November.

Chapter 22

I did my best to avoid Bennett but it wasn't working. I avoided him every English class. Talking to Cass whenever we had free time. He wouldn't interrupt. He was just reading this book the whole time. Not even looking up at me. It was easy then. The harder time ws when I was walking down the hallways alone. I walked into someone my head turned to yell something to Cass. My books slipped to the floor. And I ducked down ot get them. He crouched down too. His thin legs surprisingly supporting him even as he pressed down to the floor more. We both stood up. He handed me my notebooks as well as The Great Gatsby. "Sorry," He said smiling. "I wasn't paying attention."

"Neither was I." I said taking my books at they were extended out to me. I looked up at him. His eyes were so unreadable. Just looking at me smiling a little. I figured he was waiting for me to go. "I'll see you around." When I set my mind to it I can wlak pretty fast. I took off so fast. I felt those eyes on my the whoel time I went down the hallway.

And at work you can't just duck behind the flowered curtain when you have customers. While Becky and Sean are talking and being cute and smiley. I'll be getting an extra large coffee and handing it off to Becky who always put in eight sugars. And then a medium with both cream and sugar. Bennett waiting patiently or talking to Becky and Sean. And more often or less when Becky and Sean are in thier own conversation he'll come up to me and talk to me. And when someone does that you can't avoid it.

It's impossible.

And it helped my relationship with Dave. Staying as far away from Bennett as he or he universe would allow. We were just as we were. I forgot about out five-month and we were just normal. Sometimes at the cemetary he would go too fast but I'd stop him. He stopped gettign mad. More expecting it than getting quieter and slightly pissed off.

Everything was where it should be. Except for the occasional run-in with Bennett Williams.

But Becky and I were working on a Saturday. It was early and we were not really awake. I was getting coffee for some woman. Soccer-mom-esque. Becky leaned in and under her breathe: "Finally they're gone."

I handed the lady her coffee and she paid. I saw them it was only a quick glimpse. I saw neither of their faces. But they were walking across the parking lot in the little plaza we were in. His hand was around her waist. It was the guitarist with who I guess was Rainie Joseph. From far away she wasn't radiating with beauty but I was dissapointed I hadn't seen them in the shop. Because all we were hearing about lately from Coolen was the name Rainie and Paul. No last names. Just those two. And you jsut knew them or you didn't. Only those kids who keep a book in their faces sheilding themselves from the world with calculus and expository reading don't know who Rainie and Paul are.

But from where I sit at lunch, I can sometimes catch a glimpse of Bennett. He's always smiling and beaming almost. So happy. I can only think of one reaon: Christine. And it all made sense. Why he wasn't trying to talk to me. And why we were just faint acquaintences. My theory was proved true.


I was reading. Cass was dismissed by her mom for the dentist. The chair across from me slide open. I looked up and saw Bennett sitting down. His eye was better. There was only a little yellow left. But it had been all swallowed up. It's been a month. Early November had passed away. And he smiled a little at me. "So," He began. "I have to say I like you're shirt."

I looked down. And then back at him confused. Then I saw it. And I smiled. Embarrassed and nervous. He smiled too. We were wearing the same one. It was a Sunday Drive shirt I bought at a show. And his was identical. "Wow," I said laughing a little.

He was still smiling. "I've been listening to their first record a lot lately." He said. "Have you heard it on vinyl yet?"

I shook my head. "Still no."

He sighed. "I'll have to play it for you sometime." He said looking at me. He was still smiling. God he was so happy. "I can't believe you work at Carol's though. Are you working morning shifts yet?"

"Next week," I said. "Friday."

"Ah, Black Friday..."

"Yes," I said with a nod. I realized what I was doing. But my head was spinning and he kept smiling and there was something about how he was acting. This was all casual. I asked for it I guess.

We talked about The Great Gatsby and he pointed out this quote he loved and I had loved the same. And then I brought up how I liked his music and how good his try-out for the Variety show was. He shrugged getting serious finally. The smile slipping away. "My mom wanted me to try out. So I did. It's weird, I tohught I'd not make it."

"You were better than all those girls trying to sing." I said.

He leaned in smiling. "Rachel was awful." He said softly. "God, it killed music for me hearing her." I laughed looking down at my book. His voice went back to normal. "I don't know. It's just a little side thing. I play parties and stuff. A lot of Kerrington ones. Some Coolen now." He looked at me. "I'm actually playing one this Friday. Me and Sean are going to do it, he plays drums so it will be pretty cool I think. We've done it once before on our own but it's going to be pretty cool."

"That sounds cool." I said smiling. "I'd like to hear that."

"Are you busy then?" He asked. I felt trapped.

I swallowed. "Well, Dave's playing the club downtown. It hasn't been set in stone yet, but-" I swallowed again. He was lookign at me so differently. "I don't know."

"Well, if soemthing comes up, and if you guys are going to a party or something." He reached behind him. Taking a sheet of paper out of this kid's notebook. He fished a little pencil out of his pocket. It was a black colored pencil. He started writing. "It's not that small. Not exclusive at all. Anyone can come, it's on my MySpace and stuff and there's gonna a be a few kids coming so it's pretty open. If you guys are looking for a place to go... this is going to be pretty big-ish." He slide an address across to me. "It's a few streets away from us. I just don't know when I'm playing but if you text me I could text you the time."

I noticed a number written a lot neater than the address about. Much clearer. But his handwriting wasn't unreadable. It was just a little messy. But I could decipher it easily. "I'll try and make it." I knew I wouldn't be able to. But I was actually interested in going.

"I mean if you can't, no problem. But it's going to be pretty cool I think. I'm really excited." He was smiling again. I smiled back. And the bell rang.

We both got up. "Hey, so jsut text me if you can." He said as he got up. "See you around."

"I will, bye." And we walked apart. Like the way I had wanted to keep things.

I went out into the halls. Dave walking up to me. Kissing me. I was so happy. Everything was how I wanted it to be.

But it only takes a few seconds to get shot down.

I walked into homeroom. Still stuck in this dream that everything was perfect. My mind racing. I loved Dave so much and I was finally becoming sometihng. Not just Elisa. I saw Cass sitting staring at her desk. "Hi," I said. "What's up?"

She looked up at me. Not sad. Just prepared.

"Elisa, Dave's cheating on you."


A/N: Please tell me what you think. You don't need to crank out a big old paragraph about your likes an dislikes. Just please tell me what you tihnk. Reviews make me want to post more. And next chapter will be uber-intense and jsut amazing and I have been making notes of it even before I gave Elisa a name. It is basically pre-Rainie and Paul pre-Kerrington. And will hopefull kick ass. Review or else I'mm make you wait.