"Hey, Em?" Ben called out over the roar of highschoolers doing everything they could to leave as soon as possible. She hadn't been in homeroom and he'd been searching everywhere for her. Oddly enough, despite her striking appearance she was pretty damn good at blending in if she wanted to. He'd slipped past her at least ten times and he hadn't even noticed. Maybe it was because she was so small, because usually he was spot on when it came to finding someone specific in the constantly swirling sea of classmates.

Em screeched to a hault. She turned to the boy behind her, who practically loomed over her. At least that's what it seemed like to her. "Yeah, that's me." Her locker shut with a slam, silencing a few people around her. For the first time, they both got a good look at each other.

Ben wasn't anything special when it came to looks really. He was handsome, she'd give him that... And there was something about those eyes, the way he held himself that seemed so utterly non-threatening. Like some sort of big stuffed animal she could hug and cuddle and love and-

You can't afford to think like that, Em. Any trace of a smile that may have been starting to light up her face faded immediately. A stone cold expression replaced it, a hardened expression, a look that would send the football team running for cover.

It was obvious now why Em got the dirty looks in homeroom, Ben thought. He didn't think it was bad but a lot of people would probably think her black hair, peircings and a fading black eye might make some people a little intimidated. In fact, he himself found himself a little more intimidated than he should be. Those hazel eyes that looked peircingly green never left his face, his eyes, as if she were searching him. Reading his every movement. It was a little unnerving but at the same time it fascinated him. The way she held herself said she was strong. Despite her size she was a strong, capable girl. That much was clear. It seemed a little contradictory; Her limbs were willowly and thin, and she looked like she didn't eat all that well. Maybe she was just thin like that, after all, her bones seemed to fit her overall appearance. Her cheekbones were sunken in and they looked like you could almost slice your hand open on them. Everything about this girl, about this Emily-Rose Andrews, was so different and Ben couldn't help but be fascinated by her.

"I noticed you weren't in homeroom," he explained, rocking back on his heels a little. "You okay? I mean, I was pretty sure McFauge was going to explode." Ben grinned and shrugged. "You got guts, Emily."

"It's Em," she spat back with her own bony shrug. "She pissed me off. not much else to it."

Ben raised his eyebrows a little, somewhere between impressed and amused. "Well I think you won over the whole baseball team there, darli-"

"Don't call me darling." Em's long-fingered hands balled into fists and her whole body tensed. She was practically bristling, looking ready to punch him if he made another wrong move.

"...Sorry," he mumbled, eyes lowered. Ben didn't exactly understand what the problem was with his pet name but if she didn't like it, well, he wasn't going to chance making her give up on him completely. Not that she was all that interested in him in the first place.

"What the fuck do you want anyways?" she asked, shouldering her bag and shooting dirty looks at the senior from this morning. "I don't really have time to talk."

Ben smiled smoothly, even though inside he was all aflutter. "I was um... I was wondering if you wanted to stick around until pre-season conditioning was over. It'll be about two hours but afterwards we could grab a burger at the MIss Issippi Diner. And I'm telling you, it'll be the best burger you ever eat. Promise." He started walking and was pretty happy when Em followed.

"Okay, cut the bullshit," Em finally rasped, running a hand through her hair. "Why are you being so nice to me? It's a little obnoxious."

"Because you, my dear, look like you need a friend," Ben said happily, shrugging again. "Besides, now you have a one man welcoming comity here. And you're new. It sucks being the new kid, I know."

Em rolled her eyes at him and started to walk away before turning him around and staring, but under all that cold steel he could see just a hint of sadness.

"You have no fucking idea." And with that, she was gone.