Where the stars meet

☆Benchmate☆

Benchmate (noun)

A person who shares a bench with another.

"They are both benchmates."

Zephyr Torrens, a short tempered boy with a heart of steel. If there was something he mastered, it would be getting into fights.

There was no surprise that he was popular among the girls. The words "I love you." didn't seem to faze him.

What surprises most people is how he has never had a girlfriend, was it his own pride running through his veins or was he already seeing someone else?

The answer remains unknown. Even today, as Zephyr sits in class, the bench beside him stays empty.

As far as school days go, it was a normal day in the month of March.

There was warmth to the wind, the kind that has been rising upon the spring tide.

Yet, now comes to a full vibrancy in the sun rays. The open windows rendered a soft and warming light as the door creaked open slowly.

Just as the teacher was announcing that there would be a new student, a boy slumped through the door.

He looked frail and quite awkward. "Ah, just in time. Class, this is Celeste Robinson. He will be your new classmate," the teacher looked around, trying to find an empty bench.

His eyes fell upon the one by Zephyr, "You can sit there." Celeste had taken a seat without uttering a single word.

He was too busy listening to the chattering and muttering from the other students, he was sure they were talking about him.

Time passed in the blink of an eye. Among the hoard of babbling teens, not a single sound could be heard from the third to last bench.

The silence was deafening. Awkwardness filled the two boys, but neither of them wanted to break it.

However, Zephyr wasn't easy with this. He never wanted a benchmate, but he knew that objecting would be pointless.

Class was over before it ever began.

The teacher made his way out of the classroom, and seconds later the chatters became a roar that filled the halls.

Zephyr got up and walked out, leaving Celeste to stare in confusion.

Someone from the class blurted out, "Don't worry about him, he just casually walks out sometimes."
Then another added "He's gotten in trouble a few times for that but he doesn't care."

Celeste had nothing to say, nothing to think, even. A problematic benchmate might be hectic in the future but who was he to complain.

Meanwhile somewhere around the corner Zephyr was standing face to face with a guy from the next class over, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Zephyr wasn't looking for a fight, but you can't expect people to just let go of a grudge, especially with Zephyr.

The guy threw a punch, knocking Zephyr off his feet.
The earth was moving under him and he couldn't catch his balance.

"Zephyr got in a fight again!" Someone exclaimed running down the corridor. Students were crowding around the fight.

The rest was a blur, punches and kicks, and the yells of hatred and anger.

You could almost see the rage filling their eyes and spilling out onto the ground.

If it wasn't for the girl who called the principal, they would've broken a bone or two.

On the other hand, Celeste was asked to visit the principal since he was new. It was afternoon by the time Celeste opened the door, which led to the principal's office.

He entered the packed up room, glancing around and he saw two cabinets lined up against a bright orange wall, facing a large bookshelf.

There was a wooden desk piled up with paper, and a big chair on one side, with two relatively smaller chairs on the other.

He sat down on one of the smaller chairs waiting for the principal to arrive. The clock ticked by slowly, every second getting longer. It was as boring as watching paint dry.

Time had its own flow, which cannot be controlled, so all Celeste could do was wait.

Celeste got a little dizzy, he watched the pictures dance around the room. He felt his eyelids growing heavier.

He tried his best to keep them open but he couldn't anymore.

Suddenly, Celeste was jerked back to reality by a loud bang on the door.

He looked around to find Zephyr, out of breath "I swear I didn't start-" before he could finish his sentence Zephyr's grey eyes met Celeste's brown ones.

He didn't bother finishing the sentence, instead he came Inside and took a seat beside the blonde boy.

"You're new right?" Zephyr asked. Celeste nodded to the question even though it was pretty clear.

"Then why are you here?" Zephyr added.

Celeste swallowed "Because the principal wanted me to know about the school and stuff." he replied in a shaky voice that sounded soft, like cotton.

"Good for you, at least you aren't in trouble for something you didn't even start." Zephyr huffed as he rolled his eyes, leaning back in the chair.

There was an awkward pause of silence again. Neither of them spoke. The atmosphere started to get uncomfortable and weird.

That was when they heard footsteps from behind. It was the principal.

finally.