Benner

Amelia

Franklin

Anna and I sat on the couch watching her girly princess cartoons like always. I could hear my mother scrambling all over the house, as she got ready for work. I ignored her half the time as she would shoo me away if I ever tried to help. Anna held a Barbie on her lap as if it was her child. Her feet dangled over the side of the couch as her eyes stayed glued to the TV. She was hypnotized and any slight movement would set her off and make her ask every question under the sun. She was like your average kid. My mom didn’t care too much about letting us express our selves so every chance Anna had, she would leave the house in her frilly pink tutu and glitter infested wand. And her rain boots of course. Layers were her thing and it was nice to think they would always be her thing. Her thing was also princesses.

I don’t know what her idea of a princess was but my idea was Ivy. (Ivy Long that is) she was perfect and I perfectly didn’t stand a chance. After my long thought process of getting her to be my girlfriend I finally remembered every other guy that would take a liking into her. my mom walked out from the back dressed in a feminine suit and walked to the two of us. She grabbed Anna’s hand and glanced down at me then back at Anna’s outfit.

“aren’t you suppose to be at school?” she asked as she motioned toward a pink back pack. She helped Anna into the bag as I accidentally ignored her. “are you listening to me?” she yelled.

“i- yeah. I was just waiting for you and Anna.” I just wanted to see her face after she’d seen the shutters. I followed the two out of the house and into the garage. The two of us loaded into separate cars. She pulled out and smiled rolling her window down to wave at me. it didn’t feel as good as I thought I would knowing that I did her a favor. I just drove down the street making my way to my school. I didn’t see Ivy which I was hoping I had. I parked in the junior’s parking lot and grabbed my book bag from he backseat then quickly made my way to the front door.

I was still early and for some reason it would always be that way. I walked down the hall and found my friends (or the rest of the football team) against the wall in the corner of the comens. Every day we’d meet up there just so that everyone would see how cool we were and that we had friends I’m guessing. They all looked over to me as I joined the crowd.

“Have you seen the new girl?” Franklin, the captain of the team asked. he was my only threat. I hated that he had a girlfriend and would be able to break up with her to go out with the next girl on the list.

“Yeah. She lives across the street from me” I chuckled a bit. He smiled down at me.

“You gonna introduce us?” he asked. There was no, “no” to that question but I had to. I had to defend what was mine. But I couldn’t because if I did he would kick my ass.

“I mean I-“just before I was finally finished with my sentence I could hear my name being called. Proud Ivy walked to my side. She ignored the other guys and smiled at me.

“Hey! I have no idea what to do and I don’t want to sit alone. Can I hang out with you?” she asked. I shook my head yeah then Franklin finally chimed in.

“Yeah. I don’t think we mind a pretty girl like you hanging out with us” he told her. he just had to have her. She giggled a bit still by my side.

“Well thanks” she told him. She looked back over at me again. “Ben, do you mind giving me a ride home. My dad is going to be -

“Yeah- I mean no. I don’t mind.” She smiled then looked over at Franklin who just stared at her.

“Like what you see hot stuff?” he asked.

“I’m truly flattered but I think I notice a crush when it’s close” she secretly pointed at me making everyone laugh.

“I don’t- I don’t have a crush on you. That’d be weird.” I uttered.

“It’d be completely normal” Franklin laughed

“So you don’t?” Ivy giggled again. “Could you show me where my locker is?”

“Uh- yeah” I stuttered once again. She handed me a piece of paper and I looked to see that her eyes were stuck on Franklin. “Actually why don’t you show her Franklin” I suggested. I was totally pissed with the kid “I don’t know this school too well”

He smiled snatching the paper from me. she followed behind him. I walked away from the group. I could see Amelia, Franklins girlfriend watching from a distance. She peered over at me and rolled her eyes to storm off. I ran to catch up with her for some reason.

“Wait, Amelia!” I called. She stopped and turned to me. I ran to her. “What’s up” I asked her as if it were a regular conversation.

“What do you want Ben?” she asked irritated.

“Um, a nice smoothie would be ace right now” I laughed a bit. I pulled by book bag strap down. “I could take you to go get a smoothie during lunch.”

“You already know how Franklin is”

“I just meant as friends” but only I didn’t. I don’t know what my plan was but it was close to working.

“What ever.” She tried to shoo me away.

“Also, since its Friday, why don’t we go to the fair I got-“

“I don’t think you’ve noticed but I have a boyfriend!” she yelled

“I have a ticket. My uncle gave it to my.” I continued “there’s a new ride I would love to try it out” I nearly lied. I hated rides.

“What is your problem?” she yelled.

“I don’t know. I just saw you standing there and there were no other girls around- to, ask and I said hey, I should ask Amelia, we’re really close friend.”

“Just because you sit next to me in chemistry doesn’t mean we’re friends.” She continued “you’re a pretty sucky friend if you’re trying to ask me on a date.” See finished.

“No! I am no sucky friend. I never signed up for some player to steal the only girl I’m crushing on. He’s a fucking douche bag!” I spoke my mind “I think we all made it pretty clear that I liked her! he always does that kind of shit though. It’s a bunch of bull. He’ll leave a perfectly fine girl for the next thing.” She smiled.

“What did you say?” she asked. I came back to reality then noticed what I’d said.

“Look Amelia, you’re nice and you’re really pretty.” The bell interrupted my train of thought.

“I’ll go but you have to win me a stuffed animal because I like those. We can go after school” she told me. Trying to hide that she was happy. She kept her pocker face on as she walked away. I turned toward my first class and began in that direction. Franklin walked past me waving a piece of paper in the air. I turned to see that he was catching up with Amelia and liked nothing ever happened she was back into his arms again. I ignored the two and walked down the hall finally arriving to my class. I walked in to see Ivy sitting in the back. She moved forward to put her hands on the chair in front of her. I slowly walked back there knowing I had a mouth full to say. I had to remain cool and some how bring up my date. I finally sat and turned toward her.

“Why’d you bug out on me?” he whispered.

“I remembered I had to go ta- ask someone on a date before it got too late.” She smiled.

“Who’s the lucky gal?” she laughed.

“Franklins ex. You probably don’t know her.” she laughed.

“Seriously who is it?” she asked. it was the perfect time to tell her that Franklin had a girlfriend.

“Okay, it’s actually Franklins girlfriend.” She smiled

“Awe!” she shrieked “you only did that so that you could win me back”

“No!” I assured her that actually didn’t cross my mind until now “I’ve liked her since 9th grade and Franklin likes you so he’ll break up with her soon.”

“What makes you think I like Franklin Ben?” she asked with a serious face.

“I didn’t say you liked him. I said he liked you. Two different things.” I told her. She was getting snappy.

“I don’t date guys with girlfriends.” She finished.

“I don’t date girls that are appealing to guys that would do anything for them” she looked at me confused.

“What’s that suppose to mean?”

“Its suppose to mean that I have no chance with you so, I don’t like you.”

“You did but then you had to go and ask Franklins girlfriend on a date” she pouted. I ignored her. She and Franklin were bothering me and right about now they belonged together.

Halfway into the class Franklin walked in holding a note. He peered back at me in anger and handed the note to the teacher. She looked back at me

“Benner, you need to go to the front office” she called. I grabbed my book bag and walked to the front of the class room following Franklin out to the class room. He walked by my side.

“So what are you doing after school today?” he asked. I ignored him. He slammed me into the wall grabbing the top of my shirt. “What are you doing scrub” he asked again.

“I’m taking Amelia to the fair.” He frowned.

“Stay away from my girlfriend.”

“You don’t disserve her.” I told him. he let me go only to punch me in the face.

“What did you say?”

“Everyone already knows that once you get close enough to Ivy you’ll break up with her.” I told him. I wasn’t going to back down “because you a fucking ass hole that can’t even hold a girlfriend. You’re like a little kid”

He punched me again. I swung back knocking him down. He looked up at me “what did you say scrub?” he asked getting back up.

“I said you’re a fucking ass hole”

“You’re a woos just like your father” he snickered. I punched him again knocking him down again. Once he was down me kicking him. I couldn’t stop for some reason. It felt right. I could feel small hands pulling me back and accidentally swung back as a reflex hitting who ever grabbed me. I turned to see Ivy. She backed away.

“Fuck this fucking school!” I yelled. I walked down the hallway to see Amelia helping out in the front office as apart of her mentorship. She noticed me and caught up with me as I walked out of the school.

“Ben!” she called. I ignored her. “Benner!” she yelled again. I turned to let her catch up with me. She gasped a bit at the sight of my busted up face. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“Your fucking boyfriend!” I yelled. “Why are you so stupid?” I yelled again this time I kept walking to my car she followed behind me.

“What did you say?” she yelled angry.

“So what you both have the same problem? Let me spell it out for you!” I yelled she continued to follow me “you- are- so- stupid Amelia! You stay with that jack ass while someone else confesses feelings for you!” I yelled at the top of my lungs she walked a bit closer to me.

“You need to stay out of my business!”

“I don’t know if it was clear back there but I like you! You are stupid if you didn’t notice!” I noticed that calling her stupid was setting her off “you don’t notice that I’m your chemistry partner for a reason! You didn’t notice the day you had your period and I let you wear my gym shorts! You didn’t notice when you got you tonsils take out and I left you flowers and a teddy bear!” I yelled.

“No I didn’t” she replied. “Stop calling me stupid Ben!” she pleaded.

“I will call you stupid until the day you break up with that worthless piece of shit. You don’t have to date me but don’t date him!” I yelled.

“You’re the ass hole” she yelled.

“I don’t care Amelia. This ass hole is going home!” I cried.

“Aren’t you going to take me to the fair?” she asked. The freaking fair was the only thing she could think about. “That teddy would be really nice right now”