The Project

Chapter 17

Kate's Point of View

"Hey, can we talk?"

Benny hesitates before opening the front door further, nodding. I force a smile and step inside his familiar house.

He closes the front door, and while it doesn't seem like he's going to say anything, he doesn't even get a chance to do anything when his mom walks in.

"Hey Kate," she greets, smiling. Her purse is on her shoulder and she slides her shoes on. "I'm about to go to work but can I get you anything before I go?"

"I'm good, thanks," I respond, barely smiling to reassure her.

She nods, kissing Benny's cheek before she exits through the front door I had previously walked through.

Then it was just Benny and I, left alone in a, for once, awkward silence.

"Uh, what's up?" He finally wonders, breaking the quiet.

"You talked to Johnny," I start, and he nods slowly. "Why?"

"I wanted to see if he likes you," Benny admits. His voice is deep and quiet compared to how he usually is. "He does. I didn't realize you did too. And that you were dating."

I sigh, sitting on the couch. He sits down too, further than he normally would sit by me.

"Are you upset?" I ask.

Why would he be upset? Because I didn't tell him?

"No," he replies, though it wasn't very compelling. "I just thought you'd tell me. We're best friends."

"Yeah, I know, and I was gonna tell you," I assure. "I just didn't know when or how. It's not a big deal though."

"I mean, it kinda is," he mumbles. "You've never really been in a relationship. I always thought your first one would be-"

Benny abruptly stops talking and his face turns red. I frown, staring at his face while he stares down at his lap.

"Would be what?" I ask.

He shakes his head, chuckling.

"I don't know," he says. "Listen, I'm happy for you."

"You are?" I question, and he nods. "Good. Maybe you should see someone."

Benny shakes his head again.

"No, baseball takes up a lot of my time," he defends. He always had enough time for me, why wouldn't he have time for a girlfriend? "And as long as I'm not a third wheel or anything, everything should be fine."

"Okay," I agree, shrugging at how lightly he was taking this. "Well, I guess I'll head home now."

Benny nods, standing up to walk me out.

It's not often I use the front door to come and go into his house. Since our bedrooms are so close, I could always just use the window.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he says, and I nod.

"Yep."

We depart and he closes the door after me. I walk back home.

-

It felt awkward sitting in the library with Benny and Johnny at school.

Now that Benny knew about us, it did seem like he was a third wheel and it was uncomfortable for all of us.

Johnny has hardly said a word, and even Benny, who is a hard person to shut up, hasn't been talking too much.

How did I know this was going to be weird? Benny has always been protective, I shouldn't have believed when he said everything was fine yesterday.

It was for our project though, and I couldn't be the only one doing all the talking.

Someone else would have to say something in order for us to get a good grade.

"Why does this have to be weird?" I finally wonder, closing the book and setting it down with a sigh.

Johnny and Benny both look at me, neither of them saying anything.

"We're gonna fail this project if I'm the only one talking," I inform, hoping one of them will start talking at the threat.

"No we're not," Benny finally speaks.

"Well neither of you are saying anything and I'm basically the only one doing the work," I explain, and Benny scoffs.

"Seriously? Just because you're talking doesn't mean we're not doing anything," he argues.

Johnny looked like he wanted to say something and add in the conversation, but instead sat quietly, watching the scene go down.

"Well why can't you say anything? It's awkward being the only one talking!" I yell, not caring that we were in the library. "Are you mad at me or something?"

"Yeah Kate, I'm a little mad because my best friend suddenly goes and kisses some guy and makes him her boyfriend without even telling me!" Benny replies, standing up and storming away from Johnny and I before we even could respond back.

I'm surprised we didn't get yelled at by the librarian because Benny and I had raised our voices a little.

Now it was just Johnny and I sitting at the table in the corner, and I sighed for another time that day, rubbing my eyes.

"Should we break up?" Johnny quietly and hesitantly wonders. His gentle voice was perfect for the library.

My already upset expression turns into a frown when our eyes meet.

"What?" I say, not believing that he just asked me that right now. My voice was soft and quiet, like it was supposed to be in a library.

"Our relationship clearly upsets Benny," Johnny explains, and I huff. "I don't want to be the reason your friendship ends."

"No, we don't need to break up because of him," I assure. "He's just being possessive, that's how he always is."

"Because he likes you," he mumbles, resting his chin in his palm and staring at the wooden table we sat at, instead of me.

I couldn't believe we were arguing about Benny.

"No, he doesn't," I excuse.

"Yes he does, Kate, it's obvious," Johnny defends. "Why do you think he asked me if I liked you and got so mad that we didn't tell him we kissed?"

"I don't know, he doesn't like when I keep secrets from him, I guess," I assume.

For some reason, I didn't want to admit that there was a possibility Benny could like me. We've been best friends for so long and that's all we've ever been. I don't know what would happen if he liked me.

"I'm a guy, I know how other guys act when they like a girl," Johnny informs, before standing up from the table, gathering his things and walking out, leaving me alone at the table.