Chapter 18 - Withdraw

Saphira

When we got home, mom dialed Amanda's number. Mom probably thought she could talk me into calling that guy named Zachary.

Normally we would text all day, if we weren't together. But I couldn't find the time for it today. I hoped she wasn't mad. Of course mom made me tell about Zachary.

Amanda was just as incredulous as I was. They teamed up and of course Amanda encouraged me to add his number on my cell phone. She argued with me until I finally gave in. "Geez Amanda, I never knew you were so pushy." I sighed

" All right, I promise you I'll add him but I won't promise to text." I said. "Maybe if you see his profile picture you change your mind after all." She teased. "Maybe." I said doubtfully. Absolutely not, I thought. He'd probably just make a fool out me. He couldn't possibly be interested.

"Mom, I'm going to finish this call upstairs. Goodnight." I said while I ran upstairs. "Night Saph." Mom said still sounding amused.

I filled Amanda in on the visit I paid to Lynn's home, meeting her family.

"It's great you already found some new friends." She said. "Just Lynn though. I met her older brother today." I said sighing.

"The one with the interesting love theory?" Amanda confirmed. "Yep the same one and besides his cologne, he is the most annoying person I've ever met."

"Why is that?"

"He's such a know it all and he kept insisting my name was Evangeline." I said irritated.

"Wait, what do you mean by his cologne? Have you been treasure hunting again?" Amanda asked curious.

"Yeah it seem it's an actual fragrance, because I've now found two people wearing it."

"Really?" She said dubious.

Jasmine

"Jasmine?!" Raina sighed. "Why haven't you told me about Ben?" I fumbled with my fingers. "I don't know, it's just that he was a man and I didn't mean anything by it." I pondered how to explain…

"We met at the hallway on my first day, he asked me if I could come with him and I told him I couldn't be alone with a man. I thought that would be it." I bit my lip. "But it wasn't." Raina prompted me to continue.

"No." I shrugged. "He got one of the cooks to come with us."

"I know, that was cleaver on his part." She smiled a little. "He told me he knew her all his life. So well I don't know, I thought maybe his parents were servants to the palace as well." I still felt ashamed for believing all those lies. I should of known. Who doesn't know what the prince of Saudi looks like? Well I didn't.

"True; he does know her all his life. She was there when he was born." She said. "Well at least something he said was true." I shook my head.

"I don't think everything was I lie. He seems to care about you and he actually said he considered to ask our grandfather if he had the permission to marry you." My heart stopped all together.

"Don't act that surprised." Raina said disapprovingly. "Even now you rejected him, he still seems to care." I felt a spasm of shock wave across my body! "He told you about that?" I stuttered.

"Of course." Raina frowned. "He told me to give you something, although I was actually unsure if I was willing to give it to you." She pouted her lips. "You really hurt me, you know."

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

"I know, it's okay." She whispered back. "Here." She said as she handed me a laptop. "What, why?" I frowned. "A laptop, I don't know what it's for. Benjamin told me that it was set up how he wanted it to be, and that you should open it when you were alone." I saw that she was pondering something.

"I don't want you to open it when you are alone. I want to know what he wants." She said with a sparkle in her eyes.

I wasn't in a place to deny her anything, so I did as she asked. I opened the laptop and there was an email on the screen.

Dear habibie,

I can't breathe.

For the last six months the neurobiology of my brain has been altered because of you.

Every day I spend with you this summer, 'feel good neurotransmitters' have been released, causing me to bond with you.

In doing so, my brain released chemicals, such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. I think it is safe to say, that since I walked out of the palace, it feels like I'm in withdraw. So I believe there is only one solution.

I need to see you. I planned us an online meeting at 20:00 your time. Benjamin.

My jaw dropped and I had a hard time closing it.

"WHAT?" Raina said in a confused tone. "What in heavens name is he saying, with all that neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin nonsense." I stared at the screen.

"He is not a junky is he? I mean what is he saying? He is in withdraw… I thought he taught you subjects, did the two of you do drugs together?" Raina said incredulous.

I scratched behind my ears. What should I say? That he basically says he loves me so much he feels like he is in withdraw, now that we were separated. I raised my shoulders and shrugged. "I don't know what is wrong with him. I just think he wants a little attention or something." I said playing down the content of his words.

"So, he wants to see you." Raina muttered almost inaudible

"It seems so…" I said feeling uncomfortable. I didn't want to discuss this any further. I wanted to think about what he said and let his words sink in. With Raina in the room I couldn't seem to think straight.

"Well then." Raina pressed, clearly wanting me to start the video call. "I don't know. I don't think that is such a good-"

Before I could finish my sentence Raina took over the laptop and Benjamin popped up on my screen.

Bewildered, I looked at Raina who casually strode to her bed and made herself comfortable, watching Benjamin on my screen. I shot her a glance.

"Habibie." Benjamin said breathless. "Hi." I said a teeny bit uncomfortable, because of prying eyes. "What do you want?" I snapped, feeling immediately sorry I did so.

Benjamin seemed wary, as he stroke his fingers through his hair. He seemed tired. "Are you okay?" My voice cracked. "Now I am." He responded as he took in a huge breath, while his right hand rested on his chest.

Did he really have trouble breathing? "Ben, you should see a doctor." I said worrying about him. His hazel eyes had blue shade underneath them, as if he was exhausted. "Have you slept at all?" I wondered out loud.

"No.." He breathed.