Risk || Benj Nielsen

06.

benj found olivia talking to some people and she grabbed his hands, both of them heading for the dance floor. they jumped around and danced for a little bit before some guys grabbed benj and threw him in the pool, making olivia laugh.

benj left to dry up as olivia went to talk with more people. they agreed to meet outside to go home together after benj had dried off.

after a while, benj still hadn't come outside so olivia walked back inside, however, when she did find him, it was not a sight she wanted to see.

there he was, snorting something off a girl's stomach. when he looked up and met eyes with olivia he looked panicked, "wow." she nodded, "real nice."

"liv! wait!" he called after her, but she didn't stop.

tears began falling as she grabbed bailey's wrist and they left the party.

they drove home and bailey sat with her for a bit before deciding it was time to leave. she didn't ask any questions, she just let olivia cry, but she knew it had something to do with benj.

the next morning, olivia had the worst headache so she avoided looking at her phone and she watched tv and thought about what had happened the night before.

"hey, honey." olivia's mom entered the room, "you need anything?" olivia shook her head but her mom wasn't ready to give in, "water? a blanket, medicine? a hug? a talk? a cry? all of the above?"

olivia just let it out. her tears fell again and her mom sat next to her, putting her arms around her daughter, "oh, hon. is it to do with benj?"

"how'd you know?" olivia sniffed.

"bailey told me he could have something to do with it." olivia's mom whispered, "do you want to talk about it?"

"not really." olivia said.

"okay, well, i'll get you some ice cream and you can have a good cry." olivia's mom left and her phone buzzed. she picked it up from the night stand. it was all the messages from benj coming through. the girl just switched her phone off and watched 10 things i hate about you.

***

on monday, olivia managed to get through the whole morning with avoiding benj. she had spoken to connor and eddie to fill them in on what happened at the party.

now, it was time for their assembly and bailey called olivia over to sit with her as alyssa came to sit over with them too.

"alright, settle down. settle down!" the principle spoke into the microphone, gaining the school's attention, "okay. we got a lot to get through this morning. first up, coach barella."

there were a few people who clapped as coach barella approached the microphone, "guys, we are a week into the school year, and we're missing an absurd amount of towels. this isn't a hotel, okay? those aren't free. unrelated note. our volleyball team is in desperate need of an outside hitter. so, if you've gone through a growth spurt, i need to know about it."

they moved on and olivia just grew more and more bored, but finally the principal returned to the microphone, "alright, that about does it for today..." however, someone ran up to her and handed a note, "oh, looks like we have one more announcement from, uh... benjamin nielsen."

olivia looked up at this and watched as benj walked up to the microphone, "hi, everyone. i'm benj. i need to say something. i've been looking forward to high school... forever." someone shouted 'nerd' and it was followed by a chorus of laughter, "i know, right? but for whatever reason, i believed that's where i was gonna become my best self. and i got off to a great start. i met some awesome people. but they didn't meet me. not the real me. you see, i was so obsessed with winning everyone over that i lost sight of the one person that i truly care about. olivia... this is for you."

olivia shook her head and looked down, not wanting this attention on her. that's when benj started singing.

like a fool i went and stayed too long
now i'm wondering if your love's still strong
ooh, baby
here i am
signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours

eddie began clapping in time and soon everyone joined in as olivia watched on.

then that time i went and said goodbye
now i'm back and not ashamed to cry
ooh, baby
here i am
signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours

that's when the music teacher began playing piano

i've done a lot of foolish things that
i really didn't mean
oh, baby
didn't i?
didn't i?
yeah

benj took the mic out the stand began walking towards where olivia was sat.

seen a lot of things in this old world
when i touch them they mean nothing, girl
ooh, baby
here i am
signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours

ooh-wee, babe, you see my soul on fire
that's why i know my heart's only desire

"he's insane." bailey said, trying to get a reaction out of olivia.

"you knew this was happening, didn't you?" olivia asked and the girl merely shrugged.

here i am
signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours

"everybody!" benj cheered them on and everyone joined in.

here i am, baby
signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours
signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours
signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours

the song ended with benj on his knee in front of olivia, "what do you say, liv? will you be my girlfriend."

everyone tried to see what was happening as a silence spread around the room, "you just had to pull that heath ledger shit, didn't you?"

"that's not an answer." bailey said, helping benj.

olivia looked to her friend and then back to benj, she grabbed the mic from his hand and quietly sang, "signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours."

everyone laughed and cheered as benj smiled, pulling her in for a kiss.

the room went crazy and the principal came over, "okay! that it over! get back to class."

everyone calmed down and left the gym, heading to their classes. connor, eddie and koosh joined the new couple.

"well, i guess it worked out for you two." connor spoke.

"what?" benj furrowed his eyebrows, his arm hooked around his girlfriends waist.

"oh, uh, yeah." she spoke, "i told them what happened this morning.

"like, like, everything?" benj grew nervous.

olivia nodded, "most of it. i kept somethings private." the girl laughed and unhooked herself from benj, running towards bailey and they walked to their classes.

maybe, everything was going to be alright after all.