Right Where I Belong

It’s been a week since McKenzie made her choice and talking over with the landlord I was now fully responsible for our apartment. McKenzie and I had started packing her stuff up once I had signed the new lease. McKenzie had now been living with Joel for a few days, McKenzie even felt guilty enough to go out and buy me a little companion, a female Sphynx kitten that I had now named Vitani. I was lying on the couch with her laying on my stomach in a ball, while I texted Jake about tonight and some random get to know you stuff.
“I’ll pick you up at 6, if that sounds good? “ Jack texted, I was about to reply back when there was a knock on my door. I picked up Vitani and set her on the floor, where she started running around like kittens do. I opened the door surprised to see Benji.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked opening the door wider letting him in as I kept an eye on Vitani making sure she didn’t escape the confides of the apartment. She ran towards Benji and I, in which I shut the door before she could think to do anything. She instead pounced on Benji’s show and started nipping it.
“What the hell is that?” Benji half yelled, he looked a little terrified and I couldn’t help but bust out laughing as I picked up my little baby.
“She is a kitten.” I said snuggling my nose into the side of her face as she playfully nipped my fingers.
“Kittens are cute little fluff balls, I don’t know what this is, but it’s not cute nor is it a fluff ball.” Benji said eyeing me and Vitani.
“Benji, Vitani is a Sphynx, she’s a hairless. Personally, I think she is adorable!” I said setting her down so she could run around again. “So why are you here?” I asked again.
“Oh I was just coming to say hi and to see what you were up to tonight, though maybe we could go out for dinner or something.” Benji shrugged as he watched Vitani trip over herself.
“oh, that’s nice of you. I actually have plans though tonight.” Benji looked over at me a little confused.
“Where are you going?” He asked
“I’m going on a date, remember that waiter we had at T.G.I. Fridays when we all went to the beach, he asked me out on a date.”
“You’re going on a date with that guy?” Benji seemed rather surprised and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“Yes, his name is Jake, he’s actually really nice, and maybe you should get to know him.”
“What if he is a serial killer? You don’t know this guy!” Benji exclaimed as he shook his head, taking a seat on my couch while Vitani continued to pounce on his feet.
“Benji, I didn’t know you at one point! You and Joel could have been serial killers.” Benji rolled his eyes. “Why do you care?” I asked eyeing him as I snatched Vitani up. Benji didn’t say anything; he just kept looking at the floor.
“I don’t care if you stay, but I have to get ready.” I said walking back to my room, Vitani still in hand. I heard Benji sigh and get up from the couch making his way back to my bedroom. I was sitting on the floor in front of my mirror doing my makeup, Benji’s eyes glued on me.
“So, are you going to answer my question?”
Benji shrugged, “I don’t care.” His tone was a little off putting and I could tell he was a little ticked.
“Bullshit, why do you care so much? It’s not like you gave a fuck before!” I said looking at him. “I mean really Benji, why is that you all of a sudden are so worried about me, sure you agreed to stop making comments that put me off, but when did the switch flip on that you all of sudden cared about what I did?”
“You know what forget it, I can see you’ve got a stick up your ass, maybe your new boyfriend can take that out for you.” Benji walked away, soon after I heard the door slam shut. I had to admit it put me in a bad mood, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin my night.
* * *
Sure my little conversation with Benji had put me in a bad mood, but my date with Jake just seemed to make it worse. The waitress we had was horrible and while I didn’t mind the fact that she was trying to flirt with Jake, what bothered me the most was the fact that she completely got my order wrong, spilled my drink on me. While Jake and I made conversation, he always seemed to bring it back to the guys and how cool it was that I was a good friend with the guys of Good Charlotte.
“I’m sorry about your dress.” Jake said looking at my now stained dress.
“It’s fine, it’s not like I was going to wear it anyplace else.” I rolled my eyes.
Jake and I were currently walking on a boardwalk; the shops were lit and open. The various carnival like games were filled with either children or guys trying to win their girls a prize.
“Why don’t I win you something? I feel like I have to make up for what that waitress did.” Jake smiled, we went to one of the less busy game stands. Of course it was the milk bottle stand, where Jake would have to knock down the six milk bottles down in three tries.
“Jake you don’t have to, it’s fine.” I tried to pull him away, but Jake slapped down some money and the vender handed over the softballs, telling Jake to move a few steps back so he was across a line of tape. This date was nothing like I had expected, sure it was nice that Jake wanted to win me something, but I just wasn’t in the mood to smitten over a stuff animal.
‘You know I make you wanna scream, You know I make you wanna run from me baby, but now it's too la-‘ Benji’s name flashed at me and I answered it. Jake was to concentrated on trying to win me the giant stuffed dog to notice me.
“Hello?” I answered leaning against the railing of the boardwalk looking out into the darkness of the ocean.
“How is your lovely date going?” Benji asked
“It’s going great actually. Jake is trying to win me a prize at the moment, dinner was lovely.” I lied, I even plastered a smile on my face to try and make myself believe I was happy about the date.
“Really? Cause from where I am standing it seems like your dress is stained rather badly and you seem a little annoyed.” I stood up, turning around trying to find Benji it the crowd of people.
“Where are you?”
“Look to your right.” I looked at there a few feet in front of me was Benji, a grin plastered on his face.
“What are you doing here?” I sighed, looking behind me to see that Jake was now paying the vender again.
“I just happened to be driving by and seen you and Jake walking down. Thought I would stop and say hi.”
“You were spying weren’t you?”
Benji looked to the side and sighed slightly trying to keep a straight face. He had been spying on us, on my date with Jake and now it was like he was going to be the prince to rescue me from this nightmare. Benji looked at me, “okay yes I was spying on your date, but it wasn’t my idea!” Benji had his hands raised in defense.
I looked at him rather confused, “If it wasn’t your idea, then whose idea was it?”
“It was McKenzie, she was a little worried about you.” I nodded in understanding. I heard Jake yelling about something.
“Alyssa, I won! Pick your prize.” Jake’s smile grew even more when he seen Benji standing in front of me. I walked over and picked one of the giant dogs that were hanging around the game. I thanked the vender and headed back to where Benji standing, now with Jake grilling about the band.
“It must be really cool traveling around the world.” Jake commented, he eyed the prize I had picked out.
“Yeah it is.” Benji simply said, I could tell he was rather annoyed by Jake.
“Jake we should probably get going, I’m sure Benji has plans and what not.” I plastered a fake smile on my face, hoping Jake would just take me home.
Jake nodded and we said our goodbyes to Benji. Jake wouldn’t stop raving about how awesome it was that he got to talk to Benji Madden. We finally made it to the car when I said something.
“Jake, no offense, but will you just shut up.” I couldn’t help but let the words slip from my mouth.
“Is something wrong?” Jake asked as he stood in front of his car.
I sighed, “Kind of, all you have talked about tonight is how cool it is that I’m friends with the members of Good Charlotte and how awesome it would be to meet them and everything else that comes with that, not once have you asked about me or really told me about yourself.”
“We already did that, remember, that week of texting non-stop and how we pretty much got to know each other through that.” Jake seemed rather upset on me calling him out.
“Jake I don’t want to argue okay, but to be honest this date kind of sucked.” I mumbled.
“If you didn’t want to argue then you shouldn’t have mentioned it and I’m sorry I was a shitty date, why don’t you have Benji give you a ride home.” Jake yelled walking around to his side of the car.
“Jake come on, please don’t do this?” I half pleaded and asked
Jake didn’t listen, he got into the car and left, leaving me stranded in the parking lot, leaving me miles away from home. My only hope was that Benji was still somewhere close by so he could take me home.