Alora was confused as she looked at Joel. He was serious. "You love me?"
Joel stepped towards her. "Yes. I have since... I dunno when."
Alora loved Joel. She always had, but she could never tell him. "Why now? Why tell me now?"
"There was never a better time. It was always inconvinient to even bring up anything related to the subject." He stepped towards her. They stood in an awkward silence. "Lor, please say something."
"What can I say?"
"Tell me if you love me or not." He looked almost scared. He was afraid she might reject him, then things would be weird between them.
Alora sighed. "I do love you, but--"
"Please don't say 'but'. Alora, you're the only girl I've ever loved. So please, don't say 'but'."
Tears rolled down Alora's cheeks. She just embraced Joel. "I love you." Joel smiled and hugged Alora.
Inside the appartment Benji was still holding Kellie. Kellie looked into Benji's brown eyes. She put her hands on his face. Without warning she kissed Benji. She pulled back. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He replied, kissing her. Kellie wrapped her arms around Benji, her fingers found their way to the rim of his pants.
One of the officers came into the appartment. "Excuse me?" Benji and Kellie broke appart and looked at the officer. Kellie blushed. "We're going to go check out your appartment, Miss Rooney. If that's alright."
Kellie nodded. "Yeah."
The officer then went out on the porch. "Miss Bergen?"
Alora pulled away from Joel. She sniffled and wiped her cheeks roughly. "Yes?"
"My partner and I are going to stop by your fathers house. So you'll be hearing from us soon." He walked out of the appartment and got in the squad car with his partner. They drove off in the direction of Kellie's appartment.
Joel put a hand on Alora's shoulder. "Are you OK?"
Alora turned to Joel. "I'm fine. I just need to think."
"You think too much. See? Smoke is coming from your ears."
Alora laughed a little. "So? Nothing weird between us?"
"Course not." He grabbed Alora's hand, kissed her cheek and led her inside.
Kellie and Benji were making out on the couch. Joel cleared his throat. Benji just waved him off.
"Guys. Get a room." Alora said, sitting on Benji.
Benji squirmed, trying not to squish Kellie. "Alora!" Kellie yelped. "Get off."
Alora stood next to Joel and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Then get a room."
Benji grinned and looked at Kellie. "OK." He got up and helped Kellie get off the couch. Benji led Kellie to his room and shut the door behind them.*
As soon as Alora sat on the couch with Joel the phone rang. Joel sighed and answered it. "Oh, hey Billy... Yeah, sure... Go get Casey from Kellie'a appartment, but there will be at least two cops there... No, it's no big, just do it... OK, bye." He hung up the phone and sat on the couch again.
Alora looked at Joel. "Why are you having Billy pick up Casey?"
"Cause. Then I don't have to and we can talk."
"Talk about what?" She knew about what, but she didn't want to talk about it.
"You know what. Alora, please tell me that we can be more than friends."
Alora sighed, not knowing what to say. She was just so confused. She loved Joel with all her heart and had since she could remember. "I told you I love you. So, yes, more than friends, but not right now. This is just all too confusing for me."
Joel nodded, looking at the floor. "I understand." He said it like it was no big deal, but it hurt him.
They sat in silence trying not to listen to the odd noises coming from Benji's room. They sat there for about fifteen minutes trying not to listen when the phone rang.
"Thank God." Joel said, grabbing the phone. Alora watched Joel as he talked on the phone. When he hung up he looked towards Benji's room due to a loud thump followed by Kellie laughing. "OK? That was officer Duncan. He said they have your father in custody and there will be a trial."
Alora nodded. "When?"
"They weren't sure. But we'll know by tomorrow."
There was a knock on the door. It was Billy, Paul and Casey. Casey came in wagging her tail and jumped on Alora, licking her face. "Hey Case."
Billy looked around. "Do I wanna know what that noise was?"
"No." Joel shook his head.
"Didn't think so."
Paul sat on the couch with Alora. "Hey, you look sad."
Alora smiled and shook her head. "No. Just creeped out that Kellie and Benji are... nevermind."
"He's doing it with Kellie? Go Benj." Billy laughed.
Alora sighed. She would never understand Billy or Paul. Nor did she really want to. She was scared to know how their brains worked. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a soda from the fridge. Alora got an idea as she sipped her coke. She grinned evilly and walked to Benji's door.
"What are you doing?" Joel asked.
"Nothing. Shh!" She whispered. She knocked on the door, turned the knob and ran away as the door fell open.
"Fuck!" Benji yelled.
Billy, Paul and Joel laughed. Alora ran for Joel's room and locked the door behind her.