Take Me Higher

Benjamin Pasquini


Remy Pope


Aidan Jones


Claire Brown

Remy came bustling in to the apartment, her arms laden down with groceries. She tried to shake her hood down off her head, raindrops falling to the floor. "Ben! I'm home!" She called out as she rushed in to the kitchen, feeling like her arms were going to fall off. She hopped he would come and help her put the groceries away.

Humming to herself, Remy began to empty the food on to the counter from the bags before putting them away, she liked to do this just to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. She watched the door as her boyfriend walked in "hey mi amore" she said, rolling the R sound and making her way over to him with a giggle. Remy ' s Parents were French but had moved here when she was two, leaving her with an accent only when she spoke her native language. "How was your day?"

******

Aidan watched the clock as he sat in front of the Tv, his pig Winston on his lap. His girlfriend Claire had said she would be here by 6 but it was now 20 past and he was getting anxious. "Wonder where Vlaire is buddy?" He asked the dog, his foot tapping impatiently against the floor as he flicked from channel to channel.

Aidan has always seen himself as a perfectionist growing up. There was a time and place for everything, and if something's. Was not how or where he liked it he would often find himself getting aggravated. He had never thought much of it, just that he liked things to be orderly.

@ KhaleesE16
Ben yawned just watching television waiting for Remy to get home since she had gone grocery shopping when he had been asleep. He had told her earlier he was going to go with her, but he guessed she hadn't wanted to wait. Hearing Remy yelling, he stood in just a pair of basketball shorts and headed out and smiled down at her taking the bags easily and setting them down.

"I said I would go with you, stubborn." He teased her flashing her a smile before chuckling hearing her words and leaned down pressing his lips to hers before saying, "I slept most of it apparently. I guess the shift at the store really affected me." He shrugged ebfore getting stuff and beginning to put them away. He made sure to put some stuff in higher places so that she'd have to ask for help. He loved it when he helped her. He smiled softly once they were done.

Claire was cursing as she drove through the rain having to slow down because of how much it was pouring and because of other people not being able to drive in the rain. She was obviously irritated and was getting anxious about being late. She didn't want to fight with Aidan, especially not today. She finally parked the car and grabbed her purse shoving her keys and phone in it before getting out of the car.

Slamming the door, she hurried underneath the awning making sure to lock her car. She headed up the stairs of the apartment building before opening the door to Aidan's apartment. She sighed taking her jacket off gently and setting her things down and laughed seeing Winston attack her legs and picked jim up gently and kissed his forehead and pet him. She headed over to Aidan and said, "I'm sorry. Traffic was ridiculous. People need to learn how to drive." She mumbled.

Remy giggled looking up at him "I got tired of watching you sleep so I thought one of us might as well be productive today" she teased and kissed him back, wrapping her arm around his bare torso. After pulling away sat up on the counter letting him put the rest of the groceries away. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed "You mind if we get take out tonight? Dan says he wants the refugee article on his desk by tomorrow morning, so it's gonna be a late one." She asked him, taking his hand and pulling him over between her legs on the counter.

"I promise I'll cook cheesy pasta tomorrow instead" she planted a kiss on his cheek and looked into his blue eyes smiling. She always felt so grateful to have Ben by her side. He was one of the first people she got to know when she moved to the city, and he had always looked out for her.

*****

Aidan shook his head, slowly standing up to meet her at the door. "You said you'd be here at six Claire... there's always traffic in the rain" he sighed, but pulled her in for a hug nonetheless, winston getting crushed gently between their two bodies. "At least you got here safe".

He took winston from her and headed back over to the sofa. Inviting her to come sit with him. He wrapped his arm around her and looked down into her eyes, twirling a strand of her hair on his finger. "My parents called, they want to take us to dinner tomorrow night and get to know you" he told her gently, picking up the remote to turn down the tv. He couldn't ware for his parents to meet Claire, he just knew they would love her. She was pretty and successful there was nothing not to love about her.

@ KhaleesE16
Ben laughed shaking his head before running his hand throughout her hair and just hugging her back. "I didn't think I would sleep as long as I did." He explained and smiled softly as he put away the groceries. He walked back over and pouted hearing her words having wanted to eat her cooking really badly tonight. He heard her say something about Dan and immediatey rolled his eyes.

"That dude is such a creep." He reminded her before smiling feeling her kiss his cheek. "It's fine babe. Just don't stay up too late." He reminded her as he touched her face gently planting a gentle kiss in the middle of her forehead. He then pulled away a little a smile on his face before going and getting the take out menu and asked, "I'll call it in. What do you want?" He knew what he wanted since he always got the same thing from the place they got take out from.

Claire nodded before saying, "I left early this time, but it really took a turn for the worst with traffic today. There were like three wrecks." She murmured hoping he understood. She smiled softly feeling him hug her and looked up at him and nodded, "That I am."

She walked over to the sofa before sitting down gently taking her shoes off and bringing her feet up underneath her and let her head fall onto his chest smiling when she felt his fingers playing with a strand of her beautiful violet hair. She listened to him speak and said, "Alright, what time, sweetheart?" She asked him turning to look at him a small smile on her face before she reached up and kissed his cheek.

She was thankful she had him to make her feel better after bad days. She giggled when Winston started to lick her face and started to plant kisses all over his face and just cooed towards him a smile on her face.

.

Remy hugged him back tightly, breathing in his scent, she always felt protected in his arms and from the first moment they met he had always made that clear. "You were tired Mon Cherie, sometimes you just need a rest" she whispered, fixing a stray hair that feel in to his face as he began pouting. "I'm sorry I'm sorry, but this piece could be my Waterloo Ben, I might make it to the big leagues!" She said excitedly intertwining her fingers with his.

"He's not a creep, he's just my boss Ben, and he's really helped me come up in the writing world". Remy grabbed a grape from the fruit bowl And popped it in her mouth thinking about what she wanted. "Crispy duck in plum sauce please" she told him and began rooting in her bag for her laptop. Remy had moved to the city to try and get her break on Investigative journalism circuit and after working her way up the ladder she had been working her ass off for the past few months to get new and innovative pieces out there. It had meant lots of late nights and long days st the office, but she really hoped it would all pay off.

******

Aidan held her close to him as she lay on his chest, laughing as winston licked her face and she played with him. "They want to meet us at 5 and go for drinks afterward" he told her, shifting on the couch so she would sit up and look at him. "Wear something nice okay? Longer than what your wearing today.... maybe that lilac one you got last month. You always look great in that" he suggested, kissing the top of her head.

"What do you want to do for the night?" He asked her, placing his hand on her lap and stroking the dog with his other. "Would you like to stay in or go out?" He asked again. A little part of him still felt aggravated that she had been so late, and he wanted to ask to see her phone, but it had caused a large argument the last time so he refrained.

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@ KhaleesE16
Ben smiled and just kept her in his arms and swayed a little stroking her head with his fingers before he laughed hearing her owrds and nodded. He chuckled hearing her apologizing and just nodded again knowing it wasn't a big deal. He kissed her nose. He frowned hearing her say that her boss wasn't a creep adn rolled his eyes before saying, "Oh, yes he is, but that's not the point." He replied. "Though, I want you to tell me if he ever touches you, Remy." He told her tracing her cheek bone lightly.

Ben smiled softly and nodded, "I know. You will make it to the big leagues." He murmured to her before laughing hearing her words. "Alright." He replied before letting her go to grab his phone and began to call the place before ordering. Once he was done, he smiled watching her work on her laptop. He let her be for a moment before going and getting a drink. He walked back and headed to the couch and sat down beside her as she worked and just watched some TV. He made sure to keep the sound down so she woulnd't get distracted.

Claire giggled adn looked up at him nodding when she heard his words before looking down at her dress and asked, "Are they a little ehh when it comes to how short dresses are?" She questioned not meaning it in a bad way. "Thank you." She murmured kissing his cheek as he told her she always looked great in her lilac dress. She smiled softly as she just laid with him wondering if he was still upset about her having been a little late. She absentmindedly stroked Winston's fur.

"I'm not sure. I think staying in. We could both cook?" She offered smiling as she played with his fingers when he laid his hand in her lap. She was more than a little exhausted from a long day at the studio. She had been painting all day and her arms were killing her from lifting them up to paint all day. She hummed softly before watching him and tilted her head. "Is something wrong, darling?" She asked him.

Remy nodded as he traced her cheekbone, she didn't really like when he talked about Dan like that, because the guy had never been anything but nice to her. Ben refused to accept that though. She loved how much he believed in her though, and smiled a warm feeling filling her body as he kissed her head.

When he left to go make his call she went in to the bedroom. And changed in to her nightdress and dressing gown to be more comfortable. She had always tried to make an extra effort for Ben, so everyone was silk and trimmed with lace. She took a seat at the table and began to work away at her article. Not 10 minutes had passed before Dan called her to suggest more edits. She laughed down the phone with him, as he spoke through the photos the magazine wanted to feature.

****

Aidan looked at her and shook his head "no I'm sure they wouldn't mind much, but that body is all for me" he teased and gave her a little tickle in her sides before settling back down with her and winston.

"Yeah both cooking will work" he commented mindlessly. In his head he was trying to picture her timeline. The studio was only 20 minutes away and he simply couldn't imagine traffic so bad that even if she left early she could still get held up. "You sure it was just traffic this evening Claire? You wouldn't lie to me would you?" He asked, the strokes of her hair picking up speed on the slightest way as he looked down at her. "You were meeting up with somebody else or anything?"

(Sorry it's short! I'm starting to get tired)

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@ KhaleesE16
It's fine! I'll be here tomorrow c: )

Ben smiled as he watched her and just continued to hold her knowing she didn't know why he didn't like Dan. He just got a bad feeling from the guy and didn't want to see her get hurt. he hated whenever she got hurt and he didn't understand himself why she didn't see that Dan could be fooling her into getting into bed with her. He just hoped she didn't see that happening.

He saw her and smiled softly. "You look beautiful." He told her kissing her head. He then let her alone and looked up seeing her on the phone and narrowed his eyes. He heard her laughing and just chatting away with Dan and was getting angrier by the minute. He heard the doorbell and stood up paying for the food before setting it down on the counter. He got down some plates and glasses before waving towards Remy.

Claire laughed and said, "Alright." She replied smiling as she watched him before giggling when he went to tickle her sides a little bit. She shook her head at him a smile on her face as she did so. She hummed softly before standing up after he said cooking was good with him. She was going to go change into her pajamas when she heard his words.

Claire couldn't believe him. She felt his fingers in her hair and sat up looking at him confused. "I told you it was just traffic and the weather, and then I explained there were wrecks on the road. WHy can't you ever just believe me!?" She asked confused before shaking her head standing up. "You're unbelievable, Aidan!" She told him heading towards their room her back to him. She didn't want to even look at him at the moment. She was so mad at the moment and didn't want to deal with it.

Remy stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him back as he complimented her, and gave his butt a quick squeeze as he walked past. She laughed being able to be playful and have a laugh with him. He was one of the few guys Remy had been with who seemed to always look out for her, almost too much so sometimes, but she accepted that that was just Ben.

She frowned as she could see the upset creeping across his face as she spoke to her boss. She knew she couldn't let the call drop and continued to talk to him. She was pleased to hear the food arrive, her stomach was beginning to rumble with the hunger. As. Rn motioned for her to join him, she held up jet hand to signal 2 minutes and walked in to the other room to escape the noise of plates and cutlery.

A couple of minutes later she emerged, smiling at Ben and ready to eat. "You want a glass of red wine?" She asked him sweetly, turning to look at him and get his answer.

*****
Aidan stood up with Claire as she began to talk back to him. Poor Winston got spooked and took off running to his bed, covering his face with his paws.
He could feel the anger growing inside him, in his mind if she was arguing she must have something to hide.

"I'm not saying I don't believe you Claire, I'm just saying you drive her nearly every day, you can surely know what ducking time you're gonna get here?" He raged, throwing his hands up. "I sat here for 20 minutes worried wow thing had happened ed to you Claire. Is that what you wanted? Did you wa t the attention?" He shouted after her as she left the room. He followed, grabbing the back of her arm and turning her to face him. "Why are you running. Away if you have nothing to hide Claire?" He pushed, his face close to hers.

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@ KhaleesE16
Ben laughed feeling her squeeze his butt and just sat down beside her. He smiled softly before beginnign to get upset from her and her boss.

He sighed as he sat her give him two minutes signal and just sat down at the bar getting her food out and putting it on a plate for her. He was obviously moody at the moment. He shook his head hearing her question. "No, I've got water. Thanks." He then handed her her plate before beginning to eat his food. He watched her from underneath his lashes knowing he shouldn't say anything but it was killing him and he didn't know what else to say. "Do you always talk to him while working?" He asked looking at his plate as he played with his food with his fork.

Claire frowned hearing his words and said, "Oh i'm sorry there were fucking wrecks and the police had to stop us so the ambulance and firetrucks could get through Aidan! I can't control that!" She replied shaking her head. "I'm sorry I worried you! I COULDN'T HELP IT!" She yelled back hearing him shouting at her. Feeling him grab her arm she looked at him and said, "BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE LIKE THIS AGAIN. WHEN YOU GET LIKE THIS WE YELL!" She replied feeling hot tears at the back of her eye balls.

She wrenched her arm free from his grasp. "Maybe I just want to be alone, Aidan. You don't trust me and I can't take it!" She told him feeling the tears starting to fall now. "You always think I'm cheating or seeing someone else and can't accept that life is not a uniform thing! It's not always going to go according to plan!" She told him.

Remy poured herself a small glass and sat down to eat her food. She could see Ben looking at her like a sulking child and chose to ignore it. She hates fighting with him, it always ended in tears. On several occasions she threatened to leave, but something always stopped her from walking out the door for good. She glanced up as he questioned her.

"Yeah sometimes..." she answered, putting down her fork and giving him her full attention. "We work off of software where your editor can see what your writing live, so rather than write a full article and send it to him for editing which takes a lot of time he just calls me once or twice to give me my edits As we go" she explained, reaching her hand out to take his.

*****

Aidan stared at her, the rage building up and up inside him as she shouted T him until he was almost seeing red. "You could have fucking CALLED me Claire, isn't that what cell phones are for?" He pushed, taking another step closer to her. He hated when they got like this, but it felt like she never listened to him, over and over again she continued to go these things to upset him.

She took her by both shoulders, forcing her to look him right in the face. "If you want to be alone Claire, then go ahead and fuck off, see who'll have you!" He told her, shaking her gently "You know that all I want is to look after you! I was really fucking worried and you never got in touch! Of course my head is going to go to different scenarios! You are my fucking plan Claire, so when you work against the goddamn schedule it fucks things up!"

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@ KhaleesE16
Ben just picked at his food before beginning to eat some of his rice and chicken. He hated when they fought, but he just couldn't stand the idea of Dan. He just creeped him out and he didn't understand why she didn't see that. It was pretty evident and he didn't know what else he could say to convince her. He was just confused by the whole ordeal.

He looked up listening to her as she spoke, mindlessly picking at his food as he ate. He then sighed hearing her words. Feeling her take his hand, he took it and sighed, "I know you don't want to fight, neither do I, but something about your boss just I don't know. I can't explain it. He gives me a bad feeling and I hate to think of him hurting you." He told her frowning as he awtched her, his forehead creased with concern.

"It's against the law for me to be on my phone while driving!! Plus, the fact that it was raining so hard I could barely see the road!" Claire screamed back her lovely violet hair shaking from rage as she looked at him. She saw him take another step towards her and just kept staring up at him with her peridot eyes as she did so.

She felt him take her by the shoulder and watched him gasping when he shook her. "It was only 20 minutes! If I had had been any later I would have pulled over and called you, but because of the fact that I wasn't any later I didn't think it would cause you to go crazy!" She yelled tears falling from her eyes having hurt from him saying no one else would have her. She sniffled unable to control her emotions. "Well, I'm so sorry I'm such a fuck up!" She yelled back turning around and crossing her arms over her chest as she did so unable to do anything else as her lips and chin trembled from trying to keep her tears inside.

Remy's eyebrows furrowed together as she looked at Ben. "Ben.." she began and sighed, she knew she needed to be careful how she worded it, because he could be so intensely jealous at times. "Ben... the only relationship I have with Dan is a professional, work one. We get along well as colleagues and nothing more I promise. There's no possible way for him to hurt me because I don't have feelings ha for him. The only person who can hurt me is you Ben, your the only man I love" she said, making sure to speak calm and clearly, hoping she had said what he wanted to hear.

She slowly began to eat some of her food, glancing up and Ben, but never for two long as she waited for his reply.

****

Aidan left her go, the sudden release of preassurw shoving Her in to the wall. "Oh stop with the boohoo poor me act Vlaire! You know being on time is one of the few things I ask of you. Even if your running 5 minutes late I expect to be let know so I'm not wasting my time!" He eclaimed and turned to walk back in to the living room, not wanting to hear any more from her.

He tossed himself down on the sofa and turned the volume up high, waiting for her to come and apologise.

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Ben sighed hearing her and looked up, tilting his head as he did so waiting for her response. He knitted his eyebrows together and said, "I didn't mean like that, Remy." He murmured kissing her head. "I meant in any way. Physically. He just puts me off." He explained not understanding what was so hard to understand. "I can't ask you to quit because of him, but I definitely don't like it. I know you love your job. God, I'm at odds here!" He exclaimed sighing as he shook his head standing up just needing to walking around.

He began to pace back and forth his arms crossed over his chest and looked at her desperately. "Why can't uou understand that?" He asked shaking his head again.

Claire gasped feeling her back hit the wall wincing as her head hit the wall. She whimpered hearing his words and watched him. She shook her head and just sat on the floor bringing her knees to her chest feeling tears falling again. Sometimes she just wanted to leave and not come back, but she didn't understand what kept her there with him. She sniffled not understanding. If he loved her so much, why did he treat her like this?

She heard a whimper and looked down seeing Winston and took him into her arms and sobbed softly as she held him. She didn't want to get up. He hadn't pushed her so hard into the wall that she was bleeding, but her head was definitely throbbing at the moment.

Teny listened as he spoke about dan, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait... you would actually consider asking me to quit?" She asked him, her face contorting in to a look of both disbelief and disappointed. "Ben you shouldn't feel at your wits end. Dan has never done anything to make me think he would hurt me, so I don't get why you do. That job is one of the few things of value to me in this city. I worked so hard to get to where I am... the fact you would even think of asking me to quit.. I'm.. well I'm shocked" she said in disbelief, shaking her head at him.

She stood up slowly, taking her plate and wine in each hand. She watched him pacing, growing more and more impatient with him, "there's nothing to understand Ben! He's my boss and I don't hate him, get over it!" She told him sternly, shaking her head. "I'm gonna go eat in my office... I can't look at you right now" she mumbled, and began to leave the kitchen.

*****

Aidan shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose in stress. He could still hear her sobbing like a child in the hallway. How could she not just understand if she did as he asked they wouldn't fight so much? He flicked between channels for a few minutes, still listening to her winders. "Claire, c'mere" he called out, not even turning to look toward her. His voice was calmer than before.

He motioned for her to come and sit down next to him on the sofa. "Claire, you get I wouldn't be angry if you just called right?" He asked her, pulling her in against his body in a tight hug.

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Ben sighed hearing her and shook her head before said, "No, I never said that. I said I would never think of it because of the fact that you love it so much. God, Remy, you're twisting my words like you do everytime!" He exclaimed standing up and wrenching his hand from hers as he watched her. He ran a hand throughout his hair and felt like he needed a cigarette and he had quit a couple of months ago when he found out Remy hated it so much.

He heard her and was surprised to hear her talk to him in such a way. He grabbed her arm pulling her back and said, "Don't talk to me that way. I was trying to talk about this nicely and you just turned it around on me, like you do everything. Quit fucking do that." He growled frowning as he watched her.

Claire wiped at her eyes gently holding Winston and cuddling into him. She sniffled trying to just calm herself down, but she couldn't. He treated her terribly sometimes and she just didn't understand it. She heard him call out to her and just shook her head, not wanting to go see him if he was still angry. She heard his voice was calmer and sighed before standing up, leaving Winston on the ground.

She walked over and sat down beside him. She felt him pull her against his body and just laid against him pulling her legs up onto the couch beside her. She shook her head at his words and said, "You know I normally do. I was in the rain and couldn't call. Otherwise I would've crashed and been in the hospital." She mumbled. She felt tears still falling from her eyes and tried to push them away.

Remy took a deep intake of breath as Ben moved his hand away, shock registering on her face. "I'm not twisting your words Ben, you obviously had thought of it, it wouldn't be in your head otherwise." She said with a sigh. She tended to try and not engage when he got like this trying to avoid it. She muttered something in French under her breath.

A small scream left her mouth as he pulled her arm, her glass and plate falling out her her hands and shattering on the floor with an almighty bang, "Ben let go you're hurting my arms" she pleaded, looking up in to his face, her eyes wide. "I wasn't turning it back on you.. I just don't get your issue with Dan" she whimpered, trying to avoid the shattered glass and crockery in her feet.

(What if this was the first time he got physical her?)

***
Aidan shook his head "just call before you leave next time, that way if your late I know it's just the traffic?" He suggested, pulling her in close. He could feel her tears landing on his shirt and he tried his best to ignore them, trying not to shout at her again.

Winston came over and climbed into his lap, licking Claire's face in the process. "We both love you lots C, I just don't like you being late" he repeated gently and kissed her forehead.

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