constricts, and even though I try to speak, I can barely breathe.
He smiles at me gently. “And you’ve broken into mine.”
Did he just say what I think he said?
The door to the stairwell swings open with a loud screech and bangs when Matt rushes out onto the roof. I stare at him in shock, but when my gaze returns to Ben, he’s already replaced his lenses and stands stiffly. His usual stoic mask has been replaced.
“I knew I’d find you guys up here.” Matt smiles in triumph, even though it doesn’t reach his eyes.
My breath finally returns. “Why were you looking for us?”
Matt shrugs and says, “Well, your clothes are dry.”
The wind picks up again and swirls around my hair, sending the dry strands into my face, while the wet ones chill the back of my neck. I pull the hair from my lips. “Thanks, Matt.”
We start back downstairs together, Matt in the lead and Ben in the rear. When we reach the third floor, and start for the door of their apartment, Matt turns and says, “This was actually really fun. We should hang out more often.”
I furrow my brows. “Why would a senior want to hang out with a couple of juniors?”
He shrugs and sidles up closer to me. “Well, I really meant only you.”
Behind me, Ben growls. Literally. Both Matt and I shoot a look back at him, but his expression is just the usual hard, but bored look he seems to have cultivated. He’s not even looking at either of us, but cuts between us and opens the door.
Matt and I stand in the hallway for a second, both of us still in shock at the sound we’d heard. Finally, I say, “I’m not interested in switching teams. But thanks for the offer.” And then I duck inside the apartment.
Sunday I spend the whole day with my mom, like I always do. The Browns text me a few times to let me know that they’ve taken Tasha off the medication, but she hasn’t woken yet. Mom and I clean the house from top to bottom while Rob spends the morning fishing with his buddies and then the afternoon playing cards. By the time he gets home at nine p.m., I’m totally shut up in my room as always, and watching Netflix until midnight.
On Monday morning I drag myself out of bed and getting on with my usual routine. I rush into the kitchen and nearly fall over myself when I see Ben sitting in the chair at the table with my mom. My heart leaps.
“Hey,” I say awkwardly.
Ben has my dad’s Hawaiian print coffee mug in his hands. It’s the one I drink from. His false brown eyes meet mine, and a smile tucks the corner of his mouth as he says, “Hey.”
A wide grin spreads across Mom’s face. “When I found Ben lurking in the hallway as Rob was leaving, I invited him in.”
“Awesome.” I croak out the word. That was at least ten minutes ago. I take a deep breath and try to play it cool. “So, Ben, have you eaten breakfast yet.”
His facial expression is so soft that it’s throwing me off guard. Usually he’s so stiff and formal…except when we’re on a roof somewhere. “Thanks, your mother offered me breakfast, but I’ve already eaten.”
I nod and head for the cabinet over the toaster. My heart is beating so fast still that I’m having a hard time recovering from this shock. I grab a bowl and the cinnamon toast cereal. Heat prickles up my neck.
“So Ben tells me that your class schedules are similar.”
“Hmmm,” I say, trying to stay noncommittal. The cereal plays a quick tinkling tune against the bottom of my bowl. My heart rate slows to a manageable level while I pour the milk.
“He says that he’s not having the easiest time in geometry. Maybe you could help him with that.”
I take a mouthful of cereal, turn around, and shrug. With my mouth still full, I say, “Maybe.”
My mother stares at me with her eyes half lidded. I look away from her and shovel another bite in my mouth. This whole thing is just too awkward for me. Ben and I hadn’t really talked since Saturday on the roof. Even
He smiles at me gently. “And you’ve broken into mine.”
Did he just say what I think he said?
The door to the stairwell swings open with a loud screech and bangs when Matt rushes out onto the roof. I stare at him in shock, but when my gaze returns to Ben, he’s already replaced his lenses and stands stiffly. His usual stoic mask has been replaced.
“I knew I’d find you guys up here.” Matt smiles in triumph, even though it doesn’t reach his eyes.
My breath finally returns. “Why were you looking for us?”
Matt shrugs and says, “Well, your clothes are dry.”
The wind picks up again and swirls around my hair, sending the dry strands into my face, while the wet ones chill the back of my neck. I pull the hair from my lips. “Thanks, Matt.”
We start back downstairs together, Matt in the lead and Ben in the rear. When we reach the third floor, and start for the door of their apartment, Matt turns and says, “This was actually really fun. We should hang out more often.”
I furrow my brows. “Why would a senior want to hang out with a couple of juniors?”
He shrugs and sidles up closer to me. “Well, I really meant only you.”
Behind me, Ben growls. Literally. Both Matt and I shoot a look back at him, but his expression is just the usual hard, but bored look he seems to have cultivated. He’s not even looking at either of us, but cuts between us and opens the door.
Matt and I stand in the hallway for a second, both of us still in shock at the sound we’d heard. Finally, I say, “I’m not interested in switching teams. But thanks for the offer.” And then I duck inside the apartment.
Sunday I spend the whole day with my mom, like I always do. The Browns text me a few times to let me know that they’ve taken Tasha off the medication, but she hasn’t woken yet. Mom and I clean the house from top to bottom while Rob spends the morning fishing with his buddies and then the afternoon playing cards. By the time he gets home at nine p.m., I’m totally shut up in my room as always, and watching Netflix until midnight.
On Monday morning I drag myself out of bed and getting on with my usual routine. I rush into the kitchen and nearly fall over myself when I see Ben sitting in the chair at the table with my mom. My heart leaps.
“Hey,” I say awkwardly.
Ben has my dad’s Hawaiian print coffee mug in his hands. It’s the one I drink from. His false brown eyes meet mine, and a smile tucks the corner of his mouth as he says, “Hey.”
A wide grin spreads across Mom’s face. “When I found Ben lurking in the hallway as Rob was leaving, I invited him in.”
“Awesome.” I croak out the word. That was at least ten minutes ago. I take a deep breath and try to play it cool. “So, Ben, have you eaten breakfast yet.”
His facial expression is so soft that it’s throwing me off guard. Usually he’s so stiff and formal…except when we’re on a roof somewhere. “Thanks, your mother offered me breakfast, but I’ve already eaten.”
I nod and head for the cabinet over the toaster. My heart is beating so fast still that I’m having a hard time recovering from this shock. I grab a bowl and the cinnamon toast cereal. Heat prickles up my neck.
“So Ben tells me that your class schedules are similar.”
“Hmmm,” I say, trying to stay noncommittal. The cereal plays a quick tinkling tune against the bottom of my bowl. My heart rate slows to a manageable level while I pour the milk.
“He says that he’s not having the easiest time in geometry. Maybe you could help him with that.”
I take a mouthful of cereal, turn around, and shrug. With my mouth still full, I say, “Maybe.”
My mother stares at me with her eyes half lidded. I look away from her and shovel another bite in my mouth. This whole thing is just too awkward for me. Ben and I hadn’t really talked since Saturday on the roof. Even
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