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Laying in bed staring at his ceiling Ben ignores the world as he hates himself, usually on Saturdays he'd be out with his friends or sister but he decided to take this time to self-reflect. That didn't last long though "hey Ben?" His mom calls from the kitchen

"Yes!" He answers annoyed not wanting to be bothered

"Come here a sec" getting up he walks out of his room heading to the kitchen, when he walks in his mom is standing at the counter holding a paper, "hey so did you know about this?"

"What?" Ben asks curiously

"There's explicit photos of a girl named Jennifer Field being circulated at your school," Ben's heart stops. "Apparently someone sent them out"

"Oh" his mouth gets dry, "yeah I knew about it."

"Do you know who did it?" She asks him and Ben freezes scared to answer, he never wants to lie to his parents but now he has to

"N-no" he stutters.

"Well, it says here that they're launching a full investigation and will catch whoever did it."

"What?" He takes the paper from her reading it, panicking Ben tries not to show as he reads the official words signed by the dean.

"I hope they do catch whoever did it because that's awful, and that poor girl I feel so bad for her."

"Yeah umm I have to go" he walks away rushing to his room shutting and locking the door. This is bad really bad, if they catch him Ben will be in a lot of trouble, trouble he wasn't thinking about while exposing Jenny Field. Grabbing his phone he calls the only person who'll understand

Driving out of town on a drop with his brother Harley grabs Mackie's ringing phone, "someone named Benjamin Quinn is calling."

"Don't answer it," Mackie takes his phone from Harley putting it down.

"Who is that? I know all your loser friends never met a Benjamin Quinn"

"It's no one" he ends the conversation and keeps driving. Answering Ben's call with his brother in the car would've been a terrible idea because he knows the kind of person Harley is, but he does feel bad for ignoring Ben.

Mackie's relationship with his older brother is not one he enjoys, Harley is a terrible influence who always drags him into bad decisions he can never say no to. Mackie just does them because his family is all he has, but some days when he's forced to drive Harley to deliver things he knows aren't legal, he wishes he could stop.

After an almost 2 hour drive, they finally get to where they're going "stay in the car," Harley gets out grabbing a duffel bag from the trunk.

Making sure his brother's gone, Mackie takes out his phone checking the 3 missed calls from Ben. Bringing the phone to his ear he calls Ben back, "hey sorry I missed your calls" he apologizes when Ben answers.

"It's ok"

"Everything all right?"

"Not really, the school sent letters home about starting a full investigation on who sent out the pictures of Jenny. What am I going to do, Mackie?"

"Um just don't say anything, and make sure your friends keep their mouths shut too."

"Okay" Ben tries to breathe but is still panicking, "are you around?" Ben doesn't know how else to ask but he really doesn't want to be alone.

"No I'm not but give me a couple of hours I'll come over."

"Sure thank you," Ben feels a little better.

Seeing his brother coming "anytime, I'll be there ok bye" he hangs up.

Driving back home Mackie gives his brother his car back and gets on his bike heading to Ben's house. When he gets there he parks heading to the door and knocking, expecting Ben to answer he waits but is caught off guard when Brooke answers the door. "Is Ben home?" He asks as Brooke stares at him confused

"BEN!" She calls him "why is he asking for you?" Ben and Ali both walk to the door

"Mackie?" Ben is surprised, "didn't you get my texts?"

"No" Mackie shakes his head, "my phone died." They all stare at him and Ben gets nervous "should I just go?"

"Probably" Ali answers for Ben, "why are you here in the first place?" Not wanting to deal with Ben's friends attitude Mackie turns to leave.

Ben thinks about the right thing to do in this situation, if he lets Mackie leave now that'd be it for their friendship, and he needs Mackie more than either of them realize. "Mackie wait" Ben stops him "you don't have to leave."

"Ben, what are you doing?" Ali scolds him

"Mackie's my friend all right so he stays," Mackie stops and watches Ben stand up to his friend.

"We talked about this, remember? People like-"

"People like what, Ali? You mean decent people who actually give a fuck? Stop being so fucking judgmental all right, the both of you. When Jeremy was being a dick to me neither of you said anything yet Mackie stood up for me, so I don't want to hear it, and if you don't like it you both can get out of my house." All of that came off a little harsher than he expected but Ben meant every word.

"I feel bad for you Ben," Ali says then she and Brooke leaves. Still stunned by what he'd just done Ben walks in heading to his room laying down. Mackie follows him in shutting the door, standing at the entrance of Ben's room Mackie stares at Ben who fixates on the ceiling.

"Why Do I keep making mistakes, Mackie?"

"Your friends will get over it,"

"No not them" turning his head Ben stares at Mackie, "us." He sits up "I let them talk me out of something I wanted more than anything, I wanted you Mackie and I didn't know how to tell them that. But now it's too late because you called me a friend and I know I hurt you, it makes no sense why you're still around."

Mackie shrugs "letting some things go aren't easy for me either."

Ben stands up "I miss you, is that weird to say?" Mackie shakes his head "and I miss my helmet I want it back if that's ok"

"Sure" Mackie smiles.

Ben wants Mackie back and that wasn't obvious until now, but how does he say it? "I..." He starts wanting to be honest but afraid he'll get rejected, "I don't know what I'm going to do if I get found out."

"As long as you or your friends don't say anything you'll be fine"

"I don't know if I can even count on Ali and Brooke anymore, especially after spazzing out on them like that."

"Yeah what was that about?"

Ben shrugs "it makes me sick knowing the way they are towards you is how I used to be too, and how you're always there for me I know I don't deserve that. If I'm going to be a real friend I have to start acting like one too."

"Thank you" their cheeks rise but holding a stare between the 2 is proven difficult so they both look away, the chemistry is there but neither of them are willing to acknowledge.

"Hey, Benji!" They hear from the front door "who's motorcycle is that out front?"

"Oh, crap" Ben panics "it's my sister Serena, stay in here for a sec I'll get rid of her," he walks out of the room shutting the door.

Going to the kitchen as she looks around in it, "hey what are you doing here?" Ben walks in

"I was getting bored at my place and I'm off today so I thought I'd come for dinner, where's mom and dad?" She looks around the fridge

"Date night, and I already ate so..."

"Ok I'll make something for myself then" she starts to grab pots and pans

"Or you could eat out like you always do."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" She looks at his nervous face "what are you hiding?"

"Nothing!" He says suspiciously

"Liar! Does this have to do with the motorcycle in the driveway?" She starts to walk leaving the kitchen "you know Ben if you joined a motorcycle gang mom and dad would not be happy." She heads up the stairs going towards his room

"I didn't- don't go in my room!" he quickly stands in front of his door stopping Serena from grabbing the knob.

"Oh my god, Ben do you know how this game works?" Pushing him aside she opens the door and sees Mackie standing there helmet in hand, "I guess that answers that question. Who's this?" She turns to Ben

"He umm- this is-"

"I'm Mackie"

"Oooh! Dirty Denver?" He turns to Ben who drops his head ashamed

"You too huh?" Mackie asks

Pointing to Ben Serena answers, "his words not mine"

"Serena please go home!" Ben pushes her out of his room

"Nice meeting you" she waves to Mackie as she's being pushed. When they get to the front door she asks "I thought you guys ended it?"

"Yeah we're just friends but that's none of your business so bye" he opens the door for her,

"Mm-hmm"

"Don't mm-hmm me get out"

She walks out the door and turns around, "hey if you guys were still together, do you think your ship name would be Beckie or Men?" Ben slams the door in her face as she chuckles at her own joke

Turning Ben sees Mackie standing there "I really like Men," he says smiling

"Don't mind her, she's nuts."

"It's ok my older brother's ten times worst. I do need to get going though gotta pick up my little brothers from my dad"

"Sure" Mackie walks over to Ben who's still near the door, they stand in front of each other and the closeness makes Ben a little nervous. "Thanks for coming over."

"No problem, call me if you're panicking again."

"Charge your phone," Ben comments and they both chuckle.

Grabbing the doorknob Mackie opens it stepping out and Ben holds it open, before turning to leave "would you want to ride with me on Monday?"

Ben nods, "I'd really like that."

"Ok" he smiles turning to walk away but stops and turns back, with the same smile "bike or comet?"

"You finished the comet?"

"Yeah I got it washed and polished, should be good for driving."

"Then comet it is but don't forget my helmet,"

"I won't, see you Monday."

"Bye Mackie" He turns actually walking to his bike this time.

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