You and I - A Hardzello Fanfic

Tears - Two

When it comes to lunch, I am relieved. I hate school, and I haven't seen my friends for ages. I rush down to the cafeteria and smile. At our usual table right at the back is Rami Malek, Gwillym Lee, Lucy Boynton and Allen Leech. I wave to them, but they can't see me, so I line up for food. It takes a while, but when I've gotten enough lunch, I roll over to the table. Gwillym and Rami smile at me.

"Joe," Allen says, "How are you?" I smile.

"Good. I feel good." I scan the cafeteria, looking for something, but I'm not sure what. Then my eyes land on it. Standing at the front of the cafeteria is Benjamin. He looks lost, and his piercing green eyes look sad. I want to invite him over, but I'm not too sure.

"Joe?" Lucy shouts, "Joe, are you alright? Rami was talking to you!" I shake my head and mumble something even I can't understand.

"Sorry." I say, looking at Benjamin and feeling lost myself. Gwillym looks where I'm looking and smiles.

"It's fine, Joe. He can come and sit with us, if you want." I smile at him and nod. I wave my arms around crazily, until Benjamin sees me. I beckon for him to come over, and he smiles and rushes over, just about knocking into Marina. When he sits down, he realises that he knows no one at the table, except me. He blushes profusely.

"Sorry," Benjamin says, "I didn't mean to intrude. I just, uhm, well, I-" "Mate it's alright, you can sit here." Gwillym interrupts.

"And anyway," Lucy continues smugly, "Joe wanted you here." It's my turn to blush, and as I do, my cheeks burn like crazy. I see Benjamin's eyes light up, and he looks at me.

"Uh, well, anyway, I'm Benjamin, but you can call me Ben." Ben says. I blush even harder. Ben. I like that.

"Well, welcome, Ben, to the table of misfits. We are happy to have you here." Rami chirps, smiling at Ben, and embracing Lucy. We sit there for a while in awkward silence.

"Since no one is really introducing themselves, I will do it for them, then," Gwillym sighs.

"Well," He says, pointing at me, "That is obviously Joe Mazzello. He is the most insane here. Now this," He continues, pointing at Rami, "Is Rami Malek, the leader, or as we call it, The Ringmaster." Rami smiles, and pretends to lift his imaginary top hat.

"Here we have exhibit A," Gwillym mocks, pointing at Lucy, "A beautiful thing, but is sadly taken. Her name is Lucy Boynton. She may or may not be in your homeroom. She also belongs to Rami, so hands off." I see Ben smile, and I smile, too.

"Exhibit B," Gwillym continues, gesturing to Allen, "Not beautiful, just very sophisticated and, how should I put it? Weird. It's name is Allen Leech, and he is Irish." Gwillym says, attempting an Irish accent.

"And me," He says, grandly, "I am the true wonder. Beautiful, kind and extremely modest, I am Gwillym Lee." He does something with his hands, attempting to be elegant. Ben laughs slightly, and I look at him and roll my eyes jokingly. Gwillym smiles, knowing that he has successfully made the newcomer feel welcome.

"Right then," Allen huffs, "enough of that. Who are you?" Allen nods in Ben's direction. All eyes turn to Ben, and he blushes, and fidgets with his fingers.

"Erm, well, um, I'm Ben Hardy, and, um, I come from, erm, England, and I um, well, yeah." He blushes profusely, and looks away from me.

"I thought you were Ben Jones?" Lucy asked, clearly very confused. Ben looks at her.

"Well, uhh, I have two last names, and one of them is Hardy, and I prefer that. So, um, yeah." He looks down, and continues fidgeting with his fingers.