Chapter 9 - Certain

FUCK, I forgot to bring my toothbrush.

I throw the blankets off of me, and nearly step on Ben when I swing my legs out of the bed. I stop my movement and have to look at him. He’s lying there so peacefully. I have to bite my lip, not to say ‘awww’ out loud.

I jump out of the bed, still wearing my clothes of the day before. I run out of the hostel, to the supermarket I saw yesterday, I quickly buy a comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, a magazine, some bread and juice.
I pay and quickly head back to the hostel.

Ben is still asleep. I drop my things on the bed, brush my teeth, comb my hair and lie back on the bed.

Reading my magazine for a while, listening to the soft snoring of Ben, I drift away in a light sleep.

“Wake up sleepyhead.” A soft voice wakes me up from my dreams. “Good morning sunshine.” Ben says whilst looking at me. “Hi” I mumble, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
“You woke up earlier?” He asks, pointing at the stuff on my bed. “Yes I did. Went shopping. What time is it?” I ask

“Nearly noon.” Ben replies. I get up from the bed. “Lets go out for a walk.” I smile. “I want to see more of Barcelona than only this room.”

We spend the next hours walking through Barcelona and visiting Parc Güell. We sit down on one of the many gorgeous benches and I stare in the distance.

“I forgot to call Rick last night.” I say.

“You were too drunk to remember, but you gave me a great laugh.” Ben laughs. ‘What did I do?” I ask. A bit scared of what he will say. I’ve been drunk a few times before, and nothing good comes from it. I am drunk in a funny and weird way. And I always manage to make a fool of myself.

“Well, I can honestly say, you were the girl I remembered from before your Rick time.” He chuckles.
“I laughed so hard, and I had to give you a piggy back ride back to the hotel, because you could hardly walk. You were so drunk that you passed out, the moment you were in bed. Oh, and you snore.. LOUD.” he teases me.

“Oh yeah, you will regret that you offered me to stay in your room.” I grin. “I snore AND I talk in my sleep.”

“I would love to hear that. What else do you do when you are asleep” He asks.

I smile. “I don’t know, I never found out.” I grin. “Maybe you should stay awake all night, and tell me tomorrow.”

“Hmm. Nah, don’t think so.” Ben replies. We both chuckle.

Time flies when you’re having fun.

I feel that I’m becoming my old self again. The sparkle is back in my eyes and I feel like bouncing and dancing around all the time.

We hang out in Park Güell for a while. I buy a ice cream for Ben. I smell mine and say. “Nom, that smells good.” Ben does what I expect him to do, and smells his ice cream. I take my chance and nudge his hand. Ben splutters and I laugh. “You are supposed to eat it, not smear it on your nose.”

I scream and start running when Ben starts to chase me with his cone pointed at me. ‘I’ll get you for that.” But I am quicker than he is and I quickly hide behind a pole. I peek around the pole and see him approaching me. I back out slowly, expecting him to face me within seconds.

But I'm wrong. I feel a hand grabbing my waist and I jump up. “DUDE, you scared me.” I gasp for breath and chuckle.

Ben turns me around and tries to push the cone in my face, but I duck and he misses. I laugh even harder. “Missed me!” I tease.

Before I know it he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me towards him. He nuzzles my face, and I squeal. “No! not the face, not the face.” I laugh and try to push him away, but since there is already ice cream all over my face, I give up.

I raise my hands. “Okay, you win.” I smile. “I won! I won. Did you hear that, I won.” Ben cheers. “Wait. What did I win?” he asks.

I think for a moment. “Uhm.. You won the honor to give me a piggy back ride up the hill.” I grin. “Isn’t that more a win for you? But, as you wish miss.” He bends forward and grabs my knees, throwing me over his shoulder. I squeal again and try to smack his butt. “This is not exactly a piggy back ride.” I nearly choke from laughing. “Well, you are kinda on my back, right?” he replies.

“OH YOU, I’ll get your for this.”
Ben ignores me and walks up the hill, people are staring, pointing and laughing at us, I wave back friendly.

Ben’s breathing gets louder and deeper. I can tell he has a tough time climbing the hill with me on his shoulder. “You can put me down now.” I say. He sighs.

“Thank god.” He mutters. I slap him on his butt before he puts me down. “Your own fault.” I grin.

“I need some rest, and a smoke.” He pants. I reach in my pocket and hand him my cigarettes. “Take one of mine.” I offer. “I am a nice girl after all.” I tease.

We sit down on the rocky ground, with our backs against a wall. “I am having so much fun right now, it’s been too long that I laughed like this.” I say while inhaling the smoke.

“I owe it all to you that I am starting to be happy again.” I shrug.

“That is not true. You took the step to leave Rick yourself. I was just there at the right time, to help you with it. But you did it all by yourself.” He looks at me but I avoid his eyes.

“I don’t think I would have left Rick if you weren’t there.” I say simply. “And I also don’t know for sure, if I want to call him to see how he is.” I continue firmly.

I look up into Ben’s eyes.
“I am glad I was there. Right place, right time. And I am happy you are here with me. It wouldn’t have been so much fun alone.” He confesses with a blush.

“Thank you.” I lean in to kiss him on his cheek, which results in even redder cheeks. “Oh sir, I made you blush.” I grin.

“Ben?” I ask. “Yes miss?”

“Can we go try and find a original Spanish bar? Stuff ourselves with tapas and alcohol?”

Ben nods. “Sounds like a good plan.”

“And I need to go shopping tomorrow, I need new clothes. I only brought my jeans and sweatpants.” I say. “And if we go driving inlands, I need sunglasses and some sleeveless shirts too. It might get hot.” I grin.

“I like the whole hot thought. But I am not so happy with the shopping.” Ben grins. “I can perfectly go shopping by myself. I hate shopping, so I only buy what I really need. I mean, it needs to fit in my backpack, right.” I say

Ben nods. “I guess so, now lets get back to the hotel, freshen up and go find a nice bar.” he stands up, grabs my hand to pull me on my feet, and we walk back to the hotel in silence.