Forests, Flings, and Fireflies

1. I'll be your new bestest friend

Hey this is co-written by Booky335

read her stories...especially "the ultimate crime of passion" its my fav!!

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"Bye Paige, see you after class!" I waved to one of my best friends and walked into the biology room (also my home-room). Oh boy, today we'd be assigned partners for our week-long camping trip... joy to the world.

I trudged to my seat and found Mimi Souza sitting there batting her eyes at a very uncomfortable-looking Benjamin (Ben) Mello. Ha!

Grrr... I needed a seat and Skanky Mc Slut-Slut was in mine. "Excuse me, you're in my seat," I told her.

"So? It's not like your partner here would like anyone but me in it," she replied matter-of-factly, but the look on his face told me he would.

I sighed- I enjoyed seeing Ben in discomfort, but I hated Mimi even more. I glared at her and said, "Look, you don't want to mess with me right now. I'm not in the mood. If you want to keep that ugly little face of yours the way it is, I highly suggest you move."

"Who let the dog out?" she sneered at me.

That's it. I've had enough. I took her books and slammed them on the floor. Then, I grabbed her purse and chucked it behind me. I raised one eyebrow and gave her a look that said, 'Bring it.'

"Bitch!" she shrieked going after her stuff. Everyone snickered as I sat down. "Thank you, I really appreciate that," Ben said quietly.

I huffed, yeah right. You of all people would love to be felt up by her! I said nothing and started doodling on my notebook. Mr. Banner came in and announced to the class, "All right kids! You'll be getting to know who your partners are for our field-trip! Isn't this exciting!?"

No.

"All of you brought in your forms, right?" he asked. We all mumbled yes, just get on with it!

"Okay, you're partners will be... drum roll please..."

Not our table partners. Not our table partners. I kept chanting in my head.

"Your table partners!" I groaned. Oh joy. A week in a tent. Alone. With Benjamin Mello-the player of Somerset High School. Aren't I the luckiest girl in the world?

I glanced over and saw Katy Force happy that Eric Knox was her partner, Angela glad that Kyle was hers, and Mimi glaring daggers at me.

"Your girlfriend isn't that happy with me," I mumbled to him quietly. He shuddered,

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Sure, Ben, sure," I said, smiling boldly at him.

"Now, discuss with your partners about your supplies for the trip," Mr. Banner said as he passed out some papers.

We both looked over the list, "I can bring everything on the list... tent, sleeping bags, food, all the necessities. You don't have to worry your pretty little head about that." He grinned at me (his family lived, breathed, and ate camping), "All you have to do is bring yourself and your clothes... I'm sure Paige will have a shopping-palooza planned for you this weekend."

Yes. Paige Mello. Ben Mello's sister. One of best friends- practically my sister.

"Okay, Ben, we should be friends if we're going to survive this coming week. Are you okay with that? Will you reputation be hurt if people find out that *gasp* you'll be putting up with me?"

He smiled, "Okay, you're my new bestest friend. I'm your new bestest friend." I thought he would at least put up an argument. Wow.

"Don't let Paige or Carlie here you say that." I muttered as he grinned. Yes, Carlie Brooks. Ben's adopted sister. Her parents died in an accident many years ago and Dr. and Mrs. Mello (Drew and Sara) were her god-parents, now adopted parents. So now, they lived in there parents house, which the Mellos bought since they share a property line Almost the same thing happened to the Mello siblings.

"Let me rephrase myself... I am your bestest guy-friend and you are my bestest girl-friend."

"Fine," I retorted, "in that case, don't let Tyler and Zack hear you say that."

Zack was Carlie's twin brother and Paige's secret love and Tyler was the oldest Mello sibling as well as Carlie's boyfriend...wow, Ben must be lonely.

He just laughed. We had the rest of the class to discuss the project and since Ben and I were already done we just talked. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Ben; he's fine when he's with our little group and we really get along. No, it's just his ways with girls... he's the captain of the baseball, basketball, and football team and all of the Mellos/Brooks were drop-dead gorgeous, so the girls of Somerset High were all over him all the time. He moves from girl to girl and just uses them (not for sex... God!). The Mellos didn't really like talking about that.

Ben and I liked the same subjects, music, books, and movies. We were almost exactly alike, except for the fact that I was plain and he was basically Adonis. The bell rang and we stood up to leave the room, as I was walking out the door Mimi thought it would be appropriate to trip me. I stuck my hands out and braced myself for impact. It never came. A pair of strong arms were around my waste and Ben's velvety voice was at my ear, "Are you all right, Emma?" he asked me.

My face flushed and I straightened myself and glared at Mimi. "I'm fine Ben. Let's just go."

We walked out and Paige saw me with Ben, her eyes momentarily widened and she grinned, bouncing with excitement.

"No," Ben and I said at the same time. We stared at each other and laughed. She just rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say," she said in her bell-like voice. I grimaced,

"Let's just go to gym Paige, I'll see you later Ben." He waved and walked the other direction. I turned to Paige, her eyes green dancing with questions.