Linger

T H I R T Y - T W O

Was this really all my fault? If I hadn't been with Mr. Hayden, would Sasha and I still be friends? The questions swirled through my mind as I stepped up to my locker and spun the dial on the lock. 

The navy blue varsity jacket on the top shelf immediately greeting me after I had stuffed it on the top shelf this morning, reminding me I had to return it to Tom . . . once I figured out how. 

"Maddie." 

I looked up to see Ben walking up to me to my surprise. "Ben. Hi . . ." I said with slight confusion, glancing around the hallway where a few cheerleaders in their uniforms walked by, waving their pom poms. 

"Goooo team!!" they cheered. "L-E-T-S-G-O! Let's go!!"

I watched the cheerleaders with a small smile before turning back to Ben. "Sasha just went to her next--"

He shook his head. "I'm not here for Sasha." 

I stopped, looking at him in complete confusion now. 

A loud bang! sounded from the other end of the hallway causing us to both turn around and see the marching band struggling to make their way through the crowded hallway.

Ben adjusted his backpack on his shoulder. "Um, you going to the pep rally?" 

"Oh, is that what's going on?" I asked, watching behind him as the cheerleaders now made a path through the crowd so the marching band could get through. 

"Yeah, game tonight." Ben shrugged before a loud crash echoed through the halls. We both immediately looked up to see a few of the cheerleaders helping some marching band members to their feet and picking their instruments off from the floor.

"We're okay!" One of the cheerleaders smiled at us as we watched in confusion and concern. "Go Hawks!!" She raised her pom-poms before marching outside with the rest of the cheerleaders and band.

Ben watched them for a moment before turning back to me. "How are things?" 

I shifted my gaze back to him, trying to read his expression before turning back to my locker. "They're fine."

His eyes followed my actions. "I saw the texts on Sasha's phone."

My actions came to a halt. 

"The ones you sent her yesterday." 

I let out a sigh as I turned to him. "She hates me." 

His gaze grew hard as he slowly shook his head. "Tom's a coward," he said firmly. 

My eyebrows shot up. 

"He's a liar and a coward and he should've never done that to you." 

My lips parted as I looked around the nearly empty hallway now before returning my focus to him. "How do you know .  . ."

"I know him," he said in a stern tone.

I sighed, my mind spinning into a whirlwind as my gaze drifted back to my locker. "I'm sorry." 

"What?" He gave me a confused look before letting out a confused laugh. "What are you apologizing for?"

"I mean, all of this probably isn't exactly fun for you either. You and Tom were friends. You were going out with Sasha." 

He shrugged. "This isn't about me. But, hey, if Tom tries anything again, let me know, okay?"

I let out a long breath, lifting my eyes to my locker. 

Ben followed my gaze. "I can give that back to him."  He nodded to the navy blue varsity jacket stuffed on the top shelf. 

One part of me wanted to plant his jacket somewhere that could get him into some kind of trouble. But the greater part of me didn't want to have to deal with him any longer than I had to.