No Noise

Taken Tenderly

~Benton's POV~

I walked through the hallways, hoping to eventually find this cafeteria, people rushed by so fast here, I couldn't keep up.

I felt a gentle hand pat the middle of my back, almost jumped out my skin! God! I hated not knowing someone coming up behind me!! I spun around to see the culprit, it was none other than the messy headed guy from English class. He looked at me dead in the eyes with earnest shock. I could tell he didn't mean to scare me, but he scared me nonetheless.

"Ahhh!! Cooper!? Umm..sorry..!" Why can't I even breath? He didn't scare me that badly.

"Oh, no! My bad! I didn't mean to scare ya," he bit his bottom lip and scratched the back of his head nervously."I was just, um, wondering if you still wanted to catch lunch together?" He looked slightly pained by saying what he said. He looked down at his black scuffed up boots.

"Sure, yea," slightly grinning at this goofball. He was odd, I've never met someone like him, maybe he just doesn't have any friends. Who am I to judge? I don't have any either..

~~~~~

I followed Cooper silently as we shuffled our way towards the cafeteria. It was huge, with plenty of tables and plenty of kids to fill the seats. I wasn't very sure, but this tall, muscled kid looked like he was going to run right into Cooper and I. I finally just stopped my whole body all together to avoid crashing into that brick wall of a guy! He slowed down and appeared to be approaching Cooper, he looked over at me with a small pinch in his lips, like he wasn't sure who I was.

"Coop! What's up?! Who is this?" He stopped on the heels of his feet. Planting himself right in front of Cooper.

"This is Benton! He's the new guy around here, I offered him to have lunch with me, where's Derek?" He peered over his friends shoulder to see if he could spot this so called Derek.

"Oh yeah! Benton!" He looked at me."This is my buddy, Jason! He's my right hand man!" Cooper flashed a smile at me.

"New kid huh? Where ya from?" He looked at me with small interest.

"California." I said shortly."I just moved here a few days ago."

"Did Coop drag your ass here?," he chuckled bemusingly."He's got a knack of making friends."

"Oh, shit! That's right, Derek had a dentist appointment today! Well, lets go eat! I'm starving!" Cooper waved Jason and me to go get our lunch.

We all got our trays and sat at a round table. Pizza! Not too bad! I picked up my slice and started munching away. Jason did as well.

Cooper nudged the table a bit, causing me to look up at him. Once he got my attention, his lips starting moving and I followed the way they parted and outlined the words he spoke.

"What part of Florida are you from Benton?" Cooper lazily looked over to me. I felt a small snag at my stomach.

"Fort Lauderdale..," I spoke what I believed to be the variable at which he was speaking.

"Nice," he took a bite of his pizza and continued,"what brings you all the way to California?" He lifted an eyebrow at me.

"My dad's job transferred him here, he's uh..he works as an ad designer for a company." He does so much honestly, can't see how he could follow his work throughout different states.

"Must make some serious cash with a job like that?" Jason asked.

"Yea I guess," I answered honestly. I don't know much about my father's financial stabilities, but I know that he can take care of me on his own and he seems to be doing just fine.

Lunch came and went, I cruised my way through the rest of the day. Finally glad that it was over.

~~~~~

I walked out of my last class and headed to my locker to put the books and unnecessary items from my backpack away. I fumbled with lock on the shaky metal door. It clicked open to my relief and I shoved my papers and textbooks in. All of a sudden I saw a hand fly by the side of my face.

I stood in shock. My eyes drifted over to see who it was. Cooper stood with one leg crossed in front of the other, forearm finally meeting the locker door he leaned against and stared at me intensely. A lock of his chocolate hair fell into his eye.

"Benton..wanna hang out?" He asked with serious eyes.

"Eh, sure? I'll have to let my dad know," I fished my phone out of my pocket and blipped a quick message to my dad that I wouldn't be home for a little while. He usually doesn't mind me going places by myself, he trusts me. Thank God I'm not a wild kid, I couldn't really betray his trust anyways.

"Alright, let's go?" I looked up at Cooper, he smiled and booked it out of school.

~~~~~

We walked our way to the front of the school where the student parking lot is.

Cooper elbowed me lightly to get my attention."I have a car, we can go to my place." He smiled and directed me to follow.

"Oh, what kind of car do you drive?" I asked, interested in the fact that he was young and had his own car.

We stepped in front a black 1979 Chevy chevelle."Isn't she a beauty?" Cooper admired the glossy coated car. It was a very stunning car. How the hell? He's a teenager right?

Cooper finally adverted his gaze from his prized possession and waved me in. We both hopped in and took off.

The tension between Cooper and I could pop like a rubber band as in, that's how it felt to me. Why is he so nice? And so..invested?

I felt my eyes roaming over to look at Cooper. His hair was fluffing around because he had the window rolled down, smoking a cigarette!!

Geez, this can't be good..but he seems so real. Someone that grows on you. I felt a warmth, spreading, pooling at the bottom of my stomach.

"Hha-ahh!!" My body tingled like tiny prickles all over. What is going on?? Coopers face beamed at me, questioning the suddenness of my voice.

"A-are you okay?" Cooper asked. He has his hands running through my hair. Why...uh...why? Why is he touching me like this? I flinched away and covered my face, which was burning up.

My breathing hitched into my throat, I couldn't breath properly. The sudden contact was just...so delicate..his fingers we're..he's a guy, he isn't supposed to be able to stir up my manliness.

"It's n-nothing..," I say as I looked out the window. He placed both his hands back on the wheel. Five minutes later, we arrived at his place.

~~~~~

Oooohhhh, I have soooooo many ideas!!!! I will update another chapter as soon as possible!! If anyone's cares about this story😅