Tormented

Chapter 3

'How was it?' Sarah asks into the phone as I laid on my bed trying to figure how I was going to survive the next year.

'Hell.' I tell her in one word.

'Why? What did he do?'

'Apart from being an arsehole like usual?'

'Hhmm.' She hums.

'I just don't know how I'll make it through this year. He'll kill me or if not I'll kill him. I can't work with him. Maybe if I go to the principle?'

'Char you can't do that! It'll piss Mr Ballard off not to mention Ben. Maybe this can be your way of getting him to stop picking on you? Get him to see the real you? If you're nice to him he might leave you alone?'

'Ha, yeah right.'

'Think about it. Please. It's worth a shot, surely? I'm not saying you have to be friends with him. Just be nice and see what happens?'

'It goes against my better judgment...'

'You never know. He might surprise you?'

'I highly doubt that.' I snigger.

'Well James wasn't as bad as I was expecting, thanks for asking.'

'Shit, sorry. Was he like nice to you or something?'

'Or something...'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Well he kind of asked me out...'

'You can't be serious! You said no, right? And then laughed in his face?'

'Not exactly...'

'Sarah!'

'What? He was kind of sweet.'

'No, he wasn't. He's friends with Benedict, surely that should give you a clue about what he's actually like. This has to be some sort of joke?'

'Why can't you just be happy for me?' She asks annoyed.

'Because it's James? Him and his little buddies have made my life miserable.'

'Maybe if this turns into something more serious I can get them to leave you alone?'

'That won't happen. You'll just leave me and join their group and I'll be all alone.'

'Oh stop feeling sorry for yourself. I won't do that to you! You're my best friend. Just believe me when I tell you I can manage James.'

'Fine...' I huff out. 'How did this even happen?'

'Well, mum made us some snacks while we were studying and we both went in for the last brownie at the same time and it just went from there.'

'Oh my god!'

'What?'

'Did you even save me one? I love your mums brownies!'

'No, sorry Char.'

'It's already happening...'

'Oh shut up.' She chuckles down the phone at me. 'Maybe I can get my mum to make you some brownies to share with Benedict?' She almost screams down the phone like an excited child.

'That boy would not eat anything I put in front of him. He'll probably think I'm trying to poison him. Actually... that's not a bad idea. But I don't think I can bring myself to slip rat poison in your mums brownies.'

'Good to know where the line is.' She laughs.

There was a silence for a moment before she next speaks.