Ben glanced at his mother that warm
Saturday morning “What?” he muttered “I said don’t you have something for me
sweetie?” he pouted then slowly shook his head “Err…no” she held out her hand
“Your pay-cheque” recognition flashed in his eyes “Oh that?” he laughed
nervously “Well I haven’t actually been paid yet” he lied. Boy was he getting good at this lying
business. His mother looked confused
“What? But I thought you got paid at
the end of the week” he shook his head “No end of the month mom” he lied again
as he rushed upstairs to dump his things.
Minutes later he emerged wearing jeans and T-shirt “I’m going to the mall” he told his mother happily “Okay hon” she replied as she hurried to the kitchen “Shall I keep dinner?” she asked he shook his head “I’ll probably eat later” he told her as he closed the door.
The sun shone as he drove to Ant’s house
“You got your wheels back” cried Ant as he jumped into the front passenger
seat, Ben nodded his parents may be able to stop him driving to school but they
couldn’t stop him using his car on the weekends “So where d’you wanna go?” Ant
shrugged “Let’s go pick up Dunc and Jen…hey did you know they’re an item now?”
Ben shook his head then turned right and continued down the street to Duncan’s
home, a row of modern homes with beautifully kept lawns and tree lined side
walks met him “You okay with that?” asked Ant
Ben
glanced at him “With what?” Ant stared at him “Them being an item” Ben smiled
“Sure…what made you think it wouldn’t be?” Ant shrugged “Well with you guys being
an item once?” Ben smiled “Jen and I were never an item” he admitted as Duncan
and Jennifer appeared “Hey” they both greeted as they climbed into Ben’s car.
Ben drove into town and into the parking
lot they intended going to Lori’s for lunch then decide what to do from then
on, the diner was crowded with kids from all over town and it was difficult to
get a table “Come on…let’s go some place else huh?” Ben said as he eyed the
familiar figure behind the high rise counter “No…we’re here now may as well
stay” Ant retorted as he glanced around “But there aren’t any tables Costa?”
Jennifer stated the obvious “No!” he said as he saddled up to the group of
younger kids adorning the corner “You kids just leaving right?” he told them
“Err…we are?” Ben glanced at the tiny dark haired boy with the bright red
stripe right in the middle parting “Sure you are” Ant retorted menacingly “No I
ain’t finished my drink” Ant lifted the strawberry milk shake and proceeded to
empty the contents over the boys head “Why you” he said as he got up from the
seat “Come on Matt just leave it” Ben noticed the familiar figure of James
Bourne edge his way past them “Hayes table needs cleaning!” said Ant with a
snap of the fingers “You sure you want it cleaned Costa…I mean pigs like dirt
don’t they?” Tara called from behind the counter “I’ll get it” Hayley offered
“Haylz you don’t have to” warned Tara
“It’s
okay…I gotta face him sometime…may as well be now”
“If
you’re sure”
“
Yeah I’m sure…besides I really wanna see you kiss him?”
“Yuk!!!”
Ben stiffened as Hayley approached the
table with cloth in hand “Well Hayley you still like Ben?” laughed Jennifer
“I
think she still likes him” Ant muttered “I reckon if you talk real nice to Ben
here he’ll take you outside and give you one”
“Shut
up” Ben jumped in
“She
likes you Adams…why I bet she has dreams about you?”
Ben
eyed Ant then Hayley wanting to say something but too afraid to speak “Do
you? Oh I bet she does? I bet she goes
to bed and dreams of him every night?” Jennifer ridiculed Hayley blushed side
glanced Ben then walked away.
~***~
“Jerks” mouthed Tara as she placed two
strawberry milkshakes onto the counter “Are you Tara?” she heard the tiny dark
haired Matthew Jay inquire she looked down at him “I might be” he grinned “Your
brother said I should talk to you about working in here on the weekend” Tara
rolled her eyes she really wished Darren would inform her about such matters
“He did?” the younger boy nodded wearily “Did he say there was a job going?” he
nodded again “Well when can you start?” he looked around then smiled “Right
away if you want?” she glanced at the tables “Fine go for your life” he let out
a deep sigh as he hurried round to the back kitchen where Hayley was standing
wiping her tears away “Are you okay?” he said worriedly she nodded then forced
a smile “How come you’re round here?” he grinned “Taz has just given me a job”
he explained joyfully.
~***~
Ben dropped Ant and the rest of his
buddies at Jen’s before driving home to change. Jennifer had decided to call a few friends and invite them round
“Benjamin!” he heard his mother call from the den he took a deep breath then
opened the door “Yeah?” he said quietly “We need to talk” it was serious
“Yeah?” he said again “Is there anything you’d like to tell me?” Ben stared at
her, she knew he hadn’t gone to Lori’s it was written all over her face and
besides she’d just called him Benjamin ‘his you’re in trouble name’ he followed
her gaze to where Jeremy stood “Like what?” he played it cool “The fact that
you worked the whole week and never got paid” said Jeremy coolly Ben rolled his
eyes “I’ve already told mom we get paid at the end of the month” he lied Jeremy
didn’t buy any of it “Bull! You didn’t
get paid because you weren’t there were you?” Anita turned round on the
armchair “Jeremy please let me handle this” Ben frowned “Is that true
hon…didn’t you go?” Jeremy smirked “No!
No I didn’t go” he spat “It’s degrading I wont be seen dead working
there!”
“No
you will be seen alive working there…Benjamin this is not negotiable I expect
you to take responsibility for your actions…you ran up the debt I expect you to
pay it off yourself…now I have spoken to Mr Hayes and he has agreed to give you
one last chance so I suggest you get your little butt down to that diner after
school on Monday?” Ben pouted angrily then nodded in answer to Jeremy’s order
“Whatever you say” he muttered but intended on going down fighting.