Sticks and Stones

Chapter 7

"Ben, get up. Ben... Ben!" The sudden yell spurred me awake. I jerked up in bed, almost knocking heads with Rory who's face was inches from my own as he sat perched on my legs.

"Get up! You're gonna to be late." I groaned, falling back down into bed and pulling my pillow over my face. I couldn't go to school today, I just couldn't. Cole's words still burned in the back of my mind. All I wanted was to sit home, watch some old Tom and Jerry reruns and eat a gallon of strawberry ice cream. And I sure as hell didn't feel like guiding around the newest member of the homo haters.

"Look he was a dick, ok? But so what? It's not like you did anything. Get over it, and Get Up." Rory's last words were punctuated by prodding me in the stomach. Groaning, I pushed him off and dragged myself out of bed. Stupid overeager best friend. I couldn't really blame him though. I hadn't told him what me and Cole had done last night. He hadn't asked when he'd found me still sitting on the roof. Rory always knew when to talk and when to let things be. I was thankful that he'd stayed with me, narrating entire movies to me and cracking jokes late into the night until I'd finally fallen asleep.

That's probably how I found myself trudging into the school office to pick up the mouth breather I was to play tour guide for. Judy smiled at me and I did my best to return it.

"Long night?" I nodded, no doubt given away by the dark circles under my eyes. She beckoned me over, glancing back and forth like a shifty dealer of some kind.

"Take some extra." Judy whispered, dropping four jolly ranchers into my waiting palm. The small grin budding on my face was real now as I thanked her and wandered back to the cushy waiting room chair, losing myself in blue raspberry bliss. I sat there as the warning bell for first period rang, then the final bell. Cocking an eyebrow, I shot a look at Judy. She shrugged and went back to reading whatever cheesy romance novel thirty year old secretaries read.

Sighing, I popped another jolly rancher into my mouth, belatedly realizing my mouth was probably now stained a delicious shade of berry blue. Great, just great. At least now me and the new kid would have more to talk about than when he was going to shove my head in the nearest toilet. Maybe I'd be lucky and it'd be the start of a beautiful friendship over blue tongues and toilet water. Or maybe he'd just be a dick.

The door to the office jerked open as someone strode inside, feet clomping as if they were wearing motorcycle boots. I looked over towards him and my breath caught in my throat. Definitely a dick.

"What do you want?" I glared at Cole, who was looking at me with an unreadable expression. I was about to say more when Goodman strode out of his office and stopped in front of us.

"Gentlemen, I see you have already been acquainted. Allow me to properly introduce you. Benjamin meet Mr. Delvin, Cole meet Mr. Hale. Seeing as this is your first time at our establishment, I will forgive your tardiness, Mr. Delvin. Do not let it happen again. Please procure your schedule from Ms. Campbell and follow Mr. Hale to your first lesson." He turned on his heel and strode back into his office, just as pompously as before.

"Stupid prick." Cole growled after him, snatching the paper from Judy's desk. She widened her eyes at me over his shoulder.

"Help me," I mouthed over his shoulder once his back was turned.

"I have Brit Lit first." He seemed deeply amused by this for some reason, the corners of his lips turning up into a smirk. Groaning, I went to look at his schedule, slowly sinking further into my depression as I realized aside from his third period guitar we had the exact same schedule.

"Let's go." I was determined not to let him get to me. To not think about his deliciously perfect lips, one of which he was biting in a nervous tick. To not think about running my hands through his silky black hair. And especially to not think about how he tasted on the roof last night.