Platinum Rings, Picture Frames and Red Duvet Covers


Ch. 31 Oranges and Mint

Julie woke up to a soft light flowing into the room that she had shared with Benji for the past year. The house was new and had enough rooms for every band member- no more sharing. The flowy white curtains covering the sliding glass doors allowed just enough sunlight in to illuminate the room. She stretched and yawned. She looked over at her stirring bedmate and smiled as his eyes fluttered open. He smiled back and turned onto his side. He leaned in and kissed her lightly then rested his head on her shoulder cuddling up to her side. It was just like every other Sunday morning. They would spend all day doing nothing but being together before Julie had to go back to work on Monday. She had finished school and had a steady job that let her take time off to tour with Good Charlotte- just what she wanted. Like routine she kissed him back and got out of bed. She went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth and slipped on a sweatshirt in case there was company downstairs, which wouldn’t have been a surprise. She smiled as she saw Benji lightly drifting back off to sleep but he would wake up before she got back- he always did.

She made her way downstairs through the pretty empty house and into the kitchen. She smiled at Billy and Ashley sitting at the table. Ashley lived there too. She and Billy had been dating for a year now. When the boys were on tour, Julie and Ashley had the house all to themselves. Julie walked over to the cupboards and pulled out two glasses. She then went and smiled at Joel who was sitting at the kitchen island eating cereal. She poured two glasses of orange juice and noticed that Joel had a worried expression. “What’s wrong, Joel,” she asked quietly. Joel swallowed and sighed, “Do you know what today is?” Without waiting for a response he put his head in his hands and continued, “One year ago today Benji tried to commit.” Julie sat down her smile gone, “Oh yeah. I guess it is today.” Joel nodded, “I was just scared that it could happen again.” Julie sighed, “Don’t worry. It won’t. But don’t say anything to him- maybe we should go out tonight?” Joel shrugged then nodded, “Yeah, why not?” Julie took the glasses of orange juice and patted Joel’s arm on the way out, “Don’t worry.”

She made her way back upstairs and set the glasses on the nightstand. She sat on the bed and all the memories from that day came back to her. Seeing Benji so shaky, she didn’t want to think about it and smiled when he came out of the bathroom. He sat down behind her and took one of the juices- drinking it halfway gone. She smiled again and kissed him lightly. Oranges and minty toothpaste. He smiled and lay back on the bed and turned on the TV to some cartoon show. Julie laughed at his choice and lay back down too. He hugged her, “What do you want to do today?” She shrugged, “We’re all going out to dinner tonight. I don’t know. What do you want to do until then?” She laughed and corrected herself, “Oh wait. Why did I even ask?” Benji grinned wide, dimples and all, and mocked and evil laugh, “Hehehehehehe!”


Ch. 32 I Changed My Name

Benji sat at the desk listening to the water in the shower run. He opened a drawer and flipped through a calendar. Just like he thought. Today was the day. He stood up and went to his nightstand. He picked up the picture frame with the picture of he and Julie. He smiled to himself as he saw how much less tattooed and pierced he was- how less adorned she was too. He laughed quietly, “Guess I'm a bad influence.” He ran his finger along her cheek in the picture and smiled again. Flipping the frame over he took off the little pegs that held the cardboard in the back on. He sat on the bed and pulled out two notes from behind the picture. It was the notes they had written each other. Julie didn’t know he still had them. Hers neatly written on the back of a flyer and his in his messy handwriting on a piece of computer paper. He opened them up and read them for the first time in a while. He heard the shower go off and folded the notes back up. He put them back where they were and laid back on the bed. Staring up at the ceiling was where he did his most useful thinking. She stepped out of the bathroom in just a towel and he smiled. She leaned down and kissed him before putting on some clothes.

She threw on whatever she could find and turned back to Benji. She was just about to sit on the bed next to him and kiss him when Joel knocked on the door. Julie yelled, “Come in.” He walked into the room and fidgeted knowing Benji wouldn’t like what he was saying, “Benj, I hate to say this but we have to go to a meeting with the people from Warped Tour.” Benji frowned, “Today?” Joel nodded and Benji sighed, “But today’s our chill out day.” Joel frowned, obvious sadness in his voice, “I know Benji. But this is the only day they could meet with us. It’ll only be like an hour.” Benji stood up and sighed, “Fine. When is it?” Joel told him it was in an hour and left. Benji went and got dressed then went into the bathroom where Julie was drying her hair. He hugged her from behind and kissed her ear, “I'm sorry. Today’s our day too.” Julie turned around and smiled, “It’s okay Benji. I have to do laundry and stuff. At least its not all day.” Benji nodded then smiled. He leaned in and gently and softly yet passionately and meaningfully kissed her on the lips. Julie smiled as he pulled away, “What was that for?” He smiled and did it again, “I'm just so lucky. I wish I could spend forever with you.” She smiled and Benji pulled away and sighed, “I guess I have to go now. I’ll be back. I love you.” He kissed her one last time before heading out the door with the others.

They were all getting ready to go out to dinner. Benji got done and sat out in the loft area between all the bedrooms putting on his shoes. He sat back and stared at the ceiling thinking again. Joel walked out of his room and noticed Benji sitting there staring off into space and hoped that he was all right.

They had just finished off dessert and were sitting there talking. Benji and Julie, Ashley and Billy, Joel and his girlfriend, and Paul and his girlfriend, all sat in the horseshoe shaped booth. Benji had his arm lightly around Julie’s shoulder and she was leaning into him. He smiled as Sugarcult’s song “I Changed My Name” came on. Julie noticed and smiled when he began to hum along. Julie sighed, “I love this song.” Benji nodded and got an idea. “Want to dance?” Julie smiled, “This isn’t the dancing type of place.” Benji shrugged, “So? Let’s dance.” Julie laughed, “Why not?” He stood up and held his hand out to her. She took it and they began to slow dance right there in the middle of the restaurant. They gathered just about everyone’s stares.

They were both smiling looking into each other’s eyes. Benji put his mouth by her ear and began to whisper. “You know what today is,” he said more as a statement than a question. She slowed dancing a bit and nodded. He continued, “I realized something. How much I love you. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. You’ve always been here for me. I love you Julie. You know that right?” They had completely stopped dancing and were just looking at each other. Julie nodded slowly and he pulled away a little more. He lifted up her hand and gently pulled at her ring. She was confused at first but then completely shocked. He looked in her eyes as he moved it one finger over and onto her left hand ring finger and kneeled all at the same time. They heard gasps from about every table as he smiled up at her. She put her hand over her mouth and looked in Benji’s eyes. “I love you. I want to spend forever with you,” he smiled tears brimming his eyes. He slid the ring that she had worn for the past three years all the way onto her finger, “Will you marry me?” Tears were streaking down her face and all she could do was kneel down in front of him and wrap her arms around his neck. He hugged her back and she whispered, “Yes.”

Everyone in the restaurant was watching them. Julie and Benji were still kneeling on the floor embracing and crying. A waitress came up to them and tapped them on the shoulder. Julie looked up at her and she smiled, “Was that a yes?” Julie grinned and looked at Benji who was grinning and crying too. She nodded her head and heard the waitress announce that it was indeed a yes as Julie kissed Benji.

Joel looked at Billy and Paul, “Did he just do what I think he did?” Billy and Paul silently nodded while the three other girls at the table all said teary- eyed, “Aww” or “That’s so sweet.”

Benji slowly pulled Julie up to her feet and hugged her again. All the other people clapped and cheered. Joel grinned and cheered at his brother, “Congratulations man.”


Chapters
Next- The Sequel: Love Is What I Got- I Said Remember That -Ch. 1 and 2