27 Lost cause

*Saphira's POV*

"You've changed your hair after the High tea you had, at the country club," he explained. "Right, your sisters idea, she said she would give me a Malibu makeover," I said rolling my eyes.

"But… how would you know what my hair looked like in a natural state? I met you looking like this." I pulled a strain of my hair as evidence he was wrong. "That crushes my ego… it seems you didn't even notice me," he shrugged. "I was right there. At the high tea, helping your grandma out… playing piano." Oops…  I think I looked Shocked… I felt shocked. It was him all along how could I have missed that. It was so obvious.

"That's alright," he said. "As long as you notice me, now," he teased. I smiled sheepishly and he returned my smile. Then it was quiet for a moment while he played on his guitar. 

"Do you play any instruments?" he asked and looked up from his guitar to meet my eyes. "No, I've always wanted to but we never had enough money. Ironic isn't it?" I said in a sarcastic tone.

"But I do sing, though. To myself mostly. I don't like the spotlights," I said shyly. The corners of his mouth twitched up. "I figured you could sing," he said smugly. "Why?" I asked starlet.

"You have a beautiful voice. Too me it sounds like music," he said. I blushed again. "Do you play more instruments?" I asked. "No, just my guitar and the piano. When I was younger I always wanted to become a musician. My dad wasn't having that," he said while making a face. "Not to mention my grandfather... He would die just because of the thought."

"What's your favorite song?" Ben asked playfully. "Right now, a song called butterflies, I blurted out again. He playfully bit his lip and picked up his phone. He searched for something on it then placed it in front of him and started playing the chords of the song."This one?" he asked? I nodded. "Sing it to me," he commanded me.

Shoot… why didn't I think of another song. 

I stared at him… "There's no one watching here…. It's just you and me… and I promise I'll sing you a song as well," he said extremely persuasive. I listened to the melody and picked up the song from where he was playing it.

I closed my eyes while I sang for him.

Abruptly Ben stopped playing on his guitar and when I looked up, I saw why. There was a group of people standing behind me. Our friends to be more specific. I didn't know you could sing," Zachary said wary. I nervously gazed into Ben's eyes and he winked at me.

They all came to sit with us. Sierra seemed out of it. She was very quiet and that was unusual. Maybe it was because Benjamin came to sit close to me, very close actually. We were almost touching. 

The guys were all taking their shirts off and started  preparing their boards, while the girls were whispering loud enough for me to hear. "What is Saphira doing here with Ben?" Janice asked in a hostile manner to Sierra. "I don't know..."  Sierra said sounding troubled for a moment. But then she started talking in the same hostile tone Janice used. 

"I better hope for her sake, she isn't up to something. He's mine and I'll make that clear to her today," she said as she shot me a bitter look. I quickly looked at Ben who was  standing with the other guys now.

Sierra got up and walked towards Benjamin and wrapped herself around him. She whispered something in his ear and then towed him towards the shore. She held his arm and they were talking. I felt extremely uncomfortable.

All the other guys were already surfing. So I was left behind with only Lauren, Naomi and Janice now. Janice was telling the other girls how HOT Zachary looked on his board. Then suddenly they turned to me. "Don't you think their just such a beautiful couple?" Naomi asked me, trying to sound friendly. What did they think I was? A fool? "Sierra is very pretty," I answered avoiding the real question. I saw Janice make a face. I felt very uneasy like being trapped in a snake pit. Then I realized they were the snakes. 

Then Benjamin and Sierra returned after almost an hour. Ben looked at me apologetic and sat down. Sierra planted herself right next to him. Laying her head on his shoulder, looking smug. He pet the crown of her head for a while. I felt like I was being stabbed in the heart.

I got up, I couldn't handle this anymore. "Where you're going? Janice asked. "To find a bathroom," I quickly made up. 

"Do you know where to find any?" Ben asked sounding a bit worried. "I'll manage," I snapped and walked towards the little cafés I saw at the boulevard.

The whole way, I fought back my tears. It was ridiculous. Why was I so upset. I knew Sierra was in love with him and I knew I wasn't worthy of him. Still I felt extremely hurt. When I found a bathroom I rested my arms on the sink.

Staring at my reflection for a while, I studied my features and glanced at my messy hair. I looked horrible. How could I ever compete with such beauty as Sierra. I couldn't, I finally decided. I had to stop getting my hopes up. I walked out of the ladies room and Benjamin was talking to the bartender. I tried to sneak out without him noticing me but it was a lost cause.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me back. He lifted up my chin and bent his head down to the side so he could meet my eyes.

"You got me worried, when you took so long," Ben explained for him being here. I looked at him, wary and made my lips into a hard line. I wasn't going to say anything friendly ever again. He deserved that. 

He scrutinized my face for a while and I didn't say a word. "I'm sorry, about what happened just now," he said, as he read my face. "Sorry about what, exactly," I snapped. "About leaving you, I know I promised to keep you company and I didn't keep my word.

"Can you forgive me?" he asked sincerely. But it wasn't an issue that he didn't keep me company, well not really. The reason why he didn't keep me company was what bothered me the most. "Oh, that. Well don't worry about it. As long as you had fun, right," I said sarcastically. He eyed me. Speechless I suppose.