Deep (Stage Dive, #4)(12)

Ben: Me looking at a pic of beer will make u seem hotter?

Lizzy: You can’t argue with science. You poor hapless male. You never stood a chance.

Ben: Liz, I think ur gorgeous. Save the beer pics for someone who needs em.

Lizzy: Damn ur smooth

Ben: U like that?

Lizzy: Very much

Ben: Good. U poor hapless female. U never stood a chance.

Lizzy: :)

Ben: What do you think?

Lizzy: I think that’s a pic of a banjo. Yours?

Ben: Deering Black Diamond. Thinking of buying it.

Lizzy: U play banjo too? Whoa.

Ben: Want to learn.

Lizzy: And I want to hear you play. You’re a musical virtuoso. Do you sing?

Ben: Ha. U do not want to hear me sing. Trust me. Think I should buy it?

Lizzy: Do it. :)

Ben: Done. :)

Lizzy: ===v=^=={@}

Ben: This another psych test?

Lizzy: No. It’s a rose. I worked on it all morning.

Lizzy: Well … a couple of minutes between classes.

Ben: Beautiful.

Lizzy: :) Why don’t we have coffee?

Lizzy: Is the lack of a response a no or are u shy?

Ben: Shy of Mal shooting me. We better just stick 2 text.

Lizzy: Fair enough.

Ben: Been thinking about u. Talk to me.

Lizzy: I’d love to. Calling.

Ben: U ok? Haven’t heard from u lately.

Lizzy: I didn’t want to seem too obvious. The stalker handbook said play it cool.

Ben: I know ur not a stalker. Ur dangerous in another way.

Lizzy: I love that u said that.

Lizzy: So do u actually have real stalkers?

Lizzy: Apart from me, I mean.

Ben: You’re not a real stalker. They camp across the street with binoculars.

Lizzy: That’s crazy. U get a much better resolution with a telescope.

Ben: You’re a goose.

Lizzy: Our honesty is beautiful.

Lizzy: Psychologically speaking, most relationships fail due to lack of constructive criticism. Obvious we’re made for each other.

Ben: You’re a total goose. Seriously.

Lizzy: See what I mean?

Lizzy: But we were talking about stalkers.

Ben: Not really for me. I’m lucky. The other guys can’t walk down the street without getting hassled. I’m less in the limelight. Not so recognizable.

Lizzy: U kidding? You’re built like King Kong.

Ben: Ha. Jimmy had stalkers that got creepy. One broke into his place a few years back stole some shit.

Ben: Mal had one that ended in a restraining order.

Lizzy: Wow. What did the stalker do?

Ben: No, the stalker had to get a restraining order against Mal. He kept showing up at the guys work, trying to hug him and leaving weird phone messages etc.

Lizzy: Lol.

Ben: Gotta go. Music breaks over.

Lizzy: I make killer cheesy cornbread.

Ben: Do u?

Lizzy: I do. & I just so happen 2 be making some right now. My plans tonight r cheesy cornbread & bad zombie films. Tempted?

Ben: Like u wouldn’t believe.

Lizzy: But ur busy w the guys?

Ben: No. Guys with their girlfriends. I’m busy killing people.

Lizzy: Online I trust?

Ben: Ha. Yes.

Lizzy: I’d better leave u 2 it then.

Ben: I can torpedo & talk to u. How was ur day?

Lizzy: Not bad. Classes mostly. How about u?

Ben: Recording. Fucking frustrating. Jim was in a mood. This is just between us, yeah?

Lizzy: Absolutely.

Ben: Good. Boring night. Portland is no LA.

Lizzy: Come over. We can throw cornbread at the undead on tv. I’ll judge you on your aim.

Ben: Fuck I wish I could.

Lizzy: Me too

Ben: One day

Lizzy: U awake? I can’t sleep.

Ben: Count sheep like a good girl.

Lizzy: Can’t. Too busy thinking about u.

Ben: Shit, Liz. No.

Lizzy: No, what?

Ben: Don’t tell me ur in bed at 2 in the morning thinking about me. OK? U cannot tell me that. Too f*cking tempting.

Ben: What are you wearing?

Lizzy: U really want me to answer that?

Ben: Yes.

Ben: No.

Ben: Shit. You’re killing me. You know that right?

Lizzy: You say the nicest things. Night, Ben.

Ben: Night, sweetheart.

Lizzy: Sorry I missed your call earlier. Good luck with ur date with Lena tonight.

Lizzy: Actually, that was a lie. I didn’t mean that at all.

Lizzy: About ur date. Not about missing ur call.

Lizzy: Now I feel guilty because Lena is so damn nice. I’m going to stop acting crazy & go meet a friend at Steel. Over & out.

Ben: The dive bar downtown? It’s a f*cking meat market.

Lizzy: Just arrived. Guess I’ll see for myself.

Ben: That place is a pit. Get ur ass in a cab & go home. Ur not old enough to b drinking.

Lizzy: I have fake ID. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.

Ben: I’m f*cking serious. U are not going in there. Full of f*cking creeps.

Lizzy: Have a nice night w Lena. U deserve someone great like her. Really.

*

Still no answer from Ben on my last text.

Emo indie music wailed out of the speakers, as Christy, my ex-roommate, bopped as best she could on the spot beside me.