Our Senior Year - A Joe Mazzello Fanfic (Sequel to In Need of a Friend)

Denial, Tension, and Feuding

The day had been great so far. I think I did really well on my test in Advanced Literature. I wasn't even nervous about it. I just breathed, read the questions, answered them, and boom it was all over. I even enjoyed Film Study today. It's no secret that I just took the class to be with Joe, but I truly felt interested in what Mr. Patel had been teaching today. All my classes had gone smoothly actually. I'd been in a calm mood all day.

I was in Photography class, which I already loved, and our teacher was talking to us about how we'd be starting our first real project. Ben was in Photography class with me. I hadn't known, but apparently, photography is a passion of his. I thought that was really beautiful.

Once Photography class was over, I walked out of the door to head on to my last class of the day - Nutrition. I was walking down the hall and past lockers when I felt someone coming up beside me. It was Ben.

"Oh, hey Ben." I smiled.

"Uh...hey." He responded. He seemed really off all day. Ever since his weird behavior in the cafeteria this morning, I knew something was up.

"Ben, is something wrong? You haven't been yourself today." I asked my friend.

"Well...I'm not the only one..." Ben sort of murmered.

What did he mean by that?

I stopped. "Ben, what are you talking about? Who else hasn't been themselves? I'm confused."

Ben brushed his fingers through his blonde hair and stared at the ground for a second. Then, he sighed and brought his eyes back up to look into mine.

"Well...you haven't." He remarked quietly.

"Um, ok what are you talking about?" I interrogated.

"Listen to me, Valentina. I know you. I know your behavior, your demeanor, all of that. You and I are a lot alike. I've seen you seem anxious and even a little depressed lately. It all seems different today, though. The way you're acting...well...please forgive me if I am wrong...reminds me of the way I acted when I used to take opioids. They'd make me...into a happier person."

Oh. My. God.

He knows.

He fucking knows.

No. I cannot admit to it. Deny. Deny. Deny.

"Are you accusing me of taking drugs?" I ask, making sure to sound offended.

"Now, again if I'm wrong, forgive me, but-"

"But nothing, Ben! How dare you!? Where would I even get drugs?" I ask, infuriated.

"Okay, first of all, you need to calm down. Second of all...you are acting oddly defensive for someone who didn't take them." He said. He was just making me angrier and angrier. I was having a good day, why ruin it for me?

"Listen, just shut up and stop, okay? I'm having a nice day, so stop trying to mess it up." I commanded.

"I'm not trying to mess it up. I was honestly just concerned. I mean, you of all people should know not to take those types of drugs, especially with what happened to your mom." Ben made this statement and I could see he automatically regretted it.

Look, I know I am the one lying - again, but how dare he bring up my mom? I started to tear up. And no, I wasn't whipping up some batch of fake tears to accompany my lies. I really was upset...and I really was starting to cry.

"You - you are such a fucking jerk, Ben!" I screamed. People in the hallway stopped and stared. I did not care though.

"Look, I shouldn't have-" Suddenly, Ben was interrupted by someone coming to my side. It was Joe.