All My Heart

Benedict

Interlude (2)

Dang, it! Ben thought, angry at himself. I should have done it while I had the chance! Why did I do that?! I slapped myself in the face. The perfect opportunity to express myself and I ruined it, Just like Becky. One little space between consciousness and she’s outta there, faster than you could say “wait.”
Not knowing that Lynn was doing the same, he stayed up until he couldn’t. Until he had no choice but to give in to sleep.

***

The next morning was tense. We got up and went to the cafe to eat breakfast and, nervously, shifting away from everyone, I ate my eggs and toast. Quinn and Bonnie, who had been introduced to me earlier, seemed to realize the tension and said something about it.
“What happened?” Quinn asked, who seemed to have some sort of red mark on his cheek, kind of like make-up.
“I could ask the same question for you,” Lynn remarked, motioning to the red mark on his face. He had been paired up with some random girl named Allia Martin who always, always, wore some sort of make-up.
Quinn’s expression hardened as he went back to minding his own business and wiping the suspicious evidence off of his cheek. He also rubbed a red mark that had been on the other side of his face, another suspicious smear evident on his face.
Then the bell rang. Well, we have to go to our homeroom. I thought.
“Ben?” Lynn asked.
“Yes?”
“Can you show me the way to our classes? I don’t quite remember where I should go…”
“Yeah, sure I’ll take you. And your friend Quinn?”
“I’ll be fine,” Quinn said gruffly. “I’m not the one who forgets things.” Then he looked at Lynn like she was some sort of criminal.
How dare he look at Lynn like she did something wrong! But then again, I had no idea who she was until a few days ago.
“Okay then. Well…I guess we should go now.” Alone.
“Wait, I'll come!” Bonnie says urgently.
You’ve got to be kidding me! Well, this is going to be a long day. I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes.
“Then let’s go! We don’t want to be late, do we know?” Lynn said.
Maybe Quinn put her up to this. Ever since that picnic, those two wouldn’t leave us alone. It’s as if they expect something from me. Or maybe I’m just going crazy. Maybe they’ve always been like this and Bonnie’s just coming because she’s in the same class. And, anyway, Quinn doesn’t make Bonnie do his dirty work. He could’ve come if he wanted to. I was starting to dislike those guys. Before I had even really met them.