A/N: It's been a while, so you might want to reread the last couple of chapters before you read this.

Bennett left Davina's room with a small smile playing on his lips. He had a feeling he was going to be fighting back these smiles a lot more, but for the moment, he would just enjoy the happiness he felt by himself.

He spotted double doors at the end of the hallway and presumed they led to a balcony. Bennett took a deep breath, he could use some cold air right now and a moment to himself to gather his thoughts. So much had happened he didn't know where to begin to process it.

Meeting the doors, Bennett opened them to a mid-size balcony, almost half hidden by a sycamore tree. There was a single emerald green rocking chair in one corner, which looked soft and worn. Bennett could picture each of the girls using it as a hideaway, each in their own way.

He could see Tessa sitting and painting the sunset, Arya curled up with a book, or Davina staring out into the horizon.

Bennett snorted, thinking about how Davina kicked him off a balcony a few hours ago. Then he found himself smiling again unconsciously. He had to get it together. Otherwise, he'll end up as a bumbling blushing mess like the other two.

He stepped onto the balcony and made his way to the edge, leaning on his elbows and looking toward the skyline. He breathed in deeply, his chest still hurt from before, and he was attempting to find a position where it didn't hurt to breathe.

"How are you feeling, Tess?" He spoke out loud, still looking out to the horizon.

There was a shuffle and a muffled laugh. He got it right, and he was pleased with himself. Bennett knew they would have this conversation sooner or later.

Tessa walked towards him and mirrored his stance, looking out into the horizon. The moon was still full, giving the night air of importance.

"Not bad, considering everything," She answered. There was a moment of silence, and Bennett knew what the next topic of conversation would be. It was long overdue.

"Who would have thought you would be a gang leader?" Tessa mused more to herself than him. Her face was still light and airy, but her eyes were sunken, tired and held a sadness he didn't like to see.

Bennett hesitated a moment, unsure of how to proceed. She seemed like she wanted to make light of the situation, so he followed her lead.

"Well, I couldn't have just been any gang member, now can I?" He replied in her tone.

"Always gotta be at the front, I see, attention whore," Tessa nudged him with a knowing smirk.

Bennett snorted in response.

She went quiet for a moment, her face utterly void of emotion. Bennett observed that her eyes seemed to be playing her memories like a movie.

"You remind me of him more and more every day," She said quietly, finally delving into the conversation they'd both been dancing around.

"Tessa," Bennett looked at her, unsure how to continue.

"That's not a bad thing, you know," She flashed him a quick smile before turning to face the night sky. "You'll do better. I know you will."

It seemed like Bennett was being forced to feel every emotion tonight, come face to face with everything he had kept lying to himself about. The sadness, anger...guilt.

"Please don't leave me," She said barely above a whisper. She had to pause to take a breath as she continued to sob.

The ground in front of her was blurred as tears covered her sight. She only made out his silhouette walking away.

He stopped in his tracks, and she thought for a moment he changed his mind, and all of this was some sort of horrible joke Bennett was too awkward to understand.

But her hope was short-lived as he only turned his head to the side before saying.

"Let's hope we never have to see each other again,"

And just like that, he began walking away.

Tessa didn't know how to stop him. She had taken another blow and feared she wouldn't survive this time.

Friends can break your heart too.

Bennett looked at her. He saw that time had healed her wounds, yet the scars remained from his actions and mistakes.

"It was not your fault but mine," He began. "But it was your heart out on the line, and for that, I am sorry," He looked at her earnestly, turning fully to face her and gently grabbing her arm to meet him.

The hurt and turmoil poured out from her eyes and were now evident on her entire face. She was done hiding it, and Bennett came face to face with what his actions had caused. This was the doing of his carelessness, his coldness, his anger.

He gave her no real reason as to why he left. He knew she needed him more than ever then, and he left.

Truth be told, he was a child learning to deal with all these raw emotions himself, but in hindsight, they could have dealt with them together. It would have eased the burden. They could have been better together if he had not pushed her away.

"I'm so sorry, Tess," His voice barely above a whisper. He knew he needed to confront his past now to move on. He cupped her jaw, using his thumb to wipe away a stray tear.

Tessa leaned into his hand and squeezed her eyes shut. "You were only a child,"

"But still-"

"But nothing," She cut him off. "It was wrong of me to expect so much from you at that age. I understand why you left,"

Bennett shook his head. "Tess, I don't even understand why I left," He looked back up at her. "I flake when I get overwhelmed, I take on so much, and when the emotions take a toll on me, I leave. I don't ask for help," He said in one exasperated breath.

Tessa looked at him for a long time, and then she grabbed his wrist. "We'll work on that now. What matters is that we're here together, a brand new start," She squeezed his hand and smiled gently. "Don't push me away,"

A wave of relief washed over Bennett. He stepped forward and engulfed her in a hug. It was both familiar and unfamiliar.

"I promise I won't leave you again," He whispered into her hair.

He felt her chuckle, "Yeah, you won't. You're stuck with me," She said into his chest.

They broke apart and laughed, the tense air dissipating almost instantly.

Bennett was thankful for Tessa's forgiving nature.

"Do your siblings know?" Tessa asked him.

The question almost caught Bennett off guard.

He looked down. "No, they don't, and I'd like to keep it that way," 

He looked back up to find her nodding.

"Yeah, of course. How are they, by the way?"

Bennett shrugged. "Brennan is good. She's due to visit soon,"

Tessa snorted. "Remind me to leave the state when she comes to visit. I cannot do another round of "Pick a model, any model," She finished imitating Brennan.

Bennett laughed, assuring her that he would. 

"And Bentley?" Tessa prompted.

Bennett paused a moment. "We're not that close,"

This piqued Tessa's interest. She turned to face the doors.

Smiling sadly at him, she rubbed his arm. "Learn from our mistakes, don't leave it until it's too late," She said before she walked back inside.

Bennett sighed.

*******

"Hey man, I'd been looking for you," Declan came and stood out on the balcony.

Bennett had been sitting on the chair staring out into the night, lost in his thoughts.

"Sorry, I'd been out here," Bennett said as Declan came and leaned against the railings opposite him.

"It's been one heck of a night, so I can't blame you," He said. "How's your chest?"

"Not bad. How's your shoulder?"

"It should heal."

Bennett watched Declan for a moment, seeing the pieces work in Declan's brain as he attempted to process tonight. If he were Jordan, he would be surprised Declan had a functioning brain. Of course, Bennett would not say that...out loud.

"Hey, there you guys are?" Jordan stepped out.

Speak of the devil.

Jordan makes his way over.

"So ladies, what are we discussing?" He says.

Declan shrugs him off. "How to get rid of you."

Bennett snorts as Declan smirks at Jordan's betrayed face.

Bennett then continues. "We were discussing what a night it's been,"

Jordan exhales. "Yeah, it's crazy. I still haven't processed all of it,"

Declan pats Jordan's back. "Don't strain yourself too much,"

"Oh, what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you have the emotional range of a teaspoon; therefore, we won't hold it against you if you struggle to understand what's going on?" Bennett replied to Jordan.

Declan laughed as Jordan poked his tongue through his cheek, unable to suppress a smile. "You wound me, Bennett," he claps a hand to his chest. "Hurting me with Harry Potter, why?"

Bennett looks away for a moment. The other boys go quiet.

"So, what's the plan now?" Declan asks out loud.

"In terms of the gang, we do a sweep for Inferno, ask around to see if any of our allies know anything about him," Bennett answers.

The other Musketeers nod in understanding.

"And what about in terms of the girls?"

Bennett takes a deep breath and lets it out.

"We learn to trust them,"

Declan nods before adding, "We learn to put them first,"

"We learn to have patience,"

They look at the blonde who just spoke.

Jordan looks up at them both. "What else can I do? I have to be her friend first, right?"

"Right,"

*******

That night as Bennett was getting into his bed, he had a flashback.

It was the twin's 11th birthday party, and they were out paintballing. Bennett remembered being handed a paintball gun and being briefly shown how to use it by the handler before they were separated into two teams and left in a hut in the middle of a dense woodland area.

He watched his friend give orders on how to ambush the other team.

"Andrew, you and Layla, run up towards the right, get to higher ground so you can see better,"

Bennett watched in awe as everyone listened to him diligently, how seriously everyone was taking him and the game.

"Sebastian and Matthew, you guys run towards the centre, you may get hit, but you're the distraction."

Bennett knew they would listen to him. He was the perfect natural leader; whenever he talked, people listened.

"Madi and Brooke, you guys follow the boys but stay hidden. They won't expect you guys to follow so you can ambush anyone coming out to attack the boys,"

The girls nodded at his command.

"Tessa and Bennett, you guys take the left, stay close to the trees and stay hidden until you're behind the other group,"

Bennett nodded. His adrenaline was pumping at the orders.

"The rest, follow me, remember guys, once you've taken a shot, you've likely given away your location, so move fast,"

They all huddled and whispered a war cry before everyone began moving out.

Bennett then felt a tug. He turned to face his friend. "Tessa might get trigger happy, so watch out for her for me. I'm trusting you, Bennett,"

He met his friend's eyes and nodded. "Yeah, man, I'll look after her,"

"Thanks, Bent,"

Although he was talking about a game of paintball, Bennett took it to mean more than that. Especially with what followed.

He laid his head on the pillow.

"Yeah, I'll look after her for you, Tyler."