Live And Let Die
Chapter 4
By: Makena
Benji stared in complete awe, unsure if what he was looking at was real. He blinked a couple of times and tried to refrain from pinching himself to make sure it was all real.
"Makena..." he whispered. Makena stood between Paul and Billy, nervously biting her bottom lip.
"Hi Benji," she managed to get out. Benji didn't know what to do, so he stood where he had been standing, watching her. She still had long blond hair, although it was a little shorter than it had been in high school, and she had black, thick-rimmed glasses. And there was some one standing just to the side of her. He looked down at the little boy and then back up at Makena.
"Is that..." he began. Makena nodded and made the boy stand just in front of herself.
"Benji, this is your son Gavin," Makena said. Benji looked down at the boy again. He was - perfect.
"We'll leave you alone," Paul said, quickly glancing at Billy.
"Good to see you again," Billy said, giving Makena a quick hug. They took Joel with them, leaving Makena, Benji and Gavin alone.
"Umm... hi," Benji said, running his hands along the sides of his pants.
"Hi," Makena said again.
"So... um... you want something to drink?"
"A beer would be great," Makena replied. "Thanks."
Benji nodded and got one of the lingering roadies to get a beer and a Pepsi. They sat down on the couch that was sitting in the back in uncomfortable silence until the roadie came back with their drinks. Gavin stretched out across the couch and fell asleep with his head on his mother's lap.
"So... how's life?" Makena asked. Benji shrugged.
"It's... okay," he began.
"What did you do after high school?" Makena asked, trying to rid the room of uncomfortable silence.
"Joel and I got an apartment, but we got evicted from that and lived with Billy and his folks until Good Charlotte got started." He paused. "What about you?"
Makena sighed and stroked Gavin's hair. "It's a long story," she said, sipping her beer. "You probably don't want to hear it."
Benji shook his head. "I do," he insisted. Makena sighed again.
"Okay," she replied. "But you're going to be up for a while."
Benji shrugged. "I was going to be up for a while, anyway."
"Okay," she gave in. "I graduated in Iowa, and I had Gavin about a month later. I can't lie - it was maybe the happiest day of my life. I love him so much - he's perfect. But my mom didn't see it my way, and I couldn't stand to live with her, which is why I had chosen to live with my dad in the first place. Anyway, when Gavin turned one, I took him and myself from my mom's house. We got a ride from a friend and we ended up in Montana, but that's where all his drug friends went, so we caught rides from random people and ended up back in Michigan where I grew up, so I had friends that could help me out.
We kept getting evicted and having to live with other people, and I kept having to change jobs. Money got so tight I hardly had any at all. When Gavin or I need clothes, I get them at the Salvation Army." She paused and laughed. "I'm so punk," she joked sarcastically. "I work there, now, but it's still not a lot of money and I had to sell my car last month so I could pay rent." She paused again. "I don't know what I'm going to do next month."
Benji stared at her as she poured her story out to him. It suddenly hit him as she began to explain to him that she had to sell her car to pay rent.
'Oh my god,' he thought to himself. 'I ruined this girl's life.' He watched as a few tears slid down her face.
"I'm sorry," she said, trying to wipe them away. "I just - I'm sorry." Benji didn't know what to do. He had ruined her life, and now she was beginning to cry. What had he done to her? He thought about what he was going to say next before finally deciding to get it out.
"We're going back to Waldorf soon," he began slowly. "You could come out and stay with us if you wanted."
"Oh, god no," Makena said, shaking her head. "I don't want to be any trouble to you - to any of you. I couldn't... what would everyone else say?"
"They wouldn't mind," Benji insisted. "Please come out and live with us."
Makena hesitated. "I have a job."
"We'll take care of everything," Benji said. "I'll pay for you plane ticket out."
Makena thought about it. "I don't want to be a bother..."
"You won't," Benji insisted, a little firmer than before. "Please - I want to spend time with Gavin so much..."
Makena looked down at her son and then back up at Benji. "Okay," she agreed finally. "I'll come to Waldorf."
"Do you need a ride home?" Benji asked. Makena shook her head no and gently shook Gavin awake.
"We'll just walk back," she explained.
"We can drop you off," Benji insisted. "It won't be any trouble."
Makena shook her head again. "Have a bus drive me home in the middle of the night?" she asked. "I'm thinking that might wake people up."
"I'll call a cab, then," Benji said.
"Benji..."
He shook his head and picked up his cell phone and began to call the operator for the cab number.
"Benji, stop," Makena pleaded. "Don't call a cab for me..."
Benji ignored her and continued to call for a cab to pick her up. Makena sighed and successfully woke Gavin up by the time Benji had finished.
"They said some one would be here in about a half hour," he told her. Makena sighed and nodded.
"Thanks," she said.
-----
"What'd you and Makena talk about?" Paul asked once the bus was moving. Benji sighed and went to the refrigerator for something to drink.
"Stuff," Benji said. He paused and reached for a Pepsi. "We're going on break soon."
"Yeah," Paul said. "Finally."
Benji sighed again. The was a slight pause and he contemplated on telling them what he had done. Of course, he would have to tell them, but he didn't know when or if they would take it alright.
"I invited her to come stay with us," he blurted out. Everyone looked up at him.
"Okay," Joel said. Benji frowned.
"Okay?" he repeated. "You mean - you're not mad at me for asking her before asking you?"
"Nope," Joel replied.
"And you don't mind if she stays with us?"
"Nope."
Benji looked at Paul and Billy who shook their heads. "Oh," he said finally. "Good."
Joel laughed at his brother. "What, were you looking for an argument?" he questioned. Benji shrugged.
"Kind of, yeah," he admitted.
"You haven't seen her in, what? Eight years? Plus - you know, there's Gavin now and... you should probably take a little time to know him." Benji stood in awe. He couldn't believe that they were letting him do this.
They'd each wanted girl's to stay with them before, but no one had ever really let them. Of course, the situation with Benji and Makena was slightly different than a girl Paul or Billy or Joel would try to bring back, but Benji was still amazed.
"Well... okay then," Benji said finally. Joel laughed.