Work Text:
Benji:
All I can think about lately is him. Jesse, Jesse, Jesse. Over and over in my brain all I see is him and it’s driving me crazy. If I don’t tell someone soon I am going to burst! Good thing I am nearly at my best friend's house. I knock on the door and her mum lets me in, gesturing up the stairs, “They’re both in Manda’s room.”
“Thanks Alice.” I give Alice a squeeze before I practically run up the stairs. I burst into her room and find Manda and Steph sitting on Manda’s bed with their phones laying on the bed. “I really, really like Jesse and I can’t stop thinkin’ about him. What do I do?” I blurt out loudly, needing to get it out of my head.
“Um…” Steph glances between me, Manda’s phone and Manda. They both seem a little shell shocked at first but then a shit eating grin grows on Manda’s face.
“‘ang on Jesse, Benji’s just ‘avin’ a certified gay panic moment.” Manda says as she picks up her phone. I swear I can feel my heart stopping.
“Wait! Don’t-” Jesse’s voice comes through the phone right before Manda hangs up on him and I wish for the ground to swallow me whole.
“So you’re finally admitting it out loud now?” Manda’s grin widens and I groan and flop face down on her bed, mortified.
“At least you told ‘im.” Steph pats my back, trying to reassure me and I groan again. I wasn’t ready to tell him yet!
“I bet ‘e’ll be showin’ up ‘ere as soon as ‘is long legs can carry ‘im.” Manda teases me, poking my shoulder. “Benji poo is gonna ‘ave a boyfriend~” I turn my head and glare at her. “Don’t look at me like that. ‘E definitely likes you too.”
“I ‘ave to go. Now!” I bolt up and make a run for the door.
Manda leaps from her bed and tackles me. “Don’t you dare!” She puts me in a headlock and uses her body weight to pin me to the floor. “Just talk to ‘im!”
“No! I can’t!” I manage to get to my feet with her clinging to my back and then Steph joins in and grabs my legs, so I can’t walk. “Let me go!”
“No! Just talk to ‘im! Am tired of you two makin’ moon eyes at each other!” Manda yells, locking her arm around my neck tighter. I manage a couple of shuffling steps with them both restricting me but I am making no progress really.
“I can’t. Please don’t make me.” I stop struggling, feeling a terrible mixture of defeat, anxiety and embarrassment. Steph lets go of my legs and gives me a pitying look which only makes me feel worse.
Manda still refuses to let go, only easing up on her hold by a fraction. “What’s your plan then? Ignore and avoid ‘im forever?”
“Yes.” I grunt, shaking her off as I look at the both of them. Manda stands up and places her hands on her hips giving me a disapproving glare.
“Oh Benji.” Steph says, her voice laced with sympathy.
“Yeah, that isn’t gonna work, Benjamin.” Manda huffs and I glare back at her for using my full name. “‘E’s our friend. ‘E ‘angs out with your twin brother. You are gonna run into ‘im at some point.”
“I… I…” I struggle to form my thoughts, let alone words. I wish I had never said anything and just kept it bottled up like I had been. “What if it ruins everythin’?”
“What if it starts somethin’?” Steph, ever the optimist, gives me a small, hopeful smile. I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to get my hopes up for him to just break my heart.
“Manda! Jesse’s ‘ere!” Alice calls up and my panic overwhelms me. I rush to Manda’s wardrobe and attempt to hide myself in there.
“No! You are not goin’ back in there!” Manda yells and pulls on my waist, trying to yank me out. Steph grabs my arm and starts pulling as well and I fight them to get in the damn wardrobe.
“Don’t go back in the closet on my account.” I hear Jesse’s amused chuckle and freeze before looking over my shoulder. Oh fuck.
Jesse:
“Wait! Don’t-” I try to yell as the phone call ends, “Hang up.” I stare at my phone for a few seconds before jumping off my bed in a wild panic. He likes me back! Benji Davis actually likes me back! I trip over my own feet trying to get to my shoes, smacking my head on the ground. I pull on random socks and get my shoes on before running down the stairs.
“Aunty! I’m going to Manda’s!” I yell as I sprint for the front door.
“Hang on mister!” Aunty Elise yells back and pops her head out of the living room, “What’s the rush?”
I am bouncing on the spot, my hand on the doorknob, “I gotta go! I might have a boyfriend!”
“What are you still doing here? Go go go!” She waves me off with a grin and I smile back, opening the door and dashing out. She calls to me as I run down the street. “Tell me all the gossip when you get back!”
Running to Manda’s house is not fun but knowing Benji he is trying to climb out the window to hide from this and I don’t want to give him a chance to run. I have liked him since I met him and always just assumed he was straight and out of my league. Knowing he likes me is the fire I need to finally tell him how I feel.
I get to Manda’s and calm down enough not to bash the door down, knocking politely and bouncing on the balls of my feet as I wait for someone to answer the door. Alice greets me with a smile. I am still out of breath and she gives me a funny look before gesturing me inside. “Manda! Jesse’s ‘ere!”
“Hi Alice” I say quickly before running up the stairs to Manda’s room. I can hear loud bangs coming from her room and smile. Seems I made it in time. I walk in the room to find Benji trying to hide in the wardrobe while Manda and Steph look like they are trying to drag him out. “Don’t go back in the closet on my account.” I chuckle, highly amused at the sight.
They all freeze and then turn to look at me. It’s a rather comical sight with Benji’s look of fear and dread while Steph looks hopeful and Manda has her signature shit eating grin on. “For a sports student, you’re a bit slow.” Manda teases me and I snort.
“I’d like to see you run here any faster.”
“Can’t with these bad boys.” Manda lets go of Benji and gestures to her tits, making everyone in the room groan at her ridiculousness. She cackles like a manic at her own joke like the crazy person she is.
Now I am here I don’t actually know what to do. I am staring at Benji, rooted to the floor and unable to say anything. I have a million things I want to say but they just aren’t coming out. Benji is staring back at me and the butterflies I usually feel around him are more like a swarm.
“And on that note…” Steph grabs Manda and starts dragging her out the room.
“It’s my room! I need to know!” Manda struggles against Steph who is surprisingly strong and manages to drag Manda out despite her efforts.
“Leave them be!” Steph shoves Manda out of her own bedroom and then follows her out before sticking her head back in, “We’ll be out here.” She ducks away and closes the door and I turn my focus on Benji who looks like he wants the ground to swallow him whole.
“So you’re gay?” I wince at my own question, not sure why that came out.
“Yeah.” He says so softly I can barely hear him, his cheeks turning red. He looks so cute right now it feels like my heart has stopped.
“And you like me?” I am being captain fucking obvious right now but it seems my brain is no longer functioning right now. He turns even redder, rivalling a tomato and nods. “That’s good.” I hum, nodding my head like that’s a good answer for him. I am really messing this up and my own cheeks heat.
He shuffles on his feet, staring at the ground like he can’t look at me and something in my brain finally clicks on. I walk towards him and grab his hand, squeezing gently. “I like you too.”
His head snaps up and he looks at me, blinking like he doesn’t understand. “Why?”
“Why do I like you?” I ask, confused. He just blinks at me so I tell him the truth. “Cause you're the sweetest most loyal person I have ever met. You are talented and kind. You make me laugh and just having you near makes my day better. Plus you are really fucking hot.”
“But I’m awkward and you’re best friends with my twin and we don’t like the same things. You like to socialise and I game and read.” Benji starts panic rambling and I squeeze his hand to make him stop.
“I like those things about you. You calm me down and make me look at the world from a different view. It’s adorable when you are all shy and I like listening to you when you talk about your books or your games.” I smile at him.
“But I’m not out like you and Steph.” Benji sounds so sad when he says that and it breaks my heart.
“Stop making excuses! Ow!” Manda yells through the door and I roll my eyes. Of course they are eavesdropping.
“Do you like me?” I ask again and he gives me another small nod. “And I like you, I don’t see the problem here.” I smile at him softly, “Benji, will you go out with me?” His face is tomato red with the smallest of smiles as he nods. “Oh thank the gods, I was worried you were going to turn me down.” I sigh in relief.
The door bursts open and Manda rushes in. “Manda! Give them their moment!” Steph scolds her.
“Like I am goin’ to miss their first kiss!” Manda squeals, looking at us almost vibrating with happiness. I didn’t think it was possible for Benji to get any redder but here we are.
“I’m not kissing him with an audience, he’ll have a heart attack!” I defend Benji, stepping in front of him slightly to shield him from our over-exuberant friends.
“Back off long legs, ‘e’s my best friend.” Manda folds her arms and cocks her hip, looking amused.
“Back off shortstack, he’s my boyfriend.” I fire back rapidly, giddy at calling him my boyfriend.
“You know it could’ve been a ‘ug. Not everyone ‘as to snog each other’s faces off like you and Nate.” Benji peeks over my shoulder as he glares down at Manda. Steph is giggling behind Manda, amused by the whole situation.
“You’ve been picturin’ snoggin’ ‘im for weeks now. Don’t lie.” Manda grins, teasing Benji who ducks back behind me, no doubt bright red again.
Steph giggles harder and Manda raises her eyebrow at her, “Sorry I was just thinkin’ of if Alex was ‘ere and ‘ow ‘e would butt into your dick measurin’ contest with ‘’e’s my twin brother, I shared a womb with ‘im.’” She does her best imitation of Alex which makes Benji snort behind me. I can’t help but chuckle as well.
“Yeah I could see that too.” Manda snorts as well.
“Well as much as I want to air all of this out with you, I would also like to be alone with my boyfriend.” I turn to Benji, “Do you want to come to mine for a bit?” Manda starts singing oh lala and I flip her off without looking at her, focusing on Benji.
Benji is bright red again as he nods and I take his hand, leading him out of Manda’s room. We spent the afternoon together and yes, I did kiss him.
And that is the alternative story of Benji and Jesse getting together as teenagers.