Every Drop Counts 2
It was the next day when Ben ran down the hallway to snatch Aaron Norton's water bottle.
Ben didn't carry water bottles, because he wasn't some chick who needed frequent hydration. No, Ben figured he could survive for lengthy amounts of time without water. He was tough like that, kind of like a camel… but not. Anyway, Ben wasn't a bully, but Aaron Norton was. The dude had a thing for picking on people, no matter who they were; he could make them feel like crap. But anyway, Ben didn't feel bad about anything he'd done, he figured Aaron Norton was perfectly capable of protecting himself, and ben was enacting a little revenge. A taste of Aaron's own medicine, as it were.
Ben and Zach strode down the tile-lined hall. Blue lockers were slammed shut, kids yelled, talked in small groups, and the crush of bodies of suffocating.
"Did you get the math stuff done?" Zach asked, snapping closed his notebook and attempting to put it into his backpack without taking it off. It was a talent for sure.
Ben's eyes widened in worry. "Math homework? Man, you gotta be kidding me… I didn't remember." He sighed, glancing at his friend.
Zach blanched. "You didn't do it? How the hell didn't you do it? You like math, you always have it done."
Ben glared at his friend, shouldering his way through a group of flustered sixth graders. "You know, its' not my job to do it for you. You gotta do your own homework once and a while."
"Of come on, I don't do it all the time. And you don't understand," Zach began, voice rising. "I tried I just didn't have time. Do have any idea— I am so screwed. You know I suck at math, I need to keep my grade up, because I'm seriously failing—"
Ben laughed, stopping to step up to his locker, swinging his backpack down from his shoulders in front of his friend. He pulled the completed worksheet from the bag, shoving it towards Zach. "Here ya go. But just this once, okay?"
Zach let out a sigh of relief, shoving Ben roughly into the locker. "You're a jerk, you know that? You scared the shit outta me, man." He shook his head, slipping the paper into his backpack for later. He made a swing for Ben's head, to which Ben ducked, laughing again, and took off down the hall.
Ben ran forward, all worries of being caught ignored or forgotten. Probably that. By the time he had reached the end of the hall, he noticed Aaron in a group of guys. Aaron stood in his red shirt, surrounded by awed students, holding a plastic water bottle up in demonstration for something. And it was tempting, real tempting. Ben ran forward, snatching the bottle, and held it up for the boys to see.
Aaron whirled around; his face a mask of confusion and anger, slowly sliding into a grin as he noticed the thief.
"Want it back?" Ben asked, dancing away a bit.
Aaron laughed. "No thanks, wouldn't want your germs, Winchester. I've been told they're girl repellent."
A few "oohs," and "burn" were mumbled in the group behind Aaron and Ben just shrugged. "'Least I can get that close to them."
He turned on his heel, clasping the bottle and sauntered into class. Yeah, Aaron, take that. Mr. Carlson had yet to make his way to class. Of course, he was usually late or just on time, it figures. Most of the other kids had also made their way in, filtering through the door to rest in various areas of the classroom. Ben walked back to his desk. One, two, three chairs, five desks, four rows. It was all a blur. But the hole was still there. Ben flopped lazily into his desk, not caring to pull off his backpack.
He fingered the bottle, listening to it crackle and pop to right itself as he squeezed its' sides. On the spur of the moment, because who really thought about what they did, Ben stood up. He dropped his backpack, unscrewed the bottle lid, and bent down next to the fraying corners of the carpet. The hole looked the same as it had the day before, and Ben fingered the carpet, before tilting the bottle down and letting the water trickle out.
It fell like water usually did, smooth and quiet, but it made no sound after entering the hole.
"What on earth are you doing?" Ben turned around quickly, oh shit, was all he could register.
Mindy Jennings stood directly behind him, probably on her way to her desk, pale armed crossed over her zebra printed self and an indignant, snotty look on her face. Ben really hated her, he realized. But instead, he slipped on his most winning smile.
"Nothing much, sweetheart. You wanna try?" He asked, offering the bottle to her.
She snorted. "No. I am going to tell Mr. Carlson though, then we'll see how happy you are."
She turned to go and Ben sprung up. "Wait! Mindy, just give me a chance, please. Uh, here, let me show you." She turned in annoyance.
"It won't be anything I haven't already seen, Ben Braeden." But instead of walking away, she merely crossed her arms again. Sweet.
Ben bent down, noticing briefly that he had the attention of all of his classmates. Zach had wandered in through the door and along with other kids, made his way over to Ben, Mindy, and the mysterious hole. Ben dribbled more water into the hole, watching it quickly disappear.
"Where do you think it goes?" Zach asked in a hushed voice.
Ben shrugged. "I can't tell. Probably just into a little puddle or something." He capped the bottle once more, glancing up and the rows of spectators. Suddenly, Mr. Carlson bustled into the room, coughing loudly and walking briskly up to the front. The group disbanded and Ben stood once more, watching Mindy flounce up to her desk. Please dear God don't let her say anything.
XXXXX
Mr. Carlson finished taking attendance and Ben couldn't help but note that it was the most attention he'd paid in this class in a long time. Maybe ever. Of course, it was only the beginning of class and Mr. Carlson had barely said anything, but still, you had to give a man credit for trying. Then it happened; Mindy raised his hand all prim and proper, looking smug as anything, and glancing over her shoulder at Ben. Ben gulped, a mix of anger and worry rising in his stomach.
"Yes, Mindy." Mr. Carlson said, funny how it didn't even seem like a question. The man even sounded bored at his own words. Come to think of it, Mr. Carlson's face always looked like his voice was putting him to sleep…
"Um, Mr. Carlson, I though you should know, Ben—" She paused and if Ben hadn't been impressed upon so many times about respecting girls, he could have sworn he would have tackled her. Mindy was kind of a bitch, and not the bangable kind either.
"Yes?" Mr. Carlson prompted, nostrils flaring with slight frustration. Or maybe he was naturally that way, Ben wasn't sure.
"Well, "She continued, "Ben is really great. But I meant to ask if we had a pop quiz today. I think you said that earlier."
She was an angel, and absolute darling, and Ben was sure he could have kissed her, had it been necessary. She turned again slightly, giving him and meaningful look and he grinned. Okay, so maybe she wasn't a bitch after all. And he was pretty damn lucky.
"Actually, Mindy, the quiz is tomorrow. But thank you for being aware." That was all Ben remembered before drifting off into his own world without boring history classes. One bully shown up, a hole investigated, and a girl thwarted, all in all, it hadn't been a bad day.
TBC