Keys are no fun

[Benjamin Banks]

Ben had spent a whole week and half holed up in his room only leaving for classes and then returning to his room. Between the studying, the calculations, and wondering what LD was doing he had forgotten to eat. No one had said anything, then again no one really noticed aside from Ellen. Which was why he was dressed in all black and walking down the street that lead to Ellen and Ash's apartment. Logically he knew it was sucpicous but he didn't care he was starving and using a key was boring. He made it to the apartment building without a hitch, though he did get some supcious looks for late night runners and night owls.

He paid them no mind and threw his sack of bugerlary tools behind him. This was kind of a ritual by now, he would come over dressed like this every so often. The only glimpse of the old playful Ben, before he closed himself off. He got to the door of His sister's apartment and started on the lock. Everytime he did this he was sure that she would've changed the lock but it was still as simple as always. I jiggle here, a wiggle there and then a twist and click the door was open.

He carefully moved in side shutting the door softly and locking back. He left his break in tools on the couch and made his way into the kitchen. He first stopped into the cabinets, nabbing the peanut butter and spoon to eat while he looked to see what had been left in the fridge from the nights supper. The past couple of nights there was a left over plate of food so he didn't have to cook. He was hoping that this night would be the same.

Ashley Benson

[Ashley Benson]

It was going to be another sleepless night, of that Ashley was sure. Even after long years spent trying to piece her life together there would still be these moments wrought with uncertainty and anxiety. The heavy weight of there being no real reason for these bouts with her sometimes volatile mental state usually hit harder than the emotions themselves. She was well aware of the seemingly charmed life she now led and it made her the shaking hands and thudding heartbeat she held from Ellen all the more stressful.

Ashley heard the door open from the bathroom where she was splashing water on her face in an attempt to calm her nerves. It was a familiar sound, one she'd gotten used to hearing as of late. She'd never formally met Ellen's brother, it almost felt as though the blonde wished to keep both of them out of view for whatever reason, but that didn't stop Ashley from looking out for him. She had taken to making more food for dinner than usual and leaving a plate in the fridge. Why he didn't simply come over during dinner instead of sneaking into the apartment at night Ashley would never know.

"You're getting predictable enough to set a clock to." Ashley said, her voice low as she crossed through the living room heading for the kitchen. She'd stopped long enough to quietly close the bedroom door on her way, lest they run a greater risk of waking Ellen. She offered the young man a faint smile as she peered into the dimly lit kitchen, her eyes gleaming with equal parts curiosity and amusement. She tilted her head and pointed a finger toward the fridge. "It's on the bottom shelf." She said. "Behind the carton of eggs."

[Benjamin Banks]

Ben wasn't aactually trying to be quiet, how ever he did open and close all of the cabinets softly so that his sister wouldn't wake up and thinking she was actually being robbed. In all honesty he didn't want her to know that he hadn't been eating until he beinge and snuck into her house. He knew it was getting to be a problem but he was so used to not eating it was harder to remind himself to eat. He didn't think he had a serious problem, he did eat eventually. He was just really unworried about his health, he was pretty sure that's why Ellen kept nagging him about it.

He froze, when he heard a voice. It took him a minute to realize that it wasn't Ellen's and he was pretty much safe. However it was Ashley's and he had never formely met her and yet...she was leaving him food? He moved the eggs and grabbed the plate and the milk shutting the door after him. He got a cup from the cabinet (only because she was there) and set it down on the counter. All the while calcualting the probabilty that she was trying to poison him. A few moments later he decided that it was less likely than him getting hit by a bus tomorrow crossing than street and he should risk it.

"Uh..So you've been leaving food for me? Thanks." He said rubbing the back of his neck and eating the food cold. He didn't want to warm it up, food was always better cold. Plus he was lazy and a lot hungrier than he had orginally though. Still he smiled, she hadn't told Ellen yet so that was a very good sign in his book.
He grabbed a napkin and wiped his hands and mouth turning towards the older girl. "I know we haven't been formally introduced and you already know this, but i'm Ben"

[Ashley Benson]

Ashley nodded in response to Ben's question. Her eyes shone brightly even in the dim light of of the lamp over the stove they kept on at night. She watched the young man dig into the plate she'd left for him with a sort of pleasant contentment. Ellen hadn't introduced her to anyone, friends or family alike and it felt as though the little secret she shared with Ben was almost a sort of misdirected kinship. "I'm Ashley." She said, her voice soft.

Ashley only stood awkwardly in the kitchen while Ben ate for a short while before she crossed the room and retrieved a glass from the cupboard. She cast another smile in Ben's direction before taking up a seat across the table and reached for the carton of milk. "So..." She said, trailing off after the lone word as she debated whether or not it was wise to pursue the line of questioning she was thinking. "Why do you sneak in at night?" She finally asked after pouring herself a glass of milk. "Why don't you just... come over?"

[Benjamin Banks]

Ben knew who she was, after all he was both noisey as hell and observant when he wanted to be. He also understood why Ellen would want to keep it a secret, or at least he thought he understood. Ben was just selfish like that, but he also knew that Ellen cared what their dad thought too much. He didn't pay too much attention, he had his own problems to worry about..even if he didn't admitt to it. He had to admit that Ashley was a very good cook, he was sure his sister was terrible at it.

Ben tilted his head, he saw that one coming. It was probably the question his sister asked herself whenever she found his stuff lying around. It wasn't that difficult of a question...or it was but Ben wasn't the type to give serious answers. He could of course take the easy route out...saying that it was more fun this way...or something along those lines. However for some reason...he just felt like he should be honest.

Which for Ben was something that was pretty much rare unless your name was Ellen. Ashley was family now too, so that meant he might as well fess up right? "I don't want to be a bother to Ellen, She already worries enough." He shifted a bit and the resumed eating as if he hadn't said anything remotely insecure or family like to the girl who never really saw.