A/N: First I just wanna say, I sorry it took so long for this next chapter. I was assigned my Term Paper for my English class, and that's been taking up most of my time. That and work. But there is some good news out of it. I chose to do a fiction story for my Term paper. So when I'm done with that I might post it in the Orginal Fiction part of the site (That is if any of y'all wanna read it).
Thanks for being patient! Enough talk, story time!
Life at Westwood High Chapter 4Nathaniel and Jeff were sitting outside underneath an old oak tree on school grounds waiting for Benji Harper, their friend and fellow band mate of their rock band, Rebel Riot.
"…and so as they're stuffing him into the ambulance he yells out, 'This is all your fault! Stupid dog! '" Jeff laughed as he told the story of Shane Helms' car accident. Nathaniel chuckled a little.
"Isn't the SUV his father's car?" he asked Jeff.
"Yeah," Jeff answered after gaining control of his laughter, "He said when his dad got to the hospital, and knew that he was all right, he yelled and grounded him in front of the doctor."
"Embarrassing," Nathaniel said, feeling sorry for Shane.
"Definitely," Jeff agreed, then changed the subject. "So, how's the Steph situation going?" Nathaniel just sighed in response. "That bad, huh?"
"You could say that."
"Well Nelly, all I can say is, point blank, just ask her out. Might as well give it a try, and speaking about try…How do you think the tryouts will go today? Think we'll find a good enough guitarist?"
"I hope so," answered Nathaniel, "We're going to need a complete band if we ever want to get a gig down at 'The Rage'." 'The Rage' was the local teen hot spot in the city of Westwood: bands playing, dancing, a few video games, and pool tables.
"You're right Nell, and those tryouts start in a half hour," Jeff said looking at his watch, "Where the hell is Benji?"
~*~*~
In an alleyway in the back of the school:
) ) ) WACK! ( ( (
Benji Harper was punched in the face. The force of the blow made him fall to the ground. He brought his hand up to his right eye where he was hit and with his left he looked up at his attacker. Actually there were two: Rosey, the look out; and Jamal, the one who had punched him. The two no good bullies did nothing but give Benji a hard time and usually with no reason behind it. Benji, being much smaller in size, was a prime target for the two large tormenters. Jamal stared down at him with a sneer.
"Next time we meet Harper, you remember to hold your tongue," Jamal said threateningly.
"Bite me," Benji retorted without thinking; he immediately regretted it because it caused Jamal's temper to flair.
"Why you little…" Jamal raised his hand ready to strike, but Rosey stopped him.
"Hold on," Rosey said, "Adam's coming this way. Ditch the freak." Jamal complied, pulling Benji up by the back of his shirt collar.
"Don't make a sound until we're gone," Jamal ordered, "We don't want your brother to know about this, got it." With that he roughly shoved Benji behind a dumpster just as Adam appeared around the corner. He wouldn't care anyway Benji thought.
"Where have you guys been?" Adam asked Jamal and Rosey, "Practice starts in five minutes," Adam referred to their football practice. "Never mind," he dismissed, "Let's just go." Adam began to sprint off in the direction of the football field, and Jamal and Rosey followed leaving Benji all alone. He came out from behind the dumpster wishing that he could have told Adam what Jamal and Rosey were doing to him, but he truly believed that Adam hated him and would join in on beating him up instead of helping him. Benji let a troubled sigh escape his lips as he remembered that he had his band tryouts to go to, and he was sure he would have to go with a black eye, courtesy of Jamal. Benji stuffed his hands into his pants' pockets and began to walk around the outside of the school to the oak tree in the front to meet with Jeff and Nathaniel.
~*~
"Hey guys!" Benji called over to Nathaniel and Jeff as he approached them at the oak tree. Also waiting underneath the tree was Benji's girlfriend Molly Holly. Jeff often made fun her: 'perfect little Molly Holly and her punk rock boyfriend'. Benji smiled at the sight of his girlfriend. After the tough day he had had he was happy to see her. He walked up to her to hug and kiss her, but she stopped him.
"Benji, what happened to your eye?" Molly asked full of concern.
"Oh it's nothing," he lied not wanting to burden her or anyone with his problems, "I was just on my way into the bathroom and someone was coming out at the same time and the door hit me in the eye."
"Smooth move," Jeff teased him, believing Benji's story.
"Well, are you okay?" Molly asked still concerned, "Do you need an ice pack or something?"
"No, I'm fine," Benji said pulling her into a hug, "just fine."
"Yeah, I really hate to break up the love fest," Jeff said looking at his watch, "but uh, we really should get going."
"Maybe we could get going if your brother got here on time," Nathaniel said referring to Jeff's older 'college boy' brother Matt, "He is our ride to your house, remember."
"Matt'll get here," Jeff tried to sound positive, but Matt was already twenty minutes late.
"He probably forgot," Benji voiced everyone's doubt, "You said he's been really busy lately and everything. It probably just slipped his mind."
"Wait, look," Molly pointed to the parking lot, "Benji, it's your brother. Let's go ask him for a ride."
"I really don't think that's a good idea…" Benji's argument fell upon deaf ears, as Nathaniel and Jeff followed Molly toward Adam's car. With a sigh Benji followed. The group reached the parking lot just in time to see Adam start up his car and begin to drive away. They tried waving at him to stop (with the exception of Benji), but Adam didn't notice and pulled out onto the street and sped away.
"Looks like were walking," Jeff said. Benji groaned. "Hey at least all our equipment is there already. But I'm gonna have a serious talk with Matt when I see him. Forget me, will he…" Jeff trailed off under his breath.
The group started to depart, but Benji realized that Nathaniel wasn't following them.
"Hey Nell, what's the hold up?"
"What?" Nathaniel snapped out of the trance-like state he was in. "Oh, I just noticed that Stephanie is coming out of the building," he hesitated a little before he continued. "Molly, you're friends with her, do you think she'd give us a ride?"
"Yeah," Molly smiled, "great idea." Molly shouted to Stephanie, "Hey Steph! Wait up!"
~*~
Stephanie was more than willing to help out Molly's friends. She let them all hop into her new 2003 red Convertible. Jeff, Benji, and Molly sat in the back, while Nathaniel sat in the passenger's seat next to Stephanie. Nathaniel kept stealing glances at Stephanie from the corner of his eye, but he couldn't think of anything to say to her. Luckily for him, Stephanie did.
"Um…Nathaniel, right?" Stephanie addressed Nathaniel.
"Yeah, but you can call me Nell if you like."
"Okay," Stephanie smiled, "Nell. Anyway, I just wanted to apologize for this morning. You know, for Trish. I guess she can be a little mean sometimes."
"Thanks," Nathaniel said.
"I mean, you're a really nice guy, she shouldn't treat you that way," Stephanie continued. Nathaniel brightened; Stephanie was complementing him, sticking up for him, HIM! Maybe she felt the same way he felt about her. Maybe he did have a chance after all.
The drive ended all too soon for Nathaniel. Everyone said their "thanks you's" and "goodbye's" to Stephanie. They walked up to the garage door and Jeff and Benji pulled it open. Inside the garage their instruments, speakers and other equipment was all set up.
"Well," Jeff said with a smile and rubbing the palms of his hands together, "let the tryouts begin."
