Ben bites his lip, still not saying anything.
I sigh, he sighs too. “You sure?” He asks. I nod. “I am more than sure about this. And even though it’s only to Spain. I can find a job there and we part ways. But I don’t know if I can do this alone at this moment.” I confess.
Ben’s eyes widen and a smile appears on his face. “Only if you promise me to be yourself, the wildflower that I remember.” He grins.
I nudge him. “I ain’t changing for no-one, no more! ” I smile, knowing this is a yes.
“Well ma’am, welcome aboard” Ben grins. “I promise I’ll leave you when we arrive in Spain. But I need someone to pull me out of this shit.” I say.
He grabs my hand. “Let’s go miss.” we both chuckle and nearly run to the bus stop to catch the bus that goes to the airport.
I haven’t bought a ticket, so I have to arrange something at the airport, and as far as I can see, there is still a seat available on the flight to Barcelona.
I feel the adrenaline rushing through my body.
"Thank you." I mumble to Ben. He looks at me. "You're welcome." he replies simply. "I reckon you will tell me what's going on, when you are ready." he continues. I nod slowly.
"Later."
The plane is ready to board. "I hate flying." Ben confesses. "Really? I never thought you'd be the kind of guy to be afraid of anything." I smile.
"I have a terrible fear of heights." he continues. "Now, spill. What are YOU afraid of?" he asks.
I shake my head frantically. "Nothing! I am too cool to be afraid." I grin. He pokes my side and I flinch. "Okay Okay, I am afraid of horses." I blush.
"Horses? Really? That's even worse than my fear of heights." he laughs. Now it's my turn to nudge him. "Don't laugh at me, I just don't like them."
"What about unicorns then?" he asks. I smile widely. "DUDE, they are even scarier. I mean, a horse WITH a horn. Oh no, no way!" I fake a shiver and we both laugh.
We don't have a seat next to each other in the plane. I plug in my music and listen to Bon Jovi to distract me from my thoughts. I see Ben's head popping up every now and then to look at me.
I wink and wave at him every time he does.
Just over an hour later, the plane starts the landing. I look out of the window and see Barcelona approaching fast.
Welcome new life.
We go through customs.
"What are your plans now?" Ben asks. I shrug, "I have no idea. I am here, that's what matters most. I think I’ll go look for a hotel, so I can sort out what I want."
The I heard Ben was planning to go to Seville, I decided to go look for a job there. So I can stay in a place. I’ve always wanted to go.
"I will not bother you any further. I will find my way to Seville from here" I say. "Thanks again, you have no idea how much this means to me. You literally saved my life." I hug him, swing my bag on my back and head to the exit.
"Lynn, wait!" Ben runs after me and taps my shoulder. I stop and he looks at me. "Let me at least drop you off somewhere, so I know you are safe." he offers.
"No, you don't have to do that." I reply
"But I want to do that! I insist." he demands.
I raise my hands as a sign that I give in. "Okay." I smile.
"Wow, you are easy to convince." he grins and offers me his arm. "Let's go miss"
"Ben, where are you staying?" I ask. "In a hostel close to la Sagrada Familia. I always wanted to see it." he replies simply. We take a taxi from the airport to Calle Mallorca, the street where the hostel is.
"Lets see if they've got a room available for you." Ben suggests and we both walk in. There are no rooms available, but the hostess knows some other cheap hostels where they might have a room for me. "Why don't you stay in my room?" Ben offers, but i shake my head. "I don't want to be a bother. I mean, I already made myself your travel buddy." I mope.
"Don't be silly, I wanted to come and take you away anyway." He admits. I look in his eyes. "Really?" I ask. "Really Really." he replies. I blush and smile shyly. "Why?" I ask.
"Let's go to the room, so we can talk." Ben takes the key from the hostess and heads to find the room. "Come on in miss," Ben holds the door for me and I step in. It's a very tiny room, with only a king size bed and a chair. I sit down in the chair and start talking immediately.
I tell Ben everything about Rick. His cocaine use and his mean behavior. I also confess that I did not hit a wall, but that the bruises on my face, were Rick to blame. I tell him about the threats Rick made towards my friend and him. And about how I took most of his money with me when I left.
Silent tears drip down my face as I continue talking. Ben kneels in front of me, with his hands on my knees. “You are safe now, I knew there was something wrong, the moment I bumped into you. And that’s why I came over, to come and take you away.”
"You saved my life." I sob.
"You saved your own life." Ben grins while pulling my hands away from my face. He holds my hands and I look at him. "Thank you for giving me the chance to save my own life then." I smile faintly.
I lean over to give Ben a hug. “Thank you.” I whisper in his ear. ‘Anytime” He whispers back. “Now Let’s get some food.”
“I need to find a hotel room too” I reply, “And buy some clothes.” I put my hands over my mouth. “OH NO” I say with a shocked face. ‘What?” Ben asked worried.
“I forgot to tell Lea and Sara where I went, and I didn’t even call my boss to tell her I won’t be coming back.” I am stunned by my own stupidity. “Maybe that’s just better, so Rick won’t be able to find out where you are, just in case he’s going to look for you. After all, you stole his money.” Ben says.
“I did not steal his money, I just took it as a compensation for this.” I say, pointing at the bruises on my face. “I do have to call my boss, to tell her that I won’t be coming back to work anymore. No matter what happens, I am not going back to work in an office.” I mutter.
Ben laughs. “Good choice my lady. Now, let’s get some food, I’m starving.”
My tummy growls in agreement and we both grin.
We find a nice bistro with a great view on the Sagrada Familia. “Is it weird when I say that I feel like hugging a tall building.” I say while gazing at the building that’s never finished.
“As long as you don’t want to climb the towers, I am all in for it. Hugging is a good thing, I like hugging.” Ben laughs and leans in for a hug. “See, hugging is good.”
I blush and gently slap his arm. “I AM planning to climb the towers, but I will not force you to come with me, I am not the one with fear of heights.” I laugh.
“Well that must mean I have to do all horse rides all by myself?” Ben teases and I giggle. “Unless you know a big carousel, I have to disappoint you, I will not come within 100 feet of a horse.” We both laugh.
“Are you sure you want to go into the Sagrada Familia?” Ben asks again. I nod frantically. “Yes, I always wanted that, and I this is probably the only chance I’ve got to do so.”
“Your only chance?” How come? We will stay a week or something, right? Just rent a car to drive to Madrid, and from Madrid to Seville. And see where we end up there. You can find the job then, just like you want.”
I look at Ben, not sure what to think. Of course I would love to drive around Spain with that gorgeous man by my side, but I can’t make him change his plans, just for me.
But he came to take me away.
He wanted me with him.
“Okay Ben, listen to me this one time.” I start. “Only this one time?” He smiles.
I give him a stare of death. “All the time, but this time is very important. My plans are clear, I want to go to Seville, find a job and a house, and live there. And I don’t care how to get there, or how long it will take. I can walk or hitchhike if I want too. But please, don’t feel responsible for me. This is the time to be honest with me, and choose the thing you really want.” I say, convinced that he will wish me luck on my journey and take off.
“You can always go by horse.” Ben jokes.
“Seriously? Dude.” I give him the stink eye.
“Seriously? Well, Seriously, I would like to dive into this adventure with you. I take my chance, and sometimes that’s all you need to do.” He looks at me and I can see he means it.
I grin. “So, travel buddy, if we are gonna travel together, we are gonna do it the right way. We rent a car and drive through Spain. One more important thing. When do you need to go back to the United States?” I ask.
“I don’t have to go back for the next few months. So driving sounds like a good idea to me. I would love to see the inlands of Spain. I think we need a map.” he smiles.
I lean back in my chair. I can’t believe how well this adventure is starting off. And I can’t believe that I am going to drive through Spain, with the ghost of my past, my dream guy, my crush.
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