Chapter 9 - The Green Monster (Posted 20 September 2011)

Ethan felt like the entire world was crashing down around him. He'd seen the look on Benny's face when he met Raoul. It wasn't the look, but it was a look, and that didn't sit right with him. How can he look at someone else like that when he claimed to have feelings for Ethan?

He hoisted his backpack into a more comfortable position on his back and left the office after Benny and Raoul were out of sight. He trudged to class, scowling as he continued to think about them.

His jaw tightened when he entered the classroom and saw Raoul sitting next to Benny. He wasn't in Ethan's seat, which eased some of the anger, but just the fact that he was next to him was rubbing him the wrong way.

"Oh, there you are, Ethan." Benny said when Ethan plopped down noisily in his chair. "I didn't get a chance to introduce you guys." He leaned back so Ethan and Raoul could see each other. Raoul was smiling, seemingly unaffected by Ethan's heavy scowl. "Raoul, this is my best bud, Ethan. E, this is Raoul, he's-"

"The French exchange student? Yeah, I know." Ethan huffed and sat back in his seat, refusing to look in their direction.

"Um... heh heh..." Benny laughed awkwardly, sliding away from Ethan just a little bit. He turned back to Raoul.

"Did I do something?" Raoul asked Benny, his eyes full of doubt.

"No," Benny assured him, "he probably just had a fight with his girlfriend." He gave Ethan a puzzled look. "I swear, he's awesome, just give him a chance."

"Okay." Raoul said.

"Can I ask you something?" Benny said, returning to his bubbly self.

Raoul smiled shyly. "Yes."

"Your accent... it's not..."

"It's not very French?" Raoul guessed. "I get that a lot."

"I didn't mean to offend you..."

"Oh, no." Roul insisted. "I'm not offended. I'm glad you asked. Most people just assume it's fake. It's really that even though I'm from France, I'm hardly ever there."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I travel all over the world. I have since birth. And French is my native language, but I know a few others, and since I spend so much time in foreign places, my accent is kind of watered down. A lot of people are disappointed when they hear it.."

"Well... I like it." Benny said, unaware that he was leaning closer to him.

"Thanks." Raoul's smile instantly became brighter.

Ethan fumed throughout the entire conversation. It was so obvious that they were flirting, and right in front of him!

He was relieved when the teacher walked in and began lecturing, cutting off Raoul's story of his time in England.

X

Ethan didn't get a chance to talk to Benny all morning. This new kid just wouldn't let up. He kept talking and talking and talking. Couldn't he see that nobody cared about his trip through Egypt or his time studying in China?

He was really steamed at lunch when he found them eating together. Along with Rory and Sarah, who were all listening to him tell another one of his stories. He almost didn't want to sit with them, but then where else would he sit?

So he walked over to them, slamming his tray down beside Sarah.

"Dude." Benny leered disapprovingly at him. "What is your problem?"

"I don't have a problem." he said without looking at him.

"Uh, yeah. You do." Benny accused. "You've been glaring daggers at me all morning. You were all cranky and... oh..." Benny made an 'o' with his mouth as he got an idea of what was making Ethan act like this. He turned and pulled a plastic bottle out of his bag and handed it to him. "I forgot to give this to you this morning. This should help."

Ethan's face didn't lighten as he grabbed it. "What is it?"

"What kind of question is that? You know what it is. I have one for Sarah too." he said, pulling out another one and handed it over to her. "Another new recipe. Let me know what you think. Gramma tried a new technique this time too."

"What is it?" Roul said, eyeing the bottles suspiciously. All the others around him stopped what they were doing and stared at him.

"Way to go, Benny." Ethan scolded him with venom in his voice. "Just pass it around in front of the new kid."

"What the hell, Ethan?" Benny asked.

"Maybe I should go sit somewhere else..." Raoul said, looking hurt. He began to stand, but Benny caught his wrist.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. Ethan's being a jerk." Benny sent a confused look toward Ethan.

"Fine." Ethan said, standing up. "I'll see you guys later." He grabbed his tray and walked away, dumping all the uneaten food into the garbage and exiting the cafeteria.

"What's wrong with him today?" Rory asked. "Did you two have a fight or something?" He directed the question to Benny.

"Not that I know of." Benny answered.

"I don't think he likes me." Raoul spoke up.

"That can't be it." Sarah comforted him. "He doesn't even know you."

"But every time he's around me he's angry." Raoul argued.

"I'm going to go talk to him." Benny said, standing. "Don't worry, Raoul, I'm sure he's just... undernourished or something." He ran after Ethan. But he lost the trail once he got into the hallway. He looked around, trying to figure out where he could have gone. Then he heard shuffling in a nearby bathroom and rushed in. All the stalls were open except for the handicap one down at the end, where Benny could clearly see Ethan sitting on the floor. "Ethan?"

"Go away, Benny." Ethan said through a strained voice.

"Are you crying?" Benny hurried over to the stall and tried to open the door but it was locked.

"No. Of course not." He said before giving a little sniff.

"Oh, Ethan." Benny said, each sniff tugging at his heart. "Don't cry. I'm coming in."

"No, don't!" Ethan insisted.

"Too late." Benny got down on the floor and climbed under the stall door and came face to face with Ethan. "Just tell me why you're crying. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

"I don't need your help." Ethan pouted and looked away.

Benny put his hands on Ethan's knees, which were pulled up to Ethan's chin. "Ethan, I gave you the blood, why didn't you drink it."

"I'm not thirsty."

"You must be..."

"I'm not. I still had some left over at home so I drank some."

"When?" Benny asked curiously.

"Last night before bed and this morning before school."

"Well maybe you didn't drink enough..."

"I had enough, Benny! Just leave me alone!"

"No. If you have enough blood in you then you shouldn't be acting like a jerk. I want to know what's going on and I want to know now."

Ethan looked right into his eyes and said, "You're a liar."

"What?" Benny had no clue what he was talking about.

"You lied to me."

"About what?"

Ethan bit his lip. "Never mind. Just leave. Please."

"Right. I'm just going to leave you here to cry on the bathroom floor. I don't think so, Ethan."

"You said you loved me."

"What...?" Benny's voice was weak.

"You told me you loved me."

Benny tried to take a breath, but suddenly didn't feel like he could. Didn't feel like he should. So he backed away from Ethan and stood up, facing the door of the stall as if he were about to open it.

"Where are you going?" Ethan's voice was strained again, indicating that he was crying harder now.

Benny's fingers curled into loose fists at his sides as he hung his head. "I told you to tell me if it bothered you." he said quietly.

"What?" Ethan looked up at him.

"I'm sorry." Benny said, unable to turn around and face him. "I was afraid this would happen. You said you were okay with it... but I should have realized..."

Ethan stood. "Realized what? Benny?"

"I'm sorry."

"Benny, stop it, you know I hate it when you do that." Ethan said.

Benny reached up and unlocked the door, letting it swing out so he could leave the stall. "Yeah, I know. And I'm sorry about that too," he said as he started walking away.

"Where are you going?"

"You told me to leave you alone."

"I didn't mean it." Ethan pleaded.

Benny stopped. There was an ache in his chest. How many times was Ethan going to change his mind? "Then what did you mean?"

"What did you mean? One minute you're trying to help me and the next you're all emo and won't even look at me."

"You're not okay with it."

"With what?" Ethan needed clarification.

"Me. Being in love with you."

"What? I never said that."

"Yeah, you did. Just now."

"That's not what I was talking about."

"Oh really? I come in here to find you crying in a bathroom stall. And when I ask you what's going on you tell me it's because I said I love you. What else could that possibly mean? What else could be bothering you?"

"You lied to me."

"About what!"

"Being in love with me."

"You think I was lying?" Benny said, hurt in his eyes.

"You must've been. Otherwise you wouldn't be getting all cozy with Frenchy out there."

"Fren... Raoul? This is about Raoul?"

"Yeah." Ethan said angrily.

"What did he ever do to you?"

"Nothing," he said, looking away.

"Wait..." Benny realized what must have been going on. "You're jealous."

"Pshh." Ethan scoffed. "I'm not jealous of that world-traveling, story-telling, French-speaking attention grubbing..."

Benny laughed. "That sounds like jealousy to me."

"I'm not jealous." Ethan repeated.

"Mmhmm."

"I'm not!"

"He is pretty cool." Benny said.

"Good for him."

"But he's not going to take your place."

Ethan peeked over at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I know I've been talking to him a lot. And it looks like I'm ignoring you. But I'm not. I'm just trying to be friendly to the new student. How would you feel if you went to a new school and no one would help you out?"

Ethan looked at him. "Well... I..."

"I think we're going to be friends." Benny said. "Good friends. But nobody can replace you."

"That's not what I... You mean you don't... Benny..."

"What?"

Can't you see that you like him? "And you thought I was oblivious." Ethan said, letting the anger drain from him as a tiny smile inched its way onto his face.

"Huh?"

This could be good though, Ethan thought suddenly. "You're right. I overreacted. I know you'd never replace me." But if you can develop feelings for someone else, maybe you can get over your feelings for me. That thought made Ethan both happy and sad at the same time. As he thought about it, knowing that Benny might have feelings for someone else gave him hope that he would be happy with someone. But it also made him wonder how strong Benny's feelings for him were. How real they were. He wanted him happy but... at the same time he didn't want anyone taking Benny away from him.

"I definitely wouldn't."

"Raoul doesn't totally hate me now, does he?"

"No." Benny told him. "He might be a little afraid of you though."

"Sorry about that. Do you think you could re-introduce us? I'll apologize to him..."

"I think he'd like that."

"Okay." Ethan smiled. Benny had been trying to get him and Sarah together for a long time. Now it was his turn to return the favor.