Michael ignored Charlie. He continued eating his pancakes as if he had not heard anything.
"Hey, I am talking to you!" Charlie said.
"Oh shut up Charlie. After how you used me as your pillow and threw yourself over me, I didn't even sleep well," Michael was forced to say.
"You look well and rested to me," Charlie scoffed. He was prepared to fight with Michael this morning because Nine was not here for him to fight with.
Joy giggled, Charlie was definitely the one who brought the loudness wherever he went. She placed some pancakes on his plate and added some maple syrup for him.
Charlie noticed this little action from the corner of his eye. He stopped his arguing with Michael and turned to her.
"You got me some pancakes?" he asked.
"Mhmm, because your tummy is rumbling and I can hear it very loudly," she giggled.
"Thank you so much, princess. Thank you so much," Charlie smiled. He was so touched by her gesture.
"Food is obviously the way to your heart," Lulu teased.
"Of course, what else would be?" Charlie replied unashamedly.
Everyone laughed at him. He took no offence to that, he wasted no time and began to eat.
Margaret laughed, she looked around. This was how she wanted her house to be at all times... full.
...
Benjamin sighed. He felt so restless, unable to eat or sleep. He never expected that this would happen to him. He felt so irritated at himself, it was just too much for him to handle.
He could not bear Lulu being angry at him. He felt so lonely. She still was not answering his calls or replying his messages. Charlie was giving him a sense of hope and he did not know if that was a good thing or not.
Benjamin sighed once more. He felt so trapped in his own home. He decided to go outside and get some fresh air. Before, he was happy with his boring Saturdays, as Lulu would call it. Now he was not. It felt like the day had lost its brightness and it felt so tiring.
He looked up into the sky. Lulu was like that bright sun in the sky for him. It was a shame that he had not realized it until he had lost her bright light.
...
Nine sighed, he was tired, exhausted and bored. He could not call Michael because he knew that they were probably enjoying their time together.
Apart from that, he did not want to seem too desperate or clingy nor vying too hard for someone's attention. The shows on tv were boring, only Charlie understood what was going on considering that they were his shows and he was not prepared to watch them from the beginning.
Nine got off the couch. He carried his empty glass into the kitchen. He washed out his glass and the full trash caught his eye.
He scoffed and shook his head. Charlie always left the trash full, always. He left his mark everywhere and his dirtiness was part of his mark.
Nine pulled the trash bag, he tied it and walked outside. He threw it in the dumpster. He was surprised to see Benjamin looking so depressed. He was walking around aimlessly.
Nine frowned, this was odd. At first he wanted to mind his business, but considering that they seemed to be the only people here, he did not want to take any chances. It would be on your conscience if you noticed someone not being themselves and you did nothing to help when you could.
Due to the way he thought about it, instead of minding his own business, Nine did something he normally would not do.
"Benjamin," he called.
Benjamin turned around slowly when he heard his name being called. He was a bit startled when he heard his name because according to what he knew, he was the only guard on duty at the moment.
His concern faded away when he saw that it was Nine calling him.
"Nine?".
"Come over here," Nine waved his hand.
Benjamin changed his course, he stopped in front of him.
"Good morning.".
"Good morning, what is the matter with you?".
Nine was straight to the point, he had no time to waste and he was sure that Benjamin felt the same.
"Nothing is wrong with me," Benjamin replied.
"Are you sure? You looked like you were walking aimlessly. Like s zombie," Nine said.
"Really?" Benjamin seemed shocked.
"Yes, what is the matter?" Nine asked again.
"Nothing," Benjamin replied. He did not want to go around burdening everyone with his problems. It was not like him, he preferred to keep his matters private.
Nine frowned, he did not believe him. Benjamin was not usually a cheerful guy like Charlie, neither was he depressed. Which was why Nine was certain there was something wrong.
"Have you eaten breakfast?" Nine asked.
Benjamin was taken back by the question, however, when he thought about it, he realized that he had not eaten yet.
"No, not yet, it skipped my mind.".
"Mhmm, come over for breakfast," Nine said as he closed the dumpster.
"Is that an order or an invitation?".
"Depends, would you accept the invitation?".
"Frankly, no," Benjamin shook his head. He and Nine barely interacted with each other. Michael and Charlie were much more friendly, he was just the chill, aloof guy in the corner.
"Then it's an order.".
Benjamin sighed internally. Why did he have to come out when Nine was throwing out the trash? His luck had been terrible ever since Lulu had disconnected from him.
"Alright," Benjamin sighed.
Nine walked into his apartment. Benjamin followed after him reluctantly.
"What would you like to eat?".
"Anything is fine," Benjamin replied. He did not want to be here. The sooner he finished his breakfast, the sooner he could disappear from here.
"Are you sure?" Nine turned to him.
"Mhm.".
"So you are comfortable with bran flakes, because that is what I will give you," Nine said.
"Sure," Benjamin replied.
He doubted it would make a difference anyway. He had not been able to eat for the past few days. The food had no taste, so it did not matter if he was having pancakes or bran flakes, it would all taste the same to him.
"Alright," Nine said.
He got a bowl out of the cupboard, poured some milk in and then stopped.
"You don't like your milk poured in first?" he asked.
Benjamin looked up and shook his head, "I don't really mind any order you do it. It doesn't matter, it's going to taste the same either way.".
"Right," Nine said pouring the bran flakes in.
"Here," he handed Benjamin the bowl along with a spoon.
"Thanks," Benjamin looked down. As he had expected, he was not hungry, but he did not want to seem rude, so he started eating.
Nine sat down on the couch right across where Benjamin was seated. He watched him for a while. Nine was sure that being watched felt uncomfortable, but somehow, Benjamin did not seem to mind.
"Do you want to watch something?" he asked.
"No," Benjamin shook his head.
"Are you sure? Charlie has a bunch of shows recorded. Although I do not watch any of them, some of them are good," Nine said.
"No, I don't want to watch anything, thank you," Benjamin replied.
"Alright then, are you ready to tell me why you looked like a depressed zombie?".
Benjamin sighed, "I would rather not. I don't like repeating my private business to everyone.".
"Hmm, I also do not like doing that, but sometimes, instead of wallowing, it is better to share, and most times, the more you share, the faster your problems will be solved," Nine said.
"I know that, and I've already shared more than enough. Even Charlie already knows about this, and I am tired of feeling so hopeless," Benjamin replied.
"Mhmm, of course Charlie knows. He always knows everything. That's the thing about Charlie, he's always ready to help. Tell me, what plan does he have to help you solve this?".
"Well, he told me that he would speak to Louise first and then commence with the second phase of his plan, and as much as I want to believe him, I am just so impatient. It feels like every single moment that passes without this problem being solved, it never will be,"Benjamin sighed.
"Don't think that way. Problems are not supposed to last long, they will be solved. Believe Charlie, if he says he's going to do something about it, he will," Nine said.
Benjamin simply nodded, he wanted to believe that as well. He was at his last option and if this didn't work, he would have to start accepting that he had lost Lulu's friendship forever.
"So, this is about Lulu?" Nine asked.
Benjamin nodded, he thought that by now everyone knew. Natasha knew, which meant that Dom knew and Charlie and Michael knew, virtually everyone knew.
"What happened?".
"I messed up and hurt her feelings unconsciously like the idiot I am," he said and sighed.