Paint A Picture On Me

Dos

After an agonizing period of biology, it's time for lunch and I just now remember why I even came up here. I'm supposed to be on the lookout for Ben Worsnop. I walk into the cafeteria and look around for any sign of the boy that I forgot about. Gee, aren't I just the best at my job? Actually I am one of them.

With all the moving bodies around me, I find myself looking over the same faces again and again. I must have checked everyone. Of course, out of nowhere, in he walks with a small posy at his back. I take him in, his black, rugged clothing, torn and spiky. His hair looks matted and unwashed. If I hadn't known otherwise I would've guessed he were a heroin addicted homeless person. Although, I think I am right about the heroin part; based on the red eyes, red tan circling his arm, and glazed look on his face. I feel a hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my observations. I whip around, slamming them against the wall and flipping their hand ready to snap the assailant's wrist. Once I get a good look at the soft facial features and shocked mien with a mixture of fear on Kellin's face I instantly let go and take a step back.

"Sorry, sorry. Instinct, I'm so sorry," I exclaim, putting my hands up showing I mean no harm.

"Insinct?" he asks, giving me a funny look.

"I come from a sketchy area," I give as an answer, deciding to leave out the whole 'I'm an undercover police detective' part. He nods, that look still on his face.

"Well, do you wanna go sit?" he asks, walking around me and towards an empty table. Without really paying too much attention to my actions, I fall in step with him. I guess I can't really go around alone just stalking this Ben guy. I have to at least come across as normal.

"So, you wanna come hang out after school and work on our book reports?" Kellin asks as I slide into the spot next to him on the bench. I discretely check up on Ben and nod my head.

"Cool, so, um, can you like- do you want to- uh, like-" I get distracted from my surveillance by Kellin's stutters. He sighs and I look at him, trying my best not to laugh at his random lack of confidence.

"I- Uh- Like- Can I-," I mock, allowing an amused smile play across my lips.

"Shut up!" he exclaims, rolling his eyes. I chuckle to myself and nudge him with my elbow to show I mean no harm. Although he knows that based on the gigantic smile on his face. "Anyway, well, Mike usually drives me home. So, like, you can just go home with us and then get out at my house." He looks over at me, clearly nervous as he doesn't blink, his body shakes lightly and his pupils are tiny. Hey, observing body language is part of the job, I'm not creepy or anything.

"Yeah, sure." I smile at him and move my gaze back to Ben as Kell relaxes. Kell? Whoa, slow down there brain I think you missed the 'in'. The thoughts vanish from my mind as an unknown man walks up to the group. I squint my eyes to block out some glare of the bright lights and see that he looks extremely similar to Ben. They do some kind of handshake and pull into each other, patting the other roughly on the back. The other boy has the clear symptoms of cocain abuse. Although right when they started talking and I could have used my powers of lip reading, Mike of course sits directly in the way.

"Vic's not listening to me, is he?" Kellin asks from my left. My head shoots back at the mention of my name.

"No, I was. It was interesting keep going," I say to him. He giggles that fucking girlish noise and I look over at Mike who looks at Kellin like he's an alien or something.

"What's that look for?" Kell asks. Oh shit, there's that 'Kell' thing again. I need to watch those. Mike just shakes his head and starts eating the fries in front of him. I turn back to Kellin and he looks at me too.

"Hey," he says.

"Hi," I answer, smiling at him.

"So I'm assuming you guys met in English then?" Mike asks. I turn and look at him nodding. I glance back at Kellin briefly and see him still staring at me then looking at Mike indefinitely. He quirks an eyebrow at me and I furrow mine in confusion.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" I ask him. He looks at me expectantly, but I still don't understand. What? Can't a guy look at another? Is that against the law? No--and I, of all people, would know.

He just rolls his eyes and drops the subject. I steal one of his fries and shift closer to Kellin so I can see Ben. Our sides press together and try my best to act casual as if our closeness isn't uncomfortable, because trust me, it is. Surprisingly, he doesn't shuffle away. I steal another fry and glance around the room. Everyone here is so basic. I look back at Ben and see him greeting yet another friend. In all honesty, he seems harmless. But if he's caught up in drugs then he could easily get caught up in bigger, badder things. {I know it's supposed to be worse, but it doesn't have the same effect, okay?} He then abruptly stands up, looking around as if he had heard a gunshot. I freeze up in anticipation for his next move, but he just stands there, looking around alarmingly. His friends all act as though this happens everyday, and soon enough he collapses (literally) into his seat. I think he just had a hallucination.

"That's Fronz," Kellin whispers to me. I jump up and he giggles. Oh my gosh, his naïvety is going to kill me.

"What?" I ask, extremely confused at who this Fronz kid is and why he wants to tell me his name. Mike is buried in his phone and doesn't even acknowledge his surroundings.

"The guy you're staring at. His name is Fronz." I almost blush at the comment, but don't. I keep myself composed and just answer with an awkward: "oh."

"Do you like him or something? Are you gay?" he asks, speaking quietly.

"No," I chuckle. "They're just... intriguing I don't know. The whole group is."

"Oh. Well they scare the Hell out of me, that's for sure." He snorts lightly, giving them a quick glance and turning back to me. "So, anyway, what do you have the rest of the day?"

"Oh, uh, anthropology and wood shop." I almost barf hearing the words fall from my mouth. Only losers take wood shop. Damn you, Benjamin.

"You're into carpentry?" he asks incredulously.

"It was the only course that wasn't full," I shrug off. Nice save, Vic.

"That makes sense. Anyway, we have anthro. together," he says, smiling at me. Two classes with Kellin? Wow, I guess that's a good thing. Right?

"Well I'm going to my locker, Mike you coming?" Kellin asks. Of course, Mike agrees and off they go, leaving me to my own company. Fortunately, it wasn't this way for long. Ben and his allies stand up and all rush from the room. In an instant I'm on my feet, heading after them, but still staying at an inconspicuous distance.

They speed out the door and all hop in a black SUV with tinted windows. How cliché. I don't even have a chance to blink before they're out of sight. I immediately quicken my pace and start sprinting. I fly out the door, but by the time I'm outside they're long gone. I could see them speed off down the snowy road. If I weren't undercover I would write them a speeding ticket. But they're responsible for their own safety, they aren't five anymore. I sigh to myself before heading inside just in time for the bell.

__
"Vic!" Kellin calls as I head to the door of our anthropology room. I stop and move out of the way of the flowing students eager to escape the classroom. Of course, Kellin's the last one to leave, but I'm fine with waiting. "Glad I could finally talk to you, I missed hearing your voice," he says. I chuckle lightly at his charm, thinking of the past hour. Unfortunately, Kellin being Kellin, he sits at the back and the only free seat was right up by the teachers desk.

"Yeah, class was a lot more fun when I could actually talk to someone." His face lights up at that comment, his million-dollar-smile making a reappearance.

"Yeah, anthro.'s pretty boring. But hey, I didn't mind the view," he points out as we join the packs of scurrying students rushing around. I assume he's talking about our young, blonde teacher.

"So, you're into blondes?" I wonder. He laughs loudly and shakes his head.

"Hell no," he answers as if the idea is preposterous. I give him a funny look, but he just shrugs saying, "I'm gay."

My eyebrows shoot all the way up and I accidentally mumble, "oh." Then my eyebrows knit themselves together. "What view then?"

He shrugs, smirking. "So, we still on for that study date tonight?"

"Uh, yeah, yeah of course."

"Good," he answers, smiling and waving to me as he backs into a classroom.