The Project

Chapter 8

Benny's Point of View

"I'll be right back, guys," I inform to my teammates.

I depart from the boys to go over to the booth where Kate sat. With Johnny.

"Hey guys," I cautiously greet, sliding in the booth next to Kate and across from Johnny.

Johnny looks nervous and I'm glad. Who does he think he is, thinking he's Kate's boyfriend or something?

I make sure to stare into his eyes, making him more nervous. He looks at me for a split second before staring down at the table.

"Oh, hey Benny!" Kate says, smiling widely at my presence.

I wrap my arm around her protectively. "Do you guys always share a soda?"

Kate shrugs, glancing over to Johnny, who doesn't look up from the table. "We've only been here twice."

"Yeah that reminds me," Johnny says, finally looking up, but only at Kate. "I have to get home now."

Kate pouts and I try not to roll my eyes.

"Aw, well, I'll see you tomorrow then," she replies, smiling at Johnny.

He just nods, trying not to look at me, acting like I wasn't there.

"Yeah," Johnny agrees. "See you."

He walks out of the diner, leaving Kate and I in the booth by ourselves.

"I didn't know your team would be here today," Kate says, pulling the cherry coke closer to where we sat. She takes a sip.

"Me neither," I say. "But we all were hot and hungry, so we figured we'd just come here."

Before Kate can say more, a red haired waitress comes by the table, a wide smile on her face that fades when she notices the empty seat across from us.

"Where'd the other one go?" She wonders, frowning.

"He had to go," I answer for Kate, a possessive tone in my voice.

"Oh," the waitress mumbles, setting the bill on the table. "Well unless you want anything else, here's the bill."

She walks away and before Kate can take the bill and open it, I take it first and take out two quarters for the cherry coke.

"Wow, you're paying 50 cents just for me?" Kate sarcastically gushes.

I smirk, setting the quarters in the bill and closing it.

"You're welcome," I respond.

Kate chuckles, and I walk her to the diner door.
We say our departing words and she walks home while I go back the baseball team.

"Was that the girl you're always talking about?" One of them asks once they see me scooting into the booth like nothing had happened.

"Oh yeah!" Another guy remembers. "What's her name? Isn't it like...Katelyn or something?"

"Just Kate," I correct, my face turning red at just the simple mention of her name.