[ untitled ] chapter 2

Entering Advanced Calculus, John sat behind Laila, as both seats beside her were taken. One by Ben, on by a friend of Ben's, Christian Johnson. Ben would not get away with this.1

Laila turned around, saw John, smiled and turned back to the front. Ben turned as well, and John gave him a threatening glare. Ben shuttered and turned to the front. John could see the fear and realized that he could not back out now. Christian glanced over at Ben's ashen face. With only a shared glance, Christian knew. He glanced back to John, who was looking forward, staring into the back of Laila's head. And Christian understood. Ben was in trouble if he stayed around Laila.2

Throughout the class, every time Ben or Christian looked behind them, they received the same glare from John. Christian met he gaze, seemingly unabashed, as it was not for him. Ben, however, was a different story. Every time, he sunk lower in his seat and turned pale. John felt bad for his actions, but still could not determine why. He had done the same thing to Ben and others as well, but this time...3

The bell rang for lunch, causing Ben to jump. All four threw their books into their bags. Christian held Ben back, told Laila they would catch up. John heard only a snippet of their whispered conversation before following Laila.4

"Stay away from her Ben. He means business."5

"I'm tired of it, Christian. I... I think I love her."6

"Ben, are you even listening to me? He. Will. Kill. You."7

John opened the classroom door and the two looked up. Their faces showed that they knew he had heard them. John walked out.8

"Laila! Hey, wait up! Laila!"9

Laila turned and stopped, waiting for John. She looked passed him toward the almost empty classroom.10

"Ben and Chris leave already?"11

"Ben and who? Oh. Christian. No. I just need to warn you. It's about Ben. Last year, he went out with a girl. His first girlfriend. And when it ended... Let's just say it wasn't pretty."12

"What happened?" She was falling for it. Now to make up a story...13

"Well first off, when they got together, he wasn't even the one to do the asking out. He's too much of a pansy for that."14

Laila rolled her eyes. "And who's the girl, by the way?"15

"Uh." He hesitated. Who would go along with this? "Lizzy. Elizabeth Walker. She's a friend of mine. That's how I know what really happened."16

"Did I hear my name, John?" Lizzy was walking by them when he said it. He hadn't noticed her. This would not be good.17

"Lizzy! Uh... I was telling Laila about the awful breakup between YOU AND HARPER." He stressed the last three words, praying she would catch on.18

She didn't. "I... I would never..." She caught John's eye and realized what was going on. They had pulled this one before. "You swore, John. You swore you'd never tell."19

John thanked Lizzy with his eyes. "I know, Liz. And I'm sorry. But Laila's been talking to him and... I'm worried about her."20

"Well, he's hardly asking me out or anything." Laila turned to Lizzy now. "So what happened?"21

Laila looked at John questioningly. 22

"All I told her was that you and Harper had a bad breakup. You tell her the rest. You'll get it better than I will." He looked at Lizzy again.23

Laila was looking intently at Lizzy as well. John silently pleaded with Lizzy to go along with it. She was much better of a gossiper and an actor than he.24

"Okay, fine. I'll tell her. But Laila, you'd better keep your mouth shut. If anyone finds out..."25

She kept her threat open. Meaning that Laila would ask about it from others. John smiled to himself. Operation "turn Laila against Ben" was in motion.26

"He asked me out in the tenth grade. I was a new girl to the school. So he offered to be my escort around the school. And he seemed like a nice enough guy, so I said I'd go with him. But after a month, I knew what a loser he was. So I tried ending things."27

Lizzy shuttered, as if her story were bringing memories to her. John watched with utter fascination. It was clear that Lizzy's four and a half years of theatre were coming through here.28

"But he wouldn't let me leave him." Tears formed in Lizzy's green eyes. "He... He raped me. He came to my house. My damn house. My parent's weren't home. And he raped me. Three weeks later, I started feeling sick, so I got myself tested. I was pregnant. Ben had already left me a week previously. I told him. And he told me that I'm a whore. That it wasn't his baby. I was so upset that I stopped watching where I was walking and... and I tripped and fell down the stairs. The baby... I miscarried. And he... And he... didn't even care that his baby had died."29

Lizzy dissolved into tears. Laila gave Lizzy a tight hug. John, standing out of Laila's sight, gave Lizzy a thumbs up. And Lizzy smiled back at him though her fake tears.30

Ben and Christian caught up at last. Christian was fuming and repeatedly shot Ben looks of anger. Laila gave Ben a look of loathing and walked away, arm-in-arm with Lizzy.31

John smirked at Ben.32

"Guess she's not interested, Harper." With another twinge of regret, he saw Ben's face fall. But he walked away, ignoring the sick feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. John could never admit regret. Never.