I Choose You

CHAPTER 4

Surprise Encounters

Amber smiled from ear to ear after Allison revealed what happened with Benjamin. "What a beautiful story!" Amber said as they sat down. "Don't read too much into it," Allison warned.

"You're kidding, right? Allison, he really likes you. Of course, I am going to see this as more," Amber teased. "Why do I tell you things?" Allison scolded herself. "Samantha and Michael are going to be shocked when I tell them," Amber confessed. 

"Shock about what?" Michael asked as he sat to eat his lunch. Samantha approached the table and said, "What did I miss?" Amber went on to explain Allison and Benjamin's encounter with each other. Samantha and Amber screamed. And Michael said, "No way!" 

"She has one of the hottest guys in the school interested in her. That's awesome," Samantha squealed. "Has he asked you out? Did he give you his number?" Michael asked. "Okay, stop you guys. It was just an encounter. Nothing happened. We only talked so don't get carried away," Allison scolded them. 

"It will happen" Amber teased. "Thank you, my relationship therapist," Allison raised her hands up. Michael and Samantha laughed. Allison knew they had made up their mind already that something was going on.

After eating lunch, everybody separated into different classes. Allison headed to the science lab coming to face to face with Mariah Edwards and some of the cheerleaders. Mariah was mean and always making wisecracks about Alisson over the years. 

Allison ignored her, never responded, or showed emotion to encourage her into believing her words had an impact. However, deep down it impacted her self-esteem.

"Hey, Mother Theresa. Love your boring outfit today," Mariah teased prompting the girls along with her to laugh hysterically. Benjamin approached Allison leaving all eyes on the two of them. 

"Are you alright?" he asked softly angry at how insensitive Mariah was. Mariah looked on bewildered that Benjamin was talking to this reject. "Benjamin, how are you?" Mariah tried to get his attention and lure him over to her. 

Benjamin ignored her leaving Mariah embarrassed and feeling snubbed. Allison did not want Benjamin to come in like he was her knight in shining armor. She did not want to be treated as the girl in distress. 

"Leave me alone," she said to Benjamin walking away. Benjamin was surprised at her response and knew he had to do damage control. He cared too much for her to simply walk away.

Talking it out

"Amber, you are not going to approach Mariah," Allison instructed her after she revealed what happened. "I could do it," Samantha said angrily. They knew Mariah went out of her way to torment  Allison. "She comes into the video store. Just say the word and I will talk to her," Michael suggested.

"Look guys I am happy you all want to defend me but let me handle this the way I choose to. This is our last year in high school. Mariah will soon be ancient history," she reminded them. 

Amber, Samantha, and Michael looked at each other. They knew if they were around Mariah would have never approached Allison. They only held back because they respected her wishes.

"Okay, we support you," Amber said trying not to push the issue because Allison had come a long way. "Let's talk about the party you guys are all excited about and the upcoming dance," Allison said changing the subject. 

As her friends went on and on Allison started to feel bad about how she reacted to Benjamin. He caught her at a bad time and she did not want him ever to see her as pathetic or needy. She ate a few fries and looked up and saw Benjamin entering the restaurant. 

Like a radar, all her friends noticed Benjamin walking into the restaurant, "The Spot" with a few of his teammates from the basketball team. Of course, his eyes quickly met Allison and he smiled. "Hotness alert," Samantha announced. "Cute," Amber squealed. "What am I?" Michael demanded. 

Benjamin watched for a little while not wanting to intrude but they had to talk after today. One of his teammates shoved him slightly, "Earth to Benjamin. What's going on with you? When did you start to notice the PK kid?" Johnathan asked. "Her name is not PK kid. I can like who I want. It's a free world," Benjamin pointed out. "So you like her," Ethan stated. "You know she is considered one of the unpopular kids. She is not like one of the hot girls on the cheerleading team," Johnathan reminded. "I have never cared what people think of me and I never will. That girl has more class than some of those superficial girls you like. Give me someone real and authentic like Allison any day," Benjamin explained. 

Allison tried to avoid looking at his table because each time she saw his eyes focused on her. Finally, Benjamin got up because he could not take it anymore. He walked over to the table surprising  Allison.

He sat briefly leaving everyone dumbfounded. Allison came to the conclusion that this boy was crazy. Being around her was not good for his social status. "Hi guys," he greeted everyone with handshakes. "Everyone Benjamin," Allisson said. Her friends nodded prompting Allison to smile. She never saw them so quiet before. She could hear a pin drop.

"Can we talk later?" he asked not losing eye contact with her. Allison nodded as he wrote his number on a piece of paper. Her friends glued their eyes as the entire scene unfolded. When Benjamin left the table Amber, Samantha, and Michael looked at Allison. "What?! she said. "This is going to be epic," Samantha said. "Yes, Allison has officially changed the game. The quiet girls can get the guys too," Amber smiled. "This is going to change our social status," Michael pointed out. "Mariah must be fuming. She was trying to get Benjamin's attention for months but he was not interested. However, he is into the girl she bullies," Samantha cheered.

"This is the best payback," Amber pointed out. "You guys this is not about revenge. Benjamin and I are simply getting to know each other. There is no label on whatever this is," Allison admitted. Her friends looked at her wondering why she was being so naive about this.

"He likes you. This is going to be interesting," Michael informed her. Allison ignored her friends and looked back at Benjamin's table. Why does he like me? Allison thought. She did not understand his attraction towards her when he could have his pick of girls. She hated to admit it but something was happening between them.