Becky’s eyes were tearing up. “BD. He was using the phone at the bar. I overheard him speaking to someone about getting the news stations to come down here to film you leaving the club. He- he told me to keep quiet about it. Then he hit me for eating the steak.”
Mare shared her drunk look of outrage with Ben.
“How old are you Becky?” Ben asked.
“Eighteen.” she squeaked.
“When.”
She paused then looked down. “Last weekend.”
“How long have you worked here?”
Another pause. “A- about a month.”
“Do you want to go home?” Ben asked.
“Oh god yes!” Becky’s tears were running down her face now.
“Ok, let’s go get your stuff.” Ben stood and shouldered his bag. He looked at Mare who seemed like she wanted to go too. “Come on Mary.”
The wobbly woman stood and Ben assisted her across the floor as they followed Becky. The bouncer keeping customers from entering the backstage area took one look at the flaring scar bisecting Ben’s scowling face and discovered someplace else to be. Mare and Ben waited for Becky who quickly gathered her meager belongings in a ratty duffle and met them in the hall.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
Ben turned and saw BD standing in the hall glaring at Becky who shrunk behind him. He slipped his bag off his shoulder to hand it to Mary who stepped in behind him as well. Becky began to whimper.
“That’s no longer your concern,” Ben said, seeing two of BD’s larger bouncers step into the hall behind the man.
BD looked at Ben in disappointment. “Here I was thinking we could be friends but friends don’t fuck with the livelihoods of their friends. She’s mine.”
“Becky isn’t yours-”
“Like fuck she isn’t. Her hole belongs to me. You and your fugly bitch can just fuck off. My associates and I need to explain the facts of life to the fuckwit.” Becky began to cry in earnest hearing this.
“Fuck I hate hearing a skank cry. Boy’s, move this pansy aside so we can fill her noisy hole-”
Ben’s fist silenced the bile spewing from BD’s mouth and the man flew back into the arms of the two men who stared in shock at Ben. They hadn’t seen his punch coming. One moment the big man was still and the next BD was a loose bag of bones in their arms. They looked up at Ben who waited for them to decide. The men shared a look then carefully carried their boss back down the hallway away from Ben. They’d give each other a few bruises to show their boss they put up a fight and they’d keep their jobs.
“Fuck me! That was scary!” Mare slurred and clung to Becky.
“Is there a back way out of here?” Ben asked, taking his laptop case back.
Becky was drying her eyes and nodded. She led them further down the hall to a door indicating it was a fire exit. Mare grinned and yanked the fire alarm. Sirens began to wail. Scowling at Mary, Ben pushed out the door and they were in the alley behind the building. He made his way down the alley, feeling Mary clinging to the back of his shirt with Becky close behind. When they got to the corner they peeked around it and saw several news vans parked out front of the building with reporters on the sidewalk. A crowd had already begun to form to see what the reporters were up to. Moments later the firetrucks began arriving. Ben stepped out of the alley and walked casually across the street to the parking lot with Mary and Becky following. Ben held out his hand and Mary blinked at him.
“Car keys. I’m driving.”
Mary blinked then fished her keys from her purse. Ben hit the unlock button and the signal lights on a pickup truck two rows back flickered. He made his way to the truck and got the women in. He drove them out slowly and didn’t put on the lights until they were underway on the main road leaving behind the mess of the fire trucks, police, and the press.
Mary was leaning against Ben’s arm and she’d begun to snore. Ben glanced over at Becky. The girl seemed lost.
“Becky? Where’s home?”
“Sydney.”
“Is it safe for you to go home?” he asked.
“Yes. I- I haven’t spoken with mom since I left. We had a real blow-out. I- I need to apologize to her,” the girl said quietly.
“I’m flying to Sydney tomorrow. I’ll see if I can’t get you on the flight,” Ben said.
The young woman looked at him with a puzzled expression. “You could just put me on a bus. It’s cheaper,” Becky said.
“You don’t want to fly?” Ben asked glancing over at her.
“More than I want to spend eight hours on a bus but… why are you doing this?” she asked.
“Because I can and it’s the right thing to do,” Ben said simply. He looked down at Mary who was drooling a little on his sleeve. “Listen, tonight you and Mary can sleep on my bed and I’ll take the couch. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the company I came to see then in the afternoon we fly to Sydney. OK?”
Becky nodded.
They reached the hotel and with Becky’s help to carry the bags and lock the truck Ben carried Mary in his arms. He carried her in and Becky got the door, elevator, and Ben’s room door open as well.
Becky pulled the bedspread down and Ben settled Mary onto the bed. She smiled in her sleep.
“I don’t have any other clothes,” Becky squeaked.
“What happened to your clothes?” he asked.
“BD threw them out. He only let me wear the stuff he gave me and took them back afterwards.”
Ben sighed. He wished he’d punched the man a few more times. He suddenly realized he remembered hitting him. He was rather pleased with himself. This was an improvement!
“Why are you smiling?” Becky asked nervously.
“What? Oh, I was just remembering when I punched BD. It felt good. I wish I’d hit him some more,” Ben admitted and Becky’s face lit up with a smile.
“I’ll give you a t-shirt for tonight. Tomorrow I’ll get you some clothes,” he said.
As he moved around the end of the bed she crushed herself against his chest and squeezed him in a hug. He hugged her in return then moved to give her the t-shirt.
“You get ready for bed and I’ll look into the flight.” He heard the bathroom door close and he flipped open the laptop which was no worse for wear from their little adventure tonight. He pulled up the airline’s website and saw there was a seat available on the flight. He was booking it and it asked for last name.
“Becky? What’s your last name?” he called out.
“Law. L. A. W,” she replied through the bathroom door.
He finished the entry and booked the seat. The screen flashed something odd but it was gone before he could read it. He logged back in and the seats were still booked and he got a confirmation on his email. He shrugged, shut down the machine and packed it away.
Becky came out of the bathroom. She’d scrubbed away the make-up and was wearing his black t-shirt which made her look no more than fifteen. He grinned at her and she blushed.
“That’s better!” he said.
“Shut up! I look like a kid!” she complained but the smile was still on her lips.
“Get some sleep. We’ll have a big breakfast in the morning. All you can eat!”
“Mmmm! I’ve missed a few meals,” she moaned.
Ben carried a t-shirt for himself and closed the door to get ready for bed when he came out Becky was already sound asleep.
He settled down on the couch and let himself drift off.
Soft lips on his cheek woke him and he smiled as he opened his eyes thinking it was Tina. Becky was smiling down at him and Mary was behind her with a grin on her face. Both looked like they had already showered and Mary’s hair was wrapped in a towel. Becky was still wearing his t-shirt with a belt to make it a dress. A rather short one.
“Good morning, Ben!” the ladies said.
“Good morning,” he returned wondering why Mary’s smile was getting wider. Then he realized he was sporting some serious wood this morning with only his boxers to poorly hide the fact.
With a blush he sat up and pulled a pillow to his lap. “Did I sleep in?”
“No, this one’s stomach rumbles so loud I was amazed it didn’t wake you all the way over here!” Mary joked.
Becky bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I’m hungry.”
Ben glanced at the clock and saw it was only a quarter to eight. “Right, well, let me get ready and we’ll get some breakfast.” He carried the pillow with him to get some clothes and dropped it behind him as he stepped into the bathroom.
Once prepared the three made their way to the restaurant and sat at the same table Ben had chosen the day before. The same waitress approached and smiled at him.
“If it isn’t my favorite celebrity!” she quipped and Ben smiled.
“I brought friends today. They heard the breakfasts are pretty special.”
“They heard right! Everything on this menu is delicious.” She eyed Becky. “This one should order more than one of everything,” she stage whispered to Ben. Becky smiled self-consciously.
“Anyone for coffee?” the waitress asked.
Mary raised her hand but Becky just shook her head as did Ben.
“Large orange juice?” the woman said pointing at Ben as she recalled the previous day and he nodded. She looked at Becky.
“Large chocolate milk?” the young woman asked.
“Coming right up!”
When they were alone again Becky looked at Ben. “Can I really order what I want?”
“Yes.”
“How about me?” Mary asked with a grin and Ben nodded.
When the drinks arrived they placed their orders and Becky got a sizeable meal with eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans, toast and pancakes with fruit. Ben’s order was smaller and Mary just asked for toast and jam.
“Oh! I got you a seat on the same plane as me this afternoon to Sydney,” Ben told Becky.
“You’re taking her with you?” Mary blinked.
“Right, you were asleep and drooling on me when Becky and I talked about this last night,” Ben said.
“Shut up I was drooling! I don’t drool!” Mary squeaked.
Ben smiled and nodded with a shrug. “Don’t take my word, ask Becky. She’s my witness.”
“You’re just avoiding the question, you’re taking Becky with you?” Mary pushed.
“She’s from there. She’s going home.” He looked at the young woman. “You should call to let your mom know you’re coming.”