Still a Slut for Bennett - Part 10

Everyone in this story is 18+

The bowling alley buzzed with noise—laughter, crashing pins, and the occasional groan of disappointment. Jamie was good at this. Too good. He had just scored another strike, turning back to me with an easy grin as I stood at the line, gripping the bowling ball like it might explode.

“You’ve got this, Eli,” Jamie called, leaning casually against the ball return. “Just aim for the middle and let it roll.”

I sighed, shifting my weight as I stared down the lane. “Easy for you to say. You’re basically a pro.”

He chuckled. “I’m far from a pro myself.”

I managed a small laugh, but it was half-hearted at best. Stepping forward, I swung the ball, watching it careen straight into the gutter for the fifth time that night. I groaned, dragging a hand through my hair as Jamie clapped, his teasing laughter echoing through the alley.

“Okay, that was… something,” he said, still grinning. “But I think you just need some practice.”

“Consistently bad,” I muttered, shuffling back to the bench. I plopped down, grabbing my soda as Jamie sat beside me. He bumped my shoulder lightly with his.

“You’re not that bad,” he said. “Bowling just isn’t your thing. You’ve got other talents, right?”

I shrugged, taking a sip of my drink. “Like what? Catching Pokémon?”

“Hey, that’s a valuable skill,” he said with mock seriousness, making me laugh despite myself.

But even as he tried to make me feel comfortable, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. My thoughts kept wandering, and without thinking, I pulled out my phone, opening Snap Map out of habit. My eyes scanned the map until I saw it—Bennett’s Bitmoji, just a few blocks away.

My stomach sank. Jasmine lived close by. Bennett had mentioned earlier that he had a date with her, and it wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. He was probably at her place right now, laughing at her jokes, teasing her in that charming, effortless way he had.

I wanted to hate her, to think she was beneath him somehow, but I couldn’t. Jasmine was nice—to me, to everyone—and she was exactly what Bennett loved. Pretty. Fun. A girl. Everything I wasn’t.

“You okay?” Jamie’s voice pulled me back, his brow furrowed slightly.

“Yeah,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “Just… checking something.”

He seemed satisfied with that and leaned back, his arm draped casually over the bench behind me. Jamie was kind, easygoing, and genuinely trying to make me feel comfortable. But as I sat there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was… missing. No matter how hard I tried to stay in the moment, my thoughts kept drifting back to Bennett—his sharp wit, the way he’d tease me about my gutter balls, and the fire in his eyes that Jamie just didn’t have.

“You okay?” Jamie asked again, his concern evident.

“Yeah,” I said quickly, forcing another smile. “Just thinking about how bad I am at this.”

He laughed, letting the moment slide. As the night wound down, we packed up our things and headed for the parking lot. Jamie offered to drive me home, and I accepted, thankful for his kindness even as I wrestled with my own thoughts.

---

Jamie pulled his car to a stop on a dark, empty street, far from my apartment. I glanced around, my stomach twisting as I noticed how secluded it was. No other cars, no streetlights—just shadows and the faint hum of distant traffic.

“This isn’t really close,” I said cautiously. “My apartment’s just up ahead. You can pull up there.”

Jamie leaned back in his seat, giving me a small smile. “Relax. It’s quiet here. I figured we could chill for a bit. Talk.”

His tone was light, but something about the way he said it made my skin crawl. My fingers tightened around my phone, and I pulled it out, opening an app while keeping my movements casual. “Sure, we could talk for a bit,” I said, tapping a button before slipping the phone into my pocket. My gut told me this might not end well.

We sat in awkward silence for a moment before Jamie shifted, angling his body toward me. “So,” he said, his voice dropping slightly. “We had a good time tonight, didn’t we?”

“Yeah,” I said hesitantly, staring out the windshield. “Bowling was fun.”

Jamie chuckled, though it sounded forced. “Yeah, it was. You’ve got, uh… a unique style, I’ll give you that.”

I managed a small laugh, trying to keep things light. “Guess I’m just not cut out for sports.”

He leaned in closer, his hand resting on the console between us. “You’re cut out for other things, though. I mean, I couldn’t stop noticing how cute you looked tonight.”

My heart skipped a beat, the compliment landing wrong, heavy. “Uh, thanks,” I said, shifting slightly in my seat.

Jamie’s hand moved, brushing lightly against my knee. “I’m serious. You’ve got this whole… shy, adorable vibe going on. It’s really hot.”

I stiffened, glancing down at his hand. “Jamie, thanks, but I really think it’s time to head back.”

He didn’t move. “Come on, Eli,” he said, his voice soft but insistent. “Don’t be like that. We’ve got a good vibe here. Why ruin it?”

My throat tightened as I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’m not trying to ruin anything. I just think we should—”

“You know what I’m saying,” he interrupted, his tone shifting slightly. “You don’t have to be shy. Just a little something. A little BJ?”

My pulse raced as I grabbed for the door handle, only to find it locked. “Jamie, please, no,” I said, louder now.

Jamie’s expression darkened, and he leaned closer, his hand gripping my thigh. “Don’t make a scene,” he said quietly, but his voice carried an edge. “Come on! A hand, maybe? It’s no big deal. We’re just having fun, right?”

“Jamie, I’m serious. I’m not doing this,” I said, trying to stall.

Jamie’s mood shifted again, the teasing tone vanishing entirely. “Don’t be such a tease,” he said coldly, his grip on my leg tightening. “It’s not like I’m asking for the world here.”

My stomach churned, panic building as I reached for the door handle again. Jamie’s hand moved faster now, his frustration clear. “You’re really going to act like this after everything?”

Bright headlights flooded the car from behind. Jamie’s head whipped around, and I turned to see a car pulling up, its tires screeching slightly as it stopped. My heart jumped as I recognized the vehicle—it was Bennett’s.

Bennett stepped out of his car, slamming the door shut behind him. “Bennett! Help!” I shouted, my voice breaking with panic.

He strode up to Jamie’s car, his hand gripping the door handle, but it didn’t budge. Locked. Bennett’s expression darkened, and his voice boomed, “Get this car open right now!” His tall frame loomed in the harsh glare of his headlights, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

Jamie’s grip tightened on me, his jaw set. “Stay out of it, man. This doesn’t concern you.”

“Open the door, or I’ll open it for you,” Bennett growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Jamie’s eyes darted between me and Bennett before he reached for the ignition. Panic surged as I saw his intention. I grabbed the parking brake and yanked it up with all my strength. Jamie swore, batting at my hand, but I held firm with all my strength.

“You’re not going anywhere!” Bennett shouted, running up to the driver’s side window. Without hesitation, he pulled off his jacket, wrapping it around his elbow, and slammed it into the glass. The window shattered with a loud crash, sending shards flying everywhere.

Jamie yelled, his hands flying up in defense. “What the fuck, man?!”

Bennett yanked the door open, his hand shooting out to grab Jamie by the collar. With one swift motion, he dragged him out of the car and slammed him against the side. “You don’t touch him! Ever!” Bennett roared, his voice reverberating through the quiet street. His fist clenched tightly, and he pulled it back, his knuckles white with the promise of a punch.

Heart pounding, I fumbled with the lock, quickly unlocking the car door. I stumbled out, rushing toward them just as Bennett’s fist hovered, ready to strike.

“Bennett, stop!” I cried, my voice trembling as I reached him. “He’s not worth it.”

Bennett’s fist hovered for a moment, his knuckles white as he held back. His entire body trembled with restrained anger. “You’re lucky he said that,” he hissed through gritted teeth, shoving Jamie back toward the car. “Get the hell out of here before I change my mind. And if I ever see you even look at Eli again, I’ll break you.”

Jamie stumbled, scrambling back into the driver’s seat. He slammed the door shut and sped off, his tires screeching down the dark street.

As the noise faded, Bennett turned to me, his chest heaving, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.

As the noise of Jamie’s car faded into the night, Bennett turned to me, his chest heaving, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now, almost tender.

The adrenaline, the fear—it all caught up to me at once. I lost it, the tears spilling over before I could stop them. My shoulders shook as I tried to catch my breath, but I couldn’t.

Without hesitation, Bennett stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me tightly. “You’re safe now,” he murmured, his voice steady as he held me. His warmth, his strength—it was enough to ground me, even as the sobs racked my chest.

He didn’t let go, not until I was ready.

“Come on. Let’s go home,” Bennett said, motioning toward his old, beat-up car. Despite its rattling doors and creaky seats, as I settled into it, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. For the first time that night, I truly felt safe.

Bennett slid into the driver’s seat and glanced over at me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “What?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“That Pikachu hat,” he said, chuckling softly. “It really is goofy as fuck.”

I rolled my eyes, about to retort, but then his tone softened. “But… it’s you. I’m sorry I made fun of it. It actually make you look kinda cute.”

I blinked, caught off guard. My face warmed as I grinned like an idiot, unable to help myself. Did he just call me cute?

Bennett didn’t linger on it. He turned the ignition, the car sputtering to life. The short drive back was quiet, but I felt at ease with my best friend.