Yay, a new Bethan story! Although it can NEVER compete with the awesomeness that was "Instant Messaging", I can only try.
AND! This IS an AU story. As in, ALTERNATE UNIVERSE! No Sarah, no Erica, and [possibly] no Rory. At least not yet.
I own no rights to Benny and Ethan. Just enjoy twisting their lives into the ways I think it should be.
Enjoy.
…
Ethan Morgan sighed as his mom lectured him about his little sister and why he needed a babysitter.
"I'm sorry Ethan, but I don't think you're quite ready to watch her on your own yet."
"But her babysitter is the same age as me!" he argued, even though he knew it was pointless. His mom's face remained impassive.
"According to his grandmother, he's a fine young man. Which is more than I can say for you."
"Oh come on! I fell asleep on the couch!"
"While dinner was cooking! You were lucky your father and I got home when we did! The whole house could've burned down!"
"I told Jane to watch the food and wake me up if she needed me!"
"She's eight! You should've known better than that! Just because you're in high school doesn't mean you can be irresponsible."
"Come on mom, give me one more chance and save yourself 25 bucks."
"The answer is no, Ethan."
"How do you even know if this kid will be responsible? He's MY age mom!"
"I've met him a couple times, and he seems like he knows when to be responsible and when to be a teenager! Be nice to him. He should be here any minute," she said, glancing at the clock that hung on the wall.
Ethan just groaned. This was a losing battle. How could he listen to some kid that was only a few months older than himself? He had seen the guy around a couple of times and they even had a couple of classes together and their lockers weren't far apart. Besides that, he had no idea what this guy was like. Ethan saw his mom staring at him. He just frowned.
"I'm going to my room. Tell me when you're leaving," he said, sulking to his room. He could feel his mom's eyes on him, but he didn't look back.
…
He was at his computer, playing some mindless game when he heard his mom call his name.
"Ethan! The babysitter's here. You're father and I are leaving! Come say goodbye!"
"Ugh," he said quietly to himself before speaking louder. "Coming!" He got out of his game and made his way out of the room and to the stairs. He made it about halfway down before his eyes met wide green ones.
"Hi," the boy said, sending a boyish smile to Ethan, who was now speechless. He stared at him, taking in his appearance; he was taller than Ethan by a few inches, just enough to be noticeable. His hair was flared out, standing up on one side and he wore a blue and black striped polo, the edges of a white t-shirt peeking out underneath.
What the hell is wrong with me? He thought as he felt his heart begin to beat faster as the guy just stared at him.
"Ethan where are your manners?"
"Oh. Um. Hi," he got out as he continued to the living room. Jane bounced into the room then, a smile on her face.
"Hi! I'm Jane!" she said happily, making the boy smile happily back.
"I'm Benny," he said to her, and Ethan was surprised; when he heard his voice, his heart began to sound like a marching band drum. Shaking his head, he turned to his mom.
"Bye Mom. Bye Dad," he said to his parents, who hugged him before hugging Jane. He noticed Benny stood to the side, watching. Ethan just ignored him and went to the living room, where he plopped down on the couch, already bored.
It's gonna be a long night.
…
Ethan was laughing. He couldn't remember when he laughed this much, but he was laughing extremely hard right now.
And why was he laughing?
Because he was watching Jane kick her babysitter's butt at Dance Dance Revolution. Ethan was almost falling off the couch, he was laughing so hard at watching Benny attempt to dance. Jane was an expert at this game, and Benny could not keep up. Finally, the tall boy fell to the floor, exhausted. Sitting up a bit, he looked at Jane.
"You win little girl. I'm out," he said, falling back on the floor till he was lying on it, tongue sticking out as he panted. Ethan watched him for a minute before his chest tightened and his muscles tensed. He found himself staring at Benny, and suddenly his fingers itched to touch the other guy. Before Ethan could look too much, Benny turned his head so he could see him. "Can you get me some water?"
"Uh… Sure," he said, getting up from the couch. He felt eyes on him, but he didn't want to look to see who was watching him.
He was pretty sure it wasn't his sister though.
…
Ethan made his way back to the living room, water bottle in hand. He saw Jane curling up on the loveseat, a blanket over her; Benny stood in front of the T.V., getting a movie ready.
"Do you mind if we watch a movie?" he asked, even though he didn't turn around and continued to get it ready. Ethan's mouth was dray again so he just nodded, even though Benny couldn't see him. "Great. Jane's dominating the loveseat so we get the couch I guess," he said as he turned around to face Ethan, smiling at him. Ethan just nodded and handed the water bottle to him before sitting on the couch. "Thanks." Benny smiled at him again and sat next to him on the couch.
…
About halfway through the movie, Jane was asleep and Ethan was getting there. He yawned and glanced at his watch. It was only 11. He looked at Benny to see him watching the movie. Benny's eyes never left the screen but he began to talk.
"You know we've lived next door to each other our whole lives? And we've never spoken to each other until today." Ethan didn't say anything, but he did nod. "Why do you think that is?"
"… I'm not sure," Ethan replied, eyes also on the still playing movie.
"I should go put Jane in her bed," he said, pausing the movie and getting up, stretching. Ethan saw his shirt rise a bit, exposing the pale skin of his stomach. Averting his eyes, he reclined back onto the couch, watching Benny scoop the still sleeping Jane into his arms. "Can you take me to her room?" he whispered to Ethan, who nodded and led the way up the stairs. He opened Jane's door and let Benny tuck her in. She blearily opened her eyes and smiled at the two boys before falling back to sleep instantly.
Once they were back in the hallway, Benny looked around nervously. "Now what?" he asked, making Ethan shrug and glance at his room then back at the other boy.
"How about we finished the movie?"
…
When Ethan's parents got home, they found Ethan asleep on the couch, head resting on Benny's shoulder, and Benny was watching another movie, barely awake. He yawned as he saw them.
"How was everything here?" Mrs. Morgan asked the teen, who smiled.
"Everything was fine. Jane's asleep upstairs in her bed and, as you can see, Ethan's asleep right here," he whispered, tilting his head to the slumbering boy on his shoulder.
"Aww," she said, unable to stop the smile. "Do you mind…?" she asked, reaching for a camera that was on the nearby bookshelf. Benny's eyes widened slightly but he smiled.
"Not at all." He closed his eyes as well and tilted his head a bit as the camera went off, that way it looked like they were both asleep. Once the flash went off and the picture was taken, he opened his eyes and yawned.
"It's pretty late Benny. Do you just want to stay the night? I'm sure your grandma won't mind."
"I'm sure she won't either, but I should be getting home," he said, attempting to maneuver away from Ethan, who refused to move. Benny looked at the sleeping boy and then to Mrs. Morgan. "Maybe I'll stay." She laughed and waved at him before disappearing upstairs. Ethan tiredly opened his eyes.
"You're loud."
"Oh. Sorry."
"Why do you think we've never talked till now?"
"I don't know."
"Do you like me?"
"Like you?"
"Like me."
"What do you mean?"
"I like you Benny," he mumbled out, eyes slipping closed again. Benny didn't know if he had talked in his sleep or what, but he smiled.
"You don't know how long I've waited to talk to you Ethan."
…
So… hope ya'll liked that.
And I have NO idea where I'm going with this. AT ALL.
So, suggestions are welcome. If I use your suggestion, I will credit you for it!
Bethan for life!
-JustMe133