Never Have I Ever Season 3: an alternative theory

Chapter 1 Part 3

“So?” Aneesa questions with a hint of mischief in her eyes, a glint that he knew she wanted to press him on, and Ben knew all too well that she would.
She waits for Ben’s reply to her question as they sit at a table under a tree eating their lunch together, the weather a little crisp and the breeze playing with her hair.
Ben turns to her, watching how eager she had seemed for his reply, but it still didn’t move him… it wasn’t going to change his mind.
“No.” He replies casually, turning back to his sandwich, then turns his gaze back to her and watches as her expression suddenly morphs to disappointment. But it didn’t mean she wasn’t going to continue to persist, to press him on, and Ben could clearly see that determination in her eyes.
“Ben. Come on.” She drawls, and he shakes his head as she is saying this, only wishing she would give up. “It's Trent's party. Everyone tells me how good they are. I want us to go. Together. Come on.”
“And I told you… I have too much on.” He replies, knowing too well that that wasn't going to die down her ambition… her determination to get him to change his mind. He also knows that that wasnt the only reason why he didnt want to go to Trent's party… he knew he'd have to confront the fact Devi and Paxton would be there too… at this party… as a couple… and that would be… too hard for him. Why would he want to be there? To see as the two get closer and closer… whilst Ben would have to take a seat back and watch on… whilst his heart crumples and breaks into millions of pieces knowing Devi would never look at him when she had Paxton to hold her, and keep her in his arms…
“But they will have booze there and there will be awesome music, and everyone else is going-”
“Are you guys talking about Trent's party tomorrow night?” They hear as Eleanor approaches and takes a seat right opposite the two. Aneesa's eyes dart around for Devi and Fabiola.
“Yeah we are- where's Devi and Fab?”
“Fab is in robotics and Devi is… she's at the hot pocket with Paxton. Personally, I think those two are almost inseparable, but I think Devi is a bit more clinging to Paxton than I thought… it's like she's love smitten or something… or scared to loose him? I don’t know which… but if she thinks she's going to loose him I dont know where she got that idea from. They just started dating.”
Scared to loose him… those words repeat in Ben's mind… because he knew all to well where that idea may have come from.. maybe it had alot to do with what Ben had said to her at the Winter Dance… that Paxton would surely change his mind about her with time.
But, god, his heart wants to sink at the thought that maybe Eleanor could be right and Devi were… in actual fact love smitten… with Paxton…
She had got what she wanted… or rather, who she wanted… hadnt she? Although Eleanor had told him otherwise… “It wasn't always him”… what she said echoes on in his mind…
He scoffs suddenly, trying to draw himself out of his running thoughts. His gaze turns to Eleanor, thoughts of how she and Fabiola had convinced Devi to change Devi's mind about Ben and choose Paxton over him, revolving on his mind.
He sighs glumly.
“Well, she abandoned you to the very same guy you chose... Isnt that funny?” Ben smirks then he takes a bite of his sandwich, feeling a burn in his stomach that seemed to desparately want to have a go at Eleanor after she had admitted to Ben what she had. He was trying to let that go but it just kept coming back at him...
His eyes widen sensing the stare Aneesa gives him now… one that was speculating… one that seemed to want to burn into him with inquiry.
“But not that I care.” He squeals out almost immediately, rolling his eyes deliberately, rubbing a hand over his knee nervously, trying to put off her suspicion as she continues to watch him on.
Aneesa purses her lips suddenly and quickly turns to Eleanor, feeling a surge of jealously rolling within her, but trying it push it aside.
“El. Are you going to Trent's party tomorrow night?” She quickly puts out, not giving El a chance to reply before she quickly jumps back in again. "Since Ben wants to be a sour dork and not go, would you like to be my date?”
Ben cringes hearing this. El's eyes widen in excitement.
“But I-” he tries before his interrupted.
“Yes!” El exclaims, leaning over toward Aneesa, ignoring him and clapping her hands excitedly, making Ben feel left out. "How about we meet at my house- I can do our make up and we can choose each others dresses! Trust me, I have so much to choose from. My wardrobe is big.”
Aneesa watches her back excitedly too.
They continue to exchange plans and converse with each other, whilst Ben sits back feeling left out, watching on, firstly feeling worried that he had made Aneesa upset, but soon turns to boredom as the conversation lingers and begins to drag on and he begins to find himself feeling like a third wheel during the rest of their break… his eyes drift away… slowly looking away when they suddenly catch sight of Devi… further across from the hot pocket… she looked kind of lonely standing on her own. She stands there playing with the strap of her bag swung over her shoulder… her gaze flickers away from the hot pocket… almost landing on Ben. Instictively, Ben quickly diverts his eyes away, not wanting to be caught having caught sight of her, but he slowly finds himself bringing his gaze back to meet her, the curiousity burning inside him to know what she were doing.
The bell goes.
Aneesa begins to stand as she continues on chatting to Eleanor, lost in their conversation, and begins to gather her things. Ben follows Aneesa and stands to his feet also, when he notices as Paxton begins to approach Devi from the other side of the hot pocket. His on his own, and he wraps his arm around Devi as he catches up to her, gaining a light smile from her as they begin to head over for their next class.
Ben awkwardly watches on, dropping his bottle of water having missed his bag whilst being distracted with sight of the two. It spills on the floor where they stand and Aneesa bends to pick it for him. But as she comes up, she sees as Ben’s eyes remain glued to Devi's direction and it makes her heart want to race with the need to know why.
“So is that the real reason why you don’t want to go to Trent's party? Because they will be there?”
Ben's eyes dart to hers and widen, alert to her tone.
“W-what? No. I dont care if they’ll be there. I told you… I have a couple of tests… a-and assignments this week.” He lies straight through his teeth, but he still couldn’t hide his tone laced with the guilt and nervousness his trying to conceal.
Aneesa folds her arms in front of her, a glare on her face that said she wanted a real answer. But she was not going to waste her time… she wasn’t going to wait on for a real answer, so she snatches her bag off the table and storms off, not waiting for Eleanor either.
“I'll text you later El.” She yells as she waves, not looking back.
Ben begins to release a sigh… a heavy sigh, made up of all the guilt he felt, when he turns to find El staring at him with an amused annoying smile on her face, he groans to himself in his thoughts.
She scoffs with disbelief.
“Oh boy. Your in trouble.” She says with a crooked taunting smile. “You still love Devi.”
His face drops at what she says… he hadnt expected her to say that… nor had he expected Eleanor to think he was in ‘love’... ‘Love'? Thats a bit of a strong word… was Ben in ‘love’ with Devi?… he knew he couldn’t stop thinking about her… he knew she made him feel different… he knew she could drive him crazy with thoughts… but how dare Eleanor suggest that, how dare she point something out like that… something she knew nothing or little about, how dare she over step her boundary… like she knew him more than he did himself… at one point Devi was all his heart pounded terribly for… but she crumpled it and left it broken… leaving him feeling raw… and now his heart only beats painfully… it aches as it beats…
He wants to tell her she has no right presuming how he feels! But he also doesn’t want to waste his breath or time.
“This isn't a Shakespeare play, El, so dont need to make it so dramatic.” He says, grabbing his things, and begins to make his way to his next class.
And he pushes all thoughts out of what Eleanor had said, ignoring all thoughts before it begins to want to consume him… take him over… he needs to move on… he needs to move on! And thoughts of if he loved her or not was not going to help… because maybe he already knew the answer to the question… and there was no way he could deny it… but he had to… to anyone, but especially himself.
So… no… he did not love her, he repeats these thoughts in his head… until he can feel like himself again… what Eleanor had said was not going to weaken him… was not going to destroy him like he had felt destroyed after Devi had broken him to pieces…when she had chased Paxton and left him torn behind.

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Guys! I hope I didn't rush this part too much, and hope is ok. Anyways next part hope to have much later this week or beginning next week! Hope you have all been well ♡
Anyways hope you guys enjoy! My story will develop more and hopefully I can get the whole story line out properly. Xxxx all