Sacrifice

Chapter Five

Crybaby stepped onto the bus and made her way through the aisle on Tuesday morning, the second day of school. Angelita's stomach tightened and she looked down. "Hey, Lita." Crybaby said as she sat down.

"Hey..." Angelita extended the word as she looked at her and smiled. Crybaby observed her behavior for a moment before Angelita looked forward again. After a bit of silence, Angelita asked, "So, are you going to sit with me at lunch today?"

Crybaby cussed herself in her head as she bit her cheek, "Yeah, I will."

Angelita smiled, then regained a straight face, "But what about Ben?"

"He can wait."

Angelita smiled even wider than she had before. Crybaby sighed and scratched the back of her head. Everything she did was becoming a sacrifice for one person or the other- and it was only the second day of school. What would happen by the second week? Second month?

The bus soon came to a stop and the doors opened allowing the students to get off. Crybaby remained sitting down in deep thought. "You getting off, or...?" Angelita asked with a small chuckle. Crybaby stood up and faked a short laugh, "Yeah, sorry," She walked into the aisle and toward the doors and Angelita followed right behind her.

~During class~

Crybaby looked up at the clock during her third class and her eyes widened. She began closing her books and putting them in her bag. Most of the students were waiting for the bell to ring. In a moment when it did, everyone stood up at once and went to the door. "Have a good day," the teacher said without looking up from his paperwork. Crybaby was one of the first out the classroom door. As she was walking down the hall, she saw Angelita at the end with her hands behind her back and grinned. "You waited for me?" She asked when she approached her.

"Of course," Angelita smiled.

"Aw," Crybaby cooed.

"You like that?"

"Yeah, it's sweet," Crybaby said carefully.

"Then I'll do it all the time."

Crybaby pursed her lips for a moment. "You don't have to, Lita."

"But I want to."

"You really don't have to. My teacher is the kind to let us out a little late, so you could be waiting a while-"

"Crybaby, it's not a big deal; just more time we get to spend together," Angelita looked at her and waited for her response for a few seconds.

"Okay. Sounds great," Crybaby smiled. They entered the cafeteria and Crybaby looked around to notice Ben already staring from a far table. 'Don't come here,' Crybaby thought as she played with her hands, this time anxiously. Angelita watched her, then looked at Ben who was now getting up. "Something going on?" She asked.

"No, no, all good," Crybaby shook her head, still holding her stare at Ben.

"Well, I'll go get some food. Want me to get you anything?"

Crybaby shook her head and Angelita walked away. Ben approached Crybaby and she shook her head again, "I can't," she said before he asked anything. "What? You can't what?" Ben asked cluelessly. "I can't sit with you today. And I can't really talk much. I'm sorry I want to, I just have to be with Elita now, and..." She rambled a bit.

"It's okay, we can always talk another time."

"I don't know about that... There's kind of a situation. I can't explain. I don't even understand it myself," Crybaby said regretfully. 

"That's... fine. I'll be waiting whenever you're ready," Ben said a little disappointed. Crybaby nodded and he left. She turned around to see where Angelita was. She was just getting out of the line. She came up to Crybaby once again, "Hey. Everything okay?"

"Yep. I just told him he'll have to wait; I'm with you today." She fake smiled and sat down next to Angelita, who wore a real smile.