Right Where I Belong

I pulled Vitani out of sink, placing her on the towel I had ready for her. I snuggled her up in it. “So who is the girl, have I met her before?” I asked looking at Benji. My heart was racing as I asked the question, as the words left my lips butterflies invaded my stomach. My mind raced, could I be this girl he was talking about.
Benji finally made eye contact with me. I couldn’t read him through; he wasn’t showing any sign of the girl being me. I looked away in case it wasn’t me, but why should I care. There was no way I was crushing on Benji and it would be a cold day in hell when he would ever crush on me. After all it wasn’t that long ago when he acted like he hated me. I un-wrapped the towel around Vitani and set her down.
“Nah you haven’t met her, no one has actually. I was introduced to her by a mutual friend of mine.”
I could slowly feel my heart breaking as I nodded in understanding, “That’s cool; you think this could be a long term thing?”
Benji just shrugged, “I’m not sure. I’m hoping it is, because she is really cool and I know all of you will like her.”
“So I’m assuming since you’re done here, you’re going to see if this girl wants to hang out?” I asked cleaning up everything from Vitani’s bath.
“well, if you’re kicking me out, then I guess I’m going to have too.” Benji smiled, his smile was so cute.
“I’m not kicking you out, I just figured you would want to go hang out with her as soon as possible.” I shrugged heading into my living room. Benji watched me as I wrapped the cord back up for the vacuum.
“Is something wrong?” He question, his eyebrow rising up.
“Nothing is wrong Benji; I just have a lot to do today.”
“Like what? Cleaning? Allie, your apartment looks spotless, why don’t you go out shopping or something, I’m sure McKenzie would enjoy spending time with you.”
I nodded, “yeah I guess.”
Benji dug into his back pocket pulling out his wallet, opening it he dug around in one of its many compartments. I turned away somewhat rolling my eyes wondering what he was up too. I watched as Vitani jumped up onto the couch and curled up into one of the blankets.
“Here” Benji said, I turned back towards him realizing that he was holding out a one hundred dollar bill. I looked at him as if he was crazy.
“What are you doing?” I asked
“Giving you some money. “
“Why?”
Benji sighed, “So you can go have fun with McKenzie.”
I pushed his hand away, “Benji I don’t need your money, I have my own.”
“Then think of it as me paying you to get out of your apartment.” Benji whipped his hand out again.
“I’m not taking it.” I said heading towards my room.
“Yes you are, I know a lot of your money has been going into the rent on this place.” Benji said as he placed the money on my dresser.
“Benji, really I don’t need your money. Why don’t you use it to treat your friend to dinner?” I said
“Like I said, think about it as me, paying you, to go outside of this box you call an apartment and go have fun with McKenzie.”
“Benji, just take your money back and go hang out with the girl you fucking dig.” I half yelled.
Benji smirked, “Did I get under your skin?”
“Yes you prick. You just acted as if I was completely poor and I was your charity case! Now go hang out with that girl you are so hung up on!”
Benji sighed sitting now on my bed.
“That is not the way to the front door!”
“Will you just stop yelling Alyssa.”
I kept my mouth sealed, I wanted to scream at him, I wanted to cry, to tell him how I felt, but I didn’t fully understand what I felt to begin with.
“Look about the day of your date with that asshole; I really am sorry about everything I said. You are not my charity case and even if you were, you do a poor job of it.”
I rolled my eyes as I opened up my closet doors. “Benji it’s not that.” I mumbled almost wishing I had mumbled it softer to myself. I knew Benji had heard me, he let out a long sigh.
“What is it then?” Benji asked
I grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt off their hangers, I turned to Benji. I opened my mouth about to spill everything, but I closed my mouth. I couldn’t handle rejection again. Once again I opened my mouth to say something, but paused. “It’s nothing, I just hate to say “you’re right” that’s all.” I lied.
Benji didn’t believe me and I knew he didn’t, but he let it go anyways.
“I’m going to get dressed, if you really want to stay and chill on my bed go for it.” I commented as I dug through my dresser from a clean bra and panties.
“Nah I think I’m going to get going actually. Are you going to hang out with McKenzie?” he asked. I heard him get off my bed and the next thing I realized Benji’s face was an inch from mine.
“I was going to call her and see if she was up for it.”
Benji nodded and slide the hundred over to me. I shook my head about to reject the act of kindness.
“Alyssa I practically make this in seconds, don’t worry about.” Benji smirked. I shook my head as I sighed.
“You’re not going to take no for an answer are you?”
“Not in a million years.” Benji laughed, he exited my bedroom before I could say anything.
“Goodbye!” I yelled as I closed my door so I could change.
“See yah.”
* * *
McKenzie and I were sitting down at a little bistro table eating our lunch. I told her everything from when Benji brought me home from my nightmare of a date to earlier.
“You so have a crush on him.” She said, a smirk played on her face.
“Do not.” I stated taking another bite of my turkey wrap.
McKenzie just smirked and nodded her head, “Okay, so I’m not supposed to know this nor am I supposed to tell anyone, I kind of promised Joel I wouldn’t in case it isn’t anything, but…” McKenzie paused taking a bite of her own food, which only made me wait longer. “I guess from what Joel has said, Benji has been talking about you.”
“So why would that matter, maybe he was just concerned about me.” I shrugged.