The Project

Chapter 15

Benny's Point of View

"So then I got a home run, of course, and won the whole game for my team."

Kate laughs, but it sounds forced.

"Uh, are you okay?" I wonder.

"Yeah," she responds, shooting me a reassuring smile. "I'm good."

I've known Kate for a long time, long enough to know when she wasn't okay.

I scoot closer to her on my living room couch and raise an eyebrow. "C'mon, what's going on?"

"Nothing," she assures, raising her eyebrows. "I just told you I'm good."

"I don't believe you," I reply.

"Well believe me," she says, elbowing my in the chest softly.

"Fine," I murmur, though I still didn't.

My mom walks into the living room with two glasses of lemonade, setting them on the coffee table in front of us with a smile.

"Hey guys!" She greets enthusiastically. "Kate, I assume Benny told you about how he won the baseball game?"

"He sure did," Kate responds, and I blush.

"Benny, you have a bragging habit," Mom says, and I scoff.

"It's not bragging," I defend. "I'm just telling the story of how I won the game instead of anyone else."

My mom snickers, shaking her head. "Whatever. Kate, are you staying for dinner?"

Kate glances at the clock against the wall, seeing the time was 5:30.

"Actually, I better get going," she informs, taking big sips from the lemonade glass and managing to get through half of it right then. She shoves the homework we were doing into her backpack and stands up. "Thank you!"

Kate darts out of the house and goes next door to her own, leaving my mom and I in the living room, confused as to what the rush was.

My mom just smiles at me and walks to the kitchen to make dinner. I finish my homework by myself.

-

I was confused to see Johnny laughing with Kate when I walked into 5th hour.

I don't think I'd ever seen Johnny smile, let alone laugh, especially with Kate. When did they get so close?

"Hey," I greet once I walk over, mainly directed to Kate.

The two calm down from their laughter.

"Hi," Kate responds, barely glancing at me for a second as she continues to talk to Johnny.

I listened in on their conversation, frowning. I didn't even know Johnny could keep up with a conversation. How was this happening?

Luckily, Mrs. Peters walks in and Johnny and Kate have to stop talking so they don't get in trouble.

"Today you'll have a work day for your novels," she informs. "So get in your groups and get started."

Kate looks at Johnny when I look at her, and they smile at each other. I felt like a third wheel, and they weren't even dating, not that I knew of.

So what the hell was going on? Did I miss something?

"Uh, so we're on chapter 4, right?" I speak up hesitantly, interrupting their weird staring and smiling.

Kate finally looks at me and my heart races.

"Yep, chapter 4," she confirms. "I'll start."

She begins to read out loud.

I'm not following along like I should've been, as I'm too caught up in looking at the way her lips moved while she spoke.

Then I made the mistake of glancing at Johnny, and saw him doing the same thing as me.

-

All of class continued with Johnny and I both staring at Kate when it was her turn to read. I'm sure neither of us knew what was even going on in the book.

It was obvious that he liked her, and I obviously couldn't have that.

I've been in love with Kate for so long, and he just got here and thinks he could take her from me. I can't let that happen, I won't.

"Hey, can I talk to you?" I ask Kate when the bell rings.

She tries to walk out with Johnny to go to 6th hour together, but I hold on to her wrist.

"Uh, yeah," she agrees, watching Johnny walk out of class after telling him she'll see him in math.

I lead Kate to an empty stairwell.

"I think Johnny likes you," I share, and Kate chuckles.

"And?" She replies.

"Does it bother you?" I wonder, almost feeling mad because she didn't seem to mind that much at all.

"No, why would it?" She questions, smile fading.

"Because..." I trail off, not knowing how to respond. "Never mind."

Kate scratches the back of her neck, and looks down at our shoes.

"Well I better get to class," she awkwardly says, and I nod in agreement.

She departs without letting me say anything and hurries down the now empty halls to math class.

I stay standing in the abandoned stairwell by myself, recapping that short conversation in my head.

She said she doesn't mind that Johnny might like her. What does that mean? Does she like him?

I felt crazy trying to unfold what was going on but I couldn't help it. I wasn't even aware I was doing it. I just wanted answers.

The bell rings, informing me that I'm late to class.

I couldn't find it in me to care. In fact, I sit down at the last stair and don't leave that spot until the bell rings again, marking the end of the school day.

Then I go home by myself.

-