Ben let the door slam closed then hurried towards the stairs “Ben honey” he heard his mother’s voice in the den, he closed his eyes then forced a smile “Err…yeah?” he replied “How’d it go today?” she had come to the door and was now looking worriedly up to where he stood “Err okay” he replied quietly “No problems?” he forced a smile “No…should there have been?” she shrugged her slender shoulders “I just thought…” he continued upstairs “Everything’s fine mom honest” he insisted as he closed his bedroom door then leaned against it. He didn’t like deserving her like this but there was just no way he could work in some shabby snack bar.
Almost as soon as he’d arrived home he
received a text message on his cell phone sighing he took it from the pocket of
his jeans and glanced at the screen, it was from Jen saying sorry “Yeah…not as
sorry as me babe” he muttered as he placed his phone onto the dresser then sank
dejectedly onto his bed. Every single
thing in his room marched and there was nothing out of place. Dolores certainly kept everything spick and
span.
His mother lightly tapped on his door
and waited until permitted to enter “It’s open” he told her she pushed it open
and walked slowly inside, she was looking tired “I have to go out…I have a few
meetings to sort out and I have to re-arrange those lectures I cancelled in
Europe…Dolores’ll fix dinner before she goes okay?” Ben nodded tiredly eating
alone was nothing new to him “Fine” he said unhappily as he watched her leave.
Next morning he left before breakfast,
he wanted to get to school early and as there was no way he intended taking the
bus he had to walk the few miles to school.
He wasn’t alone however, there just in front of him walked Christian
Ingebrigtsen Ben hadn’t really noticed him he knew he was in his classes but
had never spoken to him and didn’t intend to start now, exchanging pleasantries
with the school’s biggest weirdo wasn’t for him.
As soon as he reached the school
building he headed to the lunch room to have breakfast, feeling in the pockets
of his jeans for what little money he had left he approached the counter the
woman smiling at him, he hadn’t really noticed her before which made him feel
awful “Are you one of the discount kids?” she inquired with a friendly smile
Ben looked puzzled “Discount?” he inquired she nodded “Hey Mags…how’s tricks?”
asked Ingebrigtsen as he moved Ben out of the way “Fine Christian…the usual is
it?” he nodded as he handed over a few dollars then carried the breakfast tray
to a quiet corner of the room Ben quickly paid for his breakfast then carried
the tray to a vacant table where he sat watching Ingebrigtsen.
A few minutes later the room begun to
fill up with the so called discount kids “Ben?” he heard someone say his name,
he smiled up to where Hayley stood “I never expected to see you here” she added
before he could answer “No…I don’t suppose you would” he sounded irritated
Hayley smiled “Sorry I bothered you” she snapped Ben shot her a glance then
stood up catching hold of her hand “Sorry…please sit down” he indicated to the
seat opposite “Please ignore me…I’m never good in the mornings” he explained
with a sigh Hayley smiled back at him “Well since you don’t usually get here
until almost gone 8am I don’t suppose you would be” Ben looked impressed “You
know what time I get here at?” he teased “well it’s hard not to notice you Ben
Adams you stroll around as if you own the place” he grinned “Own a school? Get real” he sniggered as he caught
Ingebrigtsen hand one of the younger kids something. Hayley saw the strange look on his face then turned right round
on her seat “What’s wrong?” she asked “Nothing…I hope” she turned to have
another look “Did you see that?” asked Ben Hayley turned back to him “See
what?” she inquired “He just gave that kid something” Hayley’s eyes narrowed
“What?” Ben glanced at Christian once again he was now on his feet pushing some
money into the pocket of his faded blue jeans “Surely he isn’t dealing right
here in the lunch room?” Hayley hushed him with one look “Chris does as he
pleases…I mean you’ve seen him in class” Ben glanced at the guy once again
“Yeah come to think of it he is a little creepy” he decided as he stood up “I
gotta go catch you later Hayley” he told her hurriedly as he rushed off.
~***~
Tara stared wide eyed as Ben past her by
she couldn’t believe Hayley would get involved with the moronic imbecile “What
are you doing?” she chastised when Hayley approached “What do you mean…I’m
going to class” Tara caught her by the shoulder “Don’t avoid the issue Haylz…why
are you with Adams?” Hayley shrugged her off “Why not? I like Ben Tara” she defended Tara side
glanced Ben who was now with his cronies “He’s…he’s a…” Hayley spun round
“What?” she said hotly Tara took a few paces back “Wow you have got it bad” she
said worriedly, she knew Ben’s type they used girls like them they were just a
drop in the ocean “Tara do I tell you who you can and can’t talk to?” Tara
shook her head “No” she said downheartedly she was after all just trying to
save Hayley a broken heart.
A commotion at the other end of the
hallway had everyone scurrying to find out what was going on all except Tara
who was now rummaging inside her locker “Oh Goddamn it!” she shrieked as she
banged the side of it with her fist “Wow…go easy on it Hayes” she looked up to
find Christian leaning against the door “What’s up? Time of the month or something?” he asked she looked askance
“Wow! If looks could kill I’d be lying on the floor” he smiled Tara took out her
folders handing them to him “Make yourself useful” she spat as she banged
closed the door “Anything you say ma’am”
“Yeah
and don’t you forget it!”
“So
what’s eating you Hayes…who’s pissed on your apple tree?”
“Ben
Adams!”
Christian
stared across to where the male super model stood then back at Tara “Oh don’t
tell me you’ve joined the Ben Adams fan club?” he looked disgusted “Are you
trying to kill me? Don’t be
ridiculous…I should slap you right here in the hallway for that remark!”
Christian took a few paces away before turning back “Thou does protest too
much” he teased as he turned his back on her “Right enough already!” she
replied as she took a run at him jumping on his back and sending them both to
the floor just as Layton appeared “What is going on?” he yelled, his voice
echoing all around the hallway “Sorry Mr Layton…Chris tripped and I fell over
him” Tara lied her head off “Well watch where you are going in future Hayes”
she was firmly told.
~***~
Ben completely ignored Hayley when she’d
tried to speak to him at lunch time and had felt bad ever since “Wow you had a
lucky escape there buddy” said Ant as they sank onto the bleachers to watch the
game “Why what happened?” asked Jennifer
“Hayley
Parker tried to corner him earlier…I honestly thought the girl was gonna ask
you to the dance” sniggered Ant as they were joined by Duncan “Oh how
gross…you’d have to put a bag over her head” sniggered Jennifer “Hey don’t
worry buddy we’ll keep her away from you…wont we Dunc?” winked Ant as Hayley
approached “Ben?” she said in a low tone “What the hell do you want?” Ant
growled “Please I’m talking to Ben” Ben felt every one stare in his direction
“Well he doesn’t want to talk to you dork…clear off…you’re contaminating the
ground” Jennifer hissed “Ben” Hayley said somewhat undeterred Ben turned his
back on her cringing as she just stood there “Ben why are you being like this?”
she finally managed to say “Being like what?
Ben what’s she talking about?” asked Ant looking from one to the other
“I haven’t the faintest idea” he lied “Look it’s like this honey…you belong
over there with the rest of the dorks and geeks!” Hayley drew in a deep breath
determined not to let them see her tears “We” Jennifer pointed to her friends
“Belong here with the rest of us cool kids” they laughed then high fived each
other “Run along geek” said Jennifer in her usual condescending way.
Hayley still stood staring at them tears
slowly rolling down her cheeks as she stared at Ben who looked down at her
“Come on Haylz” she heard a caring voice beside her “Come on…he ain’t worth it”
J-J said as she placed an arm around her shoulder and slowly led her away.
Ben forced a smile as he witnessed his
so called friends congratulate themselves they really had humiliated her and he
hated himself for not standing up to them “What’s up buddy…we showed her…she
wont bother you again” Ant stated proudly “Bother me again” thought Ben
solemnly that was just it he actually liked Hayley now through his cowardice
she was bound to hate him.
~***~
Hayley
wiped her eyes then looked into the bathroom mirror, she was surrounded by her
true friends “I don’t understand…he was so nice Lou” she sobbed Louise hugged
her close “Forget him…he’s a jerk” said Tara tact not being her strong point
“Taz you’re not helping” sang J-J Tara threw her arms defeatedly into the air
“Sorry I just say what I think you know that” she defended herself the others
nodded, usually Tara’s straight forward manner worked but not where matters of
the heart were concerned.
“She’s
right Jodie…he is the biggest jerk ever to walk on this planet” said Louise
suppressing the urge to walk right up to him and slap his face but Hayley’s
pleading glances stopped her “He’s not a jerk…he just acts that way in front of
those morons” defended Hayley. Tara
drew in a deep breath then jumped up onto the sink unit and sat there staring
in astonished silence even with baggy clothes and a multi-coloured hat which
almost covered her eyes Tara Hayes still managed to look stylish “What? Oh Hayley pul-eese don’t delude yourself…he’s
worse one of all” she at last spoke, Hayley’s eyes flashed with anger “No he
isn’t…he can be really sweet…he was yesterday when I spoke with him in the
library” Tara smirked so that’s where he’d gone “Haylz…I dare you to prove me
wrong?” she challenged Hayley spun around rising to the bate “I will! And when I do you have to go right up to him
and kiss him right on the lips in front of the whole lunch room!” she
challenged Tara’s eyes narrowed “You’re kidding? Right?” Hayley smiled through her tears then shook her head
“Fine…you prove he ain’t a moronic ass-hole and I will kiss him right on the
lips in front of the entire lunch room” she accepted the challenge “But…”
Hayley’s raised her eyebrows “If you fail you gotta kiss…let me think yeah you
gotta kiss Chris right on the lips in front of everyone” Hayley frowned “What?”
she muttered “DEAL?” said Tara jumping down from the unit Hayley grinned “Deal”
she accepted the challenged with a shake of the hand.