Waters of Disillusion

His name is Benjamin C. Lewis and I met him wearing this really awful shirt. I'm not even joking, it looks like a zebra and cheetah had a drunken one night stand and the result was an offspring that pukes glitter. But Lucy and I were shopping on one of the rare days we're able to go to the mall, and I saw it on the rack and she convinced me to try it on for the shits and gigs.

It was so disturbing to all five senses, how could I not have gotten it?

Dory ushered us in with her grandson stepping aside. "Benjamin, this here's Helen and her girl, Nicolette Leigh. Ladies, this is my grandboy, Benji."

"Good to meet you, Benjamin," he held out his hand, but mama went right in for the hug. He hesitantly pats her back.

"You too, Helen," she releases him and he looks at me. I nod once, to which he returns.

'Benji, why don't you go play with Nic? I got things to discuss with Helen," Dory says.

"Okay, gram," he says. I wave good bye to mama and Dory while Benjamin follows me out the door.

"Look," I begin. I'm about to lay down the law because no, I won't help him find a job because he's probably from the city and thinks he's so damn superior to us.

"I'm sorry about my gram. She can be bossy at times, I know," he cuts me off. I realize just how soft his voice is. And holy shit, his teeth. They're like the epitome of dental perfection. Where as Tyler's aren't perfectly straight and sort of yellow from all that nasty dip, Benjamin's are straight and white and pretty.

"What?" His teeth distracted me. I didn't even listen to what he said.

"She's just worried about my granddad, you know. That's why, when my mom couldn't just drop everything to come down here, I offered to."

I stare at him. His eyes look even bluer compared to his dark brown dreads. "Who are you?" I ask, for surely he's not the asshole I assumed every outsider to be. It makes him smile for some reason and I see those teeth again.

"Benjamin C. Lewis, at your service," he holds out his hand and I take it.

"I'm not sure what kind of service you're offerin', but I'm Nic. Nicolette Leigh Holiday," I tell him. We haven't even moved past Dory's front walk. I pull my hand away.

"So, do you have any good places to eat? I haven't had anything since I got off the plane, I'm starving."

This kid, we're going to get along well. "Are you kiddin'? We may live in the middle a' nowhere, but we sure as hell got good food!" I start walking with a destination in mind. I don't hear footsteps, so I look behind me. He hasn't moved an inch.

"Are you comin', Benji?"