Meeting Unexpectedly (Private to Bre)

"Yeah . . . Certain feelings that are hard to explain. That's it."

Benjamin's eyes met the ground, averting his coal, black gaze from Essie. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the daughter of Apollo watching him, her lips curving into a perfect smile. His face grew redder and redder, but Ben tipped his hat so that it covered his face, not allowing her to see it. His weaknesses were showing--everything he tried to hide was now showing in one simple blush. The son of Thanatos wouldn't allow himself to loose a battle between him and his emotions. Even if he truly liked this girl, there would be certain precautions he'd have to take before anything about his dark and mysterious appearance was destroyed--the one thing that made him the way he was, and what hid his sensative side of him from the world.

Ben peered behind his gray fedora. His eyes almost widended when he realized Essie was leaning towards him, but he knew better than to expose any facial expression other than his usual poker face. The teenager didn't know whether to run or stay--to leave Essie out in the forest alone with no way back to camp, or to expect what was coming.

Involuntarily, Ben slid his hat back on his head. It was almost as if he was unaware of everything around him, like it all suddenly faded away in darkness. He grew afraid, but didn't cower away. He froze--his body tense. All he could see was Essie--the straight, jet black hair that fell down her back and crossed over her shoulders; her bright, green eyes--one of the only girls that actually had some respect for Benjamin.

Without a moment's notice, he cowered back.

"I'm sorry." he said solemnly. "I don't know about this."

Benjamin instantly felt guilty for rejecting Essie like that. He had been so selfish--selfish in a way that he intended to be the best for both of them, but left the half-bloods even miserable than before. He could tell that Essie took it hard too. Why, if he could just turn back time, he would do so for the sake of the daughter of Apollo. She had been so kind to Ben, so caring--yet, he blew her off.

"Essie, I -- Wait!" Ben started for the rocks, gripping each one and lifting himself up gingerly. Once he had reached the top, he planted himself next to Essie.

"Essie, I didn't mean that. What I meant was --" What was the use? Ben had been so careless with his words, even though that's the exact opposite he planned to be. Essie, although appeared to be strong--and even though she was--was just as fragile as he was, he guessed. He didn't want to give up on her. Even though he thought letting her go was a good idea before, he had proven himself wrong in a lackadaisical manner.

His eyes, for once, filled with sorrow. How could he care for someone he had just met so much, and feel almost nothing for the death of his brother? The question was nearly irrelevant, but instantly popped into his head as he began his apology--he couldn't help but contemplate on it.

The situation at hand was much more important, however. He took a deep breath and sighed. It relieved him of the tension in his thoat and stomach, therefore giving him enough strength to speak.

"Essie, I'm sorry for what I said. In truth, I do like you. I was just . . . Afraid."

Ben's words seemed to hang in the atmosphere. It actually made him feel a bit better, releasing that one thing that was holding him back. Now what was he to do? He wasn't expecting Essie to forgive him--she had every right to--but he still longed for her forgiveness.

"I truly am sorry. If it is your wish, I will leave you now and never see you again." His own words clasped his heart so tight that it just might burst in anguish. "I am sorry, and I hope you can forgive me."

Benjamin was taken a back when Essie hugged him. He stroke her hair, a smile plastering his face.

"I won't. I promise."

Ben thanked the gods that Essie forgave him. In all honesty, he wouldn't know what to do without her. Sure, he had met a few friends that understood him as well, but not as well as Essie did.

The son of Thanatos disregarded his 'show no emotions' motto and let his smile grow wider.

Benjamin was pleased to see that Essie had recovered form her short depression. He wiped the tears away with his sleave, and then scanned the horizon.

It must've been almost twelve o' clock. The forest below them wa dark--to dark for anyone to see, so it was almot as if it was a pool of black. The moon luminated the night, the only light in the sky other than the stars. He found the evening peaceful, relaxing; everything was at peace, including himself and Essie.

"I'd rather stay here," he replied in a soft tone. "I don't really want to go back to my cabin yet." Ben looked down at Essie, his eyes smiling with nothing but utter joy. "Besides, I'd rather be here with you."

Benjamin was happy that Essie and he were together, but he was sure that this relationship would take an effect on his introverted ways. His cabin mates and half-siblings would eventually find out, then they would crowd around him bombarding him with the usual questions: "Who is she? Where did you meet?" He simply didn't have the patience for such interrogating, and he certainly intended on hiding it--of course, he respected Essie's opinion as well. He wouldn't mind if she told others, but that wouldn't stop him from acting the way he was now, or in this case, percieved to be.

"Yeah, it is." Ben couldn't help but count the stars, even though it was impossible to do so. There were numbers of them--numbers that people believed to be the number of souls that watched over the mortal world.

His attention returned to Essie. "Well, Brooklyn has a lot of light pollution," he explained, recalling a few scientific facts that he read in a book. He didn't venture further into the subject, knowing that Essie would become uncomfortable talking about her history.

"The month a satyr picked me up and brought me to camp, I would look at the stars every night. They sort of just . . . Captivated me."

"What do you mean?"

He probably made the wrong choice asking. He knew well that Essie didn't like talking about her past, or at least, that's what he thought. He understood--it was difficult, especially when you're a half-blood. The ones that didn't have anything tragic happen to them before their years at camp were, in fact, the lucky ones.

"You can tell me if you want. I mean, you trust me, don't you?" Benjamin realized what he had said, and quickly cleared it up. "What I meant was, that if you're okay with it, you can tell me, and I won't mind if you don't want to talk about it."

Benjamin grew angry at the thought of a group of Ares killing an Apollo child, but he became even more ticked off at the fact they picked on Essie. Well, the camp expected that sort of behavior from Ares children, but some of them at least had the decency to back off when necessary--though, that did cease the son of Thanatos' rage.

"You're alright now, though, yes?" he asked calmly, holding back his actual emotions. He knew well his limitations, and if he got up and burst into a fit of anger right now, things wouldn't be pretty, especially with the abilities he was gifted with at birth.

Benjamin observed Essie's arms with a blank expression. In a sense, he grew infuriated, but not at Essie; at the Ares kids. If they hadn't killed her friend Josh, or teased Essie, then the scars on the Apollo girl's arm wouldn't be there.

"What?" He gritted his teeth, but calmed himself before he made Essie think that it was her he was mad at. "It's good that you stopped."

Ben placed Essie's hands on her lap. "I wouldn't want you hurting yourself--I couldn't let you do that."

"I promise I won't hurt anyone."

Benjamin became even more concerned for Essie's safety, but not too concerned, as in a clingy sort of way. What if, for some reason, she started again? Wasn't it as her partner to ensure protection, and keep her out of harm's way?

"You have to promise me something as well. Please, whatever you do, don't start again. Alright?"

~ I'm absolutely useless at night.

~ we can stop here and continue tomorrow then at like 3 or something then. :)

Essie gulped. "I-I promise." she said. She said sighing. How long could she hold in her tears. With every minute she felt like she was going to cry...she wouldn't though. She...she let one tear fall, then another, until they started coming down together. She put her head on His shoulder. She was useless. She was showing a weakness, crying. She hated it.

Ben recognized the sadness in Essie's eyes. What should he do? What could he do? Perhaps words of encouragement would be a good start, but then again, how long would that last?

"Go ahead and cry." This would be a shocking statement coming out of Ben's mouth for anyone that knew him. What, show emotions? Him, show emotions? "It makes you stronger."

Benjamin wasn't sure whether he would heed his own advice, he had remained in solitude for so long. Plus the fact that he didn't even want to listen to himself, and would rather remain the way he is now than change.

~ It's okay, I'm getting some of my muse back. xD

"I know you don't. You have to understand, though, I'm trying to protect you."

He looked out at the forest below them, and then returned his attention to Essie. "You hate your dad?"