When He Sees Me [Draft]

[2]

As Ben was putting his books into his locker to go home, he felt people staring at him, thinking that he didn't notice. Ben didn't think much of it, since stares were something he always got, but little did he know that these stares were because everyone knew about something he never meant for them to find out.
All of a sudden, Ben was slammed into the lockers by Danny, who added in a remark "So you're really gay, huh? Not that I needed it to be confirmed. We all knew it anyways."
"What? Who told you that?" Ben said, his voice shaking.
"Everyone's talking about it, queer." Danny said back, turning around and walking down the hall.
Ben shut his locker with wide eyes and walked quickly outside the school, pushing by students to get to his car.
Ben was almost to his car when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. When he turned around, he was shocked to see who was actually noticing him.

~

Andrew was outside with some friends, and his girlfriend of course, when the subject of that gay theatre kid came up.
"So, I overheard the kid talking to his sister today. He said he was gay." Said Ella, laughing.
Andrew looked over at his girlfriend "What?"
"Yeah, I know right? He was just now coming out even though we've all known it for, like, ever. I've already told like everyone in the school."
Andrew looked around the crowd of other students, and then felt a short kid push by him in a hurry. Just he person he was looking for.
Following Ben to his car, he tapped on his shoulder.
"Hey." Andrew said, in a welcoming tone.
Ben of course was caught a little off guard, which caused him to sputter out "Oh- um- hi... hello."
Andrew chuckled a bit "You're Ben, right? I'm Andy."
"I know. I mean, yeah, i'm Ben." He replied, a little curious as to how Andy actually knew his name.
"You look upset. I wanted to see if you're okay." Andrew said, not really thinking when he put his hand on Ben's shoulder for a quick moment.
Ben looked at Andy's hand, and then looked back up to the gentle features of the taller boy's face. "Oh... I'm okay. Why do you even care?" he asked, not meaning to come off as rude.
"I care because those guys have no right to treat you like they do. I overheard you saying you were gay this morning..." Andy said quietly.
Ben raised his eyebrows "Look, thanks for whatever this was, but I really need to go home." He said, all in one breath as he was holding in some tears.
Andy nodded and then slowly turned away as Ben climbed into his small car.
Once the other boy was out of sight, Ben rested his forehead on the steering wheel and kept telling himself that he wouldn't cry.
Once he started his car, though, Ben cried the entire drive home. In his head, he kept telling himself that it wasn't Andrew that told everyone, he couldn't help but think that it was the only possible explanation.

~

YEET THIS PART WAS SHORT, BUT ITS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE BOIZ TALKING SO I WANT TO BUILD UP TO THEM ACTUALLY KNOWING EACH OTHER SLOWLY SO I DONT RUSH THE BOOK. HOPE YOU GUYS ARE ENJOYING, THOUGH :)