"You guys don't think you're being a little overprotective…?"

"Nope."

"Nuh-uh."

"No way bro."

Ben, Luna, and Kimi all flaked Oliver as they made their way to school. The boy felt like he had his own security team right now. While he appreciated that they were willing to watch his back, it felt like maybe they were being a little overdramatic. "There's plenty of people around school who would see if something happened. I don't think anybody is going to try anything," Olly reasoned.

Luna huffed. "Better off not taking any chances with Eddy. Personally I think the dude might be psycho." The guy had already taken this way out of hand, and she wouldn't have been surprised if he didn't try to take it even further.

"And we're taking you home too. No arguments," Kimi said shaking her head.

Olley would have rubbed the back of his head had his other arm not been in a cast. But right now his good arm was holding his book bag. Ben had volunteered to carry it for him, but he didn't feel that helpless. Or didn't want to anyway. He still had his pride as a guy. Not a lot of pride mind you, but still.

"Aw, did somebody fall down and get a booboo?"

The four teens looked over and saw Eddy and his friends walking by. The football star couldn't have seemed more smug if he tried. They all glared towards him, and Kimi looked like she was about to charge forward until Olly muttered a soft warning towards her, telling her to calm down. "Hey Osman, want me to sign that cast of yours?" Eddy asked mockingly.

Luna stepped in between them. "Back off jerk wad." She couldn't believe he had the nerve to even come near them after everything that happened.

"Don't blow a gasket Loud. I got better places to be," he said chuckling. "But a little advice. Maybe you should keep a close eye on your friends Brittle. Make sure they don't get into any more accidents, you know?"

Kimi looked furious. "Was that a threat?! I'll come over there and drop kick you right into-!" Ben reached for and grabbed her shoulder. She looked back at him surprised.

"Let him go Kimi," he said simply. The others look towards the Brittle brother surprised. He seemed remarkably calm right now. With how angry he had been towards Eddy the other day, they figured that he was the one they'd have to hold back. "We got to get to class after all."

He turned and began walking off, and the others looked a bit confused, but followed after him. Eddy looked at him skeptically. He had been expecting Ben to be furious. Was he just trying not to show it, or did he have something up his sleeve?

Luna walked beside him, looking concerned. "Hey, you alright dude?" she asked.

"I'm good," he assured.

Luna kept looking at him, and then frowned. "Ben, you're not planning on trying anything, are you?" she asked. "Because yesterday you were ready to tear Eddy a new one, and now you're being way too chill. Tell me you're not planning anything."

Ben sighed. "Luna, I promise you I'm not going to do anything reckless towards Eddy, not unless he tries anything first," he said. "Rocker's honor."

Luna clicked her tongue, and then smirked. "Rocker's honor huh? Now you really better not go back on it," she said punching his shoulder. "C"mon, let's get going."

Ben chuckled and walked with her. Yep, he wasn't planning on doing a thing towards Eddy. He had promised her he wouldn't do anything crazy, and he meant to keep it…

His brothers on the other hand didn't promise shit…

The day went on like usual for Ben… is what he would have liked to say. But after what had happened yesterday, both he and Olley were getting a lot more attention than usual. Olley, who was usually flying under the radar, had people left and right wanting to sign his cast. Some recognized him because of their performance, and a few just wanted to sign a cast.

When he told everyone about what had happened, the story spread through the school like wildfire and of course rumors started to speculate. It didn't take long for everyone to guess that Eddy had a hand in it, given his tussle with his bandmate yesterday.

And speaking of said tussle, everyone was congratulating Ben on his victory over the jock. His brothers were one thing, but nobody really expected him to be able to hold his own in a fight against Eddy. While getting into fights wasn't exactly something he wanted to get popular over… it did feel nice to be given props for beating up Eddy.

There were even a few more girls who seemed to be looking his way… not that he was particularly excited about that. He just happened to notice.

"Hey Ben," a girl said, smiling and waving as she passed by him in the hall.

He smirked and offered a small wave back, and she and her friends giggled. "Well somebody is turning into Mr. Popular," Luna said smirking up at him. "You're not gonna start letting it get to your head, are you dude?"

Ben scoffed. "Yeah right. If I started getting a big ego over something like this auntie would put her foot up my ass," he said as he stopped at his locker.

"So would I dude," she warned. "You know, best friend code and all."

"And I'm so grateful for that. If we're gonna be super famous rock stars we gotta keep each other grounded right?" he joked as he began looking through his locker to grab one of his textbooks.

"Yo Luna!"

The two looked over and saw Sam waving from down the hall. "Oh right!" Luna said before turning back towards Ben. "I'm totally sorry dude. Me and Sam were supposed to hang today… I'll tell her we should hold off."

Ben looked confused. "What? Why would you do that?" he asked.

Luna looked worried. "Uh… it's just, you know, Olley isn't the only one who needs someone watching his back," she said looking up towards him. "Everybody is talking about you and Eddy, and you know the guy isn't gonna take it lying down. He's gonna try to make a move eventually."

He scoffed. "Look, I appreciate you wanting to watch my back. Seriously, I do. But don't sweat it. He's not dumb enough to try anything in front of all these people, and my brothers will have my back even if he does. So go on," he said.

She looked at him surprised. "You sure dude?"

Ben grabbed her back the shoulders and turned her around. "Totally. I'll be fine, I promise. Now go on. You don't want to keep Sam waiting, right?" he asked, smirking.

She blushed and lightly elbowed him. "Whatever. Just don't do anything too crazy while I'm gone," she said before walking off.

Ben watched as she walked off, doing his best to ignore the ping of jealousy he felt in his chest. Happy, he was supposed to feel happy for her. For both of them. Luna was his best friend, and Sam was great too… but something in him just couldn't help but feel a bit bitter right now.

He groaned, mentally cursing himself. No, he wasn't about to become a jealous friend here. Happy, he was going to be happy for her!

"So, you still haven't told her yet huh?"

Ben jumped and turned around as he spotted Mr. Gill leaning against the wall nearby, drinking from a mug of coffee. "Do you always just lurk around the halls scaring any student not paying attention, or what?" Ben asked, frowning.

Mr. Gill shrugged. "I get bored. So when I get a chance I walk through the halls and entertain myself by watching what you little runts stress out over stuff that doesn't really matter. Makes me feel better about my real world problems," he said. "Anyway, you haven't talked to Loud yet. What's up with that?"

"Look, it's not exactly a good time. With everything going on with Eddy and Olley, I'm just gonna hold off on it a bit," Ben explained.

Mr. Gill hummed. "Oh, I get it. Putting it off huh? Classic teenage boy move."

"I'm not putting it off. I'm just waiting for-"

"There's never gonna be a right time kid," Mr. Gill said, cutting him off. "Take my advice kid, stone up and just do it. Because you're either gonna wait too late and make an idiot of yourself, or chicken out and regret it."

Ben scowled. "Yeah, I know…" As much as he hated to admit it, Mr. Gill was right. He couldn't keep putting this off. He'd committed to telling her for better and worse, and he was going to do it. "I'll talk to her soon." After he and his brothers dealt with Eddy anyway. Speaking of which, he wondered just how things were going on their end.

"Dude, did you hear about what happened to Eddy's locker?!"

"His locker? Nah man, his car got it way worse."

"Wait, what happened to his car?"

"Somebody totally wrecked it man. Smashed windows, slashed tires, even took the steering wheel. It was totally nuts."

"No way! Do they know who did it?"

"Nope. Heard some kids overhearing talk in the office, and apparently the cameras went out when it happened. That nuts right?"

"Why are you guys looking at me like that?" Ben asked as Olley and Kimi stared at him curiously. The two shared a glance, and then looked back towards him. "Look guys, It wasn't me. I've been with either you or Luna all day. In class, where literally everyone including the teachers has seen me."

Olley hummed. "Guess your right. It's just… well, you do kind of have the biggest motive right now," he said. "I'm betting a whole lot of people, especially Eddy, think it's you."

"I still think it's you," Kimi said bluntly. "I don't know how you did it, but I think you pulled it off somehow… and may I just say nice. He had it coming."

Ben fought back a smirk. He really hadn't done anything. At least not directly anyway. It still felt nice just imagining Eddy's dumb face when he saw his car though. "Thanks, but like I said, I didn't do a thing," he said holding his hands up.

"So, since you're riding all high right now, you think maybe you want to try your luck and finally asked Luna out, or what?" Kimi asked.

Ben's eyes widened, and Olley flinched. "Kimi!"

"You told her?!" Ben asked in disbelief.

Kimi scoffed. "No he didn't tell me! It was obvious!" she said crossing her arms. It was a little insulting that he thought she had to be told frankly. "The tension between you two is so suffocating."

Ben looked down, rubbing the back of his neck. God, it really that obvious to everyone wasn't it? How many people already thought… "Look, things aren't that simple around. I don't think she feels the same way. I'm gonna talk to her but-"

"Are you worried about Sam?"

Once again, Ben looked at her in shock, while Olley tilted his head in confusion. "What about Sam?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, she's totally been into Sam too," Kimi stated as if it were obvious. Olley grew a look of realization on his face, and Kimi noticed the nervous look on Ben's face. She frowned. "You seriously think I wouldn't notice? I have a girl's intuition you know. And I've been hanging out with those two for a while now."

Ben leaned forward. "Kimi, you can't say anything, okay. She's not… she's not out yet. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone about it," he said.

The girl hummed. "Really? Well, fine by me. I just advise you take your shot before she comes out and takes hers. Stuff like this is totally gonna make the band dynamic weird you know," she said.

"Kimi… I don't stand a chance…"

She narrowed her eyes. "Ben, I'm telling you as a girl, who has already gone through an experience dealing with an oblivious guy..." she said pointing towards Olley. "...you have a chance. Maybe Sam got a headstart sure, but the way you and Luna are? There's something there. If you really like her, you gotta go for it."

Ben paused for a moment. Whenever he thought about Confessing to Luna, he thought of it like ripping off a bandaid. A painful experience he'd just have to face at some point. He was going in with the assumptions that he was going to get shot down. Sure he pretended to be optimistic, but… c'mon.

He'd never considered that he actually had a shot. That she might… feel the same way. What was the next step if that happened? He supposed that meant they would be-

"Brittle!"

Ah, there was reality to snap him back out of his crazy thoughts. Everyone in the cafeteria turned their heads to see Eddy stomping across the room towards his table. It still didn't' make sense to him how the big lug didn't get suspended for what was a pretty cut and dry case of assault.

Football team connection? Rich parents? Who knew. All the mattered was that he was here, just like his Bruno said he would be. "You little shit! You think you're funny?! Breaking into my locker?! Messing up my ride?!" he shouted angrily.

Ben held his hands up. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I've been in class all day dude," he said simply. Though he wasn't able to keep the smirk off his face.

"I should pound you into the ground right now!" Eddy's roared.

Olley and Kimi both looked worried, but Ben remained calm. "I didn't touch your car, but if you really want to do this again go ahead. Two straight fights in a row? No way you don't get suspended and kicked off the team," Ben said. "Especially considering the way my brothers are playing they don't really need you anymore."

Eddy fumed, looking just seconds away from lunging at him. But then someone made their way towards them. Eddy's eyes widened as Bruce suddenly towered over him, a very dangerous glare in his eyes. "There a problem?" he asked, balling his fist up.

For a moment, the two stood off and glared at one another. But then Eddy took a step back. "You watch your ass Brittle," Eddy warned, glaring towards Ben. "Your brothers ain't always gonna be around to save you."

Ben clicked his tongue. "Have fun walking home loser."

Eddy cursed under his breath as he walked off, and Bruce kept his eyes locked on him until he finally made his way out of the cafeteria. He then turned towards his younger brother. "Call me if something happens…" he said making his way back towards his table. Ben nodded, knowing his brother was probably disappointed he didn't get to take a shot at Eddy. Despite being calm most of the time, Bruce had the worst temper of them all.

"Wow, I didn't know Bruce could talk. I sort of just assumed he was mute," Kimi said amazed. "And I don't think I've seen anybody make Eddy back down before. Badass."

Olley was more concerned about something else though. "Um… is egging Eddy on like that really a good idea? I mean he already has it out for you, and you sort of just threw fuel on the flames," he said.

"It's fine," Ben assured. "Trust me guys. It'll be fine."

"Luna's gonna be mad at you," Kimi said.

"What? No she's not."

"Dude!"

Ben winced as Luna punched his side. "Ah! What did I do?!"

She frowned at him. "I heard about you egging on Eddy in the cafeteria dude!" she said, clearly irritated. "What part of not doing anything reckless did you not get?!"

Ben held his hands up. When Luna had grabbed him by the shirt and started pulling him towards the music room, he thought something might have been up. He didn't think she was going to chew him out about lunch. "I didn't do anything! He came at me!" he said.

"But you egged him on!" she said, holding her hands out. "Why?! What are you up to!"

"Nothing!" She gave him a look. One that told him she didn't buy that for a second, and one that he was gonna break down from if she kept up. "Okay look! My brothers came up with a plan, but-!" He said, cutting her off before she could shout at him. "When I told them I promised you I wouldn't do anything, they told me not to do anything."

She hummed. "Did they tell you not to do anything so you didn't have to do anything, or did they tell you that as part of the plan?" she asked.

"...I mean that part was never clarified…"

She sighed. "Alright dude, you and your brothers got some scheme cooking, fine. But just be careful, alright. The guy's got a screw loose. I don't want you getting put in the hospital just because you're poking at em, you know?" she asked.

Ben nodded. "I'll be fine Luna, I promise. I got my brothers watching my back after all. Not to mention you. So don't sweat it," he said. "Now forget about Eddy. What's going on with you and Sam?" he asked.

Luna blushed. "Dude…" she muttered, looking down and rubbing her arm.

"C'mon," he said, smirking. "You've been hanging out more lately. Are you planning on making your move soon?"

Luna bit her bottom lip. "I don't know dude. Things have been… you know, complicated," she said leaning back against one of the desks. Man, if only she knew. "With everything going on asking her out now just doesn't seem like the right time. And… I sort of got other stuff on my mind too."

Ben looked at her curiously. "Mind if I ask what kind of stuff?"

She looked up at him, cheeks red. "I uh… I was thinking about…" Ben raised an eyebrow. Was something up with her? "It's nothing. Nevermind. It's isn't that important."

"You sure?" Ben asked, now looking concerned. "You know that talking to each other thing goes both ways right? If there's something you wanna get off your chest then I'm all ears."

Luna smiled up at him. "Yeah, I know… but seriously, it's nothing. I just need to wait for the right time," she said shrugging her shoulders.

Ben hummed and nodded. "Well… for what it's worth, I don't think there's gonna be a wrong time to tell her. I can't see anybody turning you down if you asked them out," he said crossing his arms. "I mean, I sure as hell wouldn't."

Luna looked at him surprised. "Oh… really?"

Ben coughed nervously, and then looked down at the ground. "Uh, yeah. If… if someone like you asked me out, I'd say yes in a heartbeat. I'd bet my left arm Sam would too," he said, trying to sound as casual about it as he could.

Luna smiled as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks…" Ben glanced up towards her, and… was she blushing? Was she actually blushing? Was she just flattered, or had Kimi been on to something?

If there was a time to find out, now was it. Took a breath and got ready to say something, but… nothing came out. "C'mon! Talk! Say something!" He had to say it. Just shout it if he had to. But no matter how much he tried, it wouldn't come out.

"Well, we should probably get going. Don't wanna be late for class, right?" Luna said as she stood back up and headed for the door.

Ben mentally cursed himself. "Yeah…"

Dang it! He was such a chicken!

A/N: Ben's committed to telling Luna how he feels, but it still isn't as easy as it sounds for him! And what are his brother cooking up for Eddy? Causing all types of mischief and letting him take the heat for it? I wonder...? And what do you guys think Luna was gonna say? Keeping some secrets of her own maybe?

Reviewer Responses! Just one this time around!

King Of 2211: That'd be an interesting ship. Not sure if I could work it into the story but it's a fun idea to toss around! Actually considering what I got planned down the line... maybe? Lol. Thanks for the review!