Operation Aidlyn // A School Bus Graveyard story

Chap 1. Bens backstory

this takes place after they've found out about logan getting bullied, this is my concept of what would've happened if Ben DID wig out and they decided to skip the rest of the school day and chill in the
School bus Graveyard.

Also here are all the annotations for the continuation of this book <3

"talking"
"whispering"
(A/N = My notes)
"emphasis on a word"
*this will be used for when ben writes something down, speech marks will not be used but instead stars will*
(and then this with the brackets is their thoughts)

That's all for now but if i missed any then lmk!!

Ashlyn sat in the tire opposite the entrance of the bus whilst Aiden sat on the side of it, Tyler and Taylor sat down on the seats just beside Aiden,
and Ben lent against the wall next to Ash, Logan stood opposite him.

"Before i start, this stays inside the group, got it."
various nods and yes's were shared, Tyler rolled his eyes and got a quick stare from Taylor "fine yes whatever" Aiden paused and looked at Ben, who was happily bopping along to his music.
"okay, so it started in sixth grade, or seventh.. something like that. As you all know, Bens quite tall for his age and it's been like that since he was younger, so naturally everyone expected him to be some doofus troublemaker and tried not to upset him, however they were wrong. Ben loved one thing above all else, and it was singing. Now his appearance didn't exactly match his hobby, not that it really matters to anyone else but it did to this group of kids. One day they went up to him and asked him to join theyre group, in exchange, they'd teach him how to fight, and that it might be more 'his style.' They said they wanted to 'fix' him."

Aiden kept his normal smile on but his jaw was clearly clenched and he had balled his hands into fists. "Anyway, once he had refused they beat him, almost everyday." The rest of the group widened their eyes and shared small glances at Ben and Then back at Aiden, letting him continue.
"And everyday, the leader of their group, Shane. Would ask again, for Ben to join their group, and everyday, Ben said no. And then one day Shane decided that he wanted to.. change things up. He choked Ben-"

"what!?" Taylor looked erratic and took Tyler's arm, huddling closer to him before sharing a sad look with Logan and Ashlyn.
"Not with the intent to kill him of course, just enough to damage his voice box, because he knew how much Ben enjoyed singing. After that Ben was in the hospital for a few days and fell into depression, that then turned into anger,and once he was back in school he found the group and almost killed them. But he still didn't feel better, he didn't know what to do, so he kept fighting. He would start a quarrel with anyone who he felt was fit, he even picked up street fighting. At some point, a kid he fought had an older sibling affiliated with a gang, they found out where he lived and well.. they uh, they ended up having to move. His parents weren't sure what to do so they sent him to live with us, they thought that maybe Ben would find a new meaning in life, since we were always travelling and doing things but now we've settled here. So yeah.. that's kinda it"

Silence fell among the group, everyone unsure of what to say or do. Logan patted Ben on the shoulder and told him it was okay to take the headphones out.
"Wow uhm" Tyler started
"Thanks for sharing that with us Ben, it really means a lot, we're glad you can trust us enough with stuff like that" Ben glanced at Taylor with a faint smile and stuck a thumbs up at her. "And again," Aiden glared at everyone with heavy eyes and his usual smile "this conversation, goes NOWHERE" the group looked around at each other and quickly nodded at Aidens words, leaving no more time for him to give them death stares, including ash
"yeah Taylor's right it was brave of you to tell us that, thank you ben" Logan said before looking over at Aiden and noticing something weird behind him
"Woah, Ashlyn" Logan stared at her intently
"hm?"

Ben looked at her with widened eyes and quickly pulled out his phone, typing something in before showing her clear enough for everyone to see *behind you, you're shadow*
The whole group turned to look behind her and sure enough, her shadow was missing something, her braids. Aiden stood up and gently grabbed a braid, picking it up and slightly waving it around "Woahhh that's hella cool" he said as his smile grew bigger and more creepy looking. "That explains the picture Logan took in the sorrel weed house, the phantoms shadow was there but the phantom itself wasn't!" Taylor said excitedly, figuring a new piece of information out. "You're right, i still don't get how we saw it in our world though.." Tyler said with a slight frown. Aiden, with Ashlyn's braid still in his hand starting chuckling to himself "pff, glitch in the matrix" Ashlyn looked at him and almost slapped him then and there "yes haha very funny, now let go of my hair before i break your arm."
"awww you're no fun." he looked back at her shadow and did one last braid-wave before dropping it, tho his smile didn't alter, as it never does. He took his seat next to Ashlyn again.
"i've been thinking" Ash started "i could probably get my parents to teach us all some self defence"
"really!" Aidens eyes shot to her and he bared his teeth in a grin (weirdo) Ashlyn thought.
"Yeah, i spoke to them about it a bit ago but you'd all have to go home and ask your parents, then come over and we could start."
"ooooo i'm so down-" Taylor said before being cut off by Tyler "We'll ask our mom"
"I'll be allowed but i'll ask for Ben" Aiden chimed in
"i'll speak to my grandparents about it" Logan added
"alright, i'll see you guys later then"
"cya Ash" Aiden said with his giant grin, Ashlyn wacked him over the head and gave him a glare
"Ack!-"

Taylor chuckled and grabbed Tyler lugging him along as he smiled at aiden getting smacked "we'll see you soon Ashlyn!"
"Bye guys!" Logan said, Ben turned his phone around and showed it, saying *see you all in a bit!*
He dragged Aiden out behind him but before Aiden could lose sight of Ash, he waved and gave another shit eating grin.
(this should be fun)