Song: Hero/Heroine (Acoustic) by Boys Like Girls (I still love them tbh)

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On Christmas Eve, everyone came home.

My mom was still quiet, not really saying anything to me at all. Dad didn't say anything either and Jason barely said hello. After our talk yesterday, I really hope it sticks with her. She seemed like she was really going to try. She left me at the house by myself yesterday, so I guess that's a start.

All I did was lie in bed and watch TV until I fell asleep a little past midnight. Honestly, I'm such a rule breaker. I can't handle it.

Note sarcasm.

"We're going to your grandma's tonight," Mom informed me. "She requested some of those maple bacon cupcakes you made her for her birthday."

I had to laugh. "Seriously? I didn't think she liked them that much."

"It has bacon in it," She said. "She'd eat bacon any way it comes."

"That doesn't surprise me."

She laughed and shook her head. "Do you have everything?"

I nodded. "Everything's at the bakery though."

"Okay, well I'll give you the keys so you can head there. Do you have enough time?"

"Yeah, it shouldn't take long."

She walked to the kitchen table where her purse sat and rummaged through to find her keys. She handed them to me and said, "Don't forget to lock it back up when you're done. Try to be back by six."

"Okay, I'll most likely be back before then."

My mom smiled. "That's fine, honey."

She really is trying, so I would too. I smiled at her and walked out of the kitchen. Before I left, I changed into a pair of jeans and a sweater. This was good. My mom is giving me space to figure things out on my own. It's still going to be a slow process. Not only did I need to work on my relationship with Zoe, but I also needed to work on the one I have with my mom. And I think that's on the right road to some form of recovery.

When I got to the bakery, I climbed out of my car and headed for the entrance. Stepping inside, I found the lights and flipped them on. After I walked around the counter, I pulled my phone out and sent Benji a quick message. Come keep me company at the bakery. And I pressed send.

I started to gather everything I needed and by that time, my phone lit up with a new message from Benji, on my way.

My lips tugged into a smile and I put my phone back into my pocket.

Before I started the batter, I turned the ovens on to heat up. Once the batter was all mixed, I lined the cupcake pans and started to fill them up. Of course I had to taste the batter when the bowl was empty. Maybe I could see why my grandma likes these so much. I put them in the oven and then started cooking the bacon.

"It smells good in here."

I looked to the front of the store to find Benji walking through. "Thank the bacon."

"Or the person cooking the bacon," He teased and walked over to me. He placed a hand on my back and leaned towards me to kiss my cheek. "Hi."

"Hi." Benji never fails to make me blush.

He kissed my cheek once more and walked back around the counter to sit on one of the stools. "Are you putting bacon in a cupcake?" Benji asked.

"Technically it's going to be on top," I replied. "It's a maple cupcake with maple frosting, and then you add pieces of bacon as a garnish."

"Interesting," He said. "Wouldn't it be better to put the bacon inside the cake instead? Or both? You know, double the bacon."

I snorted and put the bacon on a paper towel covered plate to cool. "I've tried that actually. My grandma liked it better with a smooth cake and a lot of bacon on top." I turned around and walked up to the counter across from Benji.

The corner of his mouth quirked. "Your grandma knows how to live."

"That she does. I have some left over cupcakes in the fridge if you want to raid it. You may find some vanilla in there."

His interest piqued and he stood off the stool. "I'm taking you up on that offer."

While the bacon cooled, I went to work on the frosting quickly.

"I've hit the jackpot," Benji said behind me and I heard the doors close to the refrigerator. "Christmas came a day early."

I just shook my head and finished up the frosting. The frosting was finished in time for the oven timer to alert me that the cupcakes were finished. While those cooled, I didn't have anything to do so I walked around the counter and sat next to Benji who had a mouthful of cupcake. "You look like a chipmunk," I teased and poked his cheek.

He was trying not to laugh.

"A very cute one," I added with a smile.

Benji glanced at me and swallowed. "At least you called me cute." He picked up a napkin and wiped the frosting from his lip. "Seeing that you're here and not on house arrest, I'm guessing yesterday didn't go as bad as you thought?"

"No," I replied. "It was still bad, but I got her to listen to me finally. She said she's going to try, so that's a start for us."

Benji swiveled on his stool to look at me and a smile tugged at his lips. "That's good, Lucy."

"And something else, too."

He raised a brow and leaned an elbow on the countertop. "Should I be worried?"

"Not really, I guess." I picked at my fingers nervously. "She found about you...about us. And it wasn't me that told her—"

"Lucy, it's okay." He reached over and grabbed my hand so I'd stop. "But your mom probably won't let you see me again."

"She didn't say I couldn't be with you."

"She didn't say you could, either."

He had a point. A very bad one. "I won't let that happen," I whispered. Not sure who I was trying to reassure. Maybe myself, but Benji had to know. "You're part of my life now."

He smiled a little. "I like the sound of that."

I leaned towards his and slowly kissed his lips. The sweet remains of the cupcake still lingered and I could taste it. With slight hesitation, I pulled back and rested my forehead against his. I raised my hand to his jaw, letting my fingers brush over his skin. "I'm sorry you're caught in the middle of this."

"Don't be," He said. "If you're in the middle, that's where I want to be too."

I smiled and kissed him again. He didn't hesitate to kiss me back.

Benji was the first to pull away and he leaned his head back.

My eyes opened and I was met with Benji's strong gaze. "Thank you."

I didn't miss the raise of his brows. "For what?"

"All of it," I replied. "Being here with me and listening. Not many people do."

He grabbed my hand and lifted my knuckles to his lips. "It's a privilege." And then he proceeded to kiss my knuckles and drop my hand.

I laughed at him. "And thank you for knowing how to make me laugh."

"Be careful," He joked. "If you laugh, I just might kiss you again. You've been fully warned, Lucy."

"I think I'll take my chances."

And he wasn't kidding, because I laughed without really meaning to and he started planting kisses on my cheeks, my nose, and then my lips. It only made me want to laugh harder and my smile spread over his lips. "That, my friend, was only a small price to pay. Laugh again and I'll probably kiss you five times."

"Five times?" I questioned.

"Yeah, you know, you have to be punished."

"Punished for laughing?" I tried to hide my smile.

Benji smiled and reached forward to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "And for making me feel like this." His fingers touched my jaw and I leaned into his touch.

I let my smile show. "And how do I make you feel, Benji?"

"Right," He said. "Like this was supposed to happen...like there's no questions about it. With you it's just right."'

"Right," I repeated slowly and nodded. "Is this the fate thing you were talking about?"

Benji chuckled. "Yes, as a matter of fact, it is."

"I like that better than being stuck in the rain."

He laughed again. "I think I do too."

I kissed him that time and tried to pull myself closer to him without falling off my stool. Benji rose, but kept my face caressed in his hands. We were almost leveled, but I found myself still clutching at his shirt to pull him closer. Benji slid his hands to the back of my neck and his clasped fingers fell into place.

It was difficult, but I parted long enough to gasp in a breath. "I have to finish the cupcakes."

He kissed the corner of my mouth and then my jaw. "Okay." His mouth fell on mine for one more moment and he stepped away.

I gradually slid off the stool to give me a few seconds to compose myself. Every time Benji kissed me, it takes me a minute to come back down to earth.

Benji stayed on the other side of the counter, casually taking frosting off of a cupcake with the tip of his finger before licking it off. It was actually distracting. Don't ask me why either, because I have no idea.

But I managed to finish the cupcakes in ten minutes. All frosted and sprinkled with chopped pieces of bacon. I left one cupcake out and put the rest inside of a box before sealing it up.

Benji didn't expect me to give him one of the cupcakes, so he was slightly surprised. "Are you trying to make me fat?"

"Are you feeling guilty, Benji?"

He snorted. "Hell no." And then he took a huge bite of the maple bacon cupcake. It scared me when he slammed his hand down on the counter.

Then I started laughing.

After he swallowed his bite, he said, "I'm definitely going to be twenty pounds heavier by the end of the month."

"Then you'll have to work it off on stage." I laughed and playfully poked his stomach.

Benji looked at me with a devious grin. "I can think of other ways to burn a few calories."

"I don't doubt it." I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. "I recommend running a couple of miles. Really gets the heart pumping." I tapped the spot on his chest above his heart.

Before I could retract my hand, he grabbed it and placed it back over his heart. "It's already beating pretty fast."

"Are you blaming me?"

"Hell yeah, I am."

Again, I laughed without really meaning to and leaned further into him. "You're really quick with the lines today."

Benji settled his hands on my waist and brought me in closer. "Because it's what you do to me. You made me like this. So I'm blaming you for my cheesiness, too."

"I never said I didn't like it." My fingers curled over his shirt, fisting the fabric into my palm. "I hate to cut this wonderful conversation short, but I gotta get home."

He slid his hands down to the backs of my thighs and he pushed me gently until we were pressed together. "I'll try to come see you tomorrow. Depends on how I feel, I guess."

I used my free hand to lightly touch his cheek. "That's fine. You don't have to come see me. I know it's not going to be an easy day. I'll call tomorrow night to make sure you're okay."

"I'll be fine," He assured. "Call me tomorrow."

"I will." I inclined my head to meet his lips quickly. "Merry Christmas, Benji."

* * *

My grandma happily scarfed down two cupcakes after dinner.

She was lucid when we first came over and she was talking about grandpa. She didn't ask where he was because she already knew. It was surprising, really. And the night went pretty damn well.

By the end of the night, she slowly started to slip.

Mom knew it was time for bed when that happened.

It broke my heart to see her that way and I couldn't do anything to help her. On the way home, Mom mentioned the nursing home again. It was hard for her to talk about, I knew that. You could hear the pain in her voice when she was talking to Dad about it. But Dad grabbed her hand and told her wait until after the New Year starts.

At home, Mom surprised me.

She left Dad and Jason sitting in the living room watching the news, made hot chocolate, and brought it up to me in my room. I moved over on my bed and she sat up beside me with a cup of her own. One of those cheesy Christmas movies was playing on my TV again.

Mom didn't say anything for a few minutes and we both quietly sipped on our drinks.

Another five minutes went by when she finally spoke, "I've been thinking," she started, "I'd like to meet Benji."

I cupped the mug in both of my hands and twisted my head to look at her. "You've already met him," I noted.

"I know, but I mean have him over for dinner and get to know him."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked quietly.

She nodded. "Of course. I think it'll help, you know?"

"Yeah, sure." I smiled. "That sounds like a good idea. But promise you won't do anything crazy."

Mom actually laughed at that. "I promise I won't go crazy. If he's anything like his dad, then I know I'll like him. Benji held is own that night at the party."

"He's a really good person, Mom," I said. "You'll like him."

"Like I said, I'm working on letting go." She still smiled a little. "I think Benji is a good start with that."

"It means a lot to me, so thank you. I'll invite him over sometime next week."

"That's fine," She answered. "Tell me about him."

And I did. I told her everything from when we met and the story about his brother. It was nice. Talking to my mom like she's my best friend was a change I could get used to. I told her how sweet he is and how much he cares about me. She just listened while I talked about him and I felt like I could go on for hours.

December was the month my life turned around for the better.

It only took five years, but I'm glad it happened.

My life is starting to be my own again and I couldn't wait to see what else was in store for me.

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It's slowly starting to turn around lol. I'm probably ending the story in the next three or four chapters. It's time to close this one and open Tyler's soooooon!

I realized while I was writing this story that this is what I want to write. I'm over the whole bad boy and high school tropes. I want to write about cheesy, yet meaningful love. I'm over guys being assholes, because honestly, I'd never be interested in a guy that's an asshole haha. Sorry if it disappoints some people, but I don't plan on writing anymore bad boy and high school stories. It's just not appealing to me anymore, I guess.

Please vote and comment! I NEED SOME LOOOOOVE!!! :)