Ella held back her laughter as Benji's face fell when the tiny basketball completely missed the hoop and hit the tent pole instead.

"Sorry sir, maybe next time?" the carnival worker tried to be optimistic.

Benji grumbled and walked back to Ella, who was smiling ear to ear.

"Next time. Don't be so down, not everyone's a born Kobe Bryant." Ella rubbed his back.

"I wanted to win you that ugly cute bear thingy you liked." Benji sulked.

"It's okay. It wasn't that cute. Let's go on the ferias wheel, huh?" she gently tugged his arm to their next destination.

"No." Benji stood his ground.

"'No?'" Ella let his arm drop and stared at him for an answer.

"No, I don't want to go on the ferias wheel until. . ."

She held her gaze at him. "Until what?"

Benji broke into a gigantic smile. "Until, I win you that ugly bear."

Ella closed her eyes and laughed.

"I'll be back." He pecked her lips and ran back to the gaming tent.

She smiled and waved as Benji attempted to shot for the basket.

He missed.

She didn't care that much for the bear that was hanging from the tent ceiling. She said that it was cute and he assured her that he would win it for her. It didn't matter because she was having the most fun in her 23 years of life.

Instead of doing the interviews that was scheduled for that day, she had spent the whole day at the local carnival with Benji. After the show last night, he had asked her if she wanted to hang out with him.

He suggested the local carnival.

She was surprised at the idea, but agreed.

Even though she was well aware that she was going to busy.

It was better than being stuck in room with a bunch of nosey reporters.

She chuckled as Benji missed another shot.

Her publicist was probably having a seizure right this moment.

------

Benji frowned as another shot flew over the basket.

He sighed; readjusting his beanie he grabbed the orange ball.

Glancing over his shoulder, he could see Ella chuckling at his pathetic attempts.

For Ella.

He shot.

And missed.

Again.

And again.

He felt like slapping himself then beating up the basketball stand that was mocking him.

And here he was, making a fool of himself.

Again.

He just wanted to spend more time with her and used the carnival as a lame excuse. He usually didn't do that. Most of the times, it was find a girl who wanted to sleep with him and use her for his pleasure. He typically didn't feel a connection when he was around women. But in this case, there was something; a spark; a thing or whatever you call it.

She was changing him, in a good way. Into the man he always wanted to be, but never could. She was slowly melting his stone cold heart.

------

Ella happily hummed as she sat in her makeup chair and the people around her went to work.

"Where were you yesterday? Did you forget that you had a press junket?" Carmen voiced, she was not too happy.

Ella shrugged. "I thought I had the day off."

Her publicist's eyes grew wide as they could. "You were with that boy, weren't you?"

"Yeah."

Carmen scoffed. "I suggest that you forget about him and get your head back to where it was."

"Oh? And why is that?" she challenged.

"Do you know what this can do to your reputation? Your image? If people found out that you were with this overly-tattooed, overly-pierced boy, you could be ruined. Society will look at you differently, as a social-outcast. Your fans and peers will talk behind your back."

Ella couldn't believe what she had heard. Carmen had just said the things she had promised herself she would never become one of those people who thought that they were better than people who were different. She didn't care about her image or what other people thought, she was just happy that she had this great opportunity to make movies.

"I don't care if society will look at me differently or if people talk about me. You don't know Benji and you have no right to bash him. I'm not perfect and I don't exactly have a good-girl-next-door image. If people can't accept me for who I am or whom I date, then they can stick their high pigsty fake plastic nose up in their ass, where it belongs. And it's not your business whom I date." She angrily said and stood from her seat.

"Can't you see what this boy is doing? He's trying to ruin you; he's going to spread malicious rumors about you. He's using you for your fame."

Ella took a deep breath to calm down. "No, he's not. I suggest that if you want to keep your job, you keep your opinions to yourself." She walked out of the room and into her car.

Carmen smirked as a plan boiled in her mind.

------

It had been two weeks since her little run-in with Carmen and for the most part she said nothing. Ella was gratefully for that, but couldn't help but be a little suspicious.

Benji cocked his head to the side and stared at Ella. Her mind was obviously thinking heavily on something and it made him worry. For the past two weeks, he and Ella spent all their time together, getting to know each other. Even though he was still on tour, she jumped at the chance to come with him when he had asked. 'A break from it all.' She said.

"Are you okay?" he asked, gently touching her cheek. She blinked and broke away from her thoughts, to find him gazing at her.

She smiled. "Yea, I'm fine."

He nodded, not pursing more than he wanted too. He laid his head against her chest and listened to her breathing. It was the strangest thing; her breathing calmed him, knowing that she was here and alive with him. That he was on earth with a purpose.

Ella unconsciously ran her fingers through his hair, making him purr. For the first time in her life, she was happy. Not materialistically, but emotionally. It was better than winning the lottery.

"Are you glad that you came with me?" he asked like a little boy, looking up from her chest.

She stopped and softly rubbed his scalp. "Defiantly, because I get to see you all the time."

"Good answer." He whispered, lifting his head to capture her lips.

Yeah, she was happy.