LIFELINE (EASTVIEW HIGHSCHOOL)

Benjamin

Rings ring ring, the alarm clock buzzed waking Benjamin, he stood up lazily walking towards the bathroom to go and brush his teeth, I need to be early today he thought.

But why is he stressing himself out, he thought again.

Is it because that new girl is feeling all happy today? Well, I don't even like her guts even though her family doesn't look weird.

Why is she looking so thin? I thought they were rich?.

Benjamin why stress your brain for a girl that you barely know.

Thoughts kept on moving in and out of Benjamin's mind, that he didn't realize when he was done preparing for school.

“You're done already” He could hear his sister's voice.

“Well as you can see I am done ” he said, turning around for his sister.

He looked like her but he was taller than her, already had beards while she didn't, his eyes were darker than hers, and scars were on his face.

But the fact still remains that they look alike.

Benjamin became very reserved after his junior year when his parents divorced due to his mother's unfaithfulness, she would sleep around with different men, while their father would always cry while waiting for his wife to come home.

It continued it that manner till she asked for a divorce, since after the divorce his father became a full time business man, traveling from country to country, with no one to cater or take care of his children especially Benjamin who started to hate people especially women.

Right now Benjamin has everything he wants but he has no happiness, he has only his older sister at his side.

“Master” his driver called out as he parked at the school parking lot.

“Thank you," he said , stepping out of the car.

It was usual for people to stare at popular students when they just arrived at the school, and Benjamin was one of them.

People do wonder if he talked at home.

He went straight to his desk In the class bringing out his notes from his backpack.

Daniella prepared for school alongside prepared her mind for the worst that may occur at school.

As Daniella was still arranging herself her mother came in, “your hair looks tattered” She said pointing at Daniella's makeup table.

Daniella understood what her mother meant and she sat down there, “How was school yesterday?”Her mom asked her

“it was fine just that I received a lot of insults yesterday."

Daniella pouted her mouth after she was down talking “ I know things won't go well but it is normal for any new students, you will also experience the same thing, as you are experiencing now, as time goes on it will stop” Her said, parking up her hair.

“ I hope so,” Daniella said, waiting patiently for what her mother would say next.

“Daniella be careful not to cause another fight today, okay” Daniella's mom said while she was packing Daniella's hair.

“ I will try my best mom” Daniella assured her mom before leaving her mother left the room.

Nancy, and Benjamin are the only people I'll likely talk to, Daniella said to herself.

As she got into the car.

On reaching school Daniella went straight to her seat.

“Hi” she waved for Benjamin before taking her seat.

“Hi,” he replied.

I thought he wouldn't reply, she thought, let me see if I can bring up any tangible topic, she thought.

“You haven't told me about yourself can you please do?” she asked him, expecting him not to answer.

“Why do you need to know me ?” he asked her in curiosity.

“To know you better, as you understand someone sitting next to me,”she said, trying to act naturally.

“ I am Benjamin, I live with my sister and I love music ” he answered her, still concentrating on what he was doing.

“ Let me guess, you love sad music” she said smiling,

“Yeah, like how did you..”Benjamin asked in shock.

“My brother is just like you,”she said.

Benjamin almost forgot her brother was also like him, dumb brain why can't you think fast, he said in his mind.

“What made you an introvert?” Daniella asked as the question hit Benjamin hard, his face became gloomy, he bent his head not wanting to talk again.

Daniella noticed it, was it something that bad that caused it, that he doesn't want to talk about it.

She began to feel sorry for him.

“Am sorry, didn't mean to bring back your past memories” she said in a pitiful voice.

I asked too early , could've just waited for our relationship to at least stay a little bit longer, before I would have asked, Daniella lashed out in her mind.

“It's okay,” Benjamin said, focusing on what he was doing.

“Am really really sorry, you know different circumstances determine someone's character towards life, somebody who became a thief did not just wake up in the morning and choose stealing as a way of making ends meet” Daniella paused looking at his face with so much pity for him.

“Something led them there, that's why I asked you that question” She said with a smile on her face.

'Wow she really looks beautiful,’

Benjamin thought, his inner mind far from the world.

“Benjamin the math teacher is here.”

Daniella's voice brought him back.

‘Things will get bumpy because I don't really know what's going on in his mind to know what to say to him, or I will just keep quiet and wait for him to talk.’ Daniella thought in her mind.

What's up with this feeling, do I like her, or love her?’ Benjamin asked himself.

‘Will she like me too?, or will she get disgusted if I asked her out’ Benjamin kept on asking himself.

‘All I will do now will just be to tread carefully, try not to hurt her feelings and I'll just be patient.’ Benjamin thought with a smile.

'I just hope she won't be like mom' He thought, looking at her with a smile on his face.