Platinum Rings, Picture Frames and Red Duvet Covers


Ch. 21 Nothing Like Sleeping In A Hospital Bed

Sarah and Josh stayed for a while longer until Josh had to go to work and Sarah had to get home. They filled out all the paperwork that the doctors had needed to be done. At first they were given to Joel but all he got past was putting “Benjamin Madden” on the incorrect line. Joel was so worked up about Benji. The previous night he had only slept for one hour. Joel had asked when Benji would be released and the nurses told him that he still had toxins in his system and he needed to see the Psychiatrist before he left. They didn’t know how much longer he would be there.

While Benji and Joel sat in the hospital room watching television, Billy, Julie and Paul tried to busy themselves. They went down to the gift shop in the hospital and bought all sorts of crap to amuse themselves with. At about 3 o’clock the three came back into Benji’s room. They dumped out the bag of crap that they had bought and everyone joked around. They gave Benji a pair of cheap black and hot pink plastic kids sunglasses and he put them on and wore them for about half an hour before they began to pinch his ears.

They pulled out a pack of Uno cards and were about to play when Joel got an idea. “Hey maybe that girl would like to come play with us. It would give her something to do- she seemed kinda bored.” Julie and Paul went to go get her. They came back and played about 20 games of Uno. The girl, Chelsea, laughed, “Wow, this is the best hospital stay I’ve ever had. I still cant believe I'm sitting here playing Uno with Good Charlotte.” They all laughed and Benji signed her cast and her cd, and they gave her the cool sunglasses. Everyone was overly happy to see Benji smiling and allowing himself to laugh. She said goodbye at about 5:00. Julie, Paul and Billy went to go get some food and snuck it back to Benji’s room to eat it. Joel was beginning to look pale and tired. He climbed onto the bed next to Benji as everyone watched Dawson’s Creek. (Yes Dawson’s creek.) They sat there and made fun of all the trying to be intellectual dimwit actors. They had even made friends with the various nurses that came to check on Benji and stay in the room. Good Charlotte’s Volvo commercial came on and everyone cheered as it played.

“Hahaha Joel, look we’re famous!” Benji laughed and looked over at Joel. Joel was sound asleep in the hospital bed snoring lightly. Benji whispered, “Hey guys look. Joel’s sleeping.” They all turned around and Benji covered him with the blanket.

Benji sat for a little bit longer before he quietly tried to stand up. Billy turned around, “Benji! What the hell are you doing?” Julie and Paul turned as Benji smirked, “I was getting tired of sitting.” He walked around in a little circle and Paul laughed, “Whoa Benji! I bet you didn’t realize how breezy that hospital gown was!” Benji looked behind him and realized that the back was completely open and he had no underwear on. He blushed and giggled, “It’s like that episode of Fresh Prince.” The nurse that was in the room now was named Jonah. “Umm is it okay if he does that?” Paul asked cautiously. The nurse nodded, “As long as he doesn’t get worked up.” Benji laughed, “Whoa I feel a little light headed.” The nurse got up and checked his statistics and confirmed that is was because of the anti-overdose drugs that Benji had been given. Benji sighed, “The walls are beginning to bug me. Is there any way I could go walk around?” he asked Jonah. The nurse called the doctor and soon he was there to check on Benji. “What do we have here?” he asked as he saw Joel sleeping in the bed. The doctor checked him and said that it would be all right but not for too long. He would have to walk with his IV and Jonah would have to go with them. Benji laughed, “Can I put some pants on?” The doctor Okayed it and he put on Joel’s plaid pajama pants that he had worn to the hospital. Billy asked if it would be alright to leave Joel there and they informed the nurses station that he would be in there and they were walking around. Julie wrote him a note and Benji looked hilarious standing there in Joel’s plaid pants, a hospital gown, socks and his crazy wacky dyed hair going every which way.

Benji, Billy, Julie, Paul, and the nurse Jonah slowly teetered through the hospital corridors. They walked to Chelsea’s room and met her family. As they walked around they passed the nursery. Benji stopped and looked in the window. “I can’t wait until one of those is mine,” he smiled. Julie and Billy looked at each other then at Benji. He was just standing there looking at one of the babies. (Okay I know this is weird but I could see Benji as being a good dad.) Benji looked over and smiled, “What?” they all shook their heads and followed Benji as he slowly walked down the halls. Julie started walking slower and fell to the back of the group. Paul noticed that she wasn’t walking next to him anymore and turned around to see her behind him. She looked deep in thought. He slowed his pace and put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him and whispered, “I still love him. Everything about him.” Paul nodded and hugged her as they walked. She twisted the ring.

Benji walked back towards his room and as they neared it they saw Steve walking towards them from the other direction. Steve smiled and shook Benji’s hand. Benji looked down, embarrassed at his attempt. Steve shook his head, “Don’t be embarrassed.” Benji nodded and slowly opened the door to his room and stepped inside the others following. Steve asked, “Where’s Joel?” Billy smiled and pointed to the bed where Joel was still sleeping. Steve laughed, “Aww ain't that sweet? Well kids I'm sorry I cant stay longer but I have to fly out tonight.” He turned to Billy, “Call me if- Call in a few days.” Billy nodded and Steve said bye.

Not ten minutes after they got back the doctor came back in. He tested Benji and confirmed that it was safe for him to go home if he saw the Psychiatrist right now. They took out Benji’s IV and Benji put his shirt back on, Joel had his pants, and kept Joel’s pajama pants on. Where Benji had pulled at the IV this morning he had a huge black and blue mark. He rubbed at it and followed the doctor to the Offices.

They asked him questions and gave him advice. He never really said anything about it to the others and they didn’t ask.

As the others stayed in the room and collected all the stuff Joel began to stir. He opened his eyes and then jumped up straight. “Where’s Benji? Where is he?” Julie ran to the side of the screaming worried Joel. “Where’s my brother?” he yelled as she grabbed him. “He’s fine. He just went to go see the doctor.” Julie hugged Joel and Joel started to cry. Benji walked through the door and Joel turned around. He ran to his twin, “I thought you were…” Joel latched on to Benji and squeezed him tightly. Benji just stood in the doorway returning the hug from his brother. Benji began to speak to Joel, “I'm sorry Joel. I’ll never do it again. I'm so sorry. I’ll never try to leave.” His voice broke on the last syllable and Joel hugged him tighter. Joel cried harder as he felt how small Benji felt in his arms. “Shhhh. Shhhh, Joel its okay. I'm not going anywhere,” Benji whispered as he tried to soothe Joel. Joel pulled away and coughed trying to stop crying. “You are so thin, Benji I didn’t want to lose you…” his voice trailed off. Joel squeezed Benji again and his tears began to slow. When he was almost done Benji smiled, “Let’s get out of here. Okay?” Joel nodded and everyone went to check Benji out of the hospital.


Ch. 22 Going Home

Everyone piled in the car, Paul driving, Julie in the passenger seat and the other three in the backseat- Benji in the middle- as a way to make sure he stayed there. They sat in silence as they drove back towards the house. Benji broke the silence, “Umm… I know it’s late but can we get something to eat?” Joel spoke up, “If you’ll eat- then I vote yes.” Paul nodded, “Sure. Jules is that okay?” Julie nodded, “Yeah- I don’t want to get home.” They chose a nearby Denny’s. They walked inside and it was empty except for three other people – it was, after all, a Sunday night at 11 pm. Billy laughed, “My god we all look homeless and strung out.” Julie looked around as they sat down. Billy and Paul had thrown on whatever clothes they had found and Joel was wearing Benji’s oversized pants and a huge sweatshirt. Julie laughed as she remembered that she was wearing pretty much nothing- terry cotton pants and an old sweatshirt with no bra.

Benji ordered enough food to feed 10 people and then some. He ate until he confessed, “I'm so full I'm gonna throw up.” Billy leaned up against the booth and was almost asleep. Joel nodded, “Ready to go home now? I know I am.” Benji and Billy were joking around with the prize machine in the front of the restaurant as Paul paid. Julie saw Joel watching Benji smile at Billy who just won a ‘gold ring’ and a smile played on his face. Julie slipped her arms around Joel’s waist and hugged him. He smiled and hugged Julie back, “I'm so happy he’s actually smiling. And that you’re still here. Thank you Julie- I really owe you.” Julie nodded and Paul asked, “Do you want me to drop you off at your house?” Joel shook his head, “Stay one more night. Please? I think he might sleep better if you don’t leave yet.” Julie nodded, “I guess but I don’t know about sleeping in the same room.” Paul suggested, “Sleep in our room then.” Julie nodded, “Okay but I forgot that I start classes again tomorrow- so I’ll need someone to take me home early.” Paul agreed, “I’ll do it.” Benji came back over, “Look I got a hot pink ring.” Joel shook his head, “Come on Benj, and let’s go home.”

They arrive at the house and all stumble sleepily up the stairs. Billy and Paul say goodnight to Benji and Joel and Julie hugs Joel and waves to Benji. They all fall asleep shortly.

In the middle of the night Joel had to go to the bathroom. He came back and went to sit back down. He flipped the dim light on and saw Benji whimpering and crying in his sleep. Joel watched him for a second before sitting on Benji’s bed and whispering, “Benji. Benji wake up.” Benji’s eyes fluttered open and he closed them seeing Joel- squeezing out his tears. Joel wiped Benji’s face, “Benj, what’s wrong?” Benji slowly sat up. “I was dreaming about Julie then I saw myself dying in a bed,” he choked, “and then I saw the look on your face and the look on her face- and I'm so sorry Joel. I'm not going to get her back. But I'm so sorry.” Benji rubbed his eyes and Joel comforted his twin. “Shhhh. Benji. I know. It’s okay now. Benji, you have to try to earn her trust back but it’s going to work. It’s okay. Benji go to sleep.” Benji stopped his tears and lay back down on the bed. Joel went to get up and Benji sniffed, “Don’t leave, please?” Joel sat Indian style next to Benji on the bed and began to lightly, comfortingly rubbing his back- like he had so many nights when Benji couldn’t sleep because of the crying or like in high school when Benji was sick or upset. Joel put his chin in his hand and let his mind wander to remember everything that had happened in the past two days. He was caught out of his thoughts as he heard Benji’s deep rhythmical breaths. He carefully got off the bed and went to his own. He looked back at Benji. He closed his eyes as the thought crossed his mind that he could have been sitting there with no brother in that bed.


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