Tormented

Chapter 11

'Explain to me again why you had to leave that party so early Friday?' Sarah asks we leave the last class of the day.

'I told you. My mum text me. She was having one of her episodes.' I lie.

I felt bad using my mum as my excuse but it was better then admitting that somehow Benedict going up stairs with another girl bothered me. I didn't understand it myself, so I wasn't about to start voicing it. I just hoped it was some momentary insanity bought on by the vodka Sarah made me drink before we even set foot inside the door.

She looks at me with that look again, like she's trying to read my mind to see if I'm lying.

'Anyways, I've got a paper to finish.' I tell her, breaking the eye contact.

'Okay, we can talk about it on the way home then.'

'Actually, I was going to do it in the library. I need more books than I can carry home, so it's easier if I just do it here.' I lie again, not wanting to have Sarah probing me the whole way home.

'You're acting weird.' She voices.

'No I'm not.' I defend myself.

'You know I'm here if you want to talk about anything?' She offers.

'Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine. I'll see you later.' I say as I walk in the opposite direction to her.

When I make it to the Library I notice how empty it is. I know it's the end of the day and people want to get home, but I expected to see at least one person here, but even the stuffy old librarian was nowhere to be seen.

I spread my stuff across the desk, reading my notes as I finished my science paper, but nothing I was reading was going in. I couldn't concentrate. Every time I tried to read a line on my paper I would zone out and every time I zoned out my mind wondered to Benedict. I chewed on the end of my pen as I remembered the way his eyes drifted down my body. I thought about the way his breath danced down my skin as he whispered into my ear, but them I think about the girl he was there with. The girl who he went upstairs with. I found myself wanting to know what they did up there, but not actually wanting to know. It was absurd. Why did I care? Why was he on my mind?

Maybe some music will help...

'Hello?' I called into he room just to make sure I wasn't alone before I pulled my phone out and pressed play.

The room came alive with the soft sound of paloma faith's voice and I chuckled at the song that my phone had randomly decided to play.

'Why do you hate me universe?' I said aloud before the catchy lyrics forced me to sing.

I mean, I was the only person in here...

'Say I wouldn't care if you went away. But every time you're there, I'm beggin' you to stay. And when you come, I just tremble. And every time, every time you go, It's like a knife that cuts  to my soul.' I sing along, gently before the chorus cuts in, begging to be belted at the top of my voice. 'Only love, only love can hurt like this. Only love can hurt like this. Must've been a deadly kiss. Only love can hurt like this, Only love can hurt like this. Your kisses burn into my skin. Only love can hurt like this.'

'Wow.' A voice almost whispers from behind me, but it still made me jump despite how quiet they were.

I thought I was alone. I didn't realise anyone else would be here. But as I turn I see the one person I didn't want to see.

'What are you doing in here?' I ask Benedict annoyed.

I should have made sure the door was locked behind me before I started to sing. I should have been more careful, but It was too late for that now. He'd heard me and I was beyond mortified.

'I didn't know you could sing CC.' He tells me, walking further into the room, like he was invited.

'I... I don't'

'From where I was standing it looked very much like you do...' He teases me

'Please. Just go away. I have a paper to finish.' I tell him, turning back to the desk.

'What were you singing?' He asks, ignoring me.

'Paloma Faith?'

'Cool.' Was all he said as he sat down in the chair next to me.

'What are you doing?' I ask, noticing the look in his eye.

'Can I not keep you company?'

'Why do you want to?'

'I dunno...' He shrugs his shoulders. 'Maybe I want to get to know you?'

'No you don't.' I tell him.

'Course I do. If I'd of known you had a pretty impressive rack and could sing then maybe I would have been a little nicer to you...'

I couldn't help the way my cheeks blushed as his admiration towards my chest, but I wasn't about to let him know what he was doing to me. This was a joke. It must of been. Only weeks ago we hated each other and now he wanted to get to know me? I didn't buy it. There must have been another reason and for that I knew I had to get rid of him before I did something stupid.

'Well I don't sing in front of people and clearly my rack is not on display, so please go away.'

'I mean... You could just take this off.' He tells me, pulling on the bottom of my top.

'Get off me. What are you doing?' I turn to face him, mildly freaked.

'You know you want to.' He tells me as he leans into me.

'Why the fuck would I want to take my clothes off in front of you when you were with some other girl like two days ago?'

'Would it change anything if I told you nothing happened?'

I felt my heart skip a beat. Did nothing happen? Or was he just saying that? What am I thinking... It doesn't matter. Tell him to go away.

'Fuck off Bennie.'

'Where did you hear that name?' He asks, changing his demeanour real quick.

For a moment I felt a jolt of disappointment as he hand fall from my shirt, but then I remembered who I was actually dealing with. You'd have to be deluded to believe he didn't do anything with that girl last Friday.

'It's what your brother called you the other day when I was at you house?'

His jaw tensed at my words. What was wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have?

'He was cute... Or he was until he asked if I was your girlfriend.'

'He said what?'

'Calm down, I set him straight.'

'Chuck... Chuck doesn't talk to people. But he spoke to you?'

'Guess that makes me special?'

He stands from his chair and walks out from the room, but not before he mumbles something to himself that clearly wasn't meant for me to hear.

'More so than you think.'