Beneficial | ANTHONY VAUGHN

015

Tori sat on the pavement clicking her feet together, trying to get her heart to stop racing.

If she hadn't been feeling this way for weeks she would have considered that maybe she had been spiked. The way her heart was beating rapidly and her head felt dizzy, this couldn't be normal. But no, this was the same sweatiness and dread she felt often. It just felt weird being in there, like there was some secret everyone knew but her. Everyone else could have a good time why couldn't she.

There was a suddenly flash in Tori's eyes causing her to squint looking up. It took her a second to see properly, but Spider stood there with his phone outstretched laughing at the picture he had just taken of the girl.

"What was that for?" Tori asked, not aggressively, but more curious.

"You look like shit" Spider plopped himself down next to her and Tori sighed. "But also for Ant. He asked me to look for you when I went outside" Tori could see the blonde typing on his phone, which she assumed was a text to Ant. "Why does he care about where you are?" Spider asked in an almost suggestive tone.

Tori shrugged playing with her shoelaces. "Darren probably asked him to look for me or something" she mumbled, not being able to think of a better excuse. She felt almost completely sober now, between the water, exercise, and anxiety, but her brain still felt a bit fuzzy. "And what brings you out here little orphan Annie?" Spider laughed at his own joke.

"Just.. needed a little breather" Tori spoke softly. There was a moment of silence, the two teens just sitting in each other's company.

"Look... don't get too depressed about what Missy and I said in the line alright" Spider ordered Tori "If it helps, you've been a lot more bearable this semester," Tori thought for a second, before smirking "Is this you trying to apologise and be nice?"

Spider scoffed "Look I just don't want you throwing yourself off a cliff cause of something I said" Tori looked up at him "Thanks... I guess" Spider just gave her a nodd. Suddenly, sitting in his company had become just a little bit nicer for Tori.

"There you guys are" Ant came jogging over to them, his coat now off and in his hands. Spider dabbed him up while Tori just gave a small smile.

Soon Dusty joined them, and Tori realised she was officially sitting with who she considered the biggest assholes of her school. And strangely in that moment, she didn't hate any of them. Sure she wasn't planning on joining in on their conversation, but she was almost calmed in their presence. It was freaking her out.

As soon as she saw Amerie and Malakai she moved to walk with them, not even looking back at the three boys she had been sitting with. "Mind if I third wheel?" Tori asked and both of them smiled.

"Of course" Amerie spoke, wrapping her arms around Tori. "You have fun?" Tori asked, looking at Malakai who grinned widely, his eyes shifting towards Amerie "Yeah of course"

"Time to go, guys!" A voice from behind them called. Tori and Amerie both turned to see the police. "Ooh. Malakai, the cop's coming." Amerie joked, polling him forward slightly. The boy stopped suddenly smiling dopely.

"Finish what you were going to say."

"Malakai, we're leaving"

"-You were about to tell me. Come on-"

"-Malakai.-"

"They won't do anything."

Amerie began to seriously tug Malakai as he swayed a bit., not moving as fast as the girls wanted. Tori helped hold him up, looking a bit concerned at Amerie. She could almost feel the officer's breath on the back of her neck, so she knew the three of them were being surveilled closely.