Chapter 7: Warning Signs
1521 Words
The entire group went quiet.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Benjamin was still looking at me, and I couldn't explain why the expression on his face made me feel uneasy.
It wasn't guilt.
It wasn't fear.
It was more like surprise.
As if he hadn't expected me to be there.
As if he hadn't wanted me to hear whatever had been said before I arrived.
The feeling lasted only a second.
Then Benjamin smiled.
The familiar smile returned so quickly that I almost wondered if I had imagined everything.
"Alicia."
He walked toward me.
Behind him, the other students exchanged glances.
I noticed one of the girls whisper something to another student.
Then they both looked at me.
My stomach tightened.
"You're early," Benjamin said.
"So are you."
"Couldn't sleep."
I nodded.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I glanced toward the group behind him.
"What were you guys talking about?"
Benjamin didn't even hesitate.
"Nothing important."
Something about the answer felt strange.
Not because of what he said.
Because of how quickly he said it.
Still, I let it go.
I wasn't the kind of person who enjoyed confrontation.
And honestly, I didn't want to ruin my mood before classes even started.
So I smiled.
Benjamin smiled back.
And together we walked toward the classroom.
Yet throughout the morning, the scene kept replaying in my head.
The laughter.
The sudden silence.
The way everyone had looked at me.
I told myself I was overthinking.
That explanation usually worked.
This time, it didn't.
---
At lunch, Benjamin seemed completely normal.
Maybe even happier than usual.
He joked about one of his teachers.
Complained about homework.
Tried convincing me that pineapple belonged on pizza.
It didn't.
And I told him so.
Repeatedly.
"You have terrible taste."
"I have excellent taste."
"You absolutely don't."
"I do."
"You don't."
"I do."
"You don't."
A nearby student turned around.
"Please stop."
Benjamin burst out laughing.
I couldn't help laughing too.
For a little while, my concerns disappeared.
Maybe I really had imagined things.
Maybe everything was fine.
Maybe—
"Alicia."
I looked up.
A girl I vaguely recognized from another class was standing beside our table.
She glanced at Benjamin.
Then at me.
Then back at Benjamin.
For some reason, she suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"Never mind."
Before I could respond, she turned and walked away.
I frowned.
Benjamin immediately changed the subject.
At the time, I didn't think much about it.
Later, I would wish I had.
---
That evening, I was doing homework when my phone buzzed.
A message from Benjamin.
Benjamin: I survived another day.
Me: Congratulations.
Benjamin: Thank you. It was very difficult.
Me: You had three classes.
Benjamin: Exactly.
I smiled.
Then another message appeared.
Benjamin: Who was that girl talking to you today?
I blinked.
Me: I don't know.
Benjamin: Really?
Me: Really.
There was a pause.
Then:
Benjamin: Good.
I frowned.
Me: Good?
A few seconds passed.
Benjamin: Forget it.
Something about the conversation felt odd.
But before I could think about it too much, he changed the topic.
By the end of the night, I had almost forgotten about it.
Almost.
---
The next week brought another strange moment.
It happened after History class.
I was gathering my books when two girls entered the room.
One of them smiled at me.
"Hey, Alicia."
I smiled back.
"Hi."
"You're really good at History, right?"
"I guess."
She laughed.
"Would you mind helping us study sometime?"
For a second, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Someone wanted to spend time with me?
Voluntarily?
I felt a small spark of excitement.
"Sure."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"That's great."
They exchanged smiles.
For the rest of the afternoon, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Maybe things were finally changing.
Maybe I was making friends.
Maybe—
"Alicia."
I turned.
Benjamin was walking toward me.
"What happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're smiling."
I laughed.
"Nothing."
"That's definitely not nothing."
So I told him about the girls.
The smile on his face faded slightly.
Only for a second.
But I noticed.
"That's nice," he said.
The words sounded right.
The tone didn't.
"Yeah."
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Just be careful."
I frowned.
"Careful?"
"People aren't always what they seem."
The comment surprised me.
"Maybe they genuinely want to be friends."
"Maybe."
"But?"
Benjamin looked away.
Then back at me.
"I don't know. I just don't trust people very easily."
At the time, his concern felt sweet.
Protective, even.
Now I know better.
---
A few days later, the girls never approached me again.
At first, I assumed they were busy.
Then I overheard one of them talking to someone in the hallway.
"...I don't want drama."
"What drama?"
"Never mind."
The moment she noticed me, she stopped talking.
My chest tightened.
I didn't understand.
What drama?
What had happened?
I considered asking.
I never did.
---
That Friday, Benjamin and I sat together outside after school.
The weather was warm.
The campus was quiet.
For a while, everything felt normal.
Then Benjamin asked a question.
"Do you trust me?"
The seriousness in his voice caught me off guard.
"What?"
"Do you trust me?"
I hesitated.
The answer should have been simple.
It should have been yes.
Instead, I found myself thinking.
Benjamin watched me carefully.
Finally, I nodded.
"I do."
His expression softened.
"Good."
Something about the conversation left me unsettled.
Not because of what he asked.
Because of how important the answer seemed to be.
---
That night, I couldn't sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, random moments replayed in my mind.
The laughter near the lockers.
The girl who had approached our table.
The way Benjamin seemed uncomfortable whenever other people tried talking to me.
The warning from the anonymous texts weeks ago.
Be careful who you trust, Alicia.
I rolled over in bed.
No.
I was being ridiculous.
Benjamin cared about me.
He made me happy.
He listened to me.
He understood me.
Didn't he?
Eventually, exhaustion pulled me toward sleep.
Just before I drifted off, my phone buzzed.
A new message.
Not from Benjamin.
An unknown number.
My heart immediately started racing.
Hands trembling slightly, I opened it.
There was only one sentence.
"Have you noticed how he doesn't like you talking to other people?"
I sat upright in bed.
A second message arrived.
"That's not an accident, Alicia."
- Writer
