something, her eyes wide. Cheyenne shook her head trying to deny that it was true. Of course he could still read her like an open book. They hadn't spent more than a few hours together yesterday before she had ruined it and then today... She didn't think it was a coincidence that after she had left after running into Kathleen that he had showed up where she was. Hearing Ben ask her not to leave opened up the dam that had been holding back the tears. They flowed freely now as she shook her head yet again. "I don't deserve it Ben." She took a step forward toward him. "I won't leave, but I-" A few more steps forward and the water was no longer ankle deep. It just barely covering the tops of her toes. " I can't-" Her actions weren't matching up with her words. Her mind saying one thing while her body seemed to gravitate towards him.

"You deserve the world and more, Cheyenne Brown," he said, a couple of tears beginning to form on the side of his eyes, "Don't you ever tell me you don't deserve. You are an amazing person and don't deserve whatever horrible shit happened to you. You are strong and caring and god damn it, you are my heart. And I am your soul," he said repeating a rhythm they use to say as kids. He paced for a moment, "Even now, I am resisting every urge in my body to run up to you and just hold you. Just pick you up and swing you around, shake you, scream and ask you why have you not been here? Why are you not hugging me right now? Why are you not clinging onto me with every fiber of your being like I am doing to you?" He sighed as he looked at the ground, "But, I honestly don't know. I just want to... fuck it." Ben would almost spin in the sand as he would turn to face her rushing to her and as soon as he reached her, his hands would go to her cheeks, pulling her face in for what would be their first kiss.

Every word hit home as she stood there staring at him. Her mind telling her that all this would lead to was more heartache. She watched as he paced back and forth not sure if he was going to flee or meet her halfway as she'd hope. When he paused Cheyenne held her breath not sure what was going through his mind in that moment only for him to abruptly spin and rush towards her. One minute he was beside their bench, the next he was right in front of her. His hands cradled her face and instinctually she followed his lead. He was intending to kiss her and though she knew she should stop it she couldn't bring herself to deny him or herself what she had longed for so many years. She'd dreamt of this moment many times during their high school years. Her hands wrapped around his waist as his head bent down to meet hers. The world could have stopped then and Cheyenne wouldn't have cared, couldn't have cared as all of her senses were overwhelmed with everything that was Ben. The way he felt pressed up against her, the mix of his cologne and natural body odor that reminded her he was all man, to the way he tasted once her tongue had slipped out and pushed forward to explore the depths of his mouth.

As he stood there, securing her embrace with him, he couldn't have wished for a better feeling in this world. Fireworks and lightning surging in head as he felt her lips attached to his and pushing forward her tongue, he would open his mouth and accept her into his. As their tongues would swirl around one another, he couldn't resist the urges that the had in the moment, he would let his hands find their way down from her cheeks to her hips and then to the back of her thighs, lifting her up and into his embrace.

The dam had broken to all the pent up frustrations and longing she had felt over the years. Kissing Ben was the first intimate touch she had felt that was actually pleasant and Cheyenne hadn't realized it but tears were streaming down her face as he lifted her up and the kiss became more heated. She needed this, needed him and this moment as they tasted and teased each other. Her hands running through his red hair she had always been jealous of since their youth. Several minutes would pass before she would break the kiss and only because her lungs had begun to burn from forgetting to breathe. Her breathing erratic and heavy as she stared into the face of the man she knew she couldn't live without.

Ben would continue to push into her kiss with a hot, hungry passion in his persistence. He would carry her over to the boulder, wading through the water that she had just waded back through, slowly he would place her on the rock again, pushing into her with his kiss. As she would break away and look at him, he could only ask one thing. "Do you?" The question was something that both mutual understood in that moment.

Chey held on as he headed for the rock, her body refusing to be apart from him even a moment longer. When they made it across and she was lowered onto the rock she looked into his eyes, his two worded question holding more weight than the few syllables they contained. Breathlessly she gave him the only answer that she could. "Yes." Her hand reached up grabbing a fist full of his shirt pulling him back against her. Her lips all to eager to press against his own. Chey's body was practically vibrating from the heat and adrenaline she felt coursing through her system. Slowly she would lower herself until she was on her back, pulling Ben along with her. Once completely on her back her hands would find their way into his shirt. As her fingers moved upward caressing the toned muscles underneath a soft moan would escape her, washing against his kiss swollen lips.

Their kiss remained passionate as he joined her on top of that rock, with just enough room for the two of them, he would have just enough room for what he wanted to do. The heat of the moment beginning to cause a sheen of sweat between the two, but nothing was stopping this moment from happening. He would slowly let his tongue invade hers again, the two swapping advantages of their tongues. It wouldn't be too long before he finally had his knees in position. His hand would begin to slowly linger from her side, where had been caressing. He would later thank the Gods above that she wore a dress that day, as he would slowly find his hand squeezing under the fabric of it, pushing it up.

How could she have been such a fool to prolong something like this from happening... The intensity in which she felt herself yearning for him in soul and body had her practically soaked already. His tongue expertly coaxing hers into a dance she had never before enjoyed. His hands felt hot beneath the thin fabric of her dress, though they didn't stay there long as she felt them move lower, bunching up the pale fabric and slowly begin to push it up. Her heart was thundering loudly inside her chest as she felt the gentle breeze caress her bare thighs, she was glad she had decided to wear what she had today as the dress reached above her pelvis to reveal a thin silk and lace panties the color of cream. The intricate floral pattern lace only disrupted by the thin strip of silk covering her most intimate bits though enough skin showed to tease and tempt. She bit her lip and held her breath knowing that he would soon be glancing upon her.

His lips never left hers, he would slowly begin to move his hand up her thigh, more and more with each kiss, the intensity continuing to rise to a feverish pitch. He smiled in their kiss as his fingertips would finally grace the lace that hid her from him. He would slowly tease and let his finger dance along the hem of the panties, but he could feel the heat eradiating from her. As much as he would have loved to go and place his head down, kissing her there the same way he was kissing her now, he couldn't do it, risking losing this position, but instead a finger would finally snake under the fabric. This finger would slowly glide across her opening, teasing it slightly.

Voluntarily her hips would thrust upward as he toyed with the hem of her panties. She was all too eager as his finer found its way beneath the delicate silk and lace. The heat from the tip of his finger almost scorching her skin as he began to tease her slit. It was almost torture as he slowly guided his finger against the her slit she would whimper beneath him. Her fingernails finding purchase into his skin, hard enough for him to feel, but not enough to hurt. He smiled into her kiss and she took the opportunity to use her teeth to grab onto his bottom lip, tugging it before ultimately releasing it. Her tongue following up to trace the fullness of it before diving back into the depths of his mouth to once again dance with his.

As she would pull his lip into her kiss again, he couldn't help but smile through the kiss. Something about this felt right, felt like it needed to happen right then and right there or it would have never happened. He was happy with his decision, but he needed her now and he couldn't wait any longer. He would slowly pull his hand away from her, almost begrudgingly as he would move his hand to his pants. Holding himself up with the left, he would begin to undo his belt with his right, putting the button of his jeans open and slowly moving his hand inside of his boxers. He would manage to slowly wiggle himself around to the point where his cock would finally free itself. He slowly stroked it softly before he move his hand away from it and to the lace panties, moving them to the side. He didn't realize how much he needed it as he heard the rip of her lace panties and before he knew it he had a handful of her panties before he let them go and was shifting the jeans down a little as he would move forward, slowly guiding himself to the hole he desired in that moment. As his cock head would touch the opening of her lips, he would moan, a little too loudly, "Fuck..."

One moment she felt his finger glide across the slit of her lips and the next she felt the absence of it as he lifted himself to remove his pants. Her chest rose and fell with each heavy breath she took, the ache in her lower abdomen only growing more as she heard and felt him free himself from the confines of his jeans. She had opened her mouth to suggest she pull her panties down only for her to hear the rip as he had made to move them to the side. She held her breath as the head of his cock pressed into the warmth of her lower lips. Eagerly she moved let her hands slide from his chest to his back, sliding over the rigid muscles of his back until she felt the soft skin of his hips. Lower still did her hands travel as she moved her hips forward. Her lower lips eagerly opening to accept that which threatened to penetrate her depths. His moan sent a jolt of electricity through her and she shivered beneath him.

Once his head was at her lips, he felt the warm and wetness of her surround the tip as he would slowly guide into her, pushing as far as he could into her. With each bit of skin, each ripple and vein that maneuvered between the two, he could feel a sudden breath his lips, soft moans escaping his lips. It has truly been a very long time for him, he had dived into work, making himself very sensitive her in the moment, "Fuck..." he would say softly under his breath as he would slowly begin to move inside of her.

It was like his hardened cock had been made for her as he slid into her. His girth spreading her with the slow and precise intrusion. She was glad he was being slow and gentle at first instead of fast and intense. It had been a year since she'd been touched like this and actually had wanted it and god did she want it. She clenched her inner muscles tight as if her inner muscles were trying to milk him. Fingernails dug into the meaty flesh of his ass. She loved the weight of him on top of her and holding his cheeks firmly in her hands she would move her hips in tandem. "Harder, please." Her voice was raspy as she spoke, as if it had taken everything in her to even formulate them let alone utter them from her lips.

As Cheyenne looked up at him, and almost moaned out the words, "Harder, please..." He couldn't help but moan in response as he let his hips pull back. He was just getting adjusted to her, but as she said this, he would immediately slam his hips into hers. The smack of skin on skin echoed off the surrounding rocks and sea air. He smiled down at her as he let a moan escape from his lips and his head threw back. He would bring his hips back and do the same thing again, thrusting hard and deep into her, almost with reckless abandon. "Fuck," he would moan again, "You are so wet and tight..."

She had asked for him to be harder and Ben had granted her request much to her delight. He rammed into her depths, his cock pressing in as far as it could. Her abdomen clenched as her body rocked with the motion of his thrusts. Her fingers squeezing the flesh which her palms still held before raking upward to rest on his back. He thrust again and again and each time Cheyenne would thrust her own hips forward until they had found a rhythm. Each of his moans was met with a gasp from her slightly opened mouth, her head thrown backwards against the hard surface of the boulder beneath her. "Ben, oh-" Nails dug into the muscles of his back.

Once they had found a rhythm between the two of them, he couldn't help but continually moaning and groaning with every movement of the hips between the two of them. He smiled at her, but soon his head would throw back as he fingers and nails dug deep into his back, increasing the pleasure and passion of the moment between the two. He felt his eyes beginning to roll in the back of his head as he looked down at her, "Chey... I... am gonna..." he moaned, stopping his sentence, "Are you?"

Cheyenne was brought closer and closer to the brink of climax. Her inner walls tightening over and over as their passion grew. Her nails trailed down Ben's back and sides until her hands fell to her sides and then above her head. His warning registered in her mind and as he thrust into her, the head of his cock pressing into her sweet spot. Cheyenne cried out, her toes curled and her hands balled into fists as she felt the beginning of her climax. Shockwaves shot through her from her core to the top of her head all the way to the tips of her toes.

As he watched her, what he assumed was, climax. He finally felt his body give in, it was ready and he was ready to take the pleasure moment for himself. Before he could, he looked down at her, "Fuck, I am gonna cum," he warned, "Where?" He asked... A one word question, but he slowed for a moment to get her response and where she would prefer him.

Thigh muscles twitching from her release she was lost for a moment as small specks of white light danced across her vision. Ben had asked where and something came over Cheyenne, wanting to show him just how much she wanted him, needed him. Panting she smirked. "How about, my mouth?"

Ben almost orgasmed right there. He could have never imagined something that erotic of an idea coming from her, but he didn't know her for very long, he felt, but enough thinking. He would slowly manage to get his body moved to where he was able to straddle her body. Slowly, he would climb over her, a leg on either side of her chest as he would grasp his cock that was stick out of the top of underwear through the zipper and unbuttoned portion of his pants. It took another moment or two, but before he could even begin finishing himself, she shocked him...

She could tell the idea had shocked him, though he had seemed pleased with it after his initial shock. She sucked in a breath when he slid out of the comfort of her dripping sex and began to climb up until he was in a position. Cheyenne herself positioned herself so that she was half sitting up with support from one of her arms as she held herself up on her elbow. The rock underneath was uncomfortable but she didn't mind it, wanting to let him experience this pleasure. Chey could see her juices coating the length of him, could smell it and she swallowed. She had never really done this before, having always felt it wasn't for her but in this moment here with Ben she found herself turned on by the prospect of tasting herself on his cock. Licking her lips she took her free hand and held his cock at the base before gently flicking her tongue against his tip. The taste was salty yet sweet and it had been better than what she had imagined. With a deep breath she moved to take him in her mouth, the tip at first before she took more of him. Her mouth watered as she took more of him in, her hand releasing his cock as she did so. Instead of letting it fall to the side she put it to work by taking his balls into her hand. She felt how heavy he was, full of his seed as his body readied itself for release. She would massage them gently, afraid that if she used too much pressure that it would possibly hurt.

Once her tongue hit his cock, it was everything that he could to do to keep his body in check and continue to push for more pleasure. As he leaned back to allow her to completely take him into her mouth to the best of her ability, but as her hand touched his balls, he couldn't help but throw his head back. "Fuck," he said through a hard moan, "I am gonna..." He couldn't even get the word out before he was already tensing in his body with pleasure and passion. Several large strands of white gooey slime would come from him, unsure of where they went as he was looking up at the clouds with his head thrown back in incredible passion and loud moans escaping his lips.

Ben's loud exclamation as he threw his head back echoes off of the rocks and trees around them as his head fell backwards. Cheyenne herself watched his reaction with interest. If she had been worried about doing a bad job her worries were put at ease just a few seconds later as rope after rope of his semen shot from the tip of his cock and began to fill her mouth. The hot sticky substance came out quicker than she could manage to swallow it all and some of it began to drip down the sides of her mouth. When she felt him begin to soften she released him from the confines of her mouth so that she could swallow what little remained. Face flushed a complimentary shade of red she wiped what was dripping down her chin. Suddenly a shyness came over Cheyenne and she cleared her throat not sure what to say or do now.

Once Ben finished, he could almost see stars in this eyes, the relief, pleasure, and passion in that moment washing over him like the warm mist on the air. He sighed as he looked down at her, feeling like being in the position he was was definitely not appropriate... "Sorry," he muttered as he would move himself beside her on the rock, taking a few moments to adjust his frame, he couldn't help but feel like he couldn't move at all. And that is when it happened... As his knees sat on the edge of the boulder, he felt a slide as a piece of the rock let loose and both of his knees slide under him. As he went to adjust, he would find himself falling forwards, but trying to avoid falling into her, he would flip his body sideways and find himself smacking his body against the side of the rock next to her head, but missing her before he slide into the water below. A splash and he was underwater in a matter of seconds.

Cheyenne wasn't sure exactly why he was apologizing but she didn't have much time to think about it as he had moved to sit beside her. She had opened her mouth to tell him she'd move over slightly as the boulder really didn't have much room for more than one person but before she could he had begun to slip. It was truly a comical moment as she watched almost in slow motion as he fell into the water. Tears threatened to fall from laughing so hard. She stifled her laughter as he resurfaced and offered him her hand. "L-let me-" She giggled again. "Help you up..."

"Thanks," he would say as he spit out a heap of water that had invaded his nostrils and mouth as he fell, "That would be best..." He could see her giggling and it couldn't stop him from laughing himself as he would float for a second before reaching out and grabbing her hand on the top of the rock. As he began to crawl up the side of the rock, his clothes and boots filled with a generous amount of water, making him weight more than usual. He would try to place a foot on the rock and as soon he would touch a dry spot, his foot would slip again. He would slowly begin to fall again, but this time, he had a strong grip on her hand and he would pull her off the rock with him.

It all happened so fast, one minute he seemed to be doing a decent job of climbing out of the water the next she felt herself falling forward with him. A soft scream left her as they both plummeted into the depths of the water. Thankfully she had closed her eyes enough in advanced that it hadn't gotten into her eyes but as she struggled to the surface her nose and mouth burned. She spit the water out and swiped her now drenched hair out of her face. "Ben!" She tried to sound angry as she opened her eyes to look at where he currently was but the laughter that followed was less intimidating.

As soon as he was back in the water again, he looked for the surface almost immediately. He didn't care for the water, but now he was worried about Cheyenne and what had happened with her. He shot up from underwater, searching the surface of the water when he saw her spring up from under the surface of the water as well, "Are you okay?" She must not have heard him as she shot him a look that he knew as angry, but he could only smirk and begin laughing, but the laughing that followed from her was almost too contagious. He looked over and his laughter rumbled off the rock as he floated the little ways to her, "I am sorry," he said through giggles, "I slipped, what could I do?"

She couldn't hide her grin any longer as he swam towards her. His laughter filled her heart and had softened the hurt from yesterday's failed conversation. "Oh I don't know... maybe let go of my hand so you didn't take me down with you?" She clicked her tongue with a shake of her head. Cheyenne dipped back under the water for a brief moment before coming back up. She kept her eyes closed as the water poured down her face. Blindly she reached for Ben until she felt his shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his neck using him to stay afloat as she wiped the water from her face. Once she could safely see she opened her eyes only to see just how close their faces were. "I'll forgive you if you make up for it..." Her heartbeat quicken as she glanced down at his lips, her tongue darting out to trace her own.

He smiled and said, "Not take you with me?" He laughed, "I thought we were two peas in a pod, one goes down the other comes with them, one person falls off a rock, the other has to come with them?" As he saw her dip down and then finally emerge in front of him, her arms thrown around his neck like he had wished for all those years ago, he almost had to shake his head to see if he was dreaming. "Make it up to you?" He asked with a smile, "Well, how on earth would I do that?"

"Like this..." Chey closed the remaining distance which wasn't much. Her lips pressed into his in a heated kiss, she let her fingers snake up into his hair and grab hold of some of it. She could taste a hint of the water from his lips but she didn't care. She only parted when she felt the need to get some air. Her face felt hot as she looked into his brown eyes. They were a dark and rich brown that reminded Cheyenne of dark chocolate and wine. The hand that wasn't in his hair moved towards his beard to stroke his chin. Glancing at his lips as she took an unsteady breath.

As she was wrapped around his body and her lips touched his, the fresh water taste of the water touched their lips between them. He leaned into her kiss and would not break away for the life of him, he was in heaven. As she smiled at him, he took a moment to stare longingly into her deep hazel eyes when she looked into his brown ones. He couldn't help but feel his heart grow even more full with love as they kiss. He pulled away for moment, "I am not wanting you off of me, but I don't know if I can keep floating like this..." He laughed as he began to move towards the shore, her still clanged to his body. Once he was able to get his footing, it was so much easier to get her carried to the land. As they made it to the shore and he was able to lift her up around his body a little more, he giggled, she was dripping wet and so was he. However, this didn't deter him as he would find a piece of grass off the side of the sandy shore to lay the two on.

Laughter crinkled the sides of her eyes as he informed her he couldn't keep floating the way they currently were. She had been about to offer to just swim herself but Ben had already begun to move towards the shore as she held him. Water poured off of the two as he held her while walking out of the water and Cheyenne was thankful she was pressed up against him, her legs wrapped around his waist. The dress she had been wearing had been a light enough color and fabric that while wet left nothing to the imagination and her discarded underwear was still out floating in the creak somewhere. Face still flushed a bright red as he lowered them onto a patch of soft grass she bit her bottom lip. When their laughter finally died down she would pull him against her, the heat from his body radiating through the cool wet fabric of her dress. "So about that apology..."

As he would allow himself to fall to his knees, laying her down gently on the grass, he would smile as he looked down at her, but he would begin to move his head towards her, giving her a slight swerve as his lips would make contact with her neck, feeling the moment leading to something just equally as naughty. He would let his hand fall to her side, rubbing the wet cloth gently as he began to move his lips across her neck and down her collarbone. He opened his eyes for just a moment and that is when he saw it... "What..." he said as his eyes made contact with a bruise on her shoulder, something that was not hidden under the wet white fabric anymore, shinning through. He would pull away from her and look over her body, he was shocked at what he saw, "Cheyenne, what happened?"

She had been enjoying herself, relishing in all the warmth that had blossomed between them this afternoon. Cheyenne had completely forgotten about the bruise on her shoulder so when he had went and began to kiss her neck she didn't think anything of it. The feel of his lips on the sensitive skin of her neck prickled with goosebumps as he made his way down to her collarbone. When he spoke it his her and dread began to fill within her heart. The perfect moment shattered by the question that followed. "I don't...know what you mean." She looked away, unwilling to see the look of pity on his face that would probably soon be there.

"Cheyenne," he said with a comfort in his tone, no pity, no sadness, but the worry was there, "Cheyenne, you know what I am talking about... What is all of these... these bruises? Where are they from?" He moved back to his knees looking down at her, he could see more and more beginning to hit his vision. The more he saw, the more worried that he got, the more angry he got for what he feared had happened, the more that he needed her to tell him the truth.

Feeling exposed she moved her arms to cover the rest of her, instantly regretting having fallen into the water, for wearing something like this dress, for Ben finding out about the bruises. She thought about lying, telling him she had fallen, had had an accident but she knew deep down Ben wouldn't believe any of it for a second. Chey shifted uncomfortably, her eyes still staring of something off in the distance. "Ben... it's not a big deal, really."

"Cheyenne," he sighed as he looked down at her, a hand finally making its way to the side of her face, gently caressing her cheek, "It is a huge deal to me, don't lie to me and say it is not a big deal. You are my girl, I need to know what happens..." He looked down at her, his hand slowly moving down from her cheek, tracing the skin to the bruise on her shoulder as he waited for an answer of any kind...

"I..." She shut her eyes when he stroked her cheek, her eyes stinging as they threatened to tear up. "For the last year and a half I was in a relationship with someone." She balled her hands into fists before continuing. Her eyes remained closed, still not quite ready to look at him. What would his reaction be as she explained? Would he blame her? Hate her? Thing she was damaged or worse... "I had thought, back then... that dating would help me finally get rid of my feelings. So a friend had set me up on a date." She cleared the knot in her throat. "I don't know how it happened but it wasn't what I thought and then I was trapped." She opened her eyes then and turned to face him. "With the help of a friend I was able to leave him, and as soon as I got in my car I don't know why but I ended up here when I had planned originally to go to somewhere else." She had known why, in truth she had sought out her comfort, her safe place even if she didn't think she had deserved it... and here he was.

The explanation, while it was something he believed, he knew there was more to the story, but the pain that came through her face and body as she told him what had happened, he didn't explore it further and accepted it as it was. He smiled at her, "I am glad you got out of that, Cheyenne..." he said as he let his hand move back to her cheek, "And made your way back to me." He would lower his head and connect with another soft kiss with her, "Umm," he said with a smile, "Do... do you wanna keep going or...?"

"I-" She shifted underneath him and shook her head. The mood was gone, whether he had meant for it to be or not and having the truth of her situation brought to light bad closed her off again. "I think I should get home." She slid out from underneath him and sat up, her arms wrapping back around herself. The more she thought about it the more she realized something. Groaning she looked toward the creek. "I can't go home like this. Daddy would kill me." She drew her knees close to herself and sighed. It wasn't like she could go and buy new clothes either. She was practically naked for all intents and purposes. Bad kn her knees she shook her head. "I'm sorry."

As she would shift out from under him, he would only sigh. He had went and ruined a beautiful moment between the two of them with his concern, but he wouldn't lose her emotionally again, he couldn't... "It's okay, Cheyenne," he said with a smile as he stood and began to readjust himself. He was soaking wet and so was she, "I have some old gym clothes out on the truck in a bag. I think I have a shirt and shorts. They will be gigantic on you, but something to cover you with until we can get back home. There is a delivery service in town, I can have them bring clothes to us or I can go pick up something from Walmart for you to change into... I would like to hang out with you more, but if you need to go home, you can..."

" You're probably right though. Your clothes will be big on me." Chey tilted her head while her forehead was still on her knees and stared at Ben. "But. I don't...need to go home right yet." Truth was she wasn't ready to dig into her sore spot quite yet again, and with what she had overheard from her mother this morning that would most definitely be what her parents would want to discuss when she came home. Ben...was a safe space and it didn't seem like he was going to press her for more information in the moment. "Maybe we can pick up a pizza too? Though I think me walking into the local Walmart dressed in your clothes will have some tongues wagging." She slowly stood up, a blush spreading across her cheeks as she realized everything could be seen through the wet fabric of her dress. Cheyenne moved her hands to cover the lower half of herself. It was ridiculous in her mind that she would feel the need to do cover herself, especially after what they had just done but here she was, hands hovering covering her. She cleared her throat. "We taking different cars ... or leaving one here?"

"We can take both to my place," he said with a smile, "If you want to follow me, I can get us both there." He smiled as he let his hand down to try and pick her up, "I won't look if you don't want me too, don't worry, it is just us." He looked around him and smile as he began to adjust himself again. His jeans, shirt, and boots were completely soaking wet and he felt extremely heavy as he walked, the sloosh of water in his boots was noticeable. He would reach down and pull off his boots, the socks still being wore, letting the water drain from the boots as he would hold onto them. He looked down at her, hand still extended, "Come on, you can come to the house. I will get delivery... But, you need to call your mom. I promised her you would call and let her know you were safe."

"Okay. I'll follow behind." When Ben mentioned not looking she lowered her hands, feeling a bit ridiculous. " Cheyenne accepted his extended hand and headed towards the bench where herbdhoes were waiting. "I'll text her once we I'm in the car." She promised as she picked up her shoes. "We sure it's safe to walk back without our shoes on? What if there are barbs or something in the path?" The idea of going to Ben's house made her a bit nervous but she was trying her best not to let it show. The aftermath of him noticing her bruises still lingering in her mind. Chey stared up at him and wondered why she had tried so hard to let go and move on. He was nothing like her ex in all the best ways and she couldn't help wondering what if she had stayed. What would their life look like now if she hadn't left town? She shook the mental thought away. "You got any movies at your place? Horror genre scores bonus points."

"Netflix, Hulu, and everything on YouTube... I am sure we could find something..." He said as he began to walk, but her comment about the barbs and junk on the walk back made him iffy in his ability to make it back to the truck without something poking him. He smiled at her, "Umm, maybe boots should be a good, even if they are full of water..." He sighed as he put on the wet shoes with a grimace on his face, he looked over at her with shoes still in hand, they were not wet, but surely they would be if she put her feet in them, "Come on," he said with a smile as he leaned forward a little bit, a position she would know very fondly as she would usually jump on his back in the old times, "One more ride for old time's sake..."

"Right, streaming services are a thing." Cheyenne chuckled and shook her head at Ben realizing what she had said was probably true. Stickers weren't really that painful but the more you stepped on, the more annoying and tedious the task at removing them from the skin was and to prevent it was the better choice. She thought about putting on her shoes but her feet were still wet and it would ruin the leather material. She bit her lip as he put on his boots, she wet sloshing sound making her feel sorry for him. "Come-" Chey had begun to ask, only to stop once she saw that he had assumed the position. "If you insist." A grin on her lips she took a steadying breath before jumping onto his back. It would be a lie if she had said she didn't enjoy it, the instant nostalgia that hit her as she rested her chin on his shoulder. Even though he was drenched in creak water he still head the scent of his cologne and Chey took a deep breath. "I feel like I'm a teenager again..." She giggled.

Once she hopped on his back, he was as well, "I can feel it myself," he would say as he began to run down the trail that they had visited a thousand times before, "Hold on for your life..." He would dodge through leaves and branches of trees, some of them slapping them in the face as he would giggle through it as he watch the path under their feet. It wasn't a very far walk, but as he had her on his back, he felt breathless when they reached their cars. His truck and her car sat undisturbed against the dirt road as he smiled and placed her on her feet, "If you want, I can give you those clothes still?"

Taking his advice she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to them with a fierceness. It wasn't long after that she had realized why he had said it as he took off down the beaten path. Laughter escaped her as she held on tight. She was still laughing once they had arrived, the merriment having made happy tears form in the corner of her eyes. Ben seemed out of breath when they had arrived at the cars and Cheyenne felt bad that she had made him so. When he lowered her to the ground she moved around him to look up into his face. "Sorry, I know I'm heavy." She bit her lip at his offer of clothing. "Probably should if you don't mind it...as long as there is a draw string on the shorts should be fine." She walked over to her car and opened the driver side door to pop her trunk. Chey wanted to make sure she didn't have any possibly in the back. There was her spare tire, a small first aid kit and what looked to be a trash bag full of something. Shaking her head she shut the trunk. "Yeah, clothes would be appreciated. I can order some from Walmart myself and do the pick up if you don't mind waiting to show me the way to your place?"

"Not heavy at all," he said with a laugh, "You are actually lighter than I last remember. I am just out of shape and a fatty." He would smack his stomach in a mocking manner as he would stick out his tongue. He looked down at the dirt road and began to pull his boots off, placing them in the back of the truck before pulling an old gym bag out of the back of the cab of the truck. He would walk over to the tailgate and put it down, placing the bag on the tailgate before opening the bag. As he dug through the bag, he was able to find a couple part of basketball shorts, a part of compression shorts that would be used as underwear for him, and two t-shirts, one that said 'gym life all day' and another that said, 'I am on a break from Krispy Kreme.' He looked over at Cheyenne and smiled, "Take your pick. And I don't care to wait, I can go sit in the parking lot and wait on you as well."

21:28

@Nymphy ❦

With a shake of her head she rolled her eyes though a chuckle would escape her at his dramatics. Cheyenne was already beginning to feel at ease after what had happened early and she realized it was just Ben's natural charm. Leaning against her car she watched as he went to grab his duffle bag, when he held up the two shirts and told her to pick she snorted. "I have to go for Krispy Kreme." She reached out and took the shirt that was offered as well as a pair of the shorts. She was thankful they had a drawstring otherwise they wouldn't fit quite right though the leg length would still be awkward enough. "Ah... I'll just go over there behind the trees. If a car drives by holler." Cheyenne was careful about where her feet placed in the grass, her eyes looking out for any stickers that may be resting therein. Thankfully she made it behind the pine trees without incident and slipped the dress over her head. She debated on whether she should leave her bra on or not but the material was soaked just as much as the dress so she opted to remove it, tossing them both onto the ground as she slipped the shirt over her head. It fell to about her thigh, just covering the triangle of chocolate curls between her thighs. She slipped on the shorts too, pulling the drawstrings tight before tying a perfect bow. After gathering her discarded garments she headed back to where he had been waiting. She opened the passenger door to her car and grabbed her phone, pulling up the Walmart app. Thankfully there was just enough service to place the order. "So Walmart and then to your house?" @Deleted User

He made sure to promise that he would not watch her or look at her when she changed clothes, but that did not stop him from wanting to peek. His head almost had to be held on a wire as she walked away behind the pine trees. He took a moment to just check for cars before he began to unbutton between the two doors of his car. Throwing the shirt over his head and letting the jeans drop to the floor, his cock was still hanging out of his boxers as he would let them drop completely. Throwing the shorts on quickly, he would grab the shirt next, just throwing all of the wet clothes in the gym back and throwing it in the back floor board of the girl. "Want me to take those clothes so we can wash them at the house?" He asked as he left the gym bag open, motioning for her to grab her clothes as he moved towards her, "And sure, you still remember how to get there?"

14:15

@Nymphy ❦

She didn't see any reason not to toss her clothes to join his own inside the duffle bag. "Yeah, though you owe me a pair of panties..." She gave him a look after placing the dress and bra inside the bag and nudged him playfully. "I'll have you know they were a matching set." She sniffled to act as if she was truly upset at their loss but quickly chuckled. "Unless it moved from the last time I was here all them years ago I think I can manage." Biting her lip she debated on a thought but changed her mind at the last second. "Ah, so Walmart then your place." She offered him an awkward thumbs up before she moved to get in her car. "I already ordered the clothes so they should be ready by the time we get there." Chey glanced at him before shutting the door and starting the engine. She would use the trip to the store to calm herself and as she pulled into the parking lot and pulled into a designated spot she finished the set up on her phone so that she could call her mom. Her mother had picked up on the first ring and Cheyenne felt a bit guilty for her earlier reaction in the morning. After a few minutes of explaining where she was, and who she was with her mother settled down enough and the call ended with Chey promising to be home before it got too late, making her once again feel like a teenager. Just as the call had ended the Walmart employee came out with her two bags and she thanked the younger woman before shooting Ben a text asking him where he parked and that she was all ready for him to lead the way to his home. @Deleted User

The ride to the Walmart in the middle of town, he would sit back and just take in the realization of what would happen. Not even a week ago, he would have never imagined anything like this happening to him, he couldn't have seen her coming back to this town. She seemed to have found her place at home, but now she was home, and she was hurting... Was it his job to make her feel better? Maybe not, but was he gonna try his absolute damnest to make her stay here? He would... His thoughts were broken as they turned into the Walmart parking lot, her car moving towards the front of the lot to the pickup area as he would park towards the end of the lot. He waited there a moment as her text would alert that she got the stuff. Once he saw her car coming, he would pull out in front of her, beginning to guide her down the main street, weaving through a couple of turns and within ten minutes, they were pulling into the driveway of the two story colonial house in the middle of what looked to be a nice cul-de-sac. He would jump out of the truck, immediately grabbing the wet gym back as he would walk over to her car, looking to assist her with her bags as she would need both hands to keep her clothes up. He looked around, seeing the next door neighbor out mowing their lawn, but her nosy wife sitting on the front of the porch and eyeing the duo closely. He would quickly open the door and let her in. The house opened to reveal your typical American home, pictures on the wall of the family, mainly Ben and Kinsley, a few of Kathleen, but one thing that might catch her eye. A larger photo near the door of her and Ben, her on her shoulders and riding along in a parking lot of some kind.

"Thanks." Cheyenne hadn't expected him to help her carry her things but she wouldn't turn down the chivalry of a southern man, especially the one in front of her. She followed him up to his house, already surprised he lived in such a place, though it made sense if she thought about it. Ben was the type to do whatever was necessary for those he cared about, and he most definitely cared about his daughter. She couldn't help but glance around at all the cookie cutter houses and feeling a tinge of jealousy in the pit of her stomach. She pushed the feeling aside however when he opened the door and she followed him in. There were pictures everywhere and she could see the love he had for Kinsley. The love both he and Kathleen had, it was something. She was taken by surprise when she spotted the picture of her and him from back in the day. She stopped and gazed up at it, her heart doing a little flop. Chey turned and cleared her throat. "Nice place you got."

"Thanks," he said with a smile, "Took the first payment from the lumber mill and made it into a down payment for the house, paid it off in about three years. You would be shocked how much the woods in the forest around town will go for..." He was musing as he walked in behind her and placed a laptop back against the door before moving down the hallway, "Quick tour for now," he said with a smile as he would begin pointing the various directions, "To the left, you have the living room, right would be the kitchen and dining room. Down the hallway is the down stairs bathroom and laundry room. Up the stairs are all four of the bedrooms almost in a square formation and a smaller bathroom on the opposite side and a master bedroom in my room." He would grab the gym bag off of his shoulder and throw it down the hallway, landing with a thud near the door, "I will get those started. Feel free to go to any of the bathrooms, and freshen up, change clothes, whatever," he again added, "Master bathroom is through the master bedroom, go up the stairs and turn directly behind you and that door straight ahead is yours."

"How much does the wood go for?" She asked out of curiosity. Chey was glad he'd found something he seemed to enjoy. She paid attention as he pointed in various directions on what was where, her eyes occasionally drifting to watch as his muscles flexed on his arms. "Ah- r-right. Freshen up." She bit her lip and almost snorted at the added whatever on the end. She raised her eyebrows when he mentioned the master bedroom and bathroom. It would be a lie if Cheyenne had said she wasn't curious about his room, so much so that she moved closer to him to take her bags from Walmart he'd brought in for her, using one hand to carry them while the other held up the shorts and scrunched the shirt closer to her form. "Thanks." She offered him a small smile before heading up the stairs in the direction he had said the master bedroom was. The temptation to be nosey grew as she approached the open door, her eyes instantly going to the bed in the room. A bright red blush crept across her cheeks as she tried to picture Ben laying in it and she quickly shook her head. "Get ahold of yourself. You're legit damaged merch." She headed into the bathroom, the large his and her sink counter the first thing she laid her eyes on. Mouth agape she stared at herself in the mirror. To say she looked rough was an understatement. Her hair was still damp with knotted waves of hair, her make-up ruined thanks to falling into the creek along with Ben. To think she had looked like this when they had- Cheyenne groaned, tossing her bags on the counter and plopping her head down onto them, careful not to let her eye get poked by the clothes hanger in one of the bags. "Smooth Chey, smooth." Sighing she turned to get a better look around the bathroom. Cream colored tiles with a cute corner pattern lined the floors and accented the wall and she found herself chuckling at picturing Ben choose them. It was definitely a home and Chey felt out of place in it. .

16:07

Glancing at the shut bathroom door she bit her lip before she stripped out of the clothes he had lent her. She didn't even glance at herself in the mirror again, not wanting to see the bruises that still adorned her flesh, the constant reminder of the dumb choices she had made ever since she had left home. Chey turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat to the right temp, there was a nearby shelf which held towels and after grabbing one to set it closer to the shower she climbed in, giving herself a quick wash so that all the dirt and grime from the creek would wash off. In total she spent somewhere between ten to fifteen minutes in the shower before she climbed out and dried herself enough to wear the clothes she had bought. The underwear were not sexy by any means but they were practical, as was the plain black tank top and cut off jean shorts. Finally clothed she kept the towel for her hair and picked up the discarded clothes, tossing them in the bin that was underneath the shelf with clean towels. Forgoing looking in the mirror again she headed back down to see what Ben had gotten into while she had helped herself to a shower. @Deleted User

"The black walnut in the forest normally goes for like $725 a tree, but with lumber prices going up, I am able to get over $1,000," he would begin to explain as she would be looking through the house, "And we have well over 300,000 saplings in the woods and more growing, however where we really get the costs is the cutting, staining, and moving of it... I am boring you. Go freshen up..." He smiled as he began to move towards the back of the house, taking the clothes out of the gym bag, almost soaking with water, but he would begin to throw them in the washing machine. He would look at the ground, a few loose garments and Kinsley clothes, tossing those in as well before staring his way up the steps. He would hear the showing in the master bedroom beginning to run, smiling as he figured her snooping mind would send her to the master bathroom. He would walk to what he would come to refer to as "Kinlsey's bathroom," grabbing a basket of clothing from the room, but having to put all the clothes she had just thrown across the bathroom. He made a mental note to clean this bathroom soon. As he would begin to move back down the stairs, he would throw the rest of the clothes in the washing machine, but he thought to wait for the rest of the clothes that she was wearing before he began the washer. If you should be one thing, you should efficient. He turned to hear the footsteps approaching behind him and seeing a freshly cleaned Cheyenne coming around the corner, "Dang..." he would say with a flirty smile staring for possibly a moment too long, "Uh, I am gonna go get the clothes from the master bathroom, can you put some detergent in the wash?"

"Dang?" Cheyenne raised an eyebrow and looked down at herself before doing a little spin trying to look at herself. "Is something the matter with my clothing choice?" She stopped spinning and gave been a skeptical look for a moment. "You have a cat I don't know about?" Chey moved closer to Ben for a moment trying her best to keep a straight face as she did. Stopping right in front of him she looked up at him before motioning for him to get closer. "Seems it's got your tongue." She winked before letting her head fall back as she laughed. "You know how to make a girl feel good about herself you know." She took a deep breath and shoved her hands into the back pockets before spinning around in the opposite direction. "You go and do that. I can most definitely add soap to the wash." Cheyenne skipped down the way he had said the laundry room was. The shower had done her wonders, not to mention just being in Ben's presence.

As she came up to him, her hands in her back pocket, he wanted so much so just to grab her cheeks and kiss her deeply again, but he didn't know what this was in the very moment. As she would skip down the hall, he was stay still just watching her for a moment before he would slowly go up the steps and grab his clothes from the hamper that she placed them in. He would begin down the hall way and see her over the washing machine, measuring detergent in the washer. He couldn't help but stare at her for a moment. He felt like a piece of him that was missing is back in his life and it made him feel amazing. He walked forward and took the clothes in one hand as he would move his hand in front of her, dumping the clothes on top of what was already in there, while taking his other arm and moving it around her other side. Securing her between the washing machine and himself. His head would fall to her shoulder, his lips right near her ear, and with a smile motion, his tongue would sneak out and grab her ear lop, pulling it into his lips, giving it a small kiss before letting it go.

She had heard Ben come up behind her but had continued to focus on the detergent in her hand as she perfectly measured the right amount for the size of the load in the was. Chey hadn't though anything of it when he reached around her to add the other clothes, however it was when he moved his other arm to lock her in against the washing machine did she suck in a breath. Her heart teetertottered for a few moments as she watched the blue liquid drip from the cap. He had shaken her up enough that she had accidently overflowed. A soft squeak would leave her as she helplessly sat the jug down and emptied the overflowing cap the rest of the way into the washing machine. Her ear tingled where his tongue and lips had been and Cheyenne shivered as she closed the lid to the washing machine. "I-" Her voice was a little off pitch so she cleared her throat before she tried to speak again. "I'm not sure, what settings you u-usually use..." She needed to wash her hands to get the residual soap off but she made no motion to move, instead her head fell backwards to rest on Ben's shoulder as she shut her eyes. Just for a moment she let his presence ground her. @Deleted User

She sounded nervous for a moment, it made him momentarily question what he was doing, but before long, he would be looking over at her as she would move her head back and rest it on his shoulder. His hands would move up and grab one of the cleaner pieces of clothing out the wash and wipe her hand off with it, using it to gently massage her hands as he did. It wouldn't be very long before his lips would meet her neck again, gently placing kisses down the side of it, giving her a gentle bite over couple of seconds. Between moments of kissing and hugs, he would move to shut the washer lid, turning a knob or two, and then hitting the start button. He had no idea the options that he just selected, but he knew that it would start washing, you gotta be efficient, he would think with a smirk crossing his lips. As he would continue to kiss her neck, softly letting his hands run up and down her sides, he would spin her to face him. However, before he would kiss her again, he would gently grab both of her hips and gently lift her up onto the washing machine in a sitting position before guiding his lips to hers again.

13:15

@Nymphy ❦

Her breathing was shaky as she felt him wipe her hand clean of the spilt soap. The feel of his lips on her neck had Cheyenne closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of his teeth lightly grazing against her neck. Her neck was so sensitive and with each press of his lips she felt the heat spreading through her from her core. She watched as he shut the lid and pressed settings on the wash. She wasn't even sure if he was paying attention to what he was pressing though she didn't have long to dwell on it as he spun her around and pressed into her. A soft moan escaped her as he continued to kiss her neck, his hands roaming up and down her sides had her practically putty in Ben's hands. She felt his hands pause on her hips and before within a breath he had picked her up and placed her on the washer. Chey let her hands move to wrap around his neck as his lips sought out her own. The kisses were slow to burn but once they seemed to get into a groove of it Cheyenne wrapped her legs around his waist. Her jean cutoff shorts highlighted the muscles of her thighs, her hands ran through his hair to grab a handful. @Deleted User

Once she was on the lid of the washer and her lips were firmly pressed to his, a smile would creep across his face. He couldn't help be feel like this was right, this was right where both of them needed to be. His mouth would open, allowing his tongue to push against hers, looking for acceptance. He would continue to push the pace, looking for more and more. However, a sound would disturb the situation. A knock at the door. Ben would pull back for a second, "Jesus..." he said with a growl, "No one ever comes here, why now!?" He looked up at Cheyenne with a sad look, "Stay here," he said, almost jokingly, "I will be back..." He would step away, almost regretfully as another knock would hit the door. He let out, "I'm coming!" as he made his way to the door, looking out the peephole, he couldn't see anyone, "...the hell?" As he would open the door though, he would be greeted with a surprising sight, "Kinsley?"

00:00

@Nymphy ❦

Eagerly she had returned the same amount of passion Ben had given, her tongue dancing along with his in a heated display. The air around them was thick and heavy and the heat only seemed to grow with each passing moment between the pair. By the time there had been a knock at the door Cheyenne was out of breath, her arousal was very evident between her thighs and she was thankful for the moment to breathe though it wouldn't have been a lie to say she was just a bit disappointed. "Won't move." She held up the scout hand signal and placed her other hand over her heart. "Scouts honor." She chucked at the sad look on his face. It seemed that life had other plans for them than just getting hot and bothered. Chey watched as Ben turned and headed for the door, her eyes watching his ass as he did. The man had a body she'd always liked and she was glad that with age he only seemed to have become even more handsome. She held the sides of the washing machine as she leaned back staring up at the ceiling. What exactly was she even doing right at this moment? Sitting on a washing machine making out with her high school sweetheart/ best friend. Chey lifted a hand and ran it through her hair, glancing at the way Ben had went. Should she follow or wait dutifully like she had promised? She hopped down from the washer, her curiosity getting the better of her and headed for the door. @Deleted User

"Kinsley!?" He would say in an almost surprised confusion, "What are you..." "Sorry, sorry!" He would hear a voice ring out from behind them as Derek would slowly creep around from the driveway of the house, "Didn't mean to alarm, we were on our way to ballet and someone said they needed to go as soon as possible, you were the closet place..." "Oh," he said with a realization of life actually around him through the panic of just seeing his daughter appear in the door way, "Dad, move!" she said with a rush, "I gotta poop!" She would begin to rush up the stairs before she would stop for a moment, all rush in her ceasing as she would see Cheyenne! "It's the Lady Knight!" She said with a smile, "You stay right there, Lady Knight, I gotta poop, but I gotta show you what I learned!" Ben almost face palmed into his hand, but pinched his nose instead, "Go to the bathroom!" "I am so sorry," Derek said, his face growing red, "I didn't even see another car in the driveway or I would have not stopp..." "You are fine, when you gotta go, you gotta go..." Ben said with a smile, "Derek, this is..." "Cheyenne, yep," Derek said, "Nice to see you again..." "Oh... wait?" Ben's head would tilt?

With a look of bewilderment on her face Cheyenne stopped in her tracks at hearing Kinsley tell her to stay put. The fact that she just openly announced to everyone, even her that she needed to poop was oddly adorable and she watched as she ran up the stairs. She couldn't help but wonder what exactly Kinsley had learned since running into her earlier in the morning. Chey looked from where Kinsley had disappeared to the two men. "Ah, yes." She offered a sheepish smile as she nodded her head once. "Please tell Kathleen I'm sorry...for my earlier disappearance." She cleared her throat and tucked her hands in her pockets and turned her attention to Ben. "I ah, ran into them on the way to get my new phone this morning..." She felt guilty now, looking back on how friendly Kathleen had been but the panic of the whole thing during the time it had actually happened. Feeling a bit awkward she wanted to retreat, though her feet remained planted in their spot. She hadn't vocally confirmed she'd remain where she was when Kinsley had told her but Chey found that she didn't want to disappoint the girl, in fact, she found herself wishing to get on her good side...especially since she was an extremely important person to Ben. (edited)

"Oh, you all have talked already?" Ben said with a smile, but took a note, why did she need a new phone... Was it involved with what she stated earlier? He shook his head, but he smiled at Derek, "Well, at least you could stop here instead of having to go all the way to the house to get a whole new change of clothes," he laughed as he clapped Derek on the shoulder, "How has it been so far?" "We are good," Derek would reply with a smile of his own, "We have a day planned tomorrow at the park, so should be fun." As the three of them would make small talk, the toilet would flush, the door would slam open, but Kinsley would take an extra moment before she came rushing down the stairs. "Lady Knight!" she said with a joy in her voice as she rushed down, holding a small plastic sword and a lightsaber toy, which she would hand over to Cheyenne, "Hold this one and watch!" "Kinsley!" Both Derek and Ben would say with Ben adding, "You are gonna be late for balle..." "Shh, she needs to concentrate!" Kinsley would warn them as she looked up at Cheyenne, "Just hold the lightsaber like this and watch!" Kinsley would begin something that almost looked like an interruptive dance as she danced around on her feet for a few moments, swirling the sword around before hitting the saber with it a couple of times.

Cheyenne seemed to take things rather smoothly in transition as Kinsley handed her the lightsaber. She even went so far as to get into a stance she'd seen in movies from knights, holding the plastic toy out with her legs spread, her other arm out for balance. "Come forth young grasshopper." Chey could be heard saying in an over exaggerated voice similar to an old man. Her empty hand that was out motioning for her to come forth as the men protested. As Kinsley would begin her display with her own toy sword, the interpretive dance Cheyenne would ooh and ahh each time the plastic sword hit her lightsaber. On the final move Chey would be over dramatic and drop the saber, stumbling backwards until she landed against Ben. "Oh! I have lost this battle, please spare me madam, for I have a love waiting for me." She put her hand over her heart. "Your skills are truly worthy of becoming a knight." She bowed to show the little girl respect then popped up with a big grin. "I'd love for you to show me more, but I believe your dad said something about ballet?" She glanced at the two men and then back to Kinsley. "I'll have you know dancing is great to help ones stamina and dexterity. Two very important stats for adventurers." @Deleted User

"They are!" Kinsley would add as Ben just laughed as they began playing like they had known each other for years. Ben could not get enough of Cheyenne in that moment, looking at her and his heart absolutely melting, "Kinsley, go forth on your adventure... to ballet..." Derek would smile as she ran past them towards the van, "Come on, Derek," she said with a push in her voice, "I have to tell Bethany about how we need to get our stamen-a and dexterology fixed for the big adventures..." Derek would give him a nod and a wave as he shut the door behind him, "Wow..." Ben could only say behind a muffled laughter, "That was something... Love waiting for you, huh?"

Kinsley was just too cute as she tried to annunciate the words, her butchering of them was perhaps the cutest thing Cheyenne had ever heard and her heart clenched from the sheer attack of it. Hand on her heart she took a deep breath. "Mm, I think she just stole my heart." She turned from the door to look up at Ben and offered him a sly smirk. "It's known every knight and adventurer has a loved one at home. Something to motivate them to return home from their exploring the world... Hadn't you heard?" She tucked her arms around his waist bit her lower lip. "That is, if their loved one is at home awaiting their return."

Ben would sit and watch as she moved over to him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as she would move them around his waist, "Loved one has always been waiting..." The words powerful and lingering in the air. He looked down at her, pulling her into him gently as his arms wrapped down her body and a gentle kiss planted on her forehead. He looked around the living room for a moment, in a moment that he could only describe in the future as 'eye-opening,' everything around him just felt complete with her here. "I love you, Cheyenne..." The words felt right and sudden coming out of his mouth, not forced or rushed, but his eyes would still open slightly in surprise at his own words, but he would not take them back.

Chey's heart lurched at hearing he had always been waiting. She wasn't sure how true that statement was, and if he truly did mean what he said then it made the guilt she already felt even more heavy than it had been. But just as quickly as the negative feelings about herself had begun to stir Ben dropped a bomb in which she hadn't been prepared for. Eyes wide she stared up into his face, her nails tightening on his shirt as she inhaled a deep breath. "Ben I-" Did she love him still? Had she ever truly stopped? All she had to do was say those three words back, to verify what they both knew deep within but as she opened her mouth to do so nothing came out and Cheyenne dropped her arms at her sides and took a step back. Her fight or flight response was kicking in and she looked like she was about to bolt out the front door... Cheyenne closed her eyes for a moment and took a steadying breath. "I-" It wasn't hard, I love you, three syllables that was all it was and yet she felt like she didn't deserve to say them. To feel the happiness in which his words had brought. She was stuck and instead of running, instead of saying it herself she just stood there looking like a deer in the headlights.

As he watched her for a moment, the feeling of sudden love and passion in the moment quickly leaving through her silence... "Ben, I... I..." Was it really that hard for her to say? They had known each other most of their life. Hell, she could just have said it and meant it as a friend, and he would have accepted that, but here she was, unable to say just three little words. He was stunned for a second, looking at her face, searching for any answer on what was truly going on right now, but she continued to just stare at him and not say anything... He couldn't feel more hurt in the moment. He would actually release the hold over her as her arms had come limp around him, slowly stepping back to look at her in an even deeper glance, but still the silence... "Uh, sorry," he said in the moment, feeling the guilt and surprise himself of the moment, "I shouldn't have said that... I mean... you don't have to respond to that..." He would step backwards, looking at the floor for a minute. The sound of his heartbreak could almost be heard as he looked up at her, "Umm, maybe we should get you home, your mom and dad are probably worried about you..."

@Nymphy ❦

The moment had passed and she'd missed her chance yet again to voice how she truly felt. She wanted him, needed him but she had sabotaged it yet again. Clenching her fists tight at her side Cheyenne looked down defeatedly. "...yeah, you're probably right." She couldn't look at him, not in this moment when it had been her own doing for how the situation had played out. All the feel good feelings from earlier wiped out with the refusal to voice the feelings in which she did, in fact have. "I'll just-" Biting her lip she felt the threat of tears in her eyes and knew she needed to leave before she made matters worse. "go..." Being so close to the door it didn't require much but for her to turn around and grab hold of the handle. Opening the door the heat from outside hit her and Cheyenne took a shaky breath. "Thank you, Ben." It hadn't occurred to her that she had left her phone in the house until she was at the driver side of the door. Great. Let's just rub dirt in the wound then... Sighing Chey turned back and headed back up, and it was as she was at the door staring at him leaning against the doorframe that it hit her. If she completely missed this chance now, would she ever truly get another? "I'm an idiot." Three words, but not the ones she should have said, but true none the same. Steeling herself she closed the last remaining distance between them and before she could let her mind ruin what her heart felt yet again she blurted out everything. "I am terrified. I'm a mess." Her heart thudded hard against her chest, her keys clenched in her clammy hands as she stared up into the face that was forever burned into her memory. "There's things you don't know, things that might make you look at me differently and that kept me from saying what I should have said..." A deep steadying breath and the words flowed out between them. "I love you Benjamin Dixon."

05:29

@Deleted User

As she walked out the door, he could feel his heart breaking all over again, was it all just a game, something that shouldn't have happened maybe? Both of them are down and needed that, but was it something that should have happened? These were only a few of the questions in his mind as he watched her move out of the house before she would quickly return back to the door. As she stood in the door frame, she spoke... "I'm an idiot. I am terrified. I'm a mess. There's things you don't know, things that might make you look at me differently and that kept me from saying what I should have said... I love you Benjamin Dixon." There it was, she finally said it. However, the fact that she had to leave and think about it still racked his brain. He stood there for a moment and looked up at her for a moment, "You sure?" The question wasn't something that he meant in spite or hatefully, he wanted to make sure she was correct in her response.

05:10

@Nymphy ❦

"You sure?" Cheyenne knew he didn't mean it to be hurtful, and she couldn't rightly blame him for feeling the need to ask if that. Instead of outright answering she began to close the last remaining distance between them. "Ben..." Another few steps and she was right in front of him within touching distance. "Yes. I am unsure about a lot of things but the one thing I am sure of, have been since I first stared at your back at the dinner table is that I love you, I think I will forever, even if I feel like I'm not worthy of it..." She clenched and unclenched her fists as she waited, her breathing slightly uneven as she fought her own inner turmoil of wanting to flee. Ben was not Eric, she had to remind herself of that, and every negative thing that had been spewed at her in the past was not in fact true. She deserved to love and be loved and not to live in fear and Ben could offer that, had in fact offered it if only she hadn't been too scared and fled. She swallowed and looked up into his eyes. "I love you." She would repeat it however many times he would need to hear it. @Deleted User

As she stood in front of him, the teas almost beginning to flow in front of him, he held back a smile. Watching her clench and unclench her fingers, he couldn't help but be reminded of 'tantrums' she would have back when she was younger. Most of the time, they were cute little tantrums about not being able to go to McDonalds or something that she would win over him because he had a car and license when she didn't. That feeling would slowly fad when she finally said it again, confirming what he heard and what he needed to know. As she would look up at him, her lips getting ready to repeat it. He would step forward, his hand softly cupping her chin and lifting her eyes to meet his before he would lower his lips to meet hers. The soft taste of their lips mingled together as he would slowly open his lips to meet hers even deeper.

12:50

@Nymphy ❦

All the breath that'd been in her lungs was released as Ben lifted her chin and his lips pressed against her own. The kiss was slow and sweet only to deepen as her arms moved to wrap around his neck. She had to step on her toes to be almost level with him, Ben being taller than she but she didn't mind, not in the moment when both of them seemed to need this. Need the validation of touch after the rollercoaster they'd both been on in such a short amount of time. She wouldn't break the kiss for anything, in fact when Ben would pull away to catch his breath Chey would move to push him into the door, his back hitting it gently as her hands moved to brace themselves against his chest. She'd bunch his shirt into her hands and pull him back down to meet her lips. The kiss was long and passionate and the intensity only seemed to grow as the feelings they'd both expressed swirled around them. She wouldn't be going home, not unless he made her. Now all she wanted was Ben, in this moment... she'd worry about everything else later. @Deleted User

As she pushed into him, her hand taking the shirt and crumpling it in hers, he felt a hunger and passion out of her that was almost new, but old in the same sense. A reignited flame between the two, one could say. He would smile in her kiss as he was truly enjoying the feel of her on him. "Where...?" His breathless request was an indication of where she wanted him. He knew that this was heading to something again and he was going to have proper fun with her this time, he just needed to know where she wanted him to go. Hopefully she would realize that.

03:30

@Nymphy ❦