Page 15 of Something Like Summer
“Well?” Mrs. Carrollinsisted with raised eyebrows.
Ben sighed. Some teacherswere happy to wordlessly issue a tardy or not bother about it atall. Others expected explanations and apologies.
“Sorry,” he panted. “Justcame from P.E. and Coach made me stay behind.” He doubted she wouldever check up on this. He took his seat before she could ask anymore questions. To his relief she resumed whatever lecture he hadinterrupted.
“Lose track of timeloitering in the showers?” whispered a snide voice from next tohim.
Ben looked over to thesneering, freckled face of Daniel Wigmore. He didn’t know how itwas possible, but Daniel had ended up sitting next to Ben in atleast one class every year, much to his chagrin. He had becomesomething of a ginger-headed nemesis. Daniel was one of thosestudents who took scholastic competition very seriously. He wasalways sure to flash his homework when he got “A’s,” which wasalways, and would speed through tests and slam his pencil down,surveying the class with a smug expression.
“Or did Coach ask you tostay behind and blow him?” Daniel pressed.
“Keep your fantasies toyourself, faggot.”
That wiped the grin offDaniel’s face. People never expected Ben to use a word like that.It was twice as effective coming from a gay guy, and more worryingtoo, thanks to the whole “takes one to know one”philosophy.
Daniel turned his attentionback to his obsession with perfect grades and left Ben to mentallyplan when he would skip school again. Technically he could leaveafter this class, but he knew it would probably be a badidea.
Third period Spanishdidn’t help his resolve any. There was a test that he had forgottento study for that he had surely failed, along with a few moresnickering uses of the wordmariposawhispered in hisdirection.
By lunch he was anxious togo and told Allison as much.
“Forget it!” she saidvehemently. “You can’t start ditching me at lunch for anyone, nomatter how hot they are. Besides, your absence didn’t go unnoticedin choir. You’re Mrs. Hammond’s star pupil. All of her hopes anddreams are being lived vicariously through you now. She practicallyorganized a search party when you didn’t show upyesterday!”
Allison might have beenexaggerating, but she did have a point. Mrs. Hammond was theteacher most likely to notice him not being there.
“What did you tell heryesterday?” Ben asked.
“That you weresick.”
“Well, tell her I am againtoday. Two days in a row isn’t so suspicious.”
Allison sighed and shookher head dramatically. “So what’s going on that you’re so excitedabout? Is Tim less straight than we initiallysuspected?”
“No, he’s straight allright, but--” Ben grasped for words but failed to find any thatsuited him. “I don’t know. I just like him, and taking care of himis sort of like playing house. It feels real, even if itisn’t.”
“So in other words, youare deluding yourself.”
“Maybe, but better animaginary romance than none at all.”
“I guess,” Allisonconceded. “I’m just worried that you are headed for a brokenheart.”
“Mm,” Ben repliednoncommittally. “What’s up with your heart lately?”
“You mean with Ronnie?” Asly smile crossed her face. “Things are going good. Very good. Hehas my class schedule memorized and keeps escorting me to each one.We still haven’t been on a proper date, though. Speaking of which,you and I are going to the movies on Saturday.”
“We are?” Ben hadn’tconsidered it, but this weekend he would finally be free to spendthe entire day and night with Tim. He didn’t want to brush Allisonoff for any reason, even his latest infatuation, but it might bethe only opportunity to spend an extended amount of time withhim.
“We are,” Allisonconfirmed. “At least that’s what I’m telling my dad. I need you tocover for me so Ronnie and I can go out. You’ll do that, won’tyou?”
“Yes!” Ben breathed a sighof relief. “That’s perfect, actually. I’ll be over at Tim’s untillate, so my parents will think I’m out with you. If your dad callsthen my parents will back up the story.”
Allison took a final biteof her sandwich and chewed thoughtfully before tossing theremaining crusts into the brown paper bag. “Who knows,” she saidwith a wicked grin, “maybe we’ll both be getting laid thisweekend.”
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Chapter 6
The week finally came to anend after a series of breakneck starts and whiplash stops. Themornings and afternoons spent with Tim went by in the blink of aneye, while the truncated school hours felt twice as long as theyhad before. Saturday came and Father Time, choosing perhaps to showmercy, steadied to a meandering pace that promised a long andsatisfying weekend.
