They don’t care

　　We stare at each other, my shoulders move carelessly in a shrug and Ben bridges the gap.

　　“Will you?” His voice is a whisper now and my heart is acting up. “It’s a good choice.”

　　“It is,” I say for lack of better words. “Benny?”

　　He grabs my hand between his and places it on his chest. “I don’t want you to leave me.” My breath hitches when his eyes shimmer with tears and a tear rolls down his cheek. I have never seen him cry. My mouth opens and closes without a word, he takes it as his cue to say, “Please, stay here. Don’t go away.”

　　Maddie’s words ring in my ears. I want him to be happy but I want to be happy too. I push his bag to the floor and straddle him. Ben looks up, tears coat his thick lashes and my heart beats harder than before.

　　“You know I love you?” My thumbs move across his cheeks, his lips turn into that cute frown and I kiss him. “I applied to NYU.” Ben goes rigid under me but I don’t release him. “I have always wanted NYU.”