The Freshman Crush [[On Hold]]

Chapter 9

“They seem really interested in you today, Matt.” Miles pointed out the five sets of eyes that had been watching us ever since lunch started.

    “I noticed.” I grumbled. They hadn’t spoken to me all day. I constantly felt that something was up. Maybe it had something to do with Brittany and the night before.

    “Matt, I can’t take this anymore. They’re crazy and they’re freaky. This needs to stop.” Ben groaned. He was probably right though.

    I glared over at the girl-owned table across the cafeteria. None of them made the smallest of efforts to hide their stares. They laughed, and talked, and giggled to each other constantly. I wasn’t sure why, but I constantly felt like whatever they were saying, whatever they were giggling at, it had to do with me.

    “And how do you want me to stop this?” I asked Ben. “Should I ask them nicely to please stop obsessing over me?”

    Miles laughed but Ben looked insulted.

    “Well Miles said he could help but so far he hasn’t done anything.” Ben complained.

    “I’ve tried, but they won’t tell me anything. I tried asking and they denied there was ever a note in the first place.” Miles defended himself against Ben.

    I picked up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and bought a soda. I paid the slender, hunched over, elderly woman at the register. She nodded her head as I exited the line with my lunch. I waited for Ben and Miles to pay before I went anywhere.

    Dana walked past me and headed for the vending machine. She was creating some kind of colt. I could tell, she didn’t make any eye contact with me. Her eyes focused on her destination. What was she doing? I didn’t watch her after she past me though. I let her go on as I waited for Ben and Miles.

    Ben met beside me as we now waited for Miles. Unlike Miles and I, Ben didn’t even bother getting a tray. He held his soda in one hand and his ham sandwich in the other. There was a tired look in Ben’s eyes. I could see what might have very well been stress in his face. He slouched his shoulders forward and sighed.

    “Hello boys,” a devilish voice echoed behind us. Ben’s back straightened up at the sound of her voice. I held my breath before looked over my shoulder. I knew she would be standing there. Dana smiled with all the evil intentions of the devil, a slight curl to her lips and the way she tilted her head forward when she stared gave her away.

    “Get away from me.” Ben said each word slowly with a short pause between each word. He glared at Dana with disdain. If he could kill her by looking at her with his silvery gray eyes, Dana would have fallen dead where she stood.

    Dana laughed. She wasn’t afraid of Ben, though personally I couldn’t image anyone ever being afraid of Ben. He was short, lacked much muscle, and too playful to be taken seriously. Dana beamed at Ben as she tried to calm her laughter. “I have completely daunted you, haven’t I?” Dana said with too much delight.

    “No, now get lost.” Ben sneered.

    Dana smirked. I was kind of surprised when she actually followed Ben’s command. She batted her eyes at Ben and I and then stepping between the two of us, she walked away. I watched her walk away from over my shoulder.

    I wasn’t sure, but Ben seemed paralyzed. His shoulders were pulled back tightly and he didn’t even watch Dana as she walked away. He looked frustrated actually. He curled his lips inward and he creased his eye brows downward. His hands rolled into fist at his side.

    I looked past Ben and finally noticed Miles on the other side of him. I hadn’t realized Miles was there; I never seen him come over. He starred at Ben as I did, probably wondering why Dana had so much control over Ben.