Chapter Fifty-Nine

“Cheers mate.” Ben said, getting out of the car and giving the driver his money.

“Thanks.” The driver said, returning Ben’s credit card to him, before pulling off the side of the road and heading back in the direction of London.

Ben stood at the top of Chloe’s cul-de-sac, just outside the metal gates, thinking that maybe this wasn’t one of his best thought-out spontaneous ideas. How was he going to actually get to Chloe? From where he was standing, it looked like all the lights were off, so everyone was probably in bed, and Ben didn’t want to make the entire family up! Except, it didn’t look like there were any cars parked outside Chloe’s house… Ben started to walk down the slope. He couldn’t believe he was actually here! He was so close to her! He almost felt sick with excitement, but before he really let the excitement kick in he better find a way to Chloe first. He was right about the cars though. There should be two, and there were none, which could mean that there was no-one home at all, or could mean that Chloe was there on her own. Which would be so unbelievably perfect, if only Ben could make sure that was the case. He couldn’t knock on the door, coz Chloe’s dog would go ballistic, and Ben knew that Chloe sometimes got scared when she was in the house on her own and there were odd noises making the dog go mad. And he didn’t want to scare her, he wanted to surprise her! If only he could get into the house without freaking Chloe out…

Ben stood in front of Chloe’s house and looked up to her bedroom window. The blinds were down and there was no light from inside, so she couldn’t still be up. Trying to make as little noise as possible, well aware that the dog was only a wall away and had very good hearing, Ben pushed gently on the front door on the off chance it had been left on the latch. It stayed firm, so Ben crept silently round to the second front door round the corner. This one had a big heavy-duty handle you had to push down, as well as a regular catch lock, and Ben knew that the odds of both of the locks being unlocked were very slim, and trying the handle would almost certainly wake the dog, and probably Chloe up, seeing as the door was right below her second bedroom window. The only other door was the back door, which was all the way round the other side of the house, and to get to it, Ben would have to go through the walk-through bike shed, including one gate and one wooden door, and walk all the way across the garden. Trying the handle of that door probably wouldn’t wake the dog up unless Ben was really noisy, but there was a lock and a bolt on it, and again, the chances of them both being unlocked were slim. If Chloe was anything, she was thorough. So far, this was really not going to plan.

Well he might as well try the back door: it might be unlocked, and if he got in that way then as long as the dog was shut in the dining room, she couldn’t get to him and might not notice. Ben just hoped that the sitting room door wasn’t closed. That was probably the loudest door in the whole house! Wondering briefly how he knew all this stuff about Chloe’s house when he’d only been here once before, Ben made his way round the house – through the gate, past the bikes, which he miraculously managed not to trip over, through the creaky wooden door that almost wouldn’t open at all, and down the path by the side of the house, stopping in front of the patio-style doors. Feeling incredibly like a burglar, Ben started to wonder about windows, and whether he could sorta… break into the house. He shouldn’t, but he had to! He couldn’t come all this way and then just stand outside! He had to get to Chloe! But then, even if he did in through a window, which he seriously doubted he was capable of, the dog would still go mad and wake Chloe up! This was ridiculous! There had to be a way in! Ben’s eyes wandered down the white door. Cat flap? No, now he was being really stupid. Pressing carefully down on the door handle, just in case, Ben was surprised to find it swung open easily. He was in! But why was the door not locked? Hmm, that was very odd. He hoped Chloe was alright. Suddenly feeling slightly worried now, rather than excited, Ben took his shoes off and padded quietly across the carpeted sitting room floor, across the polished wooden floorboards of the study, and onto the wooden stairs. Wooden and very creaky. Ohh, he was going to make such a noise going up these! He just hoped Chloe was in a really really deep sleep. Taking a deep breath, Ben quickly climbed the stairs, wincing at every noise, and finally, after all those hours to get there, after all those long days of doing nothing but missing her, Ben was standing outside Chloe’s bedroom door. He couldn’t wait any longer.

Pressing the gold coloured handle down, Ben let the door click, and then pushed it open. Oh God, he was actually here, in Chloe’s bedroom! The room was dark, but Ben could see that Chloe wasn’t sleeping where she usually did - in the single bed that sat on top of the futon/sofa bed thing – but that she’d pulled the futon out to make a double bed and was sleeping on there instead. Ben couldn’t express with words how he was feeling at that moment. It was such a weird feeling: he was here, right next to Chloe, when he’d been missing her so much, and that was just amazing, but it wasn’t a normal situation. She didn’t know he was here – she was asleep! Not for much longer, though. Ben wasn’t just going to stand there and watch her! Closing the door behind him and adding an extra layer of darkness to the already black air, Ben stepped further into the room, trying to remember the skill of getting past Chloe’s dressing table without knocking everything off. He got to the other side of the room, and felt blindly for the switch on the lamp on Chloe’s bedside table. Finding it without too much trouble, Ben blinked in the brightness as he turned it on and illuminated the room. Now he could see Chloe better, and… Oh, he just loved her so much.

Chloe was sleeping facing the wall on the far side of the bed. Ben smiled. That was his side. He took his jacket off and sat down next to Chloe. He could feel his hands trembling as he stroked her hair.

“Clo…” he said quietly, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Chloe stirred ever so slightly, but didn’t wake up.

Ben wondered how Chloe was going to react when she did.

“Chloe.” He said again, his voice shaking, hardly able to take the rush of feelings that were coming from seeing her again after what felt like years!

This time Chloe moaned and turned over to face Ben. Her eyes were still shut, but Ben could tell she was on the verge of waking up.

Ben leaned over and whispered into Chloe’s ear. “I love you.”

Chloe put a hand to her face and rubbed her eyes, not really looking at anything, just coming round from her slumber.

Ben didn’t know what to say. He just watched as she adjusted to the light, and then looked at him.

“Oh, not another one.” She said sleepily. “I’m sick of these dreams! It’s not fair making me think it’s real when it’s not.”

Ben smiled.

“Dreams, huh?” he said.

Chloe’s eyes suddenly widened, and she sat up.

“Ben?”

“Surprise.” He said, feeling overcome with emotion.

“Wha-”

Ben put a finger to Chloe’s lips, and moved closer to her.

“Don’t speak.” He said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her.

That was great, darlin’.” Paul said, pulling his trousers back.

“Is that it? Great?” the girl – who’d before introduced herself as Nikki – said, doing her bra up with a flick of the wrist.

Ohh no, Paul thought, looking at Nikki. He’d thought she wasn’t going to be one of those clingy needy types. He’d assumed from her forwardness that she was just up for no-strings sex. He was about to fob her off with some lame excuse, when she smiled at him and said,

“Don’t worry babe, I know the score. Thought I deserved a bit more than great, though.”

“Did I say great? I meant mind-blowing.” Paul said, oozing charm.

“Hmm, that’ll do.” Nikki said, adjusting her hair and moving towards the door. “I’ll be around if you need anything else.”

Paul smiled to himself as he watched her leave, and sat on down the bed to put his shoes on.

Well, that had certainly been time well spent! He didn’t know what he was going to do now though. He could go and pick up another girl, and it wasn’t that he didn’t feel up to it, but he didn’t think he could be bothered. He definitely must be growing up, because he felt ever so slightly… demoralised, actually! It had been fun, but it hadn’t meant anything. Oh God, what was happening to him?! He was getting morals and principles! Oh no, he wasn’t turning into Mark, was he?! Someone help him! He better go home right now and try and sort himself out. Or he could try a combination of more booze and more girls… No, he better go home - he had to be awake and doing things later on. Although, he’d been drinking, so he couldn’t drive, and he’d have to leave his car here and come back for it when he was sober. At least if he slept here then he’d be fine to drive in the morning and could just go straight to where the interviews were being held. Oh no, look, he was being all sensible now – this was terrible! Maybe he’d go and see if he could find Mark, or Christian, or Ben, or someone; see what they were doing.

Although it was now the very early hours of the morning, the party was still in full swing and there were people everywhere, so Paul bet that at least one of his “gang” would still be there. As he left the lavish room he was in, he met Rose coming out of the room next to his one.

“Have you seen Mark?” she asked.

“Not for a couple of hours.” Paul said, mildly surprised that Rose didn’t know where her boyfriend was.

But then, she hadn’t been with him when Paul found him being all drunk and stumbly earlier. And, oops, he’d told Mark he’d go and find Rose for him and he’d gone and shagged Nikki instead. Well he’d found her now! But that probably didn’t count for very much.

“Oh.” Rose said distractedly.

She looked a bit worse for wear, actually - her eyes were all sorta puffy around the edges.

“Are you alright?” Paul asked.

“Not really.” She admitted.

“What’s up? You need an ear?” Paul offered.

Listening to someone else’s problems was a fairly moralistic way to spend the rest of his awake time, and he liked Rose, anyway: she was really sweet. He hadn’t really had a chance to get to know her yet, so this could be a good opportunity, especially seeing as it was one of those highly rare occasions she wasn’t superglued to Mark.

Rose shrugged. “I don’t want to bore you.”

“I’m bored of life, sweetheart, I wouldn’t worry about that. If you need someone to talk to, I’m your man! Well, apart from, Mark’s your man really…”

Something strange happened to Rose's eyes when Paul said Mark’s name. Not strange as in glowing neon orange strange, but almost like a nervous twitch.

“Is it something to do with Mark?” Paul asked.

Rose looked down at the ground awkwardly.

“It’s okay, I’m fantastic at Mark-related advice!” Paul said. “Shall we go and sit down?”

Rose nodded.

“My place or yours?” Paul asked, gesturing to the doors they’d both come from. “Yours is probably… better, actually.”

They went into “Rose’s” room, and Paul closed the door behind them.

“These beds are big enough for about seven people.” Paul said as Rose sat down.

She smiled and made a face.

“Don’t say it, I’m already there.” Paul said, grinning and joining Rose. “What’s he done then?” he asked.

Paul was really glad he wasn’t attracted to Rose, because otherwise he’d probably try and shag her as well, which would be an unfortunate thing to do. If it was Chloe, on the other hand, things may have been a little more difficult for him. Now she was really… Ben’s girlfriend. Probably best to leave it there.

“Um…” Rose said, trying to decide whether she wanted to talk to Paul about something like that.

It was quite a personal thing, but then Paul didn’t seem the judgemental type. It might be useful to get a male perspective on all this, especially from someone who knew Mark well.

“Have you two fallen out?” Paul asked.

“I don’t know.” Rose said. “Kinda.”

This was such a horrible stupid situation to be in. And what was worse was that she didn’t know how to rectify it. She didn’t know what Mark thought about it, or what he thought about her, and she didn’t really know what she thought about him! So far it was a fairly lose-lose situation. And she didn’t know how to… well, not explain it - she wasn’t trying to explain it away, coz that wouldn’t be a realistic thing to attempt, or particularly good for her state of mind, but she did need to know, for her own personal sanity, where to place the blame for what had happened between her and Mark. Not all the blame, but knowing which box a little bit of it belonged in would be useful. Trouble was, Rose felt a bit like she’d done a science experiment without a control group. She didn’t know whether she’d seen the real Mark last night, or whether it was purely the abnormal amount of alcohol he’d had. She couldn’t come to any solid conclusions.

And then her, as well. What did she put her behaviour down to? She was a little bit ashamed of how pathetically she’d behaved. And from that came the worry that Mark might now think she was just a little too immature and young to go out with. Because if she was honest, at the moment it felt like it was she in control of the situation because she’d said no to him, but maybe in reality, he was the one with the power, and all the time she was spending deliberating what to do next was being wasted, because Mark was going to end things with her the next time they saw each other.

“Have you?” Paul asked with surprise.

What was the world coming to when then two tamest people in the universe could find a reason to get into an argument and split up? Oh, well there was no hope for him, then. He was just gonna become a monk right now to save all the future distress and trauma of the string of endless broken relationships facing him.

Rose shrugged.

“What happened?”

“He just said some stuff… it wasn’t very nice.”

“What about?” Paul asked. “Sorry, I’m prying now aren’t I?”

“No, it’s okay. I just… I feel a bit stupid.”

“Talking to me, or about what happened with you and Mark?”

“Both.”

“You don’t have to tell me what happened…” Paul said, getting the feeling this was somewhat of a delicate situation. “I can try and… advise anyway.”

“You won’t tell Mark, will you?” Rose asked. “Or anyone.”

“No, of course not.” Paul said. “Highly confidential.”

Rose couldn’t believe she was about to pour her heart out to someone as cool as Paul, but she felt like she could trust him (although that’s what she remembered thinking about Mark in her ‘Reasons to sleep with him’ mental list, right before she…), and she really needed to talk to someone about this: it was making her so confused.

“Well… I don’t really know where to start. Um, well, me and Mark were… oh, this is so embarrassing.” Rose said, losing her bottle.

“Honestly, you don’t have to tell me.”

“No, I want to. I need to.”

“Okay.”

“Well, you know Chloe and Ben have slept together?”

Paul nodded. “I clearly remember being pushed in the pool as a direct result of knowing that.”

“Oh, yeah, sorry about that. I was just being overprotective of Chloe.”

“It’s okay, I was being a prat. Although it was mostly Ben.”

“He tried to talk to me about it earlier.” Rose said.

“Did he?”

“Yeah. He was really horrible about it.”

“Was he?” Paul asked with surprise, again.

That wasn’t like Ben.

“What did he say?”

“Um, stuff like, Chloe doesn’t need me now she has him, just stuff like that.”

“Oh, Rose, that’s really harsh. I mean, Ben’s a good mate, but that’s well out of order.”

“Well, I dunno, maybe I asked for it.”

“No, I don’t think it’s you. It’s Ben; what Chloe makes him do.” Paul paused. “But anyway, we were talking about you and Mark.”

“Oh, yeah, okay, well, I was, like, really upset about what Ben said to me, and I was talking to Mark about it, and he was very, erm, comforting…” Rose looked at Paul and he nodded in understanding. “And we haven’t, er, y’know, but I did want to, coz Chloe had been saying about her and Ben, and I guess I was a bit jealous, and so when Mark asked if I wanted to go somewhere, you know, quieter, I said yes, and so we went into one of the rooms, but I got really freaked out, and I said I wasn’t ready, and I thought Mark would understand, but… well, he didn’t, basically, and he was really mean about it.” Rose blurted out without even pausing for breath.

“Mark was?” Paul asked incredulously.

Well that certainly didn’t sound like Mark, either! What had got into everyone tonight?! Next someone was going to tell him that Christian had just purposely hurt a poor defenceless animal.

“Mmm.” Rose said, deeply embarrassed already, even though she’d so far managed to omit the part where she was a virgin.

Oh God, why was she telling all this to Paul? He’d probably had sex about a thousand times! He was going to think she was such a loser.

“Erm, I don’t wanna get all personal and stuff, but was it gonna be your first time?” Paul asked.

Nooooo, why was he asking thaaat?! Oh the shame! Where was that nice big black hole that was supposed to be coming to swallow her up right about now?

“God, Rose, it’s nothing to be ashamed of!” Paul said, noticing Rose’s discomfort. “I think it’s cool.”

“You do not think it’s cool.”

“I do! And it’s much more attractive that having slept with loads of people.” Paul said.

“Oh it’s so not.”

“It is! I’d rather be you than me. Well, I’d rather be anyone but me, but that’s beside the point.”

“Sure it’s not you who needs the ear?” Rose asked.

“What? Oh, no, it’s alright, I learn to live with it. So then what happened with you and Mark?”

“Oh, um, well nothing, really. We had an argument and I shouted at him, and then I sorta ran off.” Rose said. “And I don’t know what to do now. I just think I’ve totally blown everything.”

“Because you wouldn’t sleep with him?”

Rose nodded. “I thought I was ready, but I wasn’t, and I really did think he’d understand, but…”

“I’da thought Mark would’ve understood too.” Paul agreed. “It doesn’t… I think the whole world’s gone mad tonight.”

“So that – how he was -, that’s not, like, the real Mark, or anything?”

“Not as far as I’m aware! I mean, personally I haven’t slept with Mark…”

“Join the club.” Rose said

Paul laughed. “Has Mark been alright with you otherwise?” he asked.

“No! He’s been really weird.”

“How?”

“He keeps having mood swings, and stuff. He keeps snapping at me, and like, before the party he was talking about breaking up with me for my own good!”

“Really? Sounds like he’s totally flipped to me.” Paul said.

“Do you think it’s something I’ve done?” Rose asked.

“No, I definitely don’t think it’s you.”

“Really?” Rose asked hopefully.

“Yeah. I think it’s like I said at Blue Peter – Mark has a lot of issues about stuff at the moment, and I think that you just happen to be in the wrong place at the right time.”

“I…” Rose stopped, not sure where what she was going to say had come from.

“What?” Paul asked, sensing Rose was about to say something important.

Rose looked down at her hands. “Sometimes I don’t like the way he makes me feel.” She said quietly.

“How does he make you feel?”

“Like… well, like I’m not equal to him. Like I just have to hope that something I say isn’t going to annoy him, or… I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it like this before.”

“Really? He makes you feel like that?” Paul asked with concern.

That wasn’t right. Paul was worried about how Mark was treating Rose, and also why Mark was treating Rose like that. Oh, things were so weird at the moment! What was up with everyone?!

Rose looked at Paul, worried she’d said something really bad without meaning to or knowing it.

“Um, yeah, sort of… But it’s not all the time! Just sometimes I don’t know what to say to him.”

Paul didn’t know what advice to give to that little revelation. If it had been anyone other than one of the guys, he’d have told Rose to get out of the relationship coz it wasn’t a good situation to be in and would probably only get worse, but this was Mark! Surely Paul didn’t have to warn Rose off him?!

“How about the rest of the time?”

“When he’s being normal it’s lovely, but recently, especially since I’ve been down in London, I don’t…” Rose sighed. “I don’t know what’s happened to him, but he’s acting so differently to how he did when we first started going out.”

“Have you talked to him about it?”

“I don’t want to annoy him.” Rose said. “When things are good I just want to keep them that way. And he’s under a lot of stress with all the Sam stuff, I don’t want to… add to that.”

“Rose…”

“I think I made things worse earlier.” She continued.

“How?”

“I… I told him I love him.” Rose said. “I didn’t mean to, but he was trying to break up with me “for my own good”, and I don’t want that, and so I said I’d prove it to him, and I-I told him I love him.”

“You love Mark?”

Rose nodded, almost feeling ashamed.

“How does that make things worse?” Paul asked.

“Oh, I don’t know! It just adds to everything! And I told him that it didn’t matter what happened, nothing would change how I felt about him, but after tonight… I just didn’t know Mark could be like that.”

“Nor did I.” Paul said.

“So what do you think I should do now?” Rose asked, desperate for advice.

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know!” Rose said. “I don’t know what I should do, I don’t know what I want to do…”

“Do you want to see Mark?”

“I thought I did…” Rose paused.

“But?”

“I don’t know now. He really surprised me with what he said to me, how he reacted earlier. He really hurt me.” Rose was quiet again. “I think I just want to go home.”

“You’re gonna leave without seeing Mark?”

“Well I can’t, because all my stuff’s at his house; he was going to take me to the train station,” Rose looked at her watch. “this morning. But I don’t know, I think that’d be best. I need to think about things before I talk to him, sort stuff out with me, first. Oh, it’s gonna be so awkward going back to his house with him.”

“Do you want me to take you to the train station?” Paul asked.

“What about my stuff?”

“I could take you to Mark’s first to pick up your stuff. I’ve got a key if no-one’s in.”

“Would you do that?” Rose asked.

Paul nodded. “Yeah, of course!”

“Oh my God, Paul, that would be so nice of you!” Rose said gratefully. “Oh, but… do you really think I should leave without saying anything to Mark?”

“I think you need to know what you want to say to him before you talk to him. You could leave him a note, or I could talk to him if you want.”

“I don’t want you to take sides though.” Rose said worriedly. “It might seem like you’re siding with the wrong person. Coz, like, Mark’s your friend and stuff.”

“You leave that to me, okay? If you want me to talk to him, I will.”

“Well, could you just tell him that I need to think about things?” Rose said. “Do you think that’ll be okay?”

Paul nodded. “I think that’ll do just fine.”

“How are you here?” Chloe asked Ben in disbelief and elation, her forehead touching his, arms tightly around his neck.

“I had to see you.” Ben said, really trying not to cry. “I love you so much; I can’t be away from you - not even for a minute - without feeling like I’m dying.”

Chloe nodded. “I know. I’ve missed you so much.” She said, a tear falling down her cheek.

Ben smiled. “Don’t cry.” He said, wiping it away.

“Don’t leave me on my own again.” Chloe said, looking into his eyes. “I couldn’t do anything but miss you.”

“I won’t. I won’t, I promise.” Ben said, kissing her again.

He had his hands on her face, then in her hair, and then on her back, where he stopped kissing her and just held her against him. And it was the most wonderful feeling in the entire world. They stayed like that for ages, just trying to believe that it was actually happening and they were together again.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” Chloe said, pulling out of the hug to look at Ben. “How did you get in?”

“The back door was open.” Ben said, smiling at Chloe, not able to take his eyes off her even for a second lest she just disappear.

“Was it?” she asked, looking worried.

“Don’t worry.” Ben said. “I’ll protect you.”

Chloe grinned at him. She looked so happy; Ben just wanted to kiss her forever.

“I know you will.” She said, hugging him again. “Oh my God, this is so surreal.”

“Nice surreal?” Ben asked.

“Very nice!” Chloe said. “You’re gonna make me cry again.”

“Why?”

“Coz I’m so happy! And coz I love you so much and I didn’t think I was going to get to see you for weeks! And I thought you were meant to be at a party anyway?”

Ben smiled at her. “It was a crap party. And I was sitting there watching everybody being all happy and having a good time, and I was thinking, why aren’t I? And then I realised, it’s not people or places that make me happy, it’s you.”

Chloe smiled back at him. She couldn’t do anything but!

“Will you stay forever?” she asked.

“Forever?”

“Yeah. Forever and ever and ever and ever!”

Ben laughed. “I love you.” He said.

“I love you too.” Chloe said, readily complying as he kissed her.

“You know,” Ben said, playing with the strands of long brown hair framing Chloe’s face. “you look very cosy all under the covers and everything. Can I get in?”

“Not with all your clothes on!” Chloe said, giggling as Ben kissed her nose.

“You’re so cute.” He said.

Chloe frowned playfully. “I’m not supposed to be cute! Cute’s what my cat is.”

“Well, what are you supposed to be?” Ben said.

“I dunno! Sexy?”

“And you think I don’t think you’re sexy?”

“Probably not.”

“Well I do, and a whole lot more.” Ben said, kissing her nose again. “Why can’t I get into bed with my clothes on?”

“Coz they’re all grubby!”

“They’re not! They’re my special clean party clothes, I even had a wash!”

“You still can’t get into bed with clothes on. Don’t sleep in day clothes, do you?”

“Don’t sleep in any clothes.” Ben said, grinning at Chloe.

“Well you’ll just have to take them all off then.” Chloe said, grinning back.

“You’re the one with the problem, you take them off.” Ben said, kissing Chloe briefly.

“I thought you’d never ask.” Chloe said, pulling Ben’s top over his head and then bringing him back closer to her to kiss him again.

Chloe had just undone the button at the top of Ben’s trousers when he pulled back and stopped her.

“No, hang on, I need to ask you something, before the amount of sex we’re about to have makes me totally forget everything.” He said, suddenly remembering what he’d been wanting to ask her the whole way up to her house.

“Who said we were gonna have sex? I was just gonna make you lie there naked.” Chloe said with a grin, her hand still toying with the top of Ben’s trousers.

“Were you?” Ben asked.

Chloe giggled. “Yeah, like I even have the will-power to do that! What do you need to ask me?”

“Well I wanted to do this in a really romantic way, but I seem to have left my box of romantic props at home, so I’m just gonna have to do it like this.”

“Okay…” Chloe said, trying to read it in his eyes.

Unfortunately, all his eyes seemed to be telling her that night was, ‘We are hypnotic, we are hypnotic’, and she knew that already!

“I don’t know how to say it, babe.” Ben said, starting to feel nervous. “I should have been planning it in the car on the way up, but I was so excited about seeing you, and…”

Chloe slid a hand down inside Ben’s trousers.

“Okay, that isn’t helping.” Ben said.

“It isn’t?” Chloe asked innocently.

Ben shook his head. “Come here.” He said, pushing Chloe onto her back and kneeling over her, gently pinning her arms down above her head.

Chloe giggled. “Ooh, like it when you’re rough.” She teased.

Ben smiled. “You’re a pain.” He said fondly.

“But you love me.”

“More than anyone in the whole world. Me and you, Clo, that’s all we need.” Ben said, running a finger down the side of Chloe’s face.

“Do you know, we were in this exact same position when we had our first kiss?”

“We’ve been in this position several times.” Ben said.

Chloe smiled. “Do you remember, though? At the hotel?”

“I do.” Ben said. “I remember looking at you and thinking how beautiful you were, without even knowing it. And I wanted you so much, from the second I met you and you started talking… when your eyes lit up and you smiled at me like you do… And I can’t stop telling you how much I love you, and I don’t want it to sound insincere, but I can’t help it. I don’t even understand how much I love you.”

Chloe watched Ben as he talked. Every now and then, he’d start talking about how he felt, and it was like he found it hard to stop. In those moments, not just though his words, but through his beautiful, mesmerising eyes, Chloe could see right the way through to his soul.

“I could never tire of you telling me you love me. It’s the most wonderful thing anyone could ever say.”

“I love you.” Ben said, letting go of Chloe’s arms and letting his body rest against hers as he kissed her.

Chloe was about to remove the remainder of Ben’s clothes when she realised he still hadn’t told her this thing. He’d have to tell her before they went any further. She just wouldn’t be able to concentrate properly otherwise.

“You never told me what you needed to ask me.” Chloe said, stopping Ben’s wandering hands to aid his attention levels.

“It can wait.” Ben said, going to kiss Chloe again.

“I hope you’re not just using me for sex, Benjamin Adams.” She said with a smile.

“Clo, my mum calls me Benjamin! Call me that now, ruins the mood somewhat.” Ben moaned.

“Well good! I wanna know this thing! Is it a big thing?”

Ben kissed Chloe. “You’re too good at getting your own way.” He said, smiling. “Yes, it is quite a big thing.”

“So tell me! I like big!” Chloe said, before seeing Ben’s smirk and trying to correct herself. “Well, no, not like, I mean, I don’t, well, obviously… excuse me while I go and hide forever.” She said, going red.

Ben had never seen Chloe so embarrassed that she went red, and suddenly, in this new light, she looked so beautiful that he never ever wanted to let her out of his sight again. He smiled at her and leant in to kiss her again.

“Will you move in with me for the summer?” Ben asked suddenly, breaking the kiss and catching Chloe completely off guard.

“What?” she asked quietly, looking up at Ben in uncertainty.

“Move in with me.” Ben said. “Because I love you, and I can’t live without you.”

Chloe just looked at him.

Ben looked back.

“Is the silence for me to convince you to say yes, or for you to think up ways to say no without hurting my feelings?” he asked nervously, not really sure what to say, but feeling awkward in the silence, especially as he was lying on top of Chloe just doing nothing.

Actually, that was unnerving enough in itself!

“The silence is for me to try and convince myself that I heard you properly.” Chloe said slowly.

“Did you hear me say burgers and chips? Coz sometimes I say that by mistake.” Ben grinned. “Not obvious I have food on my mind a lot of the time, is it?”

Chloe ran her hands down Ben’s sides.

“Don’t ever change.” She said. “Don’t ever ever change.”

Now it was Ben’s turn to look confused.

“I won’t.” he said.

“Do you really want me to move in with you?”

“More than anything, babe.” Ben said. “Coz these last two weeks without you have been the worst of my life. If I have to go home without you I’ll die: I just hate being away from you.”

Chloe nodded. “I know, I hate it too.”

“Do I get an answer then? I don’t mean to be pushy, but if you leave me lying here much longer I’m going to go mad on two counts.” Ben smiled at Chloe. “It’d only be for, like, the summer holidays. I know you’ve gotta do school and stuff.”

“I wish I didn’t.”

“Now don’t you go getting all rebellious: I’ll get lynched by your parents for being a bad influence on you.”

“Talking to me like I’m a child.” Chloe said semi-huffily.

“I’m sorry. You’re not.” Ben said, smoothing Chloe’s hair back off her face.

She smiled. “You know I’m dragging it out on purpose just to be cruel, don’t you?”

“Hadn’t thought you could be quite that mean, but yes, now I see what you’re doing.”

“Yes.” Chloe said simply, looking at Ben expectantly.

“Yes? Yes to moving in with me, or yes to burgers and chips? Coz you know I can’t keep track of how many times I say that.”

“What do you think?”

Ben didn’t say anything, just kissed her and kissed her. All he was thinking was that this summer was going to be the best of his life.