A Second Chance : I Will not waste it

"I should be the one asking you that." Lulu replied, her eyes heavy. She was exhausted.

"I asked first, so you should answer me first." answered Benjamin as Lulu scoffed.

"Well I have to finish cleaning up over here. I planned the party so I must clean it." said Lulu.

"I don't think that's how it works. You pay cleaners right? So I don't see the point of you cleaning." said Benjamin.

"There is a reason why I'm cleaning. This venue has been rented out for a wedding early tomorrow and before the cleaners will get here to clean up this mess it will be too late for them to clean everything up in time for the wedding."

"This is my fault because I was the one who moved up the party from Saturday to Sunday so I would have more time to set up all the decorations. I was the one in charge of planning and I should have taken into account that the venue had been booked for a Monday since three months ago." she explained.

"Instead of me to be a brat and over work the poor cleaners who will have to do more than their job entails, it's better that I clean up all the rubbish, the trash and they can sweep the floors and shine them tomorrow." she said as Benjamin looked at her funny, he never thought that she could be so considerate to the feelings of others.

She often struck him as a pampered girl who was used to getting everything that she wanted. He thought she didn't think of others. Could you blame him? She did literally force him to be her friend.

"I never knew that you could be so thoughtful." he said surprised.

Lulu shook her head and scoffed, she knew what exactly he meant by what he just said.

"Oh please, stop looking so surprised." 

"Oh but I am seriously surprised, the Louise I know doesn't care about other people that much." he chuckled.

"Well then, you don't really know me." she replied picking up some more trash.

"I love weddings, it's someone's big day and it has to be perfect any delays whether in cleaning or the venue will just devastate the bride and everyone else." 

"So that's why you're still here at almost... 1 am?" asked Benjamin checking his watch.

"Yes, and I'm almost done." she replied.

"Wow."

"So tell me why you're still here." she said as she got another trash bag and Benjamin grabbed one for himself.

"You seem to forget that you dragged me here with you, and I'm your personal assistant remember?" she looked at him narrowing her eyes, she did not know whether he was being serious or sarcastic at the moment.

"Which good personal assistant leaves before his employer does?" he asked and she laughed.

"Ahhh, wow, so you finally admit that you're my personal assistant, I never thought I would see the day when you finally accept it." said Lulu jubilantly.

"Don't get so excited, my job with you ends today." he said.

"Yeah right, you can't get rid of me, you know that." said Lulu and Benjamin shook his head.

"We better finish up here, it's a long drive home." he said picking up trash.

"How did this place get so dirty? It's not like everyone was not dressed to their best." said Benjamin.

"I know right? I was just thinking the same thing. I guess it's just a human gift to be able to create dirt." laughed Lulu.

"If that's the case then I don't think it's a gift." replied Benjamin as they both laughed.

"Yeah, that's true." she replied.

"You know... you really did do a great job with the party." said Benjamin as Lulu stopped to look at him surprised to hear that.

"Thank you Ben, it means a lot to hear that from you." she said.

"You're welcome." he replied.

...

"*Ugh* Finally we're done." groaned Lulu as they walked outside, the entire parking lot was empty which made it easy for Lulu to find her car.

"I take it you're not going to work tomorrow." said Benjamin.

"Of course I'm not, I'm exhausted." she said opening the door of her car.

"Hey, hey wait, you just said you're exhausted, so it's dangerous for you to drive, give me the keys, I'll drive." said Benjamin.

"You know what, I don't have the energy to argue with you, here." she replied throwing him her keys as they switched and she sat in the passenger's seat while he sat in the driver's seat.

"I kind of like this exhausted Louise, she doesn't argue her many points with me when I say something." said Benjamin starting the car.

"Oh ha ha, enjoy it while it lasts, tomorrow I'll get you back for this, just drive." she responded. Benjamin started the car as they drove away.

...

"We're here..." said Benjamin as he pulled into the driveway. He turned off the car and turned to look at Lulu who was fast asleep.

"Louise." he called gently but she did not reply, she seemed to have been completely exhausted like she said.

"Louise wake up, you're home." he said still with no reply.

"Wake up Louise, there's no way I'm going to carry you, you're too heavy." he said.

"Louise... Lulu wake up." he called once more with no reply causing him to sigh, he couldn't just leave her in the car all morning.

Benjamin got out of the car and walked to the other side. He opened the door and unbuckled Lulu's seatbelt. He gently carried her out of the car closing the door behind him as he walked to the front door.

"I told you that you're heavy, you think I don't see the way you eat, it's a marvel how you still look so slim." he mumbled to himself looking down at Lulu who was still fast asleep. 

Benjamin wondered if the front door would still be unlocked at this time and to his relief it was. He walked in and closed the door quietly behind them, he did not want to accidentally wake anyone up, it was really early in the morning.

At the same moment Dom had just walked out of the kitchen with a hot cup of tea almost startling Benjamin when he saw his shadow in the dark corridor.

"Benjamin is that you?" asked Dom.

"Yes it's me Mr. White." said Benjamin as Dom switched on the lights.

"I brought Lulu home, she's fast asleep." added Benjamin.

"I was really starting to get worried about her, thank you for bringing her home Benjamin." replied Dom as he placed his cup of tea on a nearby table and he carried Lulu from him.

He had been unable to go to sleep, he was worried about Lulu, she had never drove back home at night by herself before and he had tried calling her but her number wasn't going through. That was why he came down here to make himself a cup of tea to calm himself down.

"You don't need to thank me sir." said Benjamin.

"Well, I will take my leave now, goodnight sir." said Benjamin as he stepped back.

"Goodnight Benjamin." replied Dom with a smile. Benjamin walked out the front door and closed it softly behind him.

Dom looked at Lulu, she looked completely worn out. He chuckled to himself, she was always so energetic rarely did he see her to tired like she was right now.

Dom walked up the stairs to her room, he opened the door and tucked her into bed.

"Goodnight Lulu, you did a really good job with the party, I'm really proud of you." said Dom as he gave her a kiss on the forehead.

He smiled walked out the door and closed it softly behind him. He walked down the stairs to the kitchen and picked up his cup of tea on the way.

"Oh, I didn't know you were still up." said Dom.

"I heard the front door open and thought that it was something serious." replied Natasha drinking a glass of water.

"Ahh, no that was just Benjamin, he dropped Lulu home." replied Dom.

"She just got home at this time?" asked Natasha surprised.

"Yes, I was worried about her, but turns out I didn't have to be." said Dom as he sipped his tea.

"What are you drinking?" asked Natasha narrowing her eyes at him. She could smell the scent of a distinct tea blend in the air.

"Tea." he replied.

"Which tea?" she asked menacingly.

"Relax, it's not your tea, I got my own as you insisted." said Dom as he knew what she was implying.

"I'm just checking because I can't trust you with my tea." she replied as he chuckled.

"Well you don't have to worry about me drinking your tea, I have self control." he replied.

"Right... we might share a daughter but that doesn't mean that we have to share tea." said Natasha as Dom laughed.

"What are you even saying? It's not that serious Natasha." he laughed.

"Of course it's not to you." she scoffed walking away as Dom laughed and shook his head, she was really, really overprotective of her tea.