Chapter 4: Drifting Away

Disclaimer: I Don't Own Ben 10 Or Any Of The Characters. I Don't Own The Rights To Nathan Black Or Any Associated Characters, The Rights Go To annihalator2015

Disclaimer: This Series/Story Has Nothing To Do With The Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Cartoon Series. Any Similarities That May Pop Up Aren't Intentional

Author's Note:

* Hello and welcome to Chapter Four!

* Nothing to say here, so let's get right into the chapter!

Earth-6101

Wednesday – Late August, 2017

The Suburbs

Ben

Nathan and I walked side by side to school like usual.

"So, how's it going with Gwendolyn?" he asked.

I sighed.

"Not great." I said.

"Why? Did she say something that you didn't like?"

I shook my head.

"No, it's not that." I said. "It's just that it doesn't feel right for me to be talking to her."

"What do you mean?"

"Nathan, we're from two different cliques. We shouldn't be seen hanging out together."

"Oh, come on! You're still going on about that?"

"And that's that even the whole thing."

"Okay, what's the rest of it?"

"I think I'm just going to cut myself off from her. She's out of my league, I don't deserve a girl like her."

Nathan just stared at me.

"You don't actually believe that, do you?"

I said nothing.

"Now hold on. Do you like her?"

"What does it matter if I do? She shouldn't be seen with me. I don't want to tarnish her reputation."

"You don't know that you'll do that! Give her a chance!"

I walked ahead.

"Stop trying to convince me. I know what I'm doing."

Nathan was in silence for a few seconds.

"If you say so." He said at last, as he walked to catch up with me.

We walked the rest of the way to school in silence.

Three Hours Later

Madison High School

I let out a sigh as I walked out of Physical Science. I was ready to just get to my next class, when I heard someone call my name.

"Hey, Ben! Wait up!"

I turned around to see Gwendolyn jogging up to me.

Oh, great. Not her. I really don't want to have this conversation right now.

I fully turned around to look at her.

"Gwendolyn, I need to tell you something." I said before she could open her mouth.

"Well, can I tell you something first?"

I shook my head.

"No, it's really important."

She gave me a confused look.

"Um, well, okay."

I sighed.

"Look, I want you to hear what I'm about to say."

"Okay…"

"You are a popular girl and I am a nerd."

"Yeah, we went over this yesterday."

"Yes, we did. But that's not the point. The point is, that we're from two entirely different cliques. The nerd doesn't talk with the popular girl and the popular girl isn't friends with the nerd. It just never happens."

"Um, what exactly are you saying, Ben?"

"You shouldn't talk to me and we shouldn't be friends. You'd be judged if we were seen together. For your own sake, stay away from me. I don't want you being seen with me to tarnish your reputation."

Gwendolyn just stared at me with surprise and sadness.

"Ben…"

I turned my head, looking away from her.

"I'm sorry."

I walked past her before she could say anything else.

A Couple Hours Later

Madison High School Cafeteria

"And so, you just left her there?" Nathan asked me.

I nodded as I looked down at the table. He was silent for a second or two, before letting out a sigh.

"I've half a mind to slap you upside the head, Ben." he said. "What's wrong with you?"

I looked up at him.

"What?" I asked.

"Seriously."

"I don't understand."

"Why did you tell her that?"

"Because I had to! I didn't want her to be frowned upon for hanging out with me."

"But why is that your choice? You didn't have to do that! And what makes you think that that's going to happen?"

I didn't answer.

"Seriously, Ben."

"It wasn't my choice, but I don't want her life to be ruined because she's being ridiculed about choosing to hang out with me."

Nathan just looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

He said nothing.

"Hang out with me." I repeated. "A nerd."

He continued to say nothing.

"What is it?"

"Um, you may want to look behind you."

I did as he told me and was surprised to see Gwendolyn standing behind me.

"Gwendolyn?"

"Hi, Ben." she said.

"Um, what are you doing here? I told you that you shouldn't be seen talking with me!"

She just chuckled.

"Ben, before you walked away earlier today, I was going to try to tell you that I don't care if people look down to me for hanging out with you."

"Um, what?" I asked.

She just smirked.

"I wouldn't see it as a burden to hang out with you, Ben. I don't know why, but I like you."

I just stared back at her. I was speechless.

"Now, it's your turn." Nathan said.

Gwendolyn and I both turned to look at him.

"What?" we asked in unison.

Once we realized we spoke at the same time, we both looked back at each other. She gave me a small smile, while I could feel my face heating up a little bit.

"You can apologize now." Nathan said.

I turned back to look at him.

"What?" I asked.

"It's your turn. I think you owe her an apology."

"But she didn't apologize! She has nothing to apologize about!"

"It doesn't matter, you should apologize!"

"But, I… But, I…" I spoke as I turned my head to look at her.

"You don't have to apologize, Ben." she interrupted me. "I kind of understand why you did what you did."

"Oh, um, okay." I said.

Gwendolyn pulled out a chair and sat down.

"So, do you want to introduce me to your friend?" she asked.

I just stared at her.

"Um, don't you know where you're sitting? You're sitting with a nerd and a fighter."

"I thought we've been over this?"

I put my hands up in surrender. She turned back to look at Nathan.

"So, who's your friend?" she repeated her question.

I turned to look at Nathan as well.

"Nathan, this is Gwendolyn Anderson. Gwendolyn, this is Nathan Black. He's my only friend. Well, besides you now, I suppose."

"I know her name, dude." He said. "You don't have to introduce me."

"You know my name?"

Nathan nodded.

"Yeah, Gwendolyn. I don't know if you've noticed, but your pretty popular around here."

I turned my head to look at her.

"Yeah! We even knew who you were last year, when we were still in middle school!"

She just stared back at me with an uncomfortable gaze.

"Oh, okay. That's not creepy at all." She said.

My smile melted from my face as I stared back at her. Eventually, she smiled and threw up her hands.

"I'm just kidding!" she said as she closed her eyes with a smile on her face.

For some reason, I felt my face begin to heat up again. Part of me thought that this was going to work out. That Nathan wouldn't be my only friend from now on. Well, I got my hopes up just a bit too much. We were interrupted. Kevin came from out of nowhere and grabbed Gwendolyn by the arm.

"There you are, Doll!" he exclaimed. "I've been looking all over for you! What are you doing hanging out with these boy scouts?"

Before she could respond, Nathan spoke up.

"Kindly go fuck yourself, Kevin." He said in a flat, emotionless tone.

Gwendolyn looked up at Kevin.

"I was…"

Kevin interrupted her.

"Forget I asked." He said as he pulled her up out of the chair. "Come on, you belong with us."

For once, I spoke up. I stood up.

"Gwendolyn! You don't have to listen to this guy!"

They both looked back at me. Before Kevin could even say anything, she shot me a sad smile before she spoke.

"It's okay, Ben. I have to. I'll see you later!"

Kevin kept pulling her away. I could have sworn I heard Kevin say something else, but I couldn't tell what he said. Once they were gone, I turned to look at Nathan with an angry look on my face.

"What?" he asked.

"Why didn't you stand up for her?!" I said as I stood up. "Why didn't you tell her that she didn't have to go?!"

He put up his hands.

"Ben, you need to calm down. That's not my job. I stand up for you, because we both know that you need it. I don't need to stand up for her. She seems to be fully capable."

I just stared at him.

"I just don't understand why!"

"Ben, calm down. She could have walked away if she wanted to. She didn't."

"You're an ass!" I exclaimed as I pushed my chair in.

"Ben! Just take a second and…"

Nathan was speaking, but I didn't give him time to finish as I walked away from him and out of the cafeteria.

Author's Note:

* And that's it for the chapter! I hope you guys enjoyed!

* Was it fair for Ben to assume that Gwendolyn would be ridiculed for hanging out with him? Is it cool of her to disregard what he said? Why do you think Kevin dragged her away? Should Nathan have spoken up?

* Well, once again, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I'm going to go though, so have a Bwen-tastic day and bye!

Review Responses

Lightning-pays (Chapter 3): great to see another amazing chapter cant wait for the next one

Thanks, Lightning. I'm glad you think it was awesome and I hope that I'm doing you proud. Thanks for the review, as always.

Next Chapter: Ben receives surprising news from Gwendolyn. Ben considers upgrading to a better PC for school. Ben and Nathan are in a tight spot.