“Get your hands off my food.” I smacked his hand when he went for another chip.
He pouted. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. You can’t just take my food without asking.”
His jaw dropped in mock outrage, and Kim and Caroline laughed with me as Ronnie rolled his eyes. Behind Ben’s back, he wrinkled his face like our flirting grossed him out. I secretly flipped him off, making him chuckle.
“You always steal my food,” Ben countered.
I grinned slyly as I did just that, pilfering one of his fries and shoving it into my mouth before he could stop me. “Rules don’t apply to me. You should know this by now.”
Fighting not to smile, he glared and pinched my side. “Give me a chip.”
“No!” I squealed in an unattractive falsetto, and he lunged across me to loot my plate. “Get your own damn chips, you thief.”
“I gave you a bite of my pancakes.”
Moaning obnoxiously around a bite of nachos, I defended my plate. “I didn’t want your pancakes. You practically shoved them down my throat, and it was gross.”
“Is pancakes a euphemism?” Harris whispered in Kim’s ear.
I spun on him with a vengeance. “No, pancakes is not a euphemism, Harris!”
With wide eyes, he hid behind Kim’s shoulder as Jordan cackled into his hand before mumbling, “Twenty bucks says pancakes is code for co—”
“I will make you a eunuch,” I threatened, and he swallowed his words, feigning interest in his bag of potato chips.
“It’s okay, Silas.” Ben rubbed my shoulder. “Next time you beg for my pancake, I won’t shove it down your throat. I thought you liked it rough.”
Everyone roared with laughter, and Ben worried his lip like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
I laughed, too, biting my tongue so I wouldn’t say something too vulgar in response.
His finger brushed my wrist, silently asking forgiveness, and I took his hand with a reassuring squeeze as I closed the distance between us.
Tracing his ear with my lips, I dropped my voice to a deep purr. “Oh, honey, you have no idea.”
He shuddered, and I nipped at his ear before sitting back in my seat with a Cheshire grin. With a chiding glare, he shifted in his seat, and I cackled.
Eating my nachos, I listened in as Caroline and Kim excitedly discussed the winter dance. It was still two weeks away, the last day of the semester, but with Caroline in student government, she helped plan and set up for the silly thing.
“Oh, did you answer Brayden, yet?” Caroline asked.
As Kim ducked her head, Harris spun on her with narrowed eyes. “Who’s Brayden?”
Kim waved her hand noncommittally, her freckled cheeks turning pink. “He’s in my chemistry class. And he, uh, asked me to the dance.”
She sipped at her bottle of water as Harris scowled. Ben and I exchanged a worried look.
“You’re going with him?” The accusation in Harris’s tone ruffled Kim’s feathers, and her spine straightened.
Uh-oh.
Jutting out her chin, she shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I mean, no one else has asked me, so maybe. What am I supposed to do? Say no?”
“You’ve never talked about him before. Do you even know him?” Harris ran his hand through his brown hair.
Kim’s eyes flashed. “I don’t want to go to the winter dance alone.”
“You wouldn’t have gone alone,” he whispered even quieter, and Kim’s aggression melted. “I was… I thought… never mind.”
Awkwardness settled over the table as Ben and Ronnie talked between themselves. I spun my soda bottle cap on my tray, slumping lower in my seat. Caroline glared daggers at Harris while Jordan did his best to telepathically communicate with his friend.
Apparently, Harris wasn’t getting it because he glowered at his plate.
“He seems nice.” Kim’s flippant comment worsened Harris’s mood, and he hunched his shoulders, sulking.
“Well, good then. Have fun with Brandon.”
“His name’s Brayden!” They turned away from each other, both pouting, and I fought every instinct not to roll my eyes. I kicked Kim’s foot under the table, but she merely glared at me before huffing. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
She shoved away from the table and strode toward the bathroom.
Caroline sent us all a withering frown, like it was our fault we were born male and didn’t understand girls. Following Kim, she left us at the table, uncomfortable and confused.
“Oh my God, Harris!” Jordan threw his hands in the air before straightening his hipster glasses on his nose. “You’re a fucking idiot, bro!”
“W-What?” Harris stared around the table in bewilderment, and Jordan and I shared a groan.
“Dude, she wants to go to the dance with you,” I informed impatiently. “But you haven’t asked her, and it hurt her feelings. She’s only contemplating going with that Brady guy to make you jealous. Just ask her to the dance.”
His pale cheeks flushed as Jordan nodded his agreement while Ben and Ronnie watched on in entertained sympathy. “She wants to go with me?”
“Jesus Christ.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, then took a swig of my soda in preparation. “I can’t believe I’m the one having to explain this! She’s into you, has been for ages, but she wants you to man up.
“She’s a girl, and I’m pretty sure they’re all about that romantic, chivalrous crap. She wants you to sweep her off her feet or whatever. So, stop being a pussy. You want her? Go get her before Brian sticks his stirring rod into her beaker.”
Harris’s flushed face paled before a look of annoyed determination replaced the horror. “Yeah, right. Okay.”
Rising to his feet abruptly, he straightened his clothes, touching his collar like he was going to tighten a tie that wasn’t there. With one last panicked look at the three of us, he rushed after the two girls.
“What a dumbass,” I said, and we laughed at Harris’s expense. “Thank God I’m gay. Girls are fucking weird.”
And we all raised a drink.
“Hear, hear!”
Eight
For the rest of the week, Ben and I were the talk of the gossip chain. I was used to it, and Ben didn’t seem to care. He ignored the stupid giggles and hushed whispers, proudly walking with me in the hallways hand-in-hand. He kissed me at my locker and after class and never hesitated to circle the back of my chair with his arm during lunch.
Whether because Ben was nicer than I was or more of a physical threat, he didn’t receive the treatment I had feared. Girls fawned over him more than ever—which annoyed me to no end—and Thompson and his posse kept their insults at a minimum when Ben was present.
Of course, when I was alone, I was fair game.
Thankfully, Ben had allies on his swim team. Ronnie, Julian, and a few others openly defended him against the individuals who made a fuss, and the majority of the others simply didn’t care.
I was glad. Even if it meant I shouldered most of the rude comments, I would remain the target. Ben was too good for this place, and I refused to allow anyone to hurt him if I could help it.
Every day after school, Ben walked me to the parking lot to drop me at my truck before going to practice. This had become our routine ever since the play ended, and I left school at the normal time. It was stupid for him to worry so much and childish of me to love it. But love it I did.
Today was no exception.
Our elbows brushed as we strode through the gym hallway, Ben laughing as I joked about peeking into the gym to watch the basketball team practice. We passed the pool room and voices echoed from within. A few stray basketball players stood on the courts talking to the coach as they awaited the rest of their team.
The majority of people in the corridor were athletes on their way to their respective practices, but a couple stragglers like me scurried along to the parking lot.
When we rounded the corner and I caught sight of the bathroom where Eri
c had cornered me two months ago, I subconsciously took Ben’s hand.
Ben didn’t comment, but he squeezed my hand in silent support.
Unfortunately, the bathroom wasn’t the only sight to send ice trickling through my veins. Ben stiffened beside me, his eyes locked on a group of four guys making a raucous outside the wrestlers’ practice room. Two massive brunettes built like boulders guffawed as a shorter, slimmer blond with acne made an obscene, sexual motion with his body. And, lounging against the wall, watching with a smirk, stood Eric Boyt.
His dark hair was recently trimmed, and his biceps rippled as he scrubbed the crew cut. Broad and thick, it was no wonder why he was one of our school’s top wrestlers. I shivered as I remembered the feel of his toned body trapping me against the hard wall. He’d used his strength to hurt and control. It was disgusting.
“Just keep walking.” Ben rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb. “Don’t stop.”
I summoned all my sarcastic apathy and used it as a shield to protect me from what was most likely going to be a rather unpleasant encounter. Even if we ignored them, there was little chance they’d let us by unscathed. I didn’t care what they said or did to me, but Eric’s hatred for Ben terrified me.
He had threatened Ben, and, instead of submitting to his blackmail demand, I’d punched him in the balls. And then I started dating Ben soon after. Not exactly the right course of action when I wanted to protect my boyfriend. Not that Ben needed protecting; he was pretty badass without my help.
The closer we got, the more rigid Ben became, and it was my turn to squish his fingers in comfort and assurance. His blue eyes frosted, alert and wary, and he set his jaw as Eric rumbled something to his friends. It sounded suspiciously like, “I bet she was asking for it,” and my stomach soured.
One of the brunets spotted us first, and he nudged his doppelganger. Were they brothers? They didn’t exactly look alike, but their matching complexion and body type seemed too coincidental.
“Faggot alert,” Pimples snickered, and Thing One and Two crossed their bulging arms over their chests in a show of intimidation.
“Wow, real original.” I feigned amazement as Ben openly glared. “Hope you didn’t spend too much time thinking of it. I know how hard it is for you to think, and I would hate for all that effort to go to waste.”
Pimples screwed up his face in confusion at my words, confirming my point, and a small dry laugh escaped my throat. I held my head high and my shoulders straight as I portrayed false bravado, and Ben shot me a chiding look. He quickened his pace as we made to pass the group, my fingers aching from our desperate grip.
Of course, it wasn’t going to be that simple. Thing One and Two blocked our escape as Pimples giggled like a kid in the candy store, eyes gleaming. Eric didn’t move a muscle. He observed the confrontation, his dark stare coating my skin like oil.
Ben guided me behind him, taking a protective stance before me, and I huffed in annoyance as I shoved him out of the way. I stepped up beside him and planted my feet in a wide stance with arms crossed over my chest. If a fight erupted, I would be throwing punches alongside him. I wouldn’t let him battle alone.
Worry and pride warred behind his irises, but he heeded my stubborn declaration. He dipped his chin slightly, then refocused on the wall of muscle impeding our path to freedom.
“I suggest you get out of the way.” Ben’s voice was controlled, even as the stress poured off him in waves.
Thing One grinned maliciously. “How about you keep your mouth shut and stop with the suggestions.”
Ben shrugged and cocked his head to the side, slipping his hands into his pockets in a casual stance like there was nowhere he’d rather be than here. “The suggestion was for your benefit, not mine. Now get out of our way before I make you.”
Thing One scowled at the threat while Pimples sniggered in delight. Thing Two seemed slightly confused over why we were having this altercation in the first place, but he was too much of a coward to say anything, going along with the crowd.
“I’m going to tell you one more time”—Ben’s voice dropped to subzero temperatures—“get the fuck out of our way.”
His use of the curse threw out any doubt I had over his current mood. He’d flipped his switch. He was no longer my Ben, my cute, occasionally infuriating boyfriend. No, he was now Homicidal Ben, cold, detached, and violent.
We were so getting expelled.
It was technically four to two, even if Eric hadn’t made himself a threat quite yet. Pimples was bigger than me, but I could probably take him. But that left Ben to face off with Things One and Two.
Not good odds, even for him.
Unconcerned at being outnumbered, Ben stepped nose-to-nose with Thing One. The bastard swallowed thickly in trepidation at the fury in my boyfriend’s eyes. I didn’t blame him. Ben could be terrifying when he wanted to be.
“Last chance. Move.”
“Boys, boys.” Eric pushed off the wall.
He smirked as he approached, and my stomach heaved when he winked. From the growl rumbling in Ben’s chest, he’d seen it, too. His body coiled.
I reached out and wrapped my fingers around his wrist to stop him from charging.
Tracking my movement, Eric’s eyes glazed over coldly before he adopted his bored stare once again. “Take a breath, Blondie. All you have to do is say please.”
“Beg me.” The memory filtered through my mind, and I ground my teeth. It was nothing but a power play, and I wanted to punch that smug expression from his face.
“Fuck you, Boyt. Call off your dogs.” Revulsion dripped from every word as Ben addressed my assailant.
Eric’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you’re in any position to be making demands, pretty boy.”
An evil smile slid over Ben’s face as his posture relaxed. “Keep calling me pretty, and I’m gonna start thinking you like me.”
My eyes widened in both shock and pride at his quick retort, and Eric bared his teeth. Cool as a cucumber, Ben sent Eric a slow wink. I almost peed my pants from a confusing mix of humor and fright.
Eric shoved Thing One and Thing Two out of his way, and I reacted on instinct. I shielded Ben with my body, my heart hammering inside my chest like a bass drum. Ben grabbed my arms roughly to yank me out of the way, but I stood my ground, refusing to be unseated.
The tension stretched as Eric stopped inches before us and glared first at me, then at Ben.
We waited, no one wanting to make the first move either in surrender or offense. Eric’s backup watched him for direction, and Ben shook behind me as he held himself back from laying into Eric with everything he had. He hated him almost as much as I did, maybe more.
Glowering at Ben, Eric broke the silent standoff. “You sure have a big mouth, Blondie. Almost as big as your little twink boyfriend.” He sent me a gleeful smirk, and my stomach filled with lead. “I have a feeling both are gonna get you into a lot of trouble one day.”
It was a barely veiled threat, and righteous anger boiled inside me until it burned away my fear.
I told him not to threaten Ben! He could play with me all he wanted, but I would not let him go after what was mine.
“Threaten him again, and I’ll carve your fucking heart out,” I seethed, ignoring Ben’s warning pinch on my biceps, and Eric’s eyes flared in delight.
Thing Two finally grew a pair and cleared his throat. “Guys, we’re gonna be late for practice again, and Coach will have our asses. Let’s just go.”
Eric and Ben glared at each other for another moment, and I grew impatient. “If you two are done comparing dick sizes, can we go?” I gave Eric a sugar-sweet smile, letting Ben’s presence and my own wrath fuel my unpredictable courage. “Hate to break it to you, honey, but he’s bigger than you are, and fighting about it won’t change that. So, shoo.”
I waved my hand at him like he was an annoying stray dog, and Ben choked on a strangled laugh.
Eric swelled, and I prepared for the impending explo
sion, praying I made it out of this alive. Oh, shit, he was going to destroy my face!
“Get to practice!” Eric barked at his three stooges, and they immediately obeyed.
As he backed away, my body slumped against Ben in relief. Ben prodded my back to get me moving. I forced my wobbly legs to step around a still-irate Boyt.
Was that it? Seriously?
The moment his friends were out of earshot, Eric dropped his voice to a whisper. “He sure looks good on his knees, doesn’t he, Blondie?”
Ben froze, his face emptying of every emotion that made him human. I dug my fingers into his forearm to stop the inevitable. I wasn’t strong enough. He shook me off easily.
“Ben, no!”
With a roar of fury, Ben charged Eric and tackled him to the floor like a pro-linebacker. They grappled on the tile, spitting curses at each other. Ben rolled on top of Eric and smashed his fist into his face once, twice. Bellowing, Eric used his weight to throw him off and punched him square in the jaw.
“Oh my God. Stop! Stop it!”
Eric’s entourage rushed to his aid, and I shoved aside my fear as I leaped in front of the wrestling duo. Fierce protectiveness flooded me, and the moment Pimples was within reach, I jabbed him in the face. His nose crunched as blood exploded from his nostrils like a fire hydrant.
He dropped to his knees, whimpering as his nose gushed like an open faucet, but I didn’t have time to bask in my victory as Thing One ripped Ben off of Boyt. My vision bled red as they ganged up on him. With a crazy war cry, I jumped on Thing One, tipping him off balance and freeing Ben.
Falling to the floor, I punched and kicked like a wild cat. I landed some good hits, but he was built bigger than me and easily overpowered me with his weight. My vision darkened and stars danced before my eyes when he caught me in the side of the head with his meaty fist.
“Not so tough without your cocksucker boyfriend.” He decked me again, and sharp pain crackled through my jaw and rattled my teeth.
My cheek swelled, and I cringed as he drew his fist back to break my face. He never got the chance. Dirty-blond hair filled my vision as someone joined the fray, tackling Thing One and liberating me. I gasped in oxygen, my body protesting as I staggered to my feet.
Every Hidden Truth (Far From Ruined Book 2) Page 8