More than Just a Game

Chapter 4

        I hugged my science textbook tightly as I silently descended the stairs with my head bowed down, avoiding any unnecessary eye contact with anyone. Oblivious to the group of people coming my way, I lightly and inadvertently brushed my shoulder against one of the girls' arm. Without looking up, I mumbled a quick 'Sorry' and quickly walked away, only to have a forceful hand yank my arm back up, causing the book I was holding to crash onto the floor. Before I could react to the sudden gesture, I felt icy cold water splash on me, soaking me from head to toe. I quickly spun around to see a big sadistic smirk plastered on Amber Handel's face as her little group of friends snickered from behind her.

        Clenching my fists into balls, I nimbly turned around and just as I was about to walk away, I absentmindedly bumped itno someone, causing me to step back abruptly and wince at the sudden contact. “S-sorry,” I stamered. Darn, not my day today, I thought before I hesitantly and slowly tilted my head upward to see an oh-so-familiar-face sending a death glare to the people behind me.

        The guy grabbed my by the wrist and dragged me down the hallway regardless of my protests and futile attempts of escaping his strong grip. “Benjamin! Let go!” I demanded as he dragged me towards the series of lockers lined against the wall. By the time Ben stopped in front of one of the lockers, only then did he let go. “What were you thinking?!” I exclaimed as I watched him turn the lock and rummage through his locker, looking for who knows what. Ignoring my complains and not even bothering to look at me, he tossed me a plain green shirt, which I reflexively caught, before bringing his hands back into his locker. I stared at him in confusion as he grabbed a pair of loose green shorts before quickly and rather sloppily swinging the small gray door close.

        “Put them on,” he ordered as he handed me the green pair of shorts while I just stared at him dumbfounded. “Wh-why?” I said, regretting it almost immediately as I mentally scolded myself. “What do you mean why?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at me. Why are you helping me? I wanted to ask but eventually decided against it as I shook my head and mumbled, “Never mind.”

        I silently walked towards the girl's bathroom and got into the dry clothes Ben had given me as instructed, hanging my clothes drenched in water onto the hook on the cell's door. While I was doing so, a question couldn't help but linger in my mind.

        Why was he helping me?

        After our little “encounter,” we pretty much have been ignoring each other in school. So I couldn't help but wonder why he was suddenly being nice and even going out of his way to help me.

        

        Katherine pulled the blanket over her head as rays of the sun peeked through the curtains, engulfing the room with warm arrays of light. After a few minutes of uncomfortable shifting under the covers, Katherine finally gave up on trying to go back to sleep and sat upright.

        As far as she remembered, she didn't bother getting a blanket to cover her; her aunt must have came home to find her slumped on the couch and, to not disturb her from her deep and peaceful sleep, decided to just lay a blanket over her and let her be. Rubbing her eyes groggily, Katherine snatched her phone from the coffee table, unlocking the gadget and scanning through it.

        Huh. Not a single call, nor a single message from her parents. They must be really busy, the brunette thought, tossing her phone onto the couch as she stood up and stretched, yawning. Katherine then strolled into the kitchen to make breakfast, depositing a piece of pop-tart into the toaster.

        As she waited for the pop-tart to pop back out, she gazed around the kitchen, her eyes landing on a video tape recorder on top of the counter. The brunette grabbed the electronic as she remembered that Ben had recorded a video of her playing a certain video game the day before while he constantly teased her and made rude comments the whole time.

        As Katherine watched the small clip, she couldn't help but notice the lack of Ben's comments in the video, making it appear like she was talking to nobody. A small shiver involuntarily went down her spine. There was no way the recorder could've missed Ben's voice. Before she could ponder over this, a small ringing sound was heard, indicating that someone was at the door. Noting that her aunt was nowhere to be seen, Katherine assumed that she was still asleep in her room and decided to get the door herself.

        The brunette opened the front door to reveal a blonde boy she knew all too well. She glanced at the clock.

        10:00 a.m.

        “Hey Kat,” Ben greeted as he invited himself into the house regardless of the girl's questioning look on her face. “What are you doing here so early?” Katherine asked as she closed the front door. Ben turned to look at her. “Can't a guy miss his best friend?” he replied, earning a small laugh from Katherine as she rolled her eyes. “Very funny Ben. But really, why are you here?” The blonde just shrugged. “I got bored and hungry. And I'm currently not in the mood to make breakfast,” he replied bluntly as he grabbed the piece of poptart from the toaster. “Hey that's mine!” Katherine exclaimed but Ben already had it in his mouth by the time she reached out.

        The brunette sighed. Typical Ben.

        Ben grinned at her. “Oops, sorry.” The girl was about to reply when she heard a tapper of footsteps descending the stairs, signaling that her aunt was awake. “It looks like Aunt Em's awake. I don't really want to be a bother so see ya,” he waved and walked off, only to stop at the foot of the stairs for a moment to say hi to Katherine's aunt.

        “Bye, jerk!” Katherine called out before turning back to insert another piece of poptart into the toaster. “Who were you talking to?” her aunt asked, her voice laced with confusion. Katherine turned around to see the middle-aged woman looking at her with her eyebrows kntter together. “The blonde boy who was just here a second ago. He greeted you before he left,” the equally confused girl said slowly and carefully.

        “But Katherine, there was no one here except you.” the woman replied, a concerned look on her face. Katherine's breathing hitched as her aunt's words processed in her brain.

        What was going on?