Nick brought refreshed drinks out to the deck, happy to see it somewhat back in order. There wasn’t too much damage out here, just an over-turned table and chairs and pool equipment strewn all over the place. One chair had been floating in the pool, but Ben was working on drying it off. Solana dumped the collected equipment into a pile by the door and slumped in a chair, smiling at the tray of drinks in Nick’s hand.

“Oh good…they threw that crap everywhere. I’m thirsty.”

Nick’s eyes met Solana’s as he set down the tray and he breathed his first breath of relief since the previous night. Her presence, while not having the complete effect on Ben they’d hoped, was surely helping Nick get through this a bit more sanely. He mouthed a heart felt thank you and she replied with a blown kiss. “No problem.”

“Ben…come on. That’s good enough.”

It was obvious he was stalling, but no one could deny him that. He was a nervous wreck, guilt, confusion and fear totally taking over his body. After his solid statement of innocence, Solana thought a break was needed. A chance of scenery and a plan for the night so no one would have an excuse to leave.

Bottom line? It was sleep-over night at Nick’s. They quickly tidied up the bedrooms, and got the guest bath usable again. They’d have to tackle that damned tub in his bathroom later. Nick was still trying to figure out how in the hell he was going to get it clean. But for tonight, time was no longer a concern and if things got too overwhelming, they could go to bed, take a rest and try again in the morning.

Ben finally joined them, unable to look at either one, grateful for a drink to stare into. It didn’t stare back.

“So, how did the game go, Ben…you never called?”

“Oh, we won. I pitched like shit. Took me out after the third inning.”

Silence. Only broken by the tinkling of ice cubes in their glasses and occasional shifting in their chairs. Silence and sitting rarely settled well with Solana, so she finally took the plunge into the inevitable conversation.

“Ben, look. You made a really good point in there. Neither Nick nor I believe that him missing one ball game would have made you so angry to do something like this. We know that doesn’t fit with who you have become.”

“So why do I feel like I’m on trial here?”

“Because your fingerprints are still all over it. Tony was in LA with Nick, we won’t mention brother again…”

“…no.” He finally looked up from his drink and into Nick’s eyes. The anger that had been there before had been replaced with sadness. Ben wasn’t sure which was worse. “I’m sorry about that…out of line.”

“It’s okay…over and done with.” Nick shrugged and looked into his drink, hoping Ben may have found a secret to this mess in there. It didn’t appear he had.

“And I surely didn’t do this. I like beer too much to let it spill all over the place.”

The boys had to smile. She was trying and right now, both were grateful. They were pretty talked out at the moment.

“So…that points to only one person who could have eked past all of Nick’s security measures.”

Ben nodded silently and looked up to Miss Romero. He respected her so much and to see the disappointment on her face…it was killing him. “I know, Miss Romero.”

“So, why don’t you tell us what happened after Nick called about the game, huh? Maybe we can all find some answers there.”

He didn’t want to talk about this, but he knew that if he didn’t, there was going to be more trouble than he’d ever imagine. Getting the gumption up to do it, however…

Wanting to help Ben see the intensity of the situation, Nick added one comment. “And Ben, I’m already tired, so let me just cut to the chase here. You don’t talk? I call the cops. I’d rather not for more reasons than you know, but I will. You’d do everyone a favor to start with the truth and never stop, you got it?”

“Yeah, I got it.”

“Okay, so Ben…Nick called, you were upset…then what happened?”

“I went to Steve’s house. He was in a mood too and we called Ron…just screwed around, talked about stupid shit, you know…just blew off steam.”

“You felt better after being with them?”

“No. Not really. I left pissed. They’re always plottin’ stupid shit. Always wanting to get into trouble.”

“And that didn’t interest you?”

“No.” Sitting up, feeling a little more comfortable already, Ben looked at Nick, waiting for him to look up as well. “You remember that talk we had after I’d screwed up your tires?”

“Which one?”

“At the restaurant. Where you said I was looking for all the wrong kinds of attention?”

“Oh. Yeah, I remember…”

“You were right, but you know, that’s Steve and Ron too. I mean, damn…they have great houses, money, two parents…all the stuff that I don’t…stuff that makes me mad enough to do stupid stuff. But yet…” He shook his head, not understanding his two ‘friends’. It just wasn’t fun anymore. Why didn’t they see that?

“…it’s not enough for them, huh?”

“No. Both of their parents work tons of hours and I guess they just want someone to notice them. I don’t get it. I’d die for houses like theirs.”

“The house doesn’t make the person, Ben. It’s what you do with your life…not what’s in it.” At Nick’s words, Solana rested her hand on Nick’s arm and rubbed, amazed at the transformation she’d seen in him in these few short months. Yep. They’d get through this somehow.

“Yeah, I think I’m figuring that out. Anyway…I left pissed and came back home. Only, well…I wasn’t ready for what was there.”

Ben’s concentration went back into his drink as he mustered up the courage to tell them about his encounter with Darren. He had done exactly the right thing, even if his mom still refused to talk about it. It didn’t mean it was something he enjoyed thinking about, and especially talking about. But here he was…with no choice but to do both.

“What happened, hon?”

“Well…we had a visitor.”

And so the tale began, with Nick and Solana silently and supportively listening, and Ben trying to let anger rule his commentary rather than hurt and tears. He didn’t always succeed. Pissed him off. He hated to cry.

“I’m proud of you, Ben…you stood up to him.” Solana was proud. Ben had no idea how much that act would aid in his healing of the whole situation. Sure it sucked to have gone through it, but ultimately it would make him a better man.

“Yeah, I did. He made one last…well, he was a shit when he left, but…it’s all good. I’m okay.”

“Do you think he’ll leave you alone?”

“I thought he already had, but…yeah. I meant what I said. I don’t know how to do it, but I will report him if he comes back. He never got to anyone else in my family and I’m not going to give him the chance.”

“We’ll help any way we can…hopefully we won’t have to.”

“Yep…he has no interest in Amy anyway. Why the hell would it have taken him this long to come back? Asshole.”

“No kidding.” Nick couldn’t believe it. And he also was beginning to see what could have led to the mess that was in his house…still inexcusable, but he wasn’t as angry as he’d been before. He had no idea how this kid walked around with this kind of weight on his shoulders. It was obscene.

“Okay, so he left…what’d your mom have to say?”

“Well, that’s where it gets fun.”

Solana already knew. She’d seen it time and time again. Nick, however, had no idea what was coming. Nothing could prepare him for the truth.

“Oh?”

“Yeah…she doesn’t believe me. Says I’m just being a pervert. Kicked me out of the house for the evening and she has yet to talk to me about it. It’s like that night never happened.”

“What the hell!? What kid makes up shit lik-“ Solana squeezed Nick’s arm and shot him a look. As much as she understood, his anger wasn’t going to help anything. Ben would still, as odd as it seemed, have loyalty to his mom. Reading her face, he settled back in his chair, silencing himself, but still fuming. He wanted to go ream that woman a new asshole. Now.

“And you haven’t met with Mrs. McKenna since?”

“No. That’s tomorrow.”

“You know it’s important you tell her about everything?”

“Yeah, I know. Everything.” Dammit. When was this all going to go the hell away?

“Okay, so Mom didn’t buy it…anything else?”

“Well, yeah…I called Steve. Went to his house.”

“And?”

“And…” Ben sighed. Here it was. No turning back now. He looked up to Nick for what he feared would be his last time ever. “We picked up Ron on our bikes and went for a ride.”

One more gulp and he could get it out. “…over here.”

“How long did it take you, Ben? A few hours? A few minutes? You know how long it’s gonna take me to clean up your little conniption fit?”

“I TOLD you I did not DO this, Nick! Just let me finish, man!”

Nick’s anger was back. What the hell had this kid been thinking? Yeah, the shit with Darren was more than he could comprehend, this disbelief of his mother only making it worse, but still…nothing justified this. Nothing at all. He sat back again, looking to Solana for strength, trying to remember how to breathe more calmly.

“So you all rode over here…you got ‘em past security…”

“Yeah, the guy barely stopped us, but I remembered the password and…well, I lied. Told him you were expecting us…”

Nick’s glare said it all. Ben wanted to die.

“…and yeah, so I got us all in.”

“Did you come for the sole purpose of destroying my house?”

“Um, yeah. That was Steve’s brilliant idea. And I’d tried to talk him out of it, even after you called. But then, after Darren…and my mom…and…I just felt like…shit, man. I can’t explain it.”

“Later…we’ll get to why later. Just keep going, Ben.” Solana was suddenly wondering why she hadn’t gone into nursing like she’d originally planned. Emotional attachment was less likely. This just sucked.

“So we got in and they just went to town. All I could do was stand there and stare at them. I couldn’t believe they could do it…and I knew I couldn’t touch a thing.” Ben stood up, feeling trapped and pinned in his chair. “I’m sorry…” He walked around to the opposite side of the pool and stood facing the gulf water, wondering how long it’d take to swim to St. Petersburg.

Nick and Solana watched him go, not saying anything. It was obvious the whole thing was breaking the kid up. Didn’t mean there wasn’t going to be a penance to pay, but it did ease the anger and feelings of betrayal Nick had been dealing with.

It was obvious Ben was crying, but his body language of walking away told them he didn’t want to be messed with, so they stayed seated. Until…

…he blew. Tears ran down his face as he finally cried out all he’d had penned up inside since the night it happened.

“I RAN OKAY!? I fucking RAN…I couldn’t…Nick, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t do this to you. You’ve been so…I just…god DAMMIT!” He turned away again, shoulders wracked with tears and agony. How could these guys he called friends do this to someone who meant so much to him? Why didn’t they care? Why didn’t HE care enough to have tried to stop them?

Nick couldn’t stay seated any longer and quietly got up, easing Solana’s concern with a look and a smile. It was obvious the situation wasn’t how he was going to clean up his home, but how he was going to clean up Ben’s heart.

As soon as Ben felt Nick’s presence, he turned and threw himself in the older man’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “I’m so sorry, Nick. I was too chicken to even try to get them to stop. I found the front door and walked out. Just let ‘em go. I should have tried to stop them.”

“You did fine, Ben. You did just fine.” The two boys stood holding each other, rocking back and forth, Nick trying to soothe the younger with words and touch. Just the way he used to with his brother when the shit would hit the fan at home. Age, gender, none of it factored in when someone was hurting and Nick knew it. “You took care of yourself. It’s okay.” And somehow, it was.

“But I let them in, Nick…I let them…what was I thinking!?”

“You were angry at everybody and I started it. Might as well lash out at the cause, huh?”

“Stupid…I can’t believe all the shit they did in here.”

“Well, yeah. It’s a mess. And you know what?”

Ben pulled back, suddenly not caring that his nose was snotty and his eyes were puffy and that he had been doing the worst thing possible…crying. “What?”

“They’re going to help you clean it all up.”