Saving Herself

Ben Dover

 Dean saw Leonard approach. "Where were you," Dean asked.

"None of your business," Leonard said, playfully ruffling Dean's hair.

"Troy is still sick, huh?", Dean said, swatting Leonards hand away.

Leonard stopped ruffling.

"Yeah."

"Bout time he comes back, huh...", Ben said.

Ben was one of Dean's friend. Dean as well as Ben were both also interested in Troy, being another rival of both Leonard and Joe. Dean was outgoing, and yes, pretty adorable, if you think about it. He wanted to look like a smart person, a rational person, yet he was undoubtedly stricken by egoism and jealousy, if someone happened to do something better than he did. It was tough, being someone popular, I suppose. You have to maintain your reputation with all you have and bring down anyone who surpasses you. All this was hidden under a facade of cuteness, kindness. So? Now was the question if he really cherished a friend like Ben and Ivan.

Ben, after all, was pretty similar to him. Hiding under a self-proclaimed charm, manipulation was his forte. Lying and sugar coating had never been so easy, never so thrilling. Honeyed words uttered by a deep voice like his was his amusement. What an innocent boy, you'd think.

Leonard glanced around. His eyes fell on Aurelia. Aurelia was silently standing beside Ben, watching them. Deceived child, it pains me to think about you.

Little did she know about the loathsome nature of Ben. It took just a few kind words for someone as lonely as her to be hooked. Betrayal was looming right over her.

It was difficult to deduct what Leonard was thinking.

He got closer to Ben.

"Getting all the girls, hm?", Leonard asked Ben, his voice low.

Aurelia still said nothing.

As if she could do anything at all. Smile, Aurelia. Smile. Just endure this a little longer. Everything will be fine. After all, Ben is kind, right?

Ben scoffed and gave Leonard a laugh.

Was there anything Aurelia could do? Silence was going to save her.

Was Leonard mocking Ben? Was he mocking Aurelia? Was he trying to belittle Ben? 

Just a tiny act of sympathy, anything. Please, show it to her. Or was he just jealous?

Leonard grinned, turning to Dean.

Aurelia looked at Ben, waiting for just something reassuring from Ben.

But Ben never did anything. He turned away from Leonard, irritated, switching the topic to something else.

And Aurelia believed that she was selfish.

--

It was one of those days where your seats weren't assigned. But Ben was sitting at his usual place in silence, sketching. His drawing was sloppy. But it was something to get closer to Aurelia for.

"Yo, Ben.", Ivan sat down beside him.

Ben stirred, briefly glancing to the right, where Ivan sat down. "Yo."

The encounter with Leonard was haunting him.

"What're you drawing?", Ivan asked, leaning closer.

Ben could smell his cologne. He hesitated a little. Ivan turned to face him, wondering why he wasn't answering.

"Uhh... just some girl. I'm practising.", Ben answered.