Platinum Rings, Picture Frames and Red Duvet Covers


Ch. 15 Lost but Found by Benji

Julie was the first to wake up at 6 am. A loud buzzer had sounded. It woke up Billy too and he sat up. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. Billy smiled, “I’m hungry. Let’s check on Benj.” He leaned over and kicked Paul. Paul jumped up and looked around, “Huh? What?” Julie stood up and slowly opened Benji’s door. She peered into the dim room and saw Joel sitting there. He turned and stood up. She motioned for him to quietly come here. Joel smiled, “Did you sleep?” Julie nodded, “Did you?” she asked Joel. He had bags under his eyes and a worried look. He shook his head, “Only for like an hour.” She nodded and looked at Benji. He looked peaceful yet troubled as he slept in the hospital bed. Joel looked at Benji, “God, I could have lost him.” Julie took Joel’s hand and he looked down at his shoes.

He looked back up at her, “I wanna show you something.” He walked to the side of Benji’s bed and picked up something. He brought it back and held it out to Julie. She took it and unfolded it. It was a shirt of hers that she thought she had lost, “This is mine.” Joel nodded, “He found it about a day after you two broke up.” Julie hugged it to herself, “It smells like him (a/n: not bad- just like Benji),” she whispered and a tear rolled down her cheek. “He sleeps with it. I was surprised you didn’t see it earlier.” Julie nodded and folded it back up. “He wanted it last night. He doesn’t know you’re here.” She looked at Benji, “Is he really asleep?” Joel nodded, “Yeah that snore says he pretty much deep sleeping.” Julie slid her shoes off and slowly crept over to the side of the bed. She placed her shirt back under his arm. Julie leaned down and lightly kissed his forehead. Joel stood there watching. She straightened up and a few more loose tears fell. Joel took her hand and they told the nurse stationed in the room that they would be back. Joel looked back at Benji, silently hoping that everything would turn out. He couldn’t loose his twin.


Ch. 16 Inspiration

Billy, Paul, Julie and Joel walked through the hospital stretching their legs and trying to find the cafeteria. They passed the nursery and looked at the babies. They walked around for about 20 minutes and finally found the cafeteria. They got some oh so tasty food and sat down at a table. Joel sighed and whispered, “What do we tell people if they see us here?” Billy shook his head, “I guess something with Benji.” Paul nodded, “Not the truth though.” Joel thought, “We could say he…” “Had his appendix removed,” Julie proposed. Joel nodded, “That sounds good.” They finished eating and got up. They slowly started walking back towards Benji’s room. In the waiting room again, Julie called her work and told that she wouldn’t be in today.

As the boys were waiting for her to get off the phone, a teenaged girl approached them. “Umm, I know that this is a hospital and everything but you’re Good Charlotte,” she laughed. Billy smiled, “Yes, we are.” She smiled, “I saw you all last night but I thought it might be inappropriate but- could you sign my cast?” Billy smiled, “I think we can- here let me get a pen.” Paul smiled, “Here why don’t you sit down.” “Where would you like me to sign?” She pointed to the spots for them to sign and they did. As Joel was finishing up his get-well note he asked, “So how did this happen?” The girl got really quiet and he apologized, “Oh, I'm sorry. You don’t have to say.” She smiled, “No- actually I owe you all thanx. See three days ago my mother and I were in a car accident. I broke my leg and my mom broke her collarbone and had some internal bruising. She’s okay but they wont release her yet- they said maybe today. But I was so bored so I had my fried bring me a cd player and a GC cd- so I’ve been listening to it this whole time. Kind of my inspiration,” she said blushing. Paul smiled, “That’s cool. You make everything we do worthwhile.” The other guys agreed. “Well I’m sorry Benj couldn’t be here but he should be leaving later- maybe he could stop by and sign the rest of your cast,” Joel offered. She smiled, “That would be awesome. I'm in room 231. But I really should get going my family might get worried.” She got hugs and thanked them.

As soon as she left a voice came over the loudspeaker, “Paging Joel Madden.” Joel jumped and ran to the desk and picked up the phone. It was Benji, “I woke up and nobody was here. Joel where are you?” Joel apologized, “I’m sorry Benj. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”


Next- Ch. 17 and 18
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