"Sure."
He smiles brightly at my happy reply, and we slip on our backpacks harmoniously and exit the classroom. We make small talk about our previous schools, and it turns out last year was his first year in this district, too. But, unlike me he's a social butterfly and made tons of friends through sports, clubs, classes, and interests. All I have is the soccer team and Clarissa. And I guess now you could count Ben.
As we continue our walk he lazily drapes his arm overly shoulder and asks if I've ever had a boyfriend. Blushing, I quietly reply "Yes" and look down. He chuckles and mutters to himself 'duh' to which I become slightly confused. But before I can ask him about it, he says something totally unexpected. "Do you have one now?"
In shock, I look up at him, my mount agape and say "Ummm, no. What about you?" Easily he replies "Nope" popping the 'p'. I am confused until he clarifies, "I mean, I've had a girlfriend, just don't have one right now. Kinda like you." he says, glancing down at me, and giving me what I think may have been a wink. But who knows...I was probably hallucinating.
We keep walking, because apparently our first and second periods are super far away from each other. Being the apprehensive person I am, I'm worried about being late, and Ben seems to pick up on this. "Don't fret. We won't be late," he calms me. Letting out a huge exhale, I relax, still tucked under Ben's loose arm. When people-girls really-start glaring at me, I again tense up.
Ben picks this up, too. "They're just jealous bitches; don't pay them any attention, because that's what they want." And he doesn't whisper this. It's a conversational tone, and causes my eyes to widen at his bravery. "Ben, maybe you should lower yo-," I start, but am interrupted when the blonde senior from our bio class comes up and slaps me. Out right slaps me across my face.
Everyone stands there in shock for a few seconds before a collective gasp is let out. I'm standing there with the right half of my face stinging and reddening, open mouthed and wide eyed, trying to get a grip on what just occurred. Ben's eyes are huge too, and is staring at Karen like she's a possible threat, while his arm around me tightens the slightest bit.
"What the..." is all I am able to get out before she lets out this low, long, sarcastic laugh. "I really don't like you. Stay away from my Mason boys." she snarls at me. I'm even more shocked; her Mason boys?! But before I can ask her, Ben says "You don't own me, or my brother," under his breath, just loud enough for blondzilla to hear. "WHAT did you say me, Benjamin?" she whips her head to glare at him.
"I SAID, you don't own me or Hal. Now I might not be able to tell Hal and you to stop dating, but I CAN say stay away from me. And Ally. She didn't do anything to deserve you being such a bitch, Karen. Leave. Us. Alone." and with that, my jaw hit the floor. I was so confused at this point, and young mister Mason had A LOT of explaining to do in our next class. "Let's go, Ally." and he spun us around and continued off in the direction of Info Tech.
When we reached Ms. Sawyer's room, I found two empty seats in the very back, worst for paying attention, best for not‚ and plopped down in one. Waiting for Ben to do the same, I was surprised when he hesitated. "Are you planning on standing the whole class, or...?" I indicated with my hands to the seat next to me. "Well, yeah, but the thing is..." he pauses, drawing in a deep breathe, and pulling his lip between his teeth, making him look like a sex-god/model. "...My best friend, Rick Denmeers is in this class, too. I told him I'd sit by him, because he's horrible with computers..."
It's easy to tell Ben feels bad, but I automatically allow my face to fall. I want to tell him that I'm horrible with computers, too, since its the truth, but don't. Instead I say, "Then go save him a seat up front! I'm the new girl anyways, no one will bother me in the back." Sadly, almost, he takes one last glance at me before trudging up to the front of the room. I see all the girls in the class calling for him and flirting with him and it breaks my heart. I feel stupid for expecting him to be my private tour guide, but am still butt-hurt over this cold rejection. So much for a new friend.
After struggling with all the different buttons on computer for about an hour, the bell rings. I stand and slip into my backpack straps quickly and quietly, and zoom out of the room, before someone can try to catch my attention. Like Ben.
Unfortunately, he notices me slip silently from the room. "Ally! Wait up!" I hear him call me, but I don't stop or wait. I can't believe I had already started to fall for him. This is so unlike me. I really just need to focus on my new school, and I want to avoid a conflict with boys.
Once reaching my third period health class, I take a seat in the middle, on the side closest to the door, and put push my ear buds into my ears. I blast my music, trying to drown out the other students and my own thoughts. I notice when Ben walks and takes the seat next to me, although I say not a word to him.
When the teacher calls the class to order, I can feel Ben's eyes burning holes in the side of my head, begging my to take once glance at him, but I fight the urge, and I win.
The rest of the day goes similarly, with lunch being the exception. Clarissa doesn't have my lunch, but Ben does, so I try to avoid him by eating with one of the soccer girls Bridget. She's really sweet, a little bit ditsy, and kind all the same, and I know I'll like her greatly. All lunch, though, I keep accidentally making eye contact with him, and he always raises his eyebrows, like he expects me to walk over to him any minute, and I continue to look away embarrassedly.
A week later
It's been a week since my last heartfelt interaction with Ben. All we've done is make small talk, and as much as I hate it, I can't bring myself to be the first to break it. So today, when Ben calls out my name after second period, I'm surprised. He's a little out of breath from rushing to catch up to me, so he breathes heavily saying "Hey. What's up?" with a little half smile.
Ignoring the tugging feeling in my belly, I mutter 'nothing' on breath and kept walking forward. Ben abruptly stops and grabs my arm, dragging me to the side of the hall. I gasp, startled by his sudden movements. "What's wrong?" he deadpans, staring straight into my eyes. I like you too much. I'm naive. I wish you could like me back. I thought you liked me, and got my hopes up. All of the above. But instead of any of these truths, I say "Nothing. I'm fine."
"Ally. I can tell you're lying." he scolds me. "Why do you care," I mutter. I'm just the new girl everybody feels bad for and uses to hangs outs with when they're alone; no one really likes me. I try to walk away, but he pulls me back. "Ally, is this about a few days ago? Ricky really needed some help, and I needed to be there for him. I thought you didn't care...I really do like you. A lot more than you probably feel back.." he mumbles the last sentence.
My eyes widen. "What did you say?" I ask, shocked. He takes in a deep breath and says, "I like you Ally, a lot."
Author's Note: So um Im sorry. But it is technically after Christmas.
Okay I know I suck but I've had school and soccer and some un-wanted drama. That's all I'm going to say for myself...
So I'm not even going to attempt to give a ETA for the next chapter ahaha. Sorry guys I know I suck.
-ALO