When The Stars Align | A Ben Pincus x Reader Fanfiction

38. Who's The Boss?

Mixed communications

[Ben POV]

I wake up the first from everyone else, the sun's rays shining down on my groggy face, and outstretched arms.

Yawning, I glance around and see all my friends sleeping.

Kenji is leaning against a boulder while Brooklyn lays her head on his shoulder.

Caleb is snoozing with his mouth open, snoring softly on the floor with his arms and legs sprawled out like a starfish. I roll my eyes. He's a really bad sleeper.

Yaz and Sammy are napping side by side, both of their heads sleeping on their arms. Darius is sleeping with his head propped up on a rock, in a similar position to Mae's.

I sigh, and look down, notice the girl's hair spread out everywhere.

Y/N must've fallen asleep with her head on my lap, and I realize that my hand is entwined with her right hand. My cheeks unwillingly go red at the sight, and her touch tingles.

She breathes deeply in her sleep.

Carefully, I brush a stray hair behind her ear, and smile.

Subconsciously, I lean down, and my eyes half-shut. Just as my lips are about to touch hers, Y/N's eyes flutter open, and I jerk my head back.

"S-sorry, did I wake you?" I stammer awkwardly to her.

What was I thinking?

"Kind of. But it's fine." She softly says and smiles. Y/N gets up from her position, and leans on me, instead of lying down on me. "I like waking up early, anyway."

I smile and gently coil my arm around her torso, feeling my cheeks slowly heating up again.

When I turn my head to look at her, my eyes meet hers, and we just gaze into each other for a while.

Then I look away and take a deep breath in and out.

"What is it?" she whispers. "Is something bothering you?"

"Look, I like a girl, okay? She's... she's kind, caring, brave and strong, not to mention really pretty, and she's always been by my side. And I don't know how to tell her how I feel, and it'd probably ruin our friendship." I say, heavily hinting at the truth.

"Oh. Okay." Y/N says, her gaze dropping to her lap. "You should tell her how you feel," she softly says, a small sigh escaping her lips.

"But it would probably ruin our friendship." I say.

"It won't. Because she most likely likes you back. I mean, who wouldn't, right?" Y/N mumbles, still staring down at
her lap.

"You really think so?" I ask her hopefully.

"Yeah." Y/N says, and lifts her head, and I notice for the first time that her eyes are glistening with sadness.

But why? Doesn't she know it's her?

Or maybe... she doesn't have feelings for me and now I've ruined our friendship. Oh no.

"Anyway, I'm gonna go get some berries for the baby dinos." she stands up abruptly, her body warmth disappearing immediately.

"I'll go with you!" I quickly scramble up, but she shakes her head.

"No, actually, I kind of want to be... by myself, if that's okay." Y/N hesitantly says.

I frown and slowly sit back down. "Oh, sure. If that's what you want."

Y/N gives me a quick nod, and a small smile, and runs off into the jungle.