I Always Drift Back To You

Chapter 2: Part 2

Ben walks into class, and pulls up the chair next to Devi, slumps down next to her, deciding he'll take the risk, whether she still seemed mad or not, he would sit next to her. The look he recieves tells him all too well that... she's clearly still mad... But he'll ahhh... he decides he'll stay. Because his done this with her before... they've worked things out when she's been this annoyed... so maybe he'll just scoot over a little, give her some room... make her alittle happier that his kept his distance too, somewhat,... but he'll stay. As the rest of the class settles in, he drums his fingers awkwardly on his side of the table, glimpsing over at Devi, watching her as she scribbles in her book, wondering if it were a good time to open his mouth and say anything. But as he finally decides and then attempts to, the teacher barges through the door and begins to start the lesson. So instead, he holds off, pulls out his book, as he watches her. She's ignoring him. Clearly. And she's not going to spare a second to glance over his way, he can tell. He believes it'll probably drive him crazy by the end of the day if she doesnt say anything or continues on ignoring him like this... so he wants to make the first move... he'll just wait for the teacher to turn back round to the board, so that he could finally lean in and talk to her. She hears the creak of his chair as he approaches, but she doesnt flinch.
"Are you still mad with me?" He whispers the obvious question, close to her ear. She only slightly turns to him then, eyes furrowed as she watches him.
"Ofcourse I'm still mad. Why wouldnt I be?" She hisses back as quietly as she can.
He glances at her, confused, eyes trying to read her. As much as Ben wishes she would have started to be getting over this whole thing by now... he knew that were wishful thinking, knowing how stubborn they both could be. But he desparately just wants things to go back to normal... as soon as it could too. And he has an undeniable craving to take her hand and say sorry... but... He also knows that thats just not how things usually have worked between them. Devi usually fumes for a couple of days (depending on how bad their argument had been)... he'd wait patiently for that to dissipate... then eventually they would both find some common ground... or rather, common ground meaning, forget what they had been originally arguing about in the first place, or realise that they could both get past it without the need to mend things properly. Yeah... mending things between them.... that were something difficult on its own. Maybe their stubbornness had something to do with it... or alot to do with it... usually getting in the way of reasonably working things out. I mean, why would Ben or Devi ever want to admit either one were wrong? They would both eventually come to some realisation that they could ignore the real issue and continue on as though nothing had happened. To some extent. It were much easier that way.... not that it were healthy. Her face softens for a short while as her eyes meet his again.
"And I'm getting a job. With El." She whispers back, some irritation still in her tone. She's obviously still annoyed with him... but also... she cant deny, that the thought that El had offered to help find her a position at her own work... the fact that Ben couldnt stop her either... She were trying really hard to suppress an actual smile. Because inside, she were thrilled... no... she were estatic at the thought that she could be working along side her own friend... even better than working at that resturant she had originally planned on working in before their argument... and if she were to be getting the position at El's job, as El had promised she could make happen, she believes her day couldn't possibly get any better. Or... could she be wrong?...Ben clears his throat, throwing out whatever stubborn uncomfortable feeling were trying to pit in his stomach. He were mostly worried he'd say the wrong thing. But his thoughts still revolved around the fact she were still trying to seek work at this time... when he were adamant that they should both be more focused on things that would get them into college.
"Fine. That's cool."
He reminds himself that... at least she's talking to him again.
"And don't you try to call her too, Ben." She warns, eyes firm and narrowed on him. He freezes, eyes watching her, suprised. He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"I wasnt going to." He replies, somewhat defensively.
She can't help but watch him suspiciously, because can she really trust that he wont try something else? Really? He always wants to win as much as she does. Her eyes slowly draw back to the front of the class.
"But." He utters softly as he comes back up. And her eyes widen sharply on this one word. She can only slowly turn to him with a dangerous glare, wanting to roll her eyes so hard it could get stuck at the back of her head. What could he have to possibly say? She seriously seriously wonders. Ben just fiddles with his pen, trying to ignore how she stares at him. "We... we ahhh... we could make a deal?" He gulps, not sure if his started the right thing... "That if you were to... work and you start to slip behind... you could... maybe let me offer some help-"
"Ben, maybe I don't need your help." She cuts in, alot less abrasive than he had thought she would, and she turns back to her book.
"But I can be here if you need help getting into Harvard-"
"Ben, your crazy. No. No deal." She hisses, trying to keep her voice down, not to draw attention from the teacher.
"Wait. You need to let me finish, ok?"
She turns to him with disbelief, mouth gaping. Why doesn't he just let this go already? She simmers in her mind. But she doesn't reply, so his assuming she will somewhat hear him out?
"If your doing fine... maybe I'll..." he clears his throat..."I want to do something nice for you..." As he pauses, she watches him with a curious frown, wondering what he were up too... what he wanted? Where was he going with this? He nervously darts his eyes about until they meet hers again. Because his unsure how she will take it? "Maybe I wanted to pay for you to have your own... ahhh... car?" He furrows his brows, curiously, as he waits on her reaction... And she glances at him confused... Devi's mind freezes... she's stumped ...she doesn't know what to think... did she just hear him right?
"Hmmm?" She hums, confused, as though she hadn't heard him... or maybe she had but she were just to damn speechless... Ben shrugs, scratching his head nervously.
"Yeah umm... if your going well... you still need to apply for Harvard, that is, and we both get the chance to still go together. And I'll promise to buy you a decent first car for showing me that I were very much wrong." He smirks at her shyly at the last part, knowing already how much she'd like the idea of proving him wrong. "And also... that way you can also travel safely too, while your in college."
Devi smirks, watching as his smile begins to grow smug, as though he were waiting for some form of 'Boyfriend of the year Award.' But also revolving around in her thoughts were... if this were some form of bribery?... were he using this as a way of getting her to go to his choice of college? But the idea of owning her own car... now that was way outweighing her ability to think properly too. Then it hits her suddenly that she could possibly win this! And Ben... he would have to learn that he shouldnt gamble so big, she thinks as she grins to herself.
"So you would buy me a car?" She squeals the last part a little louder than intended, sqeezing her hands tightly together and bobbing herself up and down on her seat with excitement. From the way she looks at him right now, anyone watching would have thought he had proposed marriage, drawing Trent's attention who sits behind Ben. Trent drops his hand on Ben's shoulder, startling Ben to turning around.
"Oh, Gross, tell me you didnt knocked up your girlfriend, did you dude?"
Ben confusedly glares at him, shaking his head. "Dude, you proposing to your girlfriend like this in the middle of class... your getting all grown up on us... and mature and stuff..."
"No Trent. No I did not..." He irritatedly replies very confused, and slowly turns back to Devi. Trent shrugs, and tilts his head confused as he drops back in his chair, watching them. And Devi, whose entire focus was on what Ben had said earlier, had been too distracted to hear Trent. Her eyes sparkling, bright and wide and gleeful at Ben. He knows she's in for the deal... he cant help but grin.
"This is crazy, but I have to say... I'm all in." She says trying hard to still keep her voice down, as she grins wide from ear to ear at him. He bites down on his lip as he admires her... the way she's so happy as she goes back to her book. When her smile comes back up to meet him, she glows so differently... she's so happy, he wants to pull her in and kiss her. He knows his making a big gamble, but, for Devi, he wants to see her this happy everyday. Her eyes trace over his face... noticing the way he looks at her, and even though there is still slight annoyance lingering from what he had done the previous day, her heart races and beats heavy for the way he so gently looks at her right now. So she slides her hand over his, interlocking her fingers with his, pull his hands closer to her. A smile plucks at the corner of his mouth as he pulls her hand up to gently kiss it. He holds her hand to his lips.
"You do realise you haven't won yet?" He whispers into her hand just enough for her to hear. She smirks back.
"Maybe not. But..." her smirk grows even bigger. "I know I will."
And, besides, she thinks to herself... I already have.... he never mention she had to accept that Harvard offer.