Post by Noxeema Jackson on Mar 7, 2009 15:25:20 GMT -5
"Well, that went better than I thought it would," Lila said as she
stepped out of the courtroom and into the hallway with Ben close
behind. She paused for a moment to look over her grandson and
noticed the defeated slouch in his shoulders. "It's just community
service, Benjamin," she tried to reassure him.
"Yeah, I know," he admitted half-heartedly and loosened the tie
around his neck. It'd suddenly felt tighter and more restricting the
minute the judge rendered the sentencing. "I just..." he paused, "I
didn't exactly plan on spending the summer up to my elbows in trash."
Lila gave him a weak smile then gently placed her hand upon the
side of his face and lifted his fallen chin. He'd been walking
around with his head down ever since she had picked him and Grace up
from the police station. "I've got some connections. I'll see what I
can work out," she replied. "I know some people at an orphanage that
are always looking for volunteer help. I'm positive it won't be easy
but I imagine it'll be a great deal better than swimming around in
sour milk and refried beans."
"Yeah, sure," he shrugged like he were simply saying what she
expected him to say.
Lila looked him over for a moment, folding her arms across her
chest. "You can relax, darling. I haven't called him."
Ben's eyes lifted suddenly. He stared at his grandmother with his
brow creased in confusion. "You didn't?" he asked. "Why...?"
She took in a deep breath and released it slowly before moving over
to one of the benches that lined the hallway and took a seat. Ben
followed but remained standing in front of her, his tall body making
him look like a sasquatch compared to her small frame. "Because it
wouldn't have done any good. You already know what you did was wrong
and you're already being punished for it. You've learned your lesson
and I don't think there's anything that Connor could say that would
be any benefit to you.
Ben felt a weight lift from his shoulders and suddenly things
didn't seem as bad as they had a few minutes ago. The cops he could
deal with, the judge he could deal with, even Gram being upset with
him he could deal with to an extent--he knew she'd always forgive
him, that was just her way. But his father was a completely
different story. "I don't know what to say..." he started but found
himself being interrupted.
"Just promise me we won't be repeating this little episode and we'll
call ourselves even," Lila spoke.
"Deal," he agreed with a slight smile.
"Good," Lila said, nodding as she rose from her seat. "But...it
appears you have a visitor," she continued nodding in the direction
of the courthouse doors that stood behind Ben, in front of which
Grace Behr was standing. "Why don't you go say 'hello.' I have
somethings I want to talk with your lawyer about anyway."
Grace was staring down at her hands, trying to figure out exactly
what she'd say to Ben when she saw him. She had alot she wanted to
say... But well she just couldn't think of how she wanted to say it.
She sighed, her brows furrowing a bit in utter frustration. Maybe
this was a sign or something that she should just leave things the
way they were. She glanced up, her expression brightening
immediately when she saw Lila and Ben.. Well the back of Ben anyway.
She lifted her hand, offering Lila a small wave and smile before
taking a few steps in their direction. "Hey... Uh, how did it go?"
She asked, her gaze flickering over Ben before she shoved her hands
into the pockets of her jeans.
Ben watched as his grandmother went back into the courtroom to
speak with his attorney before turning around to face Grace as she
approached. "Aiight, I guess," he shrugged, lifting the bottom of
his black suit jacket up, allowing him to slide his hands into his
pockets. "Four months community service."
Her expression crumpled a bit and she glanced away and nervously
reached up and swiped at her hair. "I'm so sorry Ben." She murmured.
She chewed on her bottom lip and looked back to him. "You don't hate
me now do you?"
"No," he answered with a perplexed look on his face. "Why would you
think I'd hate you?"
"Well.." She shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno. I guess.. I mean
you're in trouble because of me..." She trailed off.
"How do you figure?" he asked.
"What do you mean how do I figure? I'm the one who suggested going
down there.. And if we hadn't been down there that guy wouldn't have
harassed us.. Right?" She pointed out.
"Yeah, and I coulda said 'no,'" Ben argued. "I'm a big boy, Grace.
I don't need someone else takin' the blame for me every time I screw
up. I shoulda known better."
"Well.." Grace shrugged again. "Fine. But I still say it's my
fault." She paused and flashed him a bright smile. "So you want to
hear my good news or what?"
"Um, yeah, sure. But I gotta bring the car around, so if you think
you can walk and talk at the same time...," Ben replied and started
to walk toward the door with Grace by his side.
"Hey now! I can walk, talk AND chew gum at the same time, thank you
very much!" She pointed out as they headed out of the
courthouse. "Anyway! Get this! I have a job! And not just any job...
But I'm gonna be a personal assistant to Jagger St. Croix." She told
him, obviously quite proud of herself.
"Jagger Who?" Ben asked with his brow creasing in a look of
unfamiliarity.
Grace stopped and flashed Ben a look. "Are you serious? You don't
know who Jagger St. Croix is? What planet have you been living on?"
She asked, her brow arching in wonder. "Well.. He's a really big
singer. Like huge! He sings that song Perfect Strangers that's
always on the radio? You've gotta know that song."
Ben's eyebrows lifted. "Sorry," he said, apologetically clueless.
Grace lifted her hand and waved it dismissively. "Well whatever.
The fact is, I got a job.. And I'm gonna be like running errands and
arranging his schedule and stuff like that. It shouldn't be that
hard.. Right?" She asked beginning to walk again.
"I dunno," he shrugged. "You bringin' the feds along?"
"No!" She frowned glancing over at him. "Remember, they got the
axe?" She asked sighing. "Besides, nothing's happened since.. Well
that day, so Logan's pretty sure things have calmed down. Whatever
that means. Not that I'm complaining mind you.. I'm glad to be able
to walk around without a human shadow.."
"I was just askin'," Ben said, holding his hands up in defence. "I
mean, I didn't know how comfortable this Jacker guy would be with
his personal assistant showing up with six armed bodyguards." He
fell back into step with Grace. "He might get shadow envy."
"Jagger." Grace corrected. She shrugged her shoulders, tucking her
hands in her pockets. "Hopefully, I'll have time for a life.. He
said in a few months things are going to get crazy.. But. A job's a
job.. Even if my summer's gonna be pretty much not there..Right?"
She glanced over at him. "How about you? What are your plans for the
sumemr."
"Barring an act of God," Ben started, glancing back at the
courtroom he'd come out of minutes ago before pushing the courthouse
door open and stepping outside. "Probably sorting trash at a
landfill."
"Oh.." Grace muttered softly before shaking her head. "Well besides
that. Are you still going to be working at the museum?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Aidan's got this big Degas exhibit coming
through in July. So he's got us all going through security
seminars 'til the end of June."
"Well... That sounds.. interesting." She said slowly. She bit down
on her bottom lip, glancing over at him out of the corner of her
eye. "So.. Ummm.. Maybe after school ends you can like.. I dunno..
Maybe help me look for an apartment? I don't want to be hussled. And
knowing my luck, I would be."
"You mean you don't want your brother finding out you're still
hangin' out with me," Ben said, cutting straight to the truth.
"Uh.. Well that's not exactly it.." Grace protested, her cheeks
flushing. "I mean.. Once I'm outta his place he can't exactly tell
me what to do can he?"
"I think you'd be surprised," Ben replied, memories of the last few
conversations he'd had with his father quickly flashed into his
mind. Even from this distance Connor Buchanan still felt he had the
right and responsibility to tell his son when he was screwing up,
which with Connor was almost all the time. "So, you and Ally gettin'
a place together?" he asked, assuming that Grace and Ally would move
in together.
Grace frowned, she really hoped once she moved out, Logan would
lighten up. But only time would tell. She looked away, chewing
softly on her bottom lip. "Well no. I'm getting my own place. I
mean, I don't know what kind of crazy hours I'm going to have.. So
it wouldn't be fair to her.. So.. Yeah."
"There you are!" Lila belted out from the top of the courthouse
steps and quickly moved down to the sidewalk where Ben and Grace had
stopped to wait for her. Ben found himself amazed at how quickly the
thin, frail looking woman could move. "You get a slap on the wrist
and already you think you're a free man," she said, joining
them. "Well, I'm going to have my eye on you young man," she added
teasingly, "I'll be watching you like a hawk."
"What else is new?" Ben answered sarcastically.
Lila waved off her grandson's comment and turned her attention to
his companion. "Well, hello Grace. It was nice of you to show up.
Wasn't it nice of her to show up, Ben?"
Ben eyed his grandmother suspiciously. She had that look about her.
The look of a woman up to no good. "Um...yeah. It was really...nice."
Grace's cheeks flushed again, but somehow she managed to flash Lila
a bright smile. "Hi Mrs. Buchanan.. How are you?" She asked, trying
to skirt around her comment.
"Interrupting, apparently," Lila replied, noting aloud the sudden
silence that had befallen the young pair upon her arrival. "I think
I'll let you two alone to talk some more and I'll just meet Ben in
the car." With that said and without waiting for a reply, Lila moved
past her grandson and his little friend.
Ben turned to watch his grandmother leave for a few seconds before
turning his attention back to Grace. "She never quits," he muttered
more to himself.
Grace's eyes widened as she watched Lila walk off. "She doesn't
think.. That we..Does she?" She asked glancing over at Ben.
"I dunno," he replied, scratching the back of his head. "I'm
startin' to think she just wants a great-grandbaby. Which just means
she'll be pimpin' me out until she gets one." He shrugged and a
momentary pause fell over them before another thought popped into
his head. "Or she thinks I'm gay."
Grace just about fell over. "A baby?! She does realize how old you
are right?" Grace asked, regaining her composure. Sure people their
age had babies all the time, didn't mean that they had to.. She
shook her head. "Well..You're not are you?" She finally said, a
teasingly tone worming it's way into her voice.
Ben shook his head, giving Grace an incredulous look. "Hilarious,"
he answered sarcastically.
"Well.. One never knows." She grinned sweetly. "You still didn't
answer the question."
His look intensified. He couldn't believe she even felt the need to
ask that question. "No...I'm not," he finally answered,
adding, "And, no, I'm not gonna prove it to you."
"I wasn't even going to ask!" Grace chuckled, sticking her tongue
out at him. She shook her head still laugig. "YOu do know I was
teasing you right?"
"Yeah, you and everybody else," he answered, sliding his fingers
through his thick mop of hair. "I should probably go before she
starts planning the engagement party."
Grace shook her head sighing, "Your Grandma needs a hobby.. And it
should be something that doesn't involve engagement parties.." She
muttered, trying to keep her cheeks from flushing once more. "But
yeah.. I gotta get going too.. Just wanted to make sure everything
was okay with you." She flashed him a small smile. "So I'll see ya
around?"
"Yeah, I'll see ya," he said, allowing a smile to crease his lips
for the first time that day. He watched Grace as she turned around
and heading down the sidewalk before turning himself and moving down
in the opposite direction.
Lila Buchanan played by Brandon,
Ben Buchanan played by Brandon,
&
Grace Behr played by Holly
stepped out of the courtroom and into the hallway with Ben close
behind. She paused for a moment to look over her grandson and
noticed the defeated slouch in his shoulders. "It's just community
service, Benjamin," she tried to reassure him.
"Yeah, I know," he admitted half-heartedly and loosened the tie
around his neck. It'd suddenly felt tighter and more restricting the
minute the judge rendered the sentencing. "I just..." he paused, "I
didn't exactly plan on spending the summer up to my elbows in trash."
Lila gave him a weak smile then gently placed her hand upon the
side of his face and lifted his fallen chin. He'd been walking
around with his head down ever since she had picked him and Grace up
from the police station. "I've got some connections. I'll see what I
can work out," she replied. "I know some people at an orphanage that
are always looking for volunteer help. I'm positive it won't be easy
but I imagine it'll be a great deal better than swimming around in
sour milk and refried beans."
"Yeah, sure," he shrugged like he were simply saying what she
expected him to say.
Lila looked him over for a moment, folding her arms across her
chest. "You can relax, darling. I haven't called him."
Ben's eyes lifted suddenly. He stared at his grandmother with his
brow creased in confusion. "You didn't?" he asked. "Why...?"
She took in a deep breath and released it slowly before moving over
to one of the benches that lined the hallway and took a seat. Ben
followed but remained standing in front of her, his tall body making
him look like a sasquatch compared to her small frame. "Because it
wouldn't have done any good. You already know what you did was wrong
and you're already being punished for it. You've learned your lesson
and I don't think there's anything that Connor could say that would
be any benefit to you.
Ben felt a weight lift from his shoulders and suddenly things
didn't seem as bad as they had a few minutes ago. The cops he could
deal with, the judge he could deal with, even Gram being upset with
him he could deal with to an extent--he knew she'd always forgive
him, that was just her way. But his father was a completely
different story. "I don't know what to say..." he started but found
himself being interrupted.
"Just promise me we won't be repeating this little episode and we'll
call ourselves even," Lila spoke.
"Deal," he agreed with a slight smile.
"Good," Lila said, nodding as she rose from her seat. "But...it
appears you have a visitor," she continued nodding in the direction
of the courthouse doors that stood behind Ben, in front of which
Grace Behr was standing. "Why don't you go say 'hello.' I have
somethings I want to talk with your lawyer about anyway."
Grace was staring down at her hands, trying to figure out exactly
what she'd say to Ben when she saw him. She had alot she wanted to
say... But well she just couldn't think of how she wanted to say it.
She sighed, her brows furrowing a bit in utter frustration. Maybe
this was a sign or something that she should just leave things the
way they were. She glanced up, her expression brightening
immediately when she saw Lila and Ben.. Well the back of Ben anyway.
She lifted her hand, offering Lila a small wave and smile before
taking a few steps in their direction. "Hey... Uh, how did it go?"
She asked, her gaze flickering over Ben before she shoved her hands
into the pockets of her jeans.
Ben watched as his grandmother went back into the courtroom to
speak with his attorney before turning around to face Grace as she
approached. "Aiight, I guess," he shrugged, lifting the bottom of
his black suit jacket up, allowing him to slide his hands into his
pockets. "Four months community service."
Her expression crumpled a bit and she glanced away and nervously
reached up and swiped at her hair. "I'm so sorry Ben." She murmured.
She chewed on her bottom lip and looked back to him. "You don't hate
me now do you?"
"No," he answered with a perplexed look on his face. "Why would you
think I'd hate you?"
"Well.." She shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno. I guess.. I mean
you're in trouble because of me..." She trailed off.
"How do you figure?" he asked.
"What do you mean how do I figure? I'm the one who suggested going
down there.. And if we hadn't been down there that guy wouldn't have
harassed us.. Right?" She pointed out.
"Yeah, and I coulda said 'no,'" Ben argued. "I'm a big boy, Grace.
I don't need someone else takin' the blame for me every time I screw
up. I shoulda known better."
"Well.." Grace shrugged again. "Fine. But I still say it's my
fault." She paused and flashed him a bright smile. "So you want to
hear my good news or what?"
"Um, yeah, sure. But I gotta bring the car around, so if you think
you can walk and talk at the same time...," Ben replied and started
to walk toward the door with Grace by his side.
"Hey now! I can walk, talk AND chew gum at the same time, thank you
very much!" She pointed out as they headed out of the
courthouse. "Anyway! Get this! I have a job! And not just any job...
But I'm gonna be a personal assistant to Jagger St. Croix." She told
him, obviously quite proud of herself.
"Jagger Who?" Ben asked with his brow creasing in a look of
unfamiliarity.
Grace stopped and flashed Ben a look. "Are you serious? You don't
know who Jagger St. Croix is? What planet have you been living on?"
She asked, her brow arching in wonder. "Well.. He's a really big
singer. Like huge! He sings that song Perfect Strangers that's
always on the radio? You've gotta know that song."
Ben's eyebrows lifted. "Sorry," he said, apologetically clueless.
Grace lifted her hand and waved it dismissively. "Well whatever.
The fact is, I got a job.. And I'm gonna be like running errands and
arranging his schedule and stuff like that. It shouldn't be that
hard.. Right?" She asked beginning to walk again.
"I dunno," he shrugged. "You bringin' the feds along?"
"No!" She frowned glancing over at him. "Remember, they got the
axe?" She asked sighing. "Besides, nothing's happened since.. Well
that day, so Logan's pretty sure things have calmed down. Whatever
that means. Not that I'm complaining mind you.. I'm glad to be able
to walk around without a human shadow.."
"I was just askin'," Ben said, holding his hands up in defence. "I
mean, I didn't know how comfortable this Jacker guy would be with
his personal assistant showing up with six armed bodyguards." He
fell back into step with Grace. "He might get shadow envy."
"Jagger." Grace corrected. She shrugged her shoulders, tucking her
hands in her pockets. "Hopefully, I'll have time for a life.. He
said in a few months things are going to get crazy.. But. A job's a
job.. Even if my summer's gonna be pretty much not there..Right?"
She glanced over at him. "How about you? What are your plans for the
sumemr."
"Barring an act of God," Ben started, glancing back at the
courtroom he'd come out of minutes ago before pushing the courthouse
door open and stepping outside. "Probably sorting trash at a
landfill."
"Oh.." Grace muttered softly before shaking her head. "Well besides
that. Are you still going to be working at the museum?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Aidan's got this big Degas exhibit coming
through in July. So he's got us all going through security
seminars 'til the end of June."
"Well... That sounds.. interesting." She said slowly. She bit down
on her bottom lip, glancing over at him out of the corner of her
eye. "So.. Ummm.. Maybe after school ends you can like.. I dunno..
Maybe help me look for an apartment? I don't want to be hussled. And
knowing my luck, I would be."
"You mean you don't want your brother finding out you're still
hangin' out with me," Ben said, cutting straight to the truth.
"Uh.. Well that's not exactly it.." Grace protested, her cheeks
flushing. "I mean.. Once I'm outta his place he can't exactly tell
me what to do can he?"
"I think you'd be surprised," Ben replied, memories of the last few
conversations he'd had with his father quickly flashed into his
mind. Even from this distance Connor Buchanan still felt he had the
right and responsibility to tell his son when he was screwing up,
which with Connor was almost all the time. "So, you and Ally gettin'
a place together?" he asked, assuming that Grace and Ally would move
in together.
Grace frowned, she really hoped once she moved out, Logan would
lighten up. But only time would tell. She looked away, chewing
softly on her bottom lip. "Well no. I'm getting my own place. I
mean, I don't know what kind of crazy hours I'm going to have.. So
it wouldn't be fair to her.. So.. Yeah."
"There you are!" Lila belted out from the top of the courthouse
steps and quickly moved down to the sidewalk where Ben and Grace had
stopped to wait for her. Ben found himself amazed at how quickly the
thin, frail looking woman could move. "You get a slap on the wrist
and already you think you're a free man," she said, joining
them. "Well, I'm going to have my eye on you young man," she added
teasingly, "I'll be watching you like a hawk."
"What else is new?" Ben answered sarcastically.
Lila waved off her grandson's comment and turned her attention to
his companion. "Well, hello Grace. It was nice of you to show up.
Wasn't it nice of her to show up, Ben?"
Ben eyed his grandmother suspiciously. She had that look about her.
The look of a woman up to no good. "Um...yeah. It was really...nice."
Grace's cheeks flushed again, but somehow she managed to flash Lila
a bright smile. "Hi Mrs. Buchanan.. How are you?" She asked, trying
to skirt around her comment.
"Interrupting, apparently," Lila replied, noting aloud the sudden
silence that had befallen the young pair upon her arrival. "I think
I'll let you two alone to talk some more and I'll just meet Ben in
the car." With that said and without waiting for a reply, Lila moved
past her grandson and his little friend.
Ben turned to watch his grandmother leave for a few seconds before
turning his attention back to Grace. "She never quits," he muttered
more to himself.
Grace's eyes widened as she watched Lila walk off. "She doesn't
think.. That we..Does she?" She asked glancing over at Ben.
"I dunno," he replied, scratching the back of his head. "I'm
startin' to think she just wants a great-grandbaby. Which just means
she'll be pimpin' me out until she gets one." He shrugged and a
momentary pause fell over them before another thought popped into
his head. "Or she thinks I'm gay."
Grace just about fell over. "A baby?! She does realize how old you
are right?" Grace asked, regaining her composure. Sure people their
age had babies all the time, didn't mean that they had to.. She
shook her head. "Well..You're not are you?" She finally said, a
teasingly tone worming it's way into her voice.
Ben shook his head, giving Grace an incredulous look. "Hilarious,"
he answered sarcastically.
"Well.. One never knows." She grinned sweetly. "You still didn't
answer the question."
His look intensified. He couldn't believe she even felt the need to
ask that question. "No...I'm not," he finally answered,
adding, "And, no, I'm not gonna prove it to you."
"I wasn't even going to ask!" Grace chuckled, sticking her tongue
out at him. She shook her head still laugig. "YOu do know I was
teasing you right?"
"Yeah, you and everybody else," he answered, sliding his fingers
through his thick mop of hair. "I should probably go before she
starts planning the engagement party."
Grace shook her head sighing, "Your Grandma needs a hobby.. And it
should be something that doesn't involve engagement parties.." She
muttered, trying to keep her cheeks from flushing once more. "But
yeah.. I gotta get going too.. Just wanted to make sure everything
was okay with you." She flashed him a small smile. "So I'll see ya
around?"
"Yeah, I'll see ya," he said, allowing a smile to crease his lips
for the first time that day. He watched Grace as she turned around
and heading down the sidewalk before turning himself and moving down
in the opposite direction.
Lila Buchanan played by Brandon,
Ben Buchanan played by Brandon,
&
Grace Behr played by Holly
hello everyone!
