SWNOVELS Chapter 13 Unlucky
“Al, can you please let go of me?” I begged as we were just a few feet away from the door to what I assumed was our art classroom. She stopped dragging me and said, “Whoops, my bad, sorry.”
We then walked into class together, once inside, I noticed that the room was covered almost ceiling to floor with projects from former students. There were also mass-produced posters of famous artwork with facts along the walls. Even the door that had now closed behind us had a poster of Van Gogh’s Starry Night with some facts about the painting below it.
Al immediately darted for the second table at the far back right, on the teacher’s desk side. There weren’t any desks, just long black tables that honestly looked like they had seen a few art projects. I was hesitant at first, but she hissed, “Ben... what are you doing? Sit next to me already before Ethan gets here.”
I didn’t know who this Ethan person was, but I hurried over to Allison and sat down on the stool next to her. She immediately thanked me for “coming to my senses” and then picked up right where she left off, badmouthing Josh.
“Ugh, Josh is so annoying,” she said. “He never listens to anything I or you have to say. He’s so selfish, right?”
I wanted to change the subject by saying. “I know you’re upset, but can’t we just talk about something else? Maybe we could go do something fun, just the two of us, like we did on Saturday. That was fun, wasn’t it? Or maybe go somewhere different. What do you say?”
Before Allison could answer, the bell rang and class started. Mr. Santoro—at least I assumed that’s who the man with the green button-down shirt, gray hair at his temples, and white apron with splashes of bright colors was—started calling attendance. Once he had called everyone’s name, he said, “Good afternoon, everyone.”
The class responded in unison, “Good afternoon, Mr. Santoro.”
“I know you guys are probably excited about our watercolor unit today, but since you’ve all been so good, I decided to give you a free day to yourself instead.”
The class gasped in shock and started to murmur to themselves. Ally even asked me what that could mean. I just shrugged.
Mr. Santoro silenced the murmuring before it got out of hand. “Since you have a field trip to DC tomorrow, I thought you could all use a break today. So, you can either work on homework from other classes, talk amongst yourselves, or come talk to me if you want to play a board game that I have locked away in the cabinet. Just be quiet about it,” he added with a laugh as that was never going to happen.
I groaned. Of course, the one time I actually want to learn something, I get a free day instead. What is this, preschool? First it was the bickering that I had to tolerate in Social Studies, then lunch, and now this?!
Today is just not my day.
As the kids cheered and started reading, doodling, or whatever, I decided to get out an Apples to Apples board game. I hate to say it, but I’d rather be home playing video games or messing around with Megan right now.
The rest of the school day was pretty lame as Allison and I apparently had 8th period together too. Where she wouldn’t leave me alone, even though she had the option. It didn’t matter if I was the first one out the door either, she was always there. Once 8th period was finally over, I rushed to my locker to grab my jacket and helmet. Of course Allison had to bike home with me, since we’re “neighbors”.
I was so pissed, I could’ve either curled up in a ball and cried in my room or punched a wall. I was that upset. After I watched Allison make it home, it was my turn. The moment I put away my bike in the garage, along with that stupid helmet, I made a beeline for the door. The moment I closed the door, I saw Ben’s mom leaning over from the purple couch in the living room, wearing bleached mom jeans, white socks, and a flowery shirt. She was beaming at me with a huge smile. Then I saw her mute the TV and turn her head to ask me,
“So, how was your day?”
To which I rudely answered, “Horrible!” before stomping my way upstairs, down the hallway and slamming the door to Ben’s room. I tossed my backpack across the room and tried to calm myself down by punching the pillows like they were punching bags. After a few moments of rage, I sat on his bed and closed my eyes, hoping to get out of this kid’s body already.
I was in the middle of sulking when I heard the front door open. Megan’s happy, chirpy voice filled the house.
“Hey Mom, Hey Ben, I’m home!”
I heard some muffled voices, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Then I heard Megan ask,
“Where’s Ben? He’s too quiet. Is he in the kitchen?”
Her mom answered,
“No, Meggie, he’s in his room. Things didn’t play out the way he hoped with Al and Josh and he’s quite upset about it.”
“Ahh, I see. I’ll check up on him.”
A few seconds later, I heard Megan’s loud footsteps marching into my room. She knocked twice on the door and asked if she could come in.
“Sure,” I called out.
She came in and for the first time ever, referred to Ben by his actual name instead of a stupid pet name.
“What happened at school today, Benjamin?”
I looked down at the floor. “A lot of things.”
“Like what?” She asked as she jumped on my bed. “I’m not mom, you can tell me.” as I felt her patting my back like the small child I was.
I looked up at her and answered,
“Well, I learned why Al is so mad at Josh, it’s because Brittney told her a complete lie that Josh had told as a way to break us up.”
Her jaw dropped, so I took that as my chance to say, “I had the same reaction. I tried to convince Josh to apologize so they could be friends again, but it just made things worse.” To my surprise, she started laughing. I was pissed. In my most vulnerable moment, all she could do was laugh? Realizing her mistake, she explained, “That’s not how life works, Ben. You can’t just change someone to benefit you.” She paused to think of another way to get me to agree with her, and then asked, “If you were in Josh’s shoes, would you tell someone to apologize even though you know you didn’t say anything wrong even if it’s for the greater good?”
“No but—” she cut me off mid-sentence and said,
“See, you would’ve done the same thing too.” Megan then took another pause to lick her bright pink lips and moved closer to me on the bed and asked,
“Who would you want by your side if it came down to it?” She then paused to catch her breath and said, “Allison or Joshua?”
I didn’t say a word and just stood there in silence looking at my legs. Megan tried to cheer me up by saying,
“Benjamin, look at me. It’s okay if you’re embarrassed or afraid too. I understand.” I then looked at her and immediately blurted out “Josh.” then quickly explained that “He’s the best player two I could ever ask for and is hilarious but then there’s Allison who is sweet and I love biking with her. Do I really have to be the one to choose?” I then began to raise my voice.
Megan noticing my distress calmed me down by asking,
“Ben, relax. I didn’t say you can’t choose to keep both of them. Did I?” Oh my god, she was right, but I didn’t say that to her. Instead, I listened more to what she had to say and was mesmerized as she suggested, “If that’s what you want, then by all means, go ahead, but here’s a little heads up. It won’t be so easy. I mean have you even told them how you feel about all of this? Making you choose sides?”
“No. Not yet but–.”
She interrupted me and said,
“Then that’s a good place to start on your little quest of keeping them together.”
She then looked me dead in the eyes and said deadpanned,
“The Harper family never gives up without a fight. You are a Harper, aren’t you?” I looked at my mirror for a few seconds unsure of what to say until she asked again, “Well, aren’t you?” “Yeah, I am” I answered with zero hesitation.
“Good. I was getting worried. Now act like one.” she demanded. “If I were in your shoes, I would tell them how you feel right away and definitely, definitely before your little DC trip is over.”
“What happens if I don’t do it by then?” I worryingly asked.
“Let’s put it this way. If you don’t speak up about this before the field trip is over, you can say that your little friendship with Ally and Josh is officially…”
“GAME OVER!”
“Game Over? Are you sure?”
I asked, worried of that being a possibility. She nodded. Usually, I take my sweet ass time with things like this but I guess after changing history as Gary Walter, the fog is done giving me freebies.
“So that’s where I come in.” I blurted out. Realizing my real mission for being here.
“Yes. You’re the perfect kid for it and—.”
“That’s a lie.” I interrupted her to say. I then turned away from her and looked the other way. There was a long awkward silence until I said, “I’ve tried everything so far but nothing seems to be working.”
Megan groaned almost as if she was disappointed in my answer and replied,
“Look, Al and Josh are your bestest friends in the whole wide world, right?”
I nodded and said, “The best.”
“Your friends care about you, Benji. Especially Allison. They listen to you, but you gotta stand up to Josh. Don’t let him walk all over you.” Megan tapped my forehead a few times. “And make sure you have proof of Brittney’s meddling or get her to confess somehow. It’s the only way Allison will ever believe you.”
“But I don’t know what to say,” I confessed, letting out a few tears.
“It will come to you, Benji. Don’t worry, I have a feeling it will.” Megan smirked and hugged me tightly. When she thought I was done being smothered, she sweetly whispered in my ear, “Things will get better, I promise.”
She pulled away and I said, “Wait.”
She turned around and I softly spoke, “Megan, before you go, thanks for everything. I-I really mean it. Love you.”
“Awww, I love you too, Benji.” She was clearly touched by what I had said, as I guess he doesn’t say that to her too often. “Anytime, Ben, anytime.” She said before leaving my room and to my own devices.