Strength - by Taurence

[Kezzie]

Meet the Hero

Briana was different.
Not different in the sense that you may think. She did not have jet black hair or ghostly white skin no; her long wavy golden locks and tanned complexion won her the hearts of many guys (although most were turned down kindheartedly). She never had suicidal tendencies in fact, she was never depressed a day in her life. Her parents were caring and understanding; they were her best friends. I guess you could say Briana lived the “perfect” life. That fact alone makes her strangely genuine.

Briana never had one place to call home until she celebrated her fifth birthday. Her parents were modern day hippies and traveled the states seeing band after band, fighting wars against animal cruelty, and protesting against the government. When their daughter was old enough to begin school they decided to settle down. So Briana and her parents said good-bye to the friends they made on the road and moved to a small island in Florida.

The name of the place was Navarre Beach. It consists of one main road and large beach houses lining the crystal clear waters of the Gulf. But Briana left Navarre when she turned 21. She wanted to travel the world and revisit the places she had been to as a child. What she didn’t expect was no sooner than a week after she would leave her home in Florida, her parents would be involved in a major car accident and sadly, pass away.

Briana went back home just long enough to plan her parent’s funeral and sell the only home she ever had. She then continued on her way across the country for some time. After about 6 months on her own, the reality of her parent’s death soon set in and Briana needed comforting. She sought the love of one of her friends whom resided along the coastline of her home state of Flordia. And that is where our story begins …<br>
A door bell rings at the summer home of Briana’s childhood friend, Tony Lovato.
Tony and Briana’s parents were friends before either one of them were born. They spent most of their childhood together, traveling. When Briana’s family moved away, she and Tony kept in touch by phone as much as possible until Tony became legal age and decided to move to Florida himself to be closer to Briana and his girlfriend Chelsea.

“Briana!” Tony declared as he swung the door open to his coast side condo and ran into the arms of his friend.
“Tony!”<br>“Oh man Bri I’ve missed you so much!”<br>“I’ve missed you too Tony.”<br>
“Come on. Come in. There’s some one I want you to meet in the kitchen.”<br>“Okay.”<br>
Briana gazed around Tony’s home as she followed him into the kitchen. It was just the way she left it only a few months ago she took comfort in the familiarality of it.
“Briana this is my best friend Benji.”<br>
As Briana turned the corner she was greeted by a short, spiky haired, tattooed man.
“Hi, nice to meet you.” She said taking his hand into hers.
He could feel her energy radiating in the room.
“Nice to meet you too. Tony has told me a lot about you.” He replied as he shook her delicate hand. He could feel the small diamond across her right ring finger and began gazing curiously at it.
“Is that your ring?” Tony asked.
“Yep this is it.” Briana replied as she softly pulled her hand away from Benji.
Tony studied the very tiny diamond and tried to come up with some sort of compliment. This was a hard task; he had never seen an engagement ring so small before.
“It’s nice.”<br>“Thanks” Briana replied blushing although she knew the ring wasn’t something to be proud of.

“You know Benji is engaged too.” Tony stated, noticing her uncomfortable disposition.
“Oh really? Well congratulations.”
Briana was confused by Benji’s reaction. He didn’t have that same glowing smile on his face like he did when she entered. She decided to pass it off as him just being afraid of loosing his bachelorhood.

“Benji’s twin, Joel, will be staying here too. I don’t think he’ll get here until later on though.”<br>“Ok. Sounds fun.”<br>That was Briana, always positive. Always trying to make every one else feel better.
“I’m going to go put my bags in my room.” She announced as she dragged her large suitcases up the flight of stairs.
“Third door to the left.” Tony called after her.
“K”<br>
Soon as Briana was out of sight Tony turned to Benji.
“She’s hot huh?”<br>“Yeah hot and engaged. Kind of like me.” He laughed.

As the two began to joke around in the kitchen they had no clue what was going on in the room just above them.
Briana was seated on the guest bed, un wrapping the bandage along her arm revealing the deep cut along her body, which was not self inflicted. She hurriedly rolled down her long sleeves as she finished nursing her wound, praying no one would walk in and discover her painful secret.

[Kezzie]

Toes in the sand

A few days had passed and Benji and Briana’s friendship grew stronger with each day. He reminded her of Tony in almost every way. As Tony began to spend more time with Chelsea and Joel with his girlfriend, Benji and Briana were found to be left alone often.

Although Benji spent night and day by her side, he was still clueless about her secret, along with every one else. No one even bothered asking why she wore such long baggy clothes on the beach. Maybe it was because of her positive energy, she was never upset or disgruntled so no one could ever imagine something being wrong.


Our story continues as Benji and Briana are seated on Tony’s deck, just outside the condo. The sea salted breeze was blowing smoothly through the air. Joel and Tony were inside working diligently in Tony’s home studio.

“Why you never talk about her?” Briana chimed in.
“Talk about who?”<br>“Your fiancé silly.”<br>Benji’s sparkling smile went out like a light. “Oh, I dunno. Not much to say.”<br>“Your going to be vowing to spend the rest of your life with this girl, yet there isn’t much to say about her?”<br>Benji didn’t reply. Instead he got up from the bench he was seated on and began to roam around the deck.
“Benji is there something the matter? You can tell me you know.”<br>“No, nothings wrong. I just miss her that’s all.”<br>This disappointed Briana. Although she was happy for Benji and his fiancé, a part of her hoped there was a glitch in the relationship. She longed for someone to understand her position; she wanted him to be just as upset about his engagement as she was about hers.

She began to gaze out on the white sand beach. She missed the feeling of sand in-between her toes.
“Wanna go for a walk?” she asked her accomplice.
“Yeah sure. Why not?”<br>
As the pair began the journey along the beach a rather interesting concept came to point.

“So what’s she like? Your fiancé?”
“She’s…nice.”<br>“Oh, well that’s always a good thing.” Briana laughed.
“Yeah” he looked up at Briana, he knew she must have known something was wrong with his relationship “Look we have our problems, and this whole marriage thing…it’s just something I don’t want to think about right now.”<br>Briana nodded in understanding. Marriage was something she didn’t want to think about either. She wished for just one night, one night to be free. And she got a brilliant idea.
“Ok, this may sound a little strange, but how about tonight, it’s just me and you, no fiancés, no relationships, no weddings. Just two friends having a good time in paradise.”<br>Benji thought this over for awhile then concluded “Okay, no fiancés, no weddings, just us friends.”<br>
They found a spot in the sand to sit. Even though the sun was beginning to set, the heat was not fading. Sweat began to drip from Briana’s face.

“You must be crazy or something” Benji began “wearing a sweat shirt out here. It’s freaking hot.”<br>(Benji refused to curse around Briana, a sign of respect.)
He could see her squirming uncomfortably and she seemed to sweat even more.
Benji watched as she tugged at her sleeve. He had seen this before. He knew what she was hiding.
He carefully grabbed her arm and took it in his hand. She tried to pull away but he would not let her escape. He slowly moved the sleeve up her arm revealing the large bandage.
“Bri?”<br>She quickly thought for an answer.
“This is classified under the relationship section, no relationships tonight, remember?.” Her words came out so slowly. She made sure her point was clear.

Benji didn’t pressure her into telling him her secret. They had made an agreement and he was going to stay true to that.

As silence fell between them his mind began to wonder and childhood memories came swarming back to him as he began to laugh aloud.

“What?” Briana asked a little startled. She began to question whether he was laughing at her or not.
“I was just thinking about an argument me and Joel got into as kids.”<br>“Oh? Do tell.”<br>Benji played with whether or not to tell her.
“Me and Joel were invited to this pool party when we were like 13. I couldn’t go because I was punished, which happened quit often. Anyways, when he came back, of course he had to brag about how much fun it was. He even went so far as to lie and tell me he went skinny dipping with this girl there. I could see right through him so the next day at school I asked the girl about it and she FREAKED. When she saw Joel she slapped him clean across his face. The look he had was just priceless.”<br>They both began to laugh at the goofiness of it all.

Silence fell between them once again.
“So have you ever been skinny dipping, Benji?”<br>Benji was a little taken back by this question. Should he lie in order to keep up his bad boy image? No he didn't have to lie to impress her, she was different.
“No, I haven’t. – Have you?”<br>“Nope” Briana paused and looked out into the ocean. A crazy idea was stirring in her mind. “but I’m about to.”<br>

[Kezzie]

Rainy Nights

Briana lept off the ground from which she was sitting and quickly pulled off her sweat shirt and shorts, leaving only her laced underwear on. Without looking back she ran into the clear water and began swimming until she was out of shallow water. She turned around to find Benji still sitting in the sand with his mouth wide open.

“Aren’t you coming?” she asked. She watched as he got up slowly and pulled of his clothes leaving on his boxers. He ran into the water as well and swam up to her. They were both able to stand in the water which reached them from the shoulders down.
“You know to actually skinny dip, you’ve got to be, well you know, completely naked.” He informed her.
“Yeah I know, I’m getting there.” She smiled wildly and slowly removed her underwear and threw them as close to shore as she could.“Your turn” she said and then watched as Benji removed his boxers.
“This is crazy, if our finances only new…”
“Nah uh, no fiancés remember.” She playfully splashed him with water as she interrupted his sentence.
“Hey!” Benji splashed her back and soon enough they were in an all out water war.

When the two finally surrendered, Benji was left with eyeliner streaming down his face.
“Your eyeliner is all over.” Briana told him gesturing towards his face.
“Where here?” Benji asked pointing to the wrong spot on his face.
“No right here. No Benji…hold on I’ll get it.”<br>Briana moved over to him. Along her way tripped over something in the water, causing her to fall into Benji’s arms. (A/N: Ok I don’t know if it’s really possible to trip while standing in shoulder high water, but if it isn’t, well then it is in my story.)

Briana stood there in Benji’s arms for quit some time, staring into his deep brown eyes. He was looking back down at her and she watched as he closed his eyes and began to move his lips closer to hers. She followed his lead and closed her eyes as her lips surrendered to his. They stood there, kissing patiently, as a soft rain began to fall down upon them. Benji began to slowly pull away.
She looked at him, praying he wouldn’t tell her it was wrong, praying he wouldn’t mention his fiancé and how this would hurt her. And he didn’t.
“I think we should go inside” he whispered softly staring down into her eyes “before Tony and Joel come looking for us.”<br>She nodded her head in agreement and they made their way out of the water.

*****************
As they reached the deck, now fully clothed, they found two beach towels lying on the bench with a note on top.

Me, Chelsea, Joel, and Anna went out for the night. We’ll be back around 3AM. Have fun you two! (If you haven’t already)
Tony

They both blushed slightly
“Looks like it’s just us.” Benji said as he finished reading the letter. He picked up one of the beach towels and began wrapping Briana in it. “Wouldn’t want you catching a cold.” He explained.
“Thanks, I’m going to go get changed.” Briana said, shivering as the rain began to pour even heavier now.
“Me too.”<br>******
AS Briana finished changing into her p.j.s she could hear the television blaring in the guest room in which Benji was staying in. She laughed slightly as she heard the Simpson’s theme music.
“That boy and his cartoons” she said to herself.
As she made her way over to the vanity to wash off the remaining makeup, a bright flash of lightning lit the room completely, then another, and another. Each followed by a loud thud of thunder. She closed her eyes. The weather this night was just like the weather on the day of her parent’s funeral. She could see the day again she could feel the pain she felt on that day.

She opened her eyes trying to shake the thought from her head. The lighting and thunder was still making their presence known. She slowly went out into the hall, trying to make her way to the bathroom where she could lock herself in, and cry.
As she passed Benji’s room along the way she could hear his laughter echoing inside. She stood in his open doorway, he was lying in his bed laughing away at the images on the screen.
He felt her standing there and turned to her.
“Hey.”<br>“Hey.” She whispered
“What’s wrong, the weather scared ya?” he laughed.
She nodded her head sheepishly. He stared at her, so looked so innocent, so pure. Benji then slowly moved over and gestured for her to go over.

Briana made her way to his bed shyly and lied down next to him. She felt awkward at first, but was soon comforted by his hand around her waist.
Their lips once again met as Benji slowly pulled himself on top of her. She didn’t dare protest. He was being extremely gentle as he slipped off her clothing as well as his. Not a word was spoken, and their eye contact was never broken. Neither one felt wrong or guilty, just loved and wanted.

Briana was amazed at how much respect Benji had for her.
“You sure?” he asked, his words barely spoken as his breath became short.
“Yes.”<br>

[Kezzie]

Rude Awakening

Briana awoke the next morning with the sun glistening on her face. She tried to turn over but couldn’t. She was entwined in Benji’s arms and his grip on her was tight. Briana decided to just lay there until Benji woke up. She could feel his breath on her neck, it was soothing.

The sound of the house phone ringing began echoing through the house, a rather unpleasant sound in the morning. It must have rang 5 times before Tony answered.
“BRIANA! PHONE!” he called out.
“Shit” she thought to herself, how was she supposed to get dressed and out of Benji’s room without any one knowing?

She slowly moved Benji’s arms from around her, trying not to wake him, and slipped on her clothing. She was able to get out of his room without any one noticing.
“BRIANA!” Tony called after her once again.
“I’m coming.”<br>
She walked into the living room to find Tony standing there in his boxers, holding the phone impatiently.
“Bout, damn time.” He said handing the phone over to her.
“Put on some clothes before you scare someone.”
Tony pouted and sat down on his recliner to continue eating his cereal that the phone had obliviously interrupted him from.

“Hello?”<br>“Hey, Bri.”<br>“Hey Mitch.” Briana’s heart fell as she heard his voice. Mitch was her fiancé, he was in an unsigned band that toured 24/7. The only reason he allowed Briana to return to Florida was so he could screw a few groupies without her interrupting. He was also culprit of the cut on her wrist. Mitch was controlling and abusive but for some reason she always forgave him and returned to him. Maybe it was because she feared for her life, or maybe she feared he was all she could ever have.
“What? You don’t sound like you’re happy to talk to me. Having too much fun out there?”<br>“No, not at all.”<br>“Good because you’re leaving tomorrow.”<br>“What?”<br>“You heard me, pack your shit because you’re leaving there tomorrow.”<br>“Mitch…”
“Did you not fucking hear me? We can do this the easy way or the hard way, which one would you like?”<br>“Ok, I’ll leave.” Briana whispered.
“Good. Can’t wait to see you.” He said; the evil ever so present in his voice.
*Click*

Briana threw the phone down onto the sofa and plopped down beside it. She was angry now, angry at Mitch, angry at the world. She didn’t want to leave, she was enjoying herself. How could she leave Navarre again? How could she leave Benji?

“What’s that all about? You’re not leaving already are you?” Tony asked with concern in his face.
“Yea, I have to, there’s been a change in plans.” She replied staring blankly at the TV screen before her.
“What, Bri you can’t, you’ve just got here and I’ve hardly spent any time with you.”<br>“Well that’s not my fault now is it?” she didn’t want to lash out on Tony, but she couldn’t help it.
“Briana I haven’t seen Chelsea in months, I wanted to spend a few days with her, I thought you were going to be here longer than this anyways.”<br>“Well, I’m not.”<br>“Why don’t you just stay? He doesn’t run your life you know.”<br>“If you only knew.” Briana whispered under her breath.
“Bri, what’s going on? You never let a guy control you the way you let him.”<br>“He doesn’t control me.”<br>“Oh he doesn’t? Then why are you leaving?”<br>“BECAUSE IF I DON”T HE WILL BEAT ME TONY, OK? ARE YOU HAPPY NOW, THE TRUTH IS OUT?” Briana yelled standing up and stomping off to her room. All of Tony’s nagging questions just made her explode. Tony was left sitting speechless in his chair. As Briana slammed her door behind she caused the room to shake slightly.

****
Benji awoke to the sound of the door slamming. He opened his eyes slowly and was blinded by the sun. “<br>Bri?” he asked looking around through squinted eyes.
When he realized that she was gone he began searching for his boxers. He could hear yelling coming from down the hall. It was Tony and Briana.

*****
Briana was in her room throwing her clothes into her suitcases.
“You’re not leaving so you may as well stop.” Tony informed her.
“Tony, just leave me alone, please.”<br>“I’m not going any where Bri and neither are you.”<br>Tony grabbed the suitcases from her hands and through it out the bedroom door, shutting the door behind him. He had her trapped, she couldn’t leave.

“Briana what happened to you, you have changed so much. The Briana I knew wouldn’t let some guy control her life.” Tony asked walking over to where she was standing. She had begun to cry now, regretting telling him the truth.
“Well things change Tony.”<br>“Oh so you like being treated like dirt? Is that it?”<br>Briana didn’t respond, instead she sat on her bed sobbing. Tony sat down beside her and wrapped her in a hug.
“Briana you don’t need this.”<br>“But if I love him.” She replied in-between breaths.
“How can you love someone who treats you this way?”<br>“He can change.”<br>Tony shook his head, she was in denial and he knew it. Mitch was an ass to Briana, but when her parents died he was all she had. She believed that every hit she took, every cut he made, she deserved it.

They sat for awhile. Tony held on to her as tight as he possibly could without smothering her. He was thinking, thinking of a way to help her. He loved her and hated seeing her in such pain. He knew she wouldn’t leave Mitch. If only there was a way he could be there with her all the time, to watch over her and stop Mitch from beating her.
Tony got an idea.

“Bri, how about I get his band on tour with us?”
“What?” she whispered.
“If I can get his band on tour with us, then you won’t have to leave me. We could be together all summer. I just have to talk it over with GC.”<br>“GC? Why them?”<br>“Because, that’s who we’re going on tour with. God where have you been all week?”<br>Briana shrugged.
Tony continued. “I mean besides in Benji’s bed and all.”<br>Briana pulled away from Tony’s arms. She had a shocked expression on her face as she brought her hands up to her mouth.
“Oh my God, you know? But how?”<br>Tony laughed. “The walls in this house are pretty thin. I mean damn, how long can you two go?”<br>Briana playfully tackled Tony onto the bed. “You prick, you probably liked hearing us huh?”<br>Tony pinned her down to the bed, getting her attention. “He’s a great guy Bri. The only guy I would ever trust with you.”<br>“Yea, well he’s engaged and so am I.”<br>

[Kezzie]

And Now it Begins

Tony and Briana made their decision. Tony talked to both bands (GC as well as Mest) and all agreed to let Mitch’s band join them as an opening act. Now all he had to do was talk to Mitch, but he would wait until two days after Briana left to call and offer him a place in the tour, that way nothing would seem suspicious.

Same day as previous chapter

Briana stood in her room packing her things into her suitcase. Her hands shook with nervousness. She was scared of what may lie before her.
There was a soft knock on her door and Benji entered.
He watched as Briana slowly placed her last pair of clothing into the suitcase and zipped it up.
“So, looks like I get to meet your fiancé.” Benji started, he was still completely clueless as to the conversation she and Tony had just that morning. No one knew.
“Yeah I guess so.” Briana replied. She didn’t look up at him when she spoke. This made Benji a little curious. For as long as he knew her (which hadn’t been long) every time she would speak, she would look directly into his eyes. But this time she didn’t, something was wrong.

“You okay Bri?”<br>“Yeah, I’m fine” she said finally looking up at him “I just don’t want to leave this place, that’s all.”<br>“Yeah it is beautiful here. It’s going to be hard getting back on that bus.”<br>Briana nodded in understanding as she made her way over to her bedroom window. It was a very large window which reached from ceiling to floor. It’s view made the entire room sparkle, the white sand beach, the sky blue water.
Benji made his way over to her and wrapped his arms slowly around her waist. He whispered in her ear.
“Bri, about last night…”
“I know, I know, I won’t mention it to any one.” She interrupted.
Benji was startled, that was not what he intended to say. He pulled away from her. Was he the only one who enjoyed every second of that night? Was he just some one night stand to her?
“Ok.” He simply replied. His disappointment sounded in his voice and showed clearly on his face. But Briana didn’t notice. She was too busy staring out the window at her ocean view.

That entire day was an uneventful one. That night was the first night Briana and Benji did not spend together since she arrived in Navarre. Briana instead went to bed early and barely spoke to Benji. He was hurting, and so was she. He believed she didn’t care about him, about what they shared. She was too busy worrying about what Mitch had in store for her.

Briana left early the next morning. She snuck into Benji’s room right before she left and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek as he slept soundly. She told Tony good bye and then was gone.

****

Two weeks had past since the day Briana left Navarre. She and Mitch were aboard a plane heading from Orange County(where mitch lived) to Chicago where the tour would begin. Her body was completely sore. She thought that with all the excitement of the tour that Mitch wouldn’t be as angry, that he wouldn’t hurt her as much. She was wrong.

Mitch was nervous about the tour, and that just made each day worse for Briana.

Every night for two weeks she was beat. Beat for leaving and going back to Navarre, beat for staying at Tony’s, beat for even breathing. She took it all, without shedding a single tear, she deserved it, or at least she believed.

Briana adjusted her sunglasses as the plane landed. All the bands were at the airport waiting for them. The buses would leave from the airport and go straight to their first show. Briana and her fiancé were late, Mitch had misplaced the plane tickets and even after he found them tucked in his jacket pocket, he still had to “punish” Briana for loosing them.

Tony breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the pair running towards the tour buses. He noted Briana’s eye wear, “Makeup must not have worked” he whispered to himself, knowing what the dark shades were hiding.

Benji sat on GC’s bus staring out the dark tinted windows. He saw Briana arriving with her fiancé and he could feel a lump form in his throat. Jealousy consumed him.

Not having enough time to greet everyone, Briana and Mitch boarded the bus Mitch’s band would be using and all three buses left the airport.

[Kezzie]

Sweet Misery

The buses arrived at the venue and everyone begun unloading. Briana headed towards the bus exit, she wanted to see Tony, and Benji, badly.

“Where do you think you’re off to?” Mitch stopped her.
“I was going see Tony.”<br>“No, your not, you’re sick and you’re going to stay here all night.”<br>“But Mitch I feel fine. I just…” Her sentence was cut short as Mitch slapped her across the face leaving a stinging pain on her cheek.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me. You’re sick; you’re going to stay here until the show is over. Do you understand me?”<br>Briana didn’t reply, for tears were beginning to form. She refused to let him see her cry so she began staring out the bus window. That’s when she seen her. Benji was walking past the bus, holding hands with a short pink haired girl. ‘It must be her” she thought.
Mitch was even angry now. How dare she not answer him?
He threw her to the ground and began kicking her repeatedly in the stomach.
“I asked you a question bitch. You answer me when I talked to you. Now tell me, do you understand what I said?”<br>“Yes” Briana barely breathed out.
“Good now get your ass to the back of the bus so no one will find your ugly ass.”<br>He watched as Briana struggled to stand up, holding her aching stomach for dear life. She stumbled over to the back of the bus and sat down in the corner, hidden from every one.

*****
The show ended and all three bands where gathered in Mest’s dressing room, celebrating. No one had seen Briana all night and Tony and Benji were getting concerned. They decided to ask Mitch about her.

“Hey man” Tony said greeting Mitch with a hand shake.
“Hey.” Mitch replied.
“I’m Tony, we talked on the phone before, and this is Benji.”<br>“Hey, nice to meet you.” Benji said
“Nice to meet you too.”<br>“Ya’ll did pretty good out there tonight.” Tony complemented Mitch.
“Thanx man.” He replied.

“Um Mitch, we were kind of wondering where Bri was.” Benji piped up.
“Yeah man we haven’t seen her all day. Where is she?” Tony added.
“Oh Briana isn’t feeling well, she’s on the bus.”

“Oh” Both Tony and Benji replied.
Tony looked at Benji trying to hint that something was up. Benji got the picture. He always did. They were best friends and could practically read each other’s minds.
“Yea well I think I’m going to go back to the bus and catch sum ‘Z’s” Benji stated “I’ll see ya’ll later.”<br>
He was almost out the dressing room door when he was stopped by his fiancé.
“Where you off to?” she asked him curiously.
“Um I think I’m going to go get some rest.”<br>“Rest? But Benji the night is so young. Come on let’s go have a beer.” She whined.
“Andy you should know by now that I don’t drink.”<br>“Oh yeah I forgot you take after your father” Andy didn’t mean to sound so… well… bitchy. She wasn’t the brightest crayon in the Crayola box and had no idea how much what she just said pissed off Benji. A lot of things she said did that to him.
“I’m going rest. I’ll see you later on.”<br>He didn’t give her time to reply. He left hurriedly out the door in search for Briana.

He reached the tour buses outside and found the bus he was looking for. He pulled the door open and began searching through it.
“Bri? Bri where are you?” he called out after her. He didn’t receive a response. She wasn’t in any of the bunks so he headed towards the very back of the bus. It was extremely dark and he almost gave up and left, until he saw an image curled up in the corner.

There she was. Silent, and in obvious pain. She lied curled up in the same corner from which Mitch ordered her to stay in.
“Oh my God, Bri.”<br>Benji fought back tears as he stared at her pail and bruised body. Her image had changed greatly since the last time he saw her. Her skin was no longer tanned, her face was bruised and swollen, her smile obviously faded.

He scooped her up carefully in his arms and watched as she winced in pain. Then he slowly carried her off to his tour bus and lied her down softly in his bunk. Benji went into the kitchen area to retrieve some ice for an ice pack, then climbed in the bunk next to her and closed the curtains behind him.

“Where do you want this?” he asked referring to the pack of ice. She slowly lifted up her shirt, revealing massive bruises along her stomach.
“Oh my…Bri, he did this didn’t he? Your fiancé, this is all from him?”
Briana didn’t dare lie to Benji, how could she lie to those eyes? She nodded her head in response to his question.
“Bri, I’ll kill him, I won’t let him touch you again I swear.”<br>She didn’t respond, instead she placed her hand on Benji's face. Her eyes screaming ‘thank you’. Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep, worn out from all the pain she underwent. Benji watched as she slept soundly and brushed the hair from off her face. He kissed her lips softly and unwillingly fell asleep next to her, his hand holding on tightly to hers.

[Kezzie]

Lucky Number 4

Briana woke up. Her stomach felt as though it had underwent a thousand sit ups. She looked down at her watch, 3:45am. She still had time to sneak back upon Mitch’s bus. He wouldn’t have any idea that she left her spot in the corner. She tried stepping out of the bunk unnoticed but her hand was still being held by Benji. She looked down at him, why was he risking so much for her?

She pulled her hand away and Benji’s eyes blinked open.
“Where you going?” he whispered as he rubbed his sleepy eyes.
“Back to the bus.”<br>“Bri, no I’m not going to let you go back to him.”<br>“Benji I have to; I have to end this. I have to tell him the engagement is off.”<br>“Then I’ll come with you.” He said sitting up.
“No.” She pushed him back down to the bunk “I can do it on my own.”<br>He stared blankly at her. Was she crazy? Mitch would kill her. But for some reason her eyes seemed to tell no lie, she was strong, he knew it, and he decided to let her go.
“Ok. But take my cell, hit ‘4’ if any thing happens, it’ll call Joel’s cell, and I’ll come and get you.”<br>“Benji I don’t…”
“Please, just take it.”
She looked down at him. He was crazy, why was he willing to ruin his engagement for her?
“Ok” she replied and left him with a kiss on his fore head.

******************

Briana slowly walked back to the tour bus, tucking the cell phone into her back pocket. The area around to buses was deserted; everyone was still inside the venue, celebrating their first show of the tour.

She climbed the steps to Mitch’s bus and could hear familiar moaning coming from inside. ‘Great he’s with another groupie.’ She thought. She didn’t dare bother them, the last time she interrupted him and one of his ‘hoes’ she was nearly hospitalized.

Instead she quietly made her way to the back of the bus, past the bunks, and sat in her corner.

Within a few minutes she heard Mitch and his ‘groupie’ emerge from the bunk. She peeped out into the hallway to find the same girl she saw Benji holding hands with, getting dressed. It was Anna, Benji’s fiancée. She was shocked, how could she do that to Benji, he was perfect, well he did cheat on her, but still, why mess up something with some one as wonderful as him?

Briana made her way to the bunks, startling both Anna and Mitch.
“Oh, there you are slut.” Mitch said “I want you to meet someone; this is Benji’s fiancée, Anna.”<br>Anna looked at Mitch. “Mitch, what if she tells him what we were doing?” she snapped.
“Oh, she won’t say shit, will you bitch?”<br>Briana shook her head.
“Good” Anna replied “wouldn’t want to risk loosing all that money.”<br>“Money?” Briana whispered.
“Yeah, what? Did you think I was marrying Benji out of love, Please! I’m not stupid. The freak is rich.”<br>Briana nodded her head.
“I’m going to walk Anna to GC’s bus. Stay here.” Mitch demanded.

Briana watched as Mitch and Anna left out of the bus.
When they were gone she reached into her back pocket and picked up the phone. She brought it up to her ear.

“You got all that Benj?”<br>“Loud and clear.”<br>

[Kezzie]

Yet Another Rainy Day

By the time Anna had reached GC’s bus, Benji was throwing her belongings out of the bus window, onto the pavement below.
When she saw her things being scattered around outside, she ran into the bus.

“Benji! Why are you throwing my stuff out side? What the hell is going on?”<br>Benji sat down at the table.
“I called you a taxi, it’ll be here in 10 minutes.” He said blankly.
“What? Why? Benji what is going on?”<br>“It’s over Anna.”<br>“But why?”<br>“You think I’m stupid or something? You think I don’t know that ever since the day we met you have been sleeping around behind my back? I knew Anna, I knew that you were only with me for my money.”<br>Anna was stunned.
“So why did you propose then Benji? If you knew all along?”<br>“You really want to know why I proposed Anna?” she nodded her head “Well you know what, that’s just something you will have to sit and wonder about every day for the rest of your life. You will sit and ask yourself what could have been while I’m out, living my life, having a blast, and not worrying a damn thing about you.”<br>She was silent.
“Now get the hell out of my bus!” Benji declared, raising his voice to her for the first time ever.
“You’ll regret this” she mumbled. And left.

Benji rested his head in his hands. He was worried. Not about Anna, not a chance, he was relieved that she was finally gone. He was worried about the person he was beginning to fall deeply for. He wondered if Mitch knew that Briana had called Joel’s phone secretly as Anna spilled the beans, so to speak. He also wondered if she had ended things with him, or if he had found out that she spent most of the night in Benji’s bunk and punished her for it.
He was going crazy as more and more questions stormed in his head.

30 minutes went by with no sign of Briana, she didn’t call or come over or anything. All the band members returned to their buses and each bus left the arena, headed off to their next destination.

Benji fell asleep at the table and was woken up the next morning by Joel.
“Benj, Benj, man where is my cell? Did you loose it?” Joel asked as he shook his twin.
Benji slowly awoke. He thought for a moment.
“Briana has it. You’ll get it back today.”<br>
“Briana? I thought she was sick or something. Well at least that’s what Mitch was telling every body. Shame too, I really wanted to meet her.” Paul spoke up.
“Long story man, long story.” Benji replied walking over to his bunk.

“Benj, where’s Anna?” Joel asked finally noticing that she was missing.
“Long story man, long story.” Benji repeated himself as he crawled into his bunk and fell to sleep.

Joel and Paul exchanged confused glances, then shrugged off Benji’s lack of information.

*************
Benji and Billy sat playing video games in their dressing room. Joel was pacing back and forth in the room, loosing his sanity without his phone.
Billy was winning the game due to the fact that Benji’s mind was else where. He hadn’t seen Briana all morning, he was scared for her.

There was a soft, almost silent knock on the door and Briana poked her head in.
“Can I come in?” she asked.
“Yes, please” Joel responded. She passed Benji, without acknowledging him and made her way over to Joel.
“Here, sorry it took me so long to get it back to you.” She apologized, handing Joel his cell.
“No problem.” Joel quickly took it and began frantically dialing numbers. His phone was his addiction.

Briana tried to make her way out of the room but was stopped by Billy.
“Hi Briana, I’m Billy” he said standing up and taking her hand into his.
“Hey Billy, it’s nice to meet you.” Briana replied as they shook hands.
Benji looked up from the game long enough to study her hand; the small, pathetic engagement ring was still adorning it. His throat began to tighten as he realized she didn’t end things with Mitch.

“Bri, sweetie, come here for a sec.” Mitch called out to her from the doorway.
“I’ll see you later Billy” she said as Billy returned back to the game “Thanks for the cell Joel” Joel nodded his head and returned back to the conversation he was holding with the person on the other line.
She looked down slightly at Benji, he’s eyes were beginning to water as he looked up at her.

She opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted.
“Bri, come on!” Mitch called out once again.

Benji watched as she walked out of the room.

********
That was the closest Briana came to talking to Benji in an entire week. Most of her time spent on tour with the guys, was occupied with her planning the wedding she was being forced into.

Mitch had found Joel’s phone that night, and beat the truth out of Briana. She told him every thing, she even told him about the night they skinny dipped in the ocean, and how they had sex afterwards. She had to; he wouldn’t stop hurting her until he was positive she was telling him the entire story. She was not allowed to speak to Benji or even make eye contact with him. Mitch threatened to take her life away if she ever did.

Mitch didn’t take his anger out on Benji, he was too scared. He knew Benji could take him. Mitch wasn’t a built guy; Briana could probably successfully defend herself against him if she wanted to. But she didn’t, she never fought back, never.

***********
A week from where our story left off, every one was crowded around the hotel room lobby after a show. Their conversations were interrupted by Mitch.

“Hey, everyone! Can I get ya’ll attention for a sec?”
The room slowly became quiet.

No one really liked Mitch, they had learned that he was a completely arrogant person, and did not like the way he hardly paid attention to Bri.
“I know me and Bri were supposed to get married a lot later on, but we decided to move the date up a bit, well actually a lot. We are going to be getting married this weekend and we would like all of you to be there.”<br>
Benji’s heart sank. It was really happening; she was really going to marry him.
He got up slowly, he felt as if he was about to pass out, the room around him was spinning as he carefully made his way out of the hotel.

Benji walked outside, rain began pouring down upon him. He was oblivious to every thing around him as he continued to walk. He came to the city’s park and sat down on one of the benches. Benji's head hung down and he stared at his feet.

He was there for what seemed like hours, until he felt someone staring down at him. He looked up and saw the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, even though they were filled with tears and dark circles hung beneath them.

“Briana” He said as she took his head into her hands and wiped the water away from his face.
“Benj, I'm sorry...”<br>

[Kezzie]

One Last Time

The rain continued to pour, and the cold water dripped silently from their faces, mixed with the tears being willfully released by their eyes.

“Sorry?” Benji asked.
“Yes, sorry. I’m sorry for dragging you into this hell that I call life, I’m sorry for getting you involved in all this, this, crap. You don’t deserve all it, and after this weekend you won’t have to be bothered with any of it.” She whispered as her teeth began to chatter.
“But Bri, I’m not sorry. I’m not sorry that I met you, that I spent those nights watching you sleep, asking myself…asking God how could someone like you deserve such a thing. Bri…” Benji closed he’s eyes in preparation for what he was about to say”I lov…”
Briana shook her head. “No, don’t. Benji can’t you see. I can’t be with you. I’m forever stuck to be his punching bag.”
“No your not” Benji yelled, now standing face to face with Briana “Briana you could leave him, you can leave forever and he could never harm you. It’s so easy Bri, all you have to do is leave.”<br>“He’ll find me, he’ll come after me, no restraining order could ever hold him.”<br>Benji rested his forehead against hers.
“Why do you keep doing this?” he whispered softly
She didn’t respond. She slowly pulled her head away from his and looked into his eyes. They were red and swollen, and filled with pain and love all at the same time.
“Just one last night Benji. Just one more night for you and me.” She begged.

Benji nodded then he kissed her lips gently, took her hand into his, and they headed back to the hotel room.

***********************
Briana lied awake, once again entwined in Benji’s arms. His eyes were shut tightly as he slept. Her eyes wondered around the room, she couldn’t sleep.
She set her gaze on a small lap top.

Benji awoke and sighed slightly as he realized Briana was no longer next to him. A grin formed across his face as he saw her, in his Made shirt, staring blankly at the computer screen.
He got up and made his way over to her, slowly wrapping his arms around her. Benji saw what she had been looking at. It was an off white wedding gown, with a beautiful gold design at the bottom.
“Is that your dress?” he asked.
“I wish.” Briana laughed slightly.
“A bride should have what ever dress she wishes for.”<br>“Yeah, well this one is impossible to find, and to afford.”<br>
Benji’s heart ached at her depression. He wanted to get her mind off of things.
“Come back to bed.” He stated.
“Just a sec.”<br>“Pweeasee.” He begun begging.
Briana laughed at his goofiness. “Okay, okay.”<br>Benji picked Briana up off of the chair and into his arms. Then he gently laid her down in the bed. He saw the bruises across her now bare stomach and began gently kissing each and every one as Briana giggled softly.
Benji stopped and brought his face up to hers. “All better now.” He said.
She laughed. “It’s that easy huh?”<br>“Yep, it’s that easy when you have me.”<br>
Their joking was interrupted by a loud banging on the hotel room door.
“Benji, I know she’s in there!” it was Mitch.
“Shit, Benji what do I do. He’s going to kill me.”<br>“Bri, go in the bathroom and stay there, ok?”
she nodded her head in agreemeant as Mitch continued to bang at the door.

“Benji, open the fucking door!”<br>Benji hurriedly got dressed and opened the door slightly.
“Mitch what the hell is going on?”<br>“Don’t play games, I know her ass is in there. Now let me see her.”<br>“Dude I don’t know what the hell you are talking about.”<br>“Stop playing stupid Benji or I swear to God…”

Briana appeared out of the bathroom, fully clothed, and opened the door completly.
“Your right Mitch, I’m right here.”<br>Benji looked at her confused. “Bri?”<br>“No Benji, we can’t lie to him.” She turned to her fiancée “Me and Benji were in here putting some last minute touches on the wedding that’s all. See, on the lap top.”<br>Mitch turned and looked over at the computer, the wedding dress was still on the screen.
“Oh, I see.” He said slowly. He wasn't buying her bullshit and she knew it.
“Sorry Benji but I have to go” Briana said very plain.
“But Bri…” he whispered.
“Bye Benji” she interrupted as she walked out of the room leaving Mitch behind.

“Stay away from her Madden; you don’t want to get caught up with that bitch.”<br>Benji made a fist with his hand and was about to knock out Mitch when Briana began to call out after her fiancée.
“Mitch, come on, I’m tired.”<br>

[Kezzie]

Black Wedding

Briana sat in her hotel room, gathered by 5 of her closest girl friends. They were all dressed up in black strapless gowns. Black, what a wonderful choice for a wedding. She sat in a chair, her hair being done by one of her friends, and she stared down at the wedding gown she had chosen for the day. It wasn’t any thing big; in fact it was extremely plain.

She had never been so unhappy before in her life. It was her wedding day and her parents weren’t there the way she imagined them to be when she was a child. She was marrying a guy she couldn’t love. Her heart longed desperately for Benji. He must hate her for what she has done.

There was a soft knock on the door, and one of her bridesmaids got up to answer it.
“Hey Tony.” Briana greeted her best friend as he entered the room. He was struggling to carry a large white box.
“Hey Bri, I got a special delivery for you.” Tony announced as he sat the box onto the bed.
“What is it?”<br>“It’s your wedding present from Benji. He couldn’t make it out here today so he asked me to give it to you. He said for you to open it before the ceremony.”<br>Briana hands began to shake as she nervously made her way over to Tony and the box. She stared at it for awhile toying with the idea of whether or not to open it.
She slowly pulled the card off of the top of the box and read its contents.

Bri,
Every bride should be wed in the dress of her dreams.
I love you,
Benj

Tears slowly fell from her face as Briana pulled the top off of the box. There it was, the off white gown she had showed to Benji a few nights before.
She looked up from the dress into the bright blue eyes of Tony.
“I can’t do this. I can’t marry him.”<br>Tony didn’t question her statement. He was thrilled that Briana was finally coming to her senses the way he knew she would.
“You want me to tell him?” he asked.
“No I can do it on my own.”<br>“Briana I don’t think you should.”<br>“Tony, I won’t too.”<br>Tony reluctantly moved aside and let Briana go.

*****************
Briana knocked frantically at Mitch’s door. She had been knocking for awhile now and he would not answer. Finally she heard some scuffling coming from inside the room, and the door knob turned slowly. Mitch emerged with the smell of alcohol clear in his breath.

“Mitch we need to talk.”<br>“Stupid slut, don’t you know your not supposed to see your groom on your wedding day.” His words were slurred and he could barely keep his balance as he stood in the doorway.
“We’re not going to get married Mitch. It’s over. I’m not taking this shit any…”
Mitch pulled a screaming Briana into the hotel room and locked the door behind them.
“You think your smart huh, you think you can just stand in that hallway and tell me it’s over and someone could easily come to your rescue if they heard your screaming. Am I right?”<br>Briana didn’t reply.

Mitch threw her to the ground and her head hit a random chair on the way down.
“Am I right?” he yelled.
Briana didn’t answer him; instead she began screaming for help. She could hear people running down the hall, and Tony yelling through the hotel room door to be let in.
Mitch ignored Tony’s cries along with Briana’s as he pinned her to the floor and beat her manically.

Briana lied there helplessly. Her body was numb and her vision was becoming blurry. She saw Tony running into the room with the hotel manager behind him. Tony pinned Mitch down to the floor until the police came soon after and took Mitch away. Tony ran over to Briana and began crying hysterically. She couldn’t speak although she tried. Paramedics raced into the room and put her on a stretcher. Briana blacked out.

[Kezzie]

At Last

After a week in the hospital, Briana was able to fly back home to Navarre. She suffered from a concussion, a broken arm and countless cuts and bruises.

Although Mitch was locked up and out of her life forever she was still desperately unhappy. Briana had no contact with Benji since the last night they had spent together. He and the guys had been busy touring and were unable to visit her. She wondered if he had forgotten about her, if he had moved on.

Briana walked inside her new home she was able to buy. It was a small, beach side place. The walls were all painted white and the rooms were completely empty. Tony helped her unpack a few things and she laughed slightly as he struggled to carry a box of stuffed animals up the stairs into her home.
“I’m going to go get the rest of my bags from the car.” She declared.
“You want me to help?”<br>“Na uh. I’ve got it. Thanx.”<br>“Okay.”<br>
Briana climbed down the stairs outside her home and made her way over to Tony’s car where all her things were piled in.
As she struggled to remove some bags with only one arm, a taxi pulled in the drive way to her beach side home.

Briana watched curiously as a familiar face stepped outside the vehicle and moved slowly towards her. Her heart fell and her eyes began to water. She wanted to speak but she couldn’t, she wanted to move but she was suddenly unable to do that either. What was he doing here, he wasn’t supposed to be there, he was supposed to be gone and out of her life. What was going on?

*
*
*

She stared as he walked up beside her and placed his hand up to her face. His eyes were watering too.
“Bri…” he tried to speak but was unable to, instead he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of her lips against his.
He pulled away and stared deeply into her eyes.
“I love you Briana.”<br>“I love you too Benji.”<br>

[Taurence]

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© 2004