Live And Let Die
Chapter 8
By: Makena
A week had passed and Joel noticed an increase in happiness in his brother. Just being around the son he never knew until almost a month ago made Benji so happy, and it showed. It also gave Makena a little freedom, since Benji was always willing to watch Gavin as she went to look for a job.
When she wasn't looking for a job, though, Makena did all the housework and most of the cooking, which really amazed all of the guys.
"She's a miracle," Paul said once. "She got the stain out of my yellow t-shirt."
"That's nothing," Billy replied. "She's vacuumed the living room EVERY day."
"She got the weird rust stains out of the downstairs bathtub," Joel said. "And she does our laundry."
"It's like we're living with our mothers all over again," Paul said. "I don't know if I should be thankful or call her mommy."
-----
Joel sat down on the couch next to a sleeping Benji, who had curled up and fallen asleep an hour before while the TV was on. He stirred slightly before opening an eye and looking tiredly up at Joel.
"Hi," he yawned, stretching his arms out a little. Joel nodded a little and waited for Benji to wake up a little more.
Benji sat up and looked around for a minuet before looking at Joel. "What?" he asked. Joel shrugged.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to," Benji said. "You were thinking about it, anyway."
Joel shrugged. "Sometimes it sucks to be a twin," he joked with a small sigh. "Okay, I'll say it. I was just going to say you seem to be happier."
Benji shrugged. "When aren't I happy?"
Joel sighed and rolled his eyes. He had just meant to compliment his brother; he didn't want to get into a heated discussion about his former alcoholism and seemingly former depression.
"Benji..." he sighed. Benji shrugged.
"Sorry," he said. "But seriously - happier than... when I was ten, maybe? Happier than a month ago? What am I happier than?"
Joel shrugged. "Than you usually are," he said. "Or like when you drank. I didn't want to start something, Benji. I just figured I'd tell you that I noticed you've been in a better mood and seemed a lot happier with Gavin here, okay?" Joel began to get up to walk to his bedroom when Benji said something.
"You know, I wasn't depressed," Benji said suddenly. Joel stopped to listen to his brother. "Because I drank. I mean, I wasn't depressed because I drank. I drank because I was depressed."
Joel turned around and looked over at Benji. "Oh," he said softly, not exactly sure if he believed his brother's words.
"I love Gavin, you know," Benji said. Joel nodded and wondered why he suddenly changed the subject from his alcoholism to Gavin.
"I know," Joel said.
"I don't want to lose him."
"I figured you wouldn't want to."
"I'm a little scared, though, Joel," Benji admitted. "I - I don't want to turn out like him."
Joel sighed. He knew this would come up one day. He didn't know who would bring it up, or who would even worry about it first, but he knew the "what if I'm like dad" conversation would come up one day.
"Benji, you will NOT turn out to be like dad," Joel reassured him. "You won't leave your own fucking son like our father did to us, so stop worrying."
Benji nodded. It hadn't been what he was looking for, but it did fine. For the time being, at least.
-----
"One thing, I don't know why, It doesn't even matter how hard you try...” The music floated up from the first floor to Benji's room.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" he yelled, trying to cover his head with his pillow. When it obviously didn't work, he got up and pulled a pair of jeans up before he stormed down stairs, barley able to hear over the music.
"Paul!" he screamed. "Paul! Turn it the fuck down!"
He looked around and suddenly became horrified when he noticed Gavin was sitting at the breakfast table, slowly eating a bowl of cereal. Benji looked at his watch and back up at Gavin. It was only seven fifteen a.m.
"Why's Gavin up?" Benji asked, trying to yell above the music. Paul turned around and looked at him.
"What?" he asked.
"Why is Gavin up?!" Benji repeated.
"What?!"
Benji rolled his eyes and walked to the stereo to turn the music off.
"Why is Gavin up?" he repeated, irritated that he had to ask the question three times.
"Oh! Kindergarten. And we were listening to that."
Benji rolled his eyes at the last comment. He forgot Gavin went to school for half of the day. He was usually asleep by the time he was gone, and asleep still when he came home.
"Do you really have to listen to that shit so loud?"
Paul shrugged and pointed at Gavin. "It was his idea."
Benji looked over at his son. "Oh, it was, was it?" he asked, walking over to him. Gavin's eyes went wide with horror, realizing what Benji was about to do.
"No!" he shouted.
"You made Paul turn the music up so I'd lose sleep?!" Benji asked.
"No!" Gavin shouted again. Benji let out a roar and picked Gavin up, tickling him on the sides and holding him upside down.
"No!" Gavin yelled. "It - wasn't - me!"
"I think it was!" Benji laughed. He continued to tickle Gavin for a couple more minutes before Makena tugged herself up the stairs, wearing long, baggy flannel pajama pants and a black tank top. She re-adjusted her black glasses and looked around.
"Shit - " she muttered, realizing what time it was. "I have to get you to school..."
"Don't worry about it," Benji told her before she could run down the stairs to get dressed. "I'll take him today."
Makena turned around and looked at Benji, a little surprised to see him up so early.
"Oh," she began. "Okay then..."
Gavin had escaped Benji's grasp by then and was tying his shoes at the front door.
"You know where it is, right?" Makena asked him, a little reluctant. Benji cocked an eyebrow.
"Well, considering I've lived in Waldorf my whole life..." he began. Makena nodded and sighed, sitting down at the table where Gavin had been. Benji sighed slightly and walked up the stairs, throwing a hoodie over his Rancid t-shirt and jamming his black beanie over his head. He stuffed his feet into his shoes and grabbed his wallet, racing down the stairs.
Gavin was standing by the door, ready for school. He had his Power Rangers back pack slung over his shoulders proudly, wearing a hat, mittens, and a large winter coat over a long gray zip-up hoodie.
"Ready, little man?" Benji asked, picking his keys up from the table by the door. Gavin nodded and walked out with Benji to the car and got into the passenger's seat.
"Aren't you supposed to ride in the back?" Benji asked, starting the car up.
Gavin shook his head. "Mom doesn't make me," he told Benji honestly. Benji shrugged.
"Okay then." He paused and pulled out of the drive way, glad no one else's car was in the way. "What do you want to do after school today?"
Gavin thought about it for a moment before replying. "I wanna get a guitar," he said truthfully. "Mom said you can play guitar really good. I wanna play too."
Benji grinned and stopped at a stoplight. "You want me to teach you how to play, then?" he asked. Gavin nodded and he laughed. "Alright," Benji said. "We'll get you a guitar after school."
"Yay!" Gavin shouted. Benji smiled and began to drive again when the light turned green. A car coming from the left slammed it's breaks on and nearly missed Benji's car. Benji stopped to see what the matter was. He looked up and noticed that the hill must have been icy on the way down, and the driver couldn't stop, and he kept driving.