Page 88 of Bullied By The Bad Boy

Forty-Nine

I’m waitingfor Ben in my car when the dashboard vibrates. It has to be Lett. I brought the phone to school today. A door slams shut as I open the glove compartment to retrieve the phone. I want to be mad at Lett for taking this long to reply, but I want to hear from a male. He doesn’t know Ben, so he might be more objective. I toss my school bag on the backseat and slide to the front to wait for Ben.

Lett: Asking him out doesn’t make you desperate.

Me: Maybe but I’m not asking him out. My best friend says it’s the man’s job and I agree with her. I even asked him what we were and he didn’t give me a definite answer.

Two minutes later and he hasn’t replied.

Me:I don’t want to push him away.

Lett: Baby steps. Let him do it at his own pace.

Lett:If he doesn’t like you, he won’t be kissing you that much. Boys don’t kiss just any girl. I know I don’t. I kiss this girl because I like her and she likes me back.

Lett:Take this time to get to know him, kay? What if you find out he dips his fry in his latte before eating it? Then you are stuck with that kind of person as your boyfriend.

Laughter trickles from my lips as I read the last line. I mentioned that I hated it once. It is almost as bad as dipping your toast in your coffee. Only witches do that. My insides hurt from laughing too hard, and my hair falls over my face. Lett might be correct, but I still want Ben to ask me out.

Me:Guess you are kind of right. Do you think people can change? From asshole to nice guy?

Lett:Some. My girl says I have to earn her forgiveness because I was a little bit of an ass.

Me:A little? Lol. That sounds like something I’ll say.

Lett:You must be a smartass then. Maybe do the same? Let him earn this spot in your heart.

Me:I think I’ll do that. Thanks. How have you been?

Lett:Good. Very good, actually. I saw your letter. Sorry it took so long to get to it. I’ll reply soon.

His tone sounds promising. I want to know more about his girl. We haven’t spoken in weeks, and I miss my penfriend. Owning two phones is tricky. Sometimes, I forget I have the Sony because it’s reserved for only Lett. The other one has to always be available because Ben loves texting.

Am I supposed to tell Ben about Lett? No. We are not official yet. Baby steps like Lett said.

Me:Have you started applying for colleges?

Lett:Not yet, have you?

Yes.

Me:Not yet

Maria storms toward my car, and I pocket the phone before her arrival. She knocks on my window. I roll it down, and she eyes me warily, pursing her lips as she takes in my appearance.

“Where’s loverboy?”

Lunch with both of them was tolerable today. She will come around. “Inside. He will be out in a bit.”

A gust of cold air rushes into the car through the open window, and my eyes dart to the entrance to seek Ben. I roll up the window and unlock the passenger door for Maria. She flicks through radio channels to fill the silence as the awkwardness drags into something more unfamiliar. I don’t wait for my best friend to ask before telling her everything about the night my relationship with Ben changed. From the fight at Asher’s game after he saw me on Brian’s lap to his reaction to knowing I made his birthday cake.

Maria sighs a lot, but she never interrupts me, even at the mention of Brian. We both knew him.

I finish with a shaky smile and take her hand. “You have to give Ben a chance to prove himself.” That sigh again. It spurs my heart into overdrive, making me defensive. My best friend tilts her head to one side, and her gaze sweeps over me. “Benny—Ben is not bad, I swear. Maria Vega.”

Maria laces our fingers. “Are you sure you are doing the right thing, Tessa?” I don’t know, but I nod. I think I am. Ben likes me. “I don’t trust that guy, but I’ll try to be nice. Be careful, okay?”

“I will,” I say with a firm resolve.

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