In this chapter, we find out why Ethan doesn't spend time with anyone…

Italics-memories

Bold italics-thoughts

Updated:09/15/2012

…

"How is it that I got stuck with you?" Ethan asked irritably as he continued working on their project. Benny just shrugged.

"You're just lucky I guess." Ethan snorted at that thought. "Why don't you ever wanna hang out? You avoid me like the plague." Ethan closed his eyes briefly as a face flashed through his mind. His eyes snapped open.

"I don't hang out with people."

"Why not?"

"Just don't." Ethan felt a memory tugging at the back of his thoughts, begging to remembered, but he couldn't think about that. Not anymore. Benny opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted.

"BEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNY!" Jane called, skipping into the room.

"Yes?"

"I'm hungry."

"Well come on, I'll make you some dinner," he said, leaving Ethan to continue their project. Ethan closed his eyes as a voice laughed in his ear.

"Come on Ethan! It'll be fun!"

"I don't know…"

"Come on. Trust me. Don't you wanna have some fun?"

"Yeah but this is… we shouldn't do this."

"Trust me…"

"Yo! Ethan? You okay?" Benny asked, leaning down and peering into Ethan's eyes. Ethan looked at him, slightly dazed.

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine. Sorry. I spaced out there for a minute…"

"It's cool. Anything ya wanna talk bout?"

"Nah, I'm fine. Thanks though…"

"Anytime," Benny said with a smile that Ethan slowly returned.

…

Ethan was sitting in the cafeteria, double checking his homework when Benny sat down across from him, looking extremely happy.

"I was thinking –"

"Stop right there," Ethan said, aiming his dark eyes at Benny. "I've noticed every time you say that it has to do with us hanging out or something."

"You know me so well!" Ethan rolled his eyes at the ecstatic smile on Benny's face. "Come on E. Instead of working on our almost finished project, let's just hang out tonight. Pleeeeeease?"

"Okay one, NO. And two, what did you call me? Is saying my name that much of an effort?"

"E's easier," Benny said, shrugging.

"Uh-huh..."

"Come on. Instead of homework, let's just hang out at your house and watch a movie together. Get to know each other some more."

"Let's pause the movie and have some serious fun," he told him in a teasing voice. Ethan shook his head.

"I don't think we should…"

"Come on Ethan, don't you trust me?"

"Ethan! ETHAN!" Ethan shook his head and looked at Benny. "You okay?" Benny asked, clearly concerned. Ethan dazedly nodded.

"Yeah… yeah I'm fine." Benny looked at Ethan strangely, but Ethan avoided his eyes, a frown on his face.

…

Benny finally wore Ethan down and got him to agree to watch a movie with him. Ethan sat there, arms crossed and a serious look on his face. He tried to ignore the fact that Benny's arm rested comfortably over the back of the couch and his shoulders as well.

"You're quiet," Benny muttered, looking at the sullen boy.

"We're watching a movie. Aren't people supposed to be quiet?"

"Don't have to be such a smartass about it," Benny said with a playful smile, which Ethan hesitantly returned.

"Shut up."

"Oh come on, have some fun," he said, nudging Ethan's shoulder slightly. Ethan felt his face heat up but didn't look at Benny, even though he felt the eyes on him.

"Isn't this fun?"

"No. We should stop."

"But I'm having fun. If you just relaxed, you'd have fun too."

"Ethan?" Ethan jolted at Benny's voice, but turned to look at him.

"Y-yeah?"

"You okay?"

"Yeah… Why do you try so hard to hang out with me?"

"Because nobody should be alone."

…

Benny had left for the night, and Ethan was too tired to get upstairs to his room, so he just crashed on the couch, falling asleep as soon as his head hit the rough fabric of the couch.

Before he could fall into a completely deep sleep though, he thought he heard a quiet knock at the front door. In an almost dream-like state, Ethan got up dazedly from the couch and stumbled to the door, flinging it open.

"Ethan," a voice said quietly, wrapping the half asleep boy in its tone. "I've missed you…"

…

Ethan woke up, exhausted and sore, in his bed. The last thing he remembered was falling asleep on the couch. He had no memory of how he got to his bed. Figuring one of his parents must have moved him, he got up and got ready for the day; he was braving the day with Benny to work on their project.

I wonder if I'll ever be able to be friends with him… Not that I particularly want to. It's just that he's insistent on being my friend now. Might as well like him right?... And I'm talking to myself. Great.

Even though… I do kinda like him…

"Ethan! You awake yet?" Benny called, barging into the other boy's room.

"Who let you into my house ?!" he asked angrily, which made Benny just smile.

"Your mom did. I told her about our project, and she said I could just come on up."

"Ugh. Well get out! I'm getting dressed," he said, turning his back on the tall boy.

"Oh come on E-"

"Don't call me that!"

"Sorry. Come on Ethan. We're both guys, you can change in front of me." Ethan's face heated up as he thought about Benny seeing him in only his boxers. Shaking his head, he hardened his voice.

"No. Get. Out. Now."

"Fine, I can take a hint. I'm going," Benny said with his easy-going laugh, dropping his bag on the floor before disappearing out the door. Ethan breathed a relieved sigh before quickly changing. Ethan peeked out of his bedroom window, seeing his spacious backyard and a little of the street, which made his eyes widen.

"A moving truck…?"

…

Ethan and Benny had retired to the kitchen table, where they could spread out and continue their project. Before they could get anything done though, a light knock was heard at the door. Benny smiled at Ethan before jumping up.

"I'll get it." Ethan smiled at Benny, trying to control himself, but he was finding it harder and harder to do around the other guy. Benny smiled back and leaned down a bit. "I like when you smile like that." Ethan's face heated up as Benny disappeared.

Maybe being friends with him won't be so bad…

"Ethan!" a voice called that definitely wasn't Benny's. Ethan jumped up from his chair and walked into the living room to see a confused looking Benny. But he wasn't alone. A boy a little shorter than him with fly-away blonde hair and devious eyes and a matching smile stood next to him.

"Miss me?"

…

Well… I'll let everyone deduce their own hypotheses about this chapter ;)

Enjoy the cliffhanger.

-JustMe133