"Alright, text books out. We're way behind the other periods because of all the absences and we need to catch up before midterms start. Hurry up now, or you're going to regret it tonight when you're all finishing this assignment for homework. You already have two chapters to study." Ben ignored the aggravated order from his teacher and balled up his jacket, placing it on his desk and using it as a makeshift pillow. He sat in the back of the room so no one would notice if he tried to catch up on all the sleep he had been missing at home.

Or so he thought, anyway.

"Benjamin, are you sleeping in my class? Does History bore you? I'm sorry I couldn't be more entertaining, but we have to get these things done. You can finish the assignment after school when you come for an hour of detention." Shit. Lisa would kill him, he knew it. First the drop in grades, then the fighting, but somehow he had managed to avoid getting any detentions. Until now, that is.

"Yes Sir." Ben held his head in his hands, wondering if things would get better any time soon. The problems from elementary school had sat on his shoulder like a little devil through the grades, and now in high school they intensified as the harsh words got more…descriptive and school became more stressful. Brian was still the worst offender, and called Ben names that he didn't even want to think about. Words that were based on a person's actual sexual orientation and had no original intent of being malicious, but the sneer that Brian threw in made them painful to hear. Plus the fact that Ben had come to realize Brian was right about everything he said. After years of denial, Ben admitted to himself, no one else but himself, that he was actually gay. Of course, now Brian suspected. And he had gotten tall and muscular, and the punches left more than bruises. He actually broke Ben's nose once, and it had to be re-broken at the hospital so it would heal correctly. Technically, he could just drop out next year and get away from the pit of bullies and stress that others called high school...

The scream of the bell snapped Ben out of his thoughts but he didn't bother going anywhere. It was eighth period and he had to stay for another hour anyway.

"Excuse me, Sir? I have to call my mom and let her know that I won't be home on time."

"Go out into the hallway and you can call her. Be quick about it." Ben nodded and stepped out, reluctantly dialing Lisa's number and bringing the phone up to his ear with one hand, wiping the sweat from the other on his jeans.

Ring

Ring

Ri-

"Hello?"

"Hi, mom…Could you, could you possibly pick me up from school in an hour?" Ben tried to be a man about what was happening, just like Dean had taught him to do all those years ago. It was just one detention. But he knew his mother would be beyond upset.

"Why?" He could hear it in her voice; she knew he was in trouble. She was going to make him say it anyway.

"I got a detention in History, I fell asleep in class."

"Seriously, Ben? I'm getting tired of all this. And no, I can't pick you up. I have a dentist appointment in 45 minutes. You're going to have to walk home. And then you're staying home all night and for the rest of the weekend. I don't care if it's Friday. I'm done with all of these issues with you, Ben. The fighting, the grades, and now detention? We're gonna talk when I get home later."

"Alright. I'm sorry, Mom." Lisa had already hung up. Sighing, Ben walked back into the classroom and took out his homework. He might as well get as much done as he could. With a groan, he began an hour of homework and studying for his least favorite subject, constantly being watched by his least favorite teacher.

"Alright, Ben. It's been an hour. You can go home now." Ben shook his head, realizing he had been spacing out for the past few minutes.

"Okay. I finished the work. Is it alright if I hand it in now?"

"Yes. I was going to take off points for your laziness in class today but it seems you've redeemed yourself. You'll get full credit." Ben sighed in relief. That's one less thing for Mom to freak out about.

"Have a good day, Sir." Ben grabbed his backpack and rushed out the door, sliding down the railings in the stairwell to get to the first floor faster. He zipped up his jacket, bracing himself for the cold, long walk home. He stopped when he was only a few steps out the door, though, noticing something strange in the parking lot.

He only knew one person with a black 1967 Chevrolet Impala.