^^Abigail Pierce

Benjamin dragged Toby and me to the nearest girls' bathroom and ordered the ones inside to leave. I gawked at the girls as they fled without complaining.

"Do you have an extra shirt?" Benjamin asked, motioning towards my sticky uniform.

"No. But I'll ask Chloe. I'm sure she'll have something."

"Then call her." I took my phone out and called Chloe but she didn't pick up, so I texted her about my situation. I glanced up from my phone and saw Benjamin leaning on the counter and Toby stood near the door.

"Are you going to stay?" I asked, awkwardly shifting in my place.

"Does it matter if we do?" Benjamin arched his brow.

"You shouldn't be here," I said, clenching Toby's uniform jacket close to me. "It's the girls' bathroom. You can get in trouble-"

"Do you really think my mom has the guts to expel me because I entered the girls' bathroom?" Benjamin scoffed, crossing his arms.

I forgot his mother was the principal.

"No, she won't," I answered, adjusting my glasses. Because of the soda, they were dirty and I couldn't see properly so I moved toward the counter and wiped my glasses with tissues.

I glanced up and saw Toby and Benjamin eyeing each other like they were using telepathy.

"We should have gone with my plan." Benjamin finally spoke. "Then this wouldn't have happened."

Toby scoffed. "Like cutting off her tongue was a good idea."

"What?!" I clasped my hand over my mouth and gaped at Benjamin. "That was your idea?"

He wouldn't have seriously done that... right?

Benjamin gave me a half-shrug. "It was better, and that way I wouldn't ever have to worry about you going around babbling about this and you could have avoided Gabrielle."

"It isn't her fault that your ex is after her, Ben." Toby snapped.

I darted between them as they glared at each other. The air inside the bathroom suddenly got tensed, and I felt tension radiating from them.

"You are right." Benjamin gave him a tight smile. "It's not her fault, it's mine."

Toby sighed. "Ben I didn't say-"

"No, it is my fault," Benjamin repeated, pointing at himself. "It's my fault that my ex and my friends are after her. It's my fault that I called you that day at the library because I f**king missed you all break. It's my fault that she caught us and it's my fault that I'm keeping this a secret because I'm a f**king coward!" Benjamin fumed, all in a single breath.

I swallowed, frozen in my place, and observed him as his chest rose and fell. There was pin-drop silence, and only Benjamin's harsh breath was heard.

Toby closed his eyes and slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Ben-"

"Forget it," Benjamin growled and left the bathroom, closing the door with a bang.

I stared at Toby as he ran fingers through his hair in frustration. I opened and closed my mouth, not sure if I should question him because I didn't want to intrude.

"Are you guys... Alright?" I asked in a low voice.

"Yeah." He massaged his forehead. I quietly stood there playing with my fingers, not knowing what to do. After a minute, Toby mumbled. "Actually No we're not ok."

"Want the talk about it? I'm a good listener." I offered, wearing my glasses.

He gave me a sad smile, leaning his back to the wall beside the door, and slid to the floor.

"Brittany is throwing their birthday party this Saturday and Ben invited me... but I said no."

"Why?" I tilted my head.

"Because I don't enjoy going to the parties her sister throws."

"But Benjamin is inviting you so go-"

"There's no use Lilly. It's not like we can be together at the party since we're in a 'secret'-" he air quoted, "-relationship and I can't watch other girls flirting with him while I stood in the corner like an idiot."

"Did you mention this to Benjamin?"

He nodded. "Ben invited me last night, and I said no but he kept forcing me. I snapped and told him all this and that made him angry and now he thinks it's his fault..." He trailed off.

"Because he hasn't come out." I finished for him, and he nodded.

I leaned my hip to the counter and scrutinized Toby. "How did you know you're gay?"

He glanced at me and gave me a lopsided grin. "How did you know you're straight?" He reversed the question.

"Because... I'm interested in guys..." I answered, not sure if it was the right one.

"You have your answer." He smiled. I returned his smile and curiously asked him about Benjamin.

"How did Benjamin and you get together?"

He chuckled. "That's a long story."

"I have nothing to do." I shrugged. "But you don't have to tell me if you don't-"

"I had a crush on Ben since we were kids." He said, cutting me off. "Our moms are friends so we used to play together when we were kids..." He smiled, glancing down, then frowned. "But when his parents got divorced Ben got to live with his dad because of that we couldn't meet. He became distant at school too and then he got into high school while I was still in junior high so we lost contact."

I quietly stood and watched Toby as he continued.

"When I entered high school Ben was in sophomore and there were rumors around him and Gabrielle everywhere. They broke up in freshman but Gabrielle was sure that they will get back together. I tried to keep my mind off him but it got hard since I saw him every day at school. I was open from the beginning and everyone mocked for that but whenever someone did that in front of Ben he would stop them." He smiled at the memory.

"I thought he didn't recognize me at first but when I went to some party and saw Ben alone there, I went to him and he knew who I was, which made me hopeful. I don't know if it was alcohol that gave me the courage but I grabbed his face and kissed him."

I gasped. "You kissed him?!"

"Yeah." He cracked up. "I still can't believe I did that, but I'm glad that I did. Ben froze, and I thought I messed it but then he kissed me back."

"Really?!" He beamed and nodded. "Then what happened?"

"He backed away after a few seconds and looked at me with his wide blue eyes. He was confused at what happened then he left me sitting there alone." Toby sighed. "Next day he came to me saying that he was drunk and whatever happened was a mistake so I should forget about it."

"What did you do?"

"I let him go." He gave me a half-shrug. "I knew he was confused, so I gave him some space. But I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss and how incredible it felt." He looked up with his sparkling brown eyes. "I experienced nothing that good and I knew he felt it too, but he kept ignoring it. I let him be but when I found he was going on a 'double date'-" he air quoted, "-with Andrew I went to Ben and told him not to go."

"He listened to you?"

"No." He shook his head. "I tried everything and blurted my guts out that how much I liked him but he refused to acknowledge it and went to that double date."

"He seems stubborn," I said.

"He is," Toby confirmed. "But I'm glad he went to it."

"Why?" My brows knitted in confusion.

"Because that date convinced him he's not into girls." Toby grinned. "The same night he went on his double date, he came to my house and told me it was a failure. We sat in my house and talked about things..." He waved his hands, "... related to gay stuff and he asked how I came out and everything. Then we kissed again." Toby's lips stretched into a grin. "And it was amazing."

"You got together after that?"

"We were kind of." I frowned and let him continue. "I mean there were kisses here and there but we weren't exactly together because Ben wasn't ready to come out."

"Why isn't he ready to tell everyone about that?"

"It's his father." Toby scowled. "He's afraid of what his friends might think but his father is the real reason."

I knew little about his father but Mr. Forbes is a wealthy business manager, top in the hierarchy of West Hills, according to Chloe.

"After his mother left him and his sister, they stayed with their dad, who is a toxic person. He used to beat Ben whenever he was drunk and blamed the twins for why their mother left them."

"Did they complain?"

"They had no one to tell, and it's not like anyone would have believed them because Mr. Forbes has a good status in West Hills and a lot of connections. Brittany tried to tell people once, but no one believed them and their dad punished them for that." He grimaced.

I couldn't even imagine how a father could be this cruel. I'm fortunate my dad wasn't anything like that he always loved my mom, Luke, and me.

"How did you convince him to date you?"

"It wasn't easy." He huffed. "Ben is so hard to break, he didn't want to start something because he wasn't ready to come out so I offered him to keep our relationship a secret." He smiled. "At first he was against it but then finally after days of torture he agreed and we have been together since then."

"How long is it been?"

"We have our second anniversary next month." He gave me a toothy grin that made me giggle.

"I'm happy things worked out for you."

"Me too." We both gave each other smiles, and that's when the door burst open, and angry Chloe entered.

"I'm going to kill that bit*h for what she did to you!" She gasped and looked at me from head to toe. "My poor baby!"

I angled my face towards the mirror and saw myself. My hair stuck everywhere on my face and it was still red.

"Mama is here." Chloe cooed and hugged me tightly. "Don't worry. Mama will take revenge on those bit*hes for you." She said, patting my head.

We heard Toby laugh from behind and turned towards him.

"What is he going here?" Chloe whispered to me, then narrowed her eyes at Toby. "What are you doing here?"

"I was helping Lilly." He answered.

Chloe let go of me and put her hands on her hips, glaring at Toby. "I know you're gay -which I have no problem with- but that doesn't give you the right to enter the girls' bathroom." Chloe scolded him.

"Fine, I'm leaving." He chuckled and turned to leave, but I stopped him.

"Thanks for the jacket." I smiled and gave him his jacket.

"No worries." He winked and left us.

"Since when did you two become friends?" Chloe asked, tilting her head.

I averted my eyes from her and think of an answer. "I sat with him at lunch today because you weren't there," I answered, which was the truth.

Her gaze softens, and she looked guilty. "I'm so sorry for what happened. Tiana left us saying we should do the stretches and-"

"You don't need to explain." I smiled.

"Still, I'm sorry." She pouted. "I promise I'll make it up to you. Here's my shirt." I gaped at the pink t-shirt she extended towards me. "This is the only one I have." She smiled sheepishly.

"We're not allowed to wear anything except the school uniform."

"It's alright." Chloe waved her hand and thrust me her shirt. "It's an emergency I'm sure they won't mind."

I sighed and took the shirt from her. After changing into the stall, I came out and washed my face.

"I heard how Benjamin saved you." Chloe gave me a sly grin.

"Ok..." I trailed off, not sure where she was going.

"Oh, come on Lilly!" she whined. "First the stalking and now saving you like a knight in shining armor from his ex. The guy likes you!"

I coughed, adjusting my glasses. "I don't think that's the case-"

"Fine, don't believe me." She huffed, crossing her arms. "But after a month or so when you'll two be together I'm going to say 'I told you so'."

I chuckled, and we went to our class as the bell rang. It'll be awkward to sit with a pink shirt in class but I survived humiliation in the cafeteria I'm sure I can survive this too.

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~

As soon as the last bell rang, I strolled outside the high school. The rain had ended now, but the sky was still filled with grey clouds. I sighed and stepped down the stairs towards my car, avoiding the wet ground.

A girl in a pink shirt caught my attention, and I turned my head and observed her as she lumbered with her head down. Everyone watched her and made fun of her, but no one dared to tease her because they were aware of Ben's wrath. She circled the corner, and I unconsciously followed her.

After the event at lunch, when Ben walked out with Toby and Lillian, Brittany was fuming. She kept rambling about how Ben is changing and avoiding her because of Lillian. I tried to calm her down and told her I'll talk to Ben but she dismissed it and said she is going to plan herself.

I watched Lillian as she took out the only bicycle on the stand. She looked sad, but I was impressed that she didn't burst to cry after what Gabrielle did to her.

Gabrielle was harsh, and what she did wasn't right, but I never imagined Brittany to call her nemesis to help her. Brittany is unpredictable, you never know what she's up to and what's going in her head.

I felt bad for Lillian even though I'm curious about what was going on between her and Ben but that doesn't mean she had to go through that. I mid-paused in my steps and frowned.

The hell am I feeling sorry for?!

I did nothing wrong!

I stepped back but my foot splashed in the water on the ground and that made Lillian's shoulders tense. I quickly hid behind a nearby tree. Peeking through it, I saw her looking around. She then shrugged her shoulders and mounted her bike and rode towards the main road.

I blew a breath and felt my heart thumping in my chest.

What the f**k?

Why am I feeling so nervous?

I heard a familiar voice calling my name and groaned.

I'm not in the mood for her!

I ignored Fiona and lurched towards my car and drove towards my home.

"I'm home!" I announced as I stepped inside my house.

"We're here!" I smiled at my little sister's voice and went to the kitchen.

I have two siblings. An older brother, Austin, who is going to graduate with a Law degree this year, and a younger eight-year-old sister.

Yup, I'm the middle child.

Lucky me.

"Andrew look, look!" My sister bounced on her seat at the dining table. "I got an A on my math test!" I smiled at the test report she showed me.

"That's great!" I exclaimed and kissed her head. "You're getting smarter like your big brother."

"You mean Austin. He's the only smart brother I have." She teased, blinking at me with her innocent blue eyes.

"Are you calling me dumb?" I fake glared at her.

"You're the one putting words in my mouth." She answered in a monotone.

"I'll teach you who is smarter." I picked her up and started tickling her.

"AAAA... ST-STOP!" She giggled uncontrollably. "M-MOM HELP!"

"Let her go, Andrew." I stopped at my mom's voice and turned to see her getting a tray out of the oven.

"Mom's mad at you," Abigail whispered to me as I put her back in her seat.

"Why?" I asked, and she shrugged.

I walked toward the counter and watched as she put another cookie tray in the oven. My mom is the nicest person anyone could meet, and she doesn't get angry easily, but if she's mad at me, that meant I did something bad.

"That smells good," I said, picking up the hot cookie but my mom smacked my hand. "Ouch!" I pouted, rubbing my hand. "What was that for?"

"Don't act innocent in front of me Andrew." She said sternly, putting her hands on her hips.

The sight of my mom frowning at me in a pink apron with 'I'm a hot chocolate bomb kind of mom' written over it made me snicker. But when she raised her brows, I cleared my throat and stood straight.

"I have no idea what I did." I shrugged, eyeing the cookie and licking my lips.

They look delicious.

"I went to my book club today." She said, crossing her hands. "And Mrs. Derek was there."

"Good..." I murmured and extended my hand to pick a cookie, but she moved the tray away from me.

"She told me what you did with her daughter." I scrunched my face in confusion, and she continued. "Velma? The girl you were dating and broke up with on your first day of school." She said, trying to jog my memory.

"Oh, Velma..." I scratched my head, avoiding eye contact with her.

"Yes, Velma! Mrs. Derek was so sad and she told everyone in the club about how you brutally broke her daughter's heart." I scoffed.

"She's exaggerating-"

"She isn't the only one who complained. You remember Alexa?" I slowly nodded my head. She was the girl I dated in sophomore. "Her mother also complained and all the others who got heartbroken by you. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is for me?" She huffed.

"It's not my fault that they are so clingy and fragile." I defended myself.

"Of course they are fragile." Mom empathized. "They are young girls in love and the guy they like breaking their heart-"

"Mom!" I snorted. "They are not in love. It's called lust. You should know the difference by now."

"What's lust?" My sister perked from her seat.

Mom glared at me with wide eyes, and I sheepishly smiled at her. I forgot Abigail was still sitting with her ears focused on our conversation.

"It's a...a kind of feeling you have for someone...but you shouldn't have because it's...it's bad for you." Mom awkwardly tried to explain to her. "Like your feelings for Nate."

I groaned and rubbed my hands on my face. Abigail has been crushing on Nate and always goes around saying she will marry him when she grows up.

"But they are not bad." Abigail pouted. "I love him and I'm going the marry him when I'll grow up and we'll live like Cinderella and Prince charming minus the stepmom and sisters..."

Here we go again.

I rolled my eyes and glanced at my mom, who watched her daughter awestruck and didn't look mad anymore.

I leaned over and finally snatched the cookie. Mom gasped and turned the tray behind her. "You're not allowed to eat it, young man!"

"Oh, come on, Mom, just let it go. It's a high school thing and this happens all the time." I gave her a toothy grin, taking the bite of the cookie.

"You can't go around playing with girls like that, Andrew!" She scolded.

"I'm just having fun." I shrugged. "If I'm not allowed to have fun now then when will I?" She opened her mouth. "When I'm Dad's age?" I added.

"Don't drag your Dad into this." She narrowed her eyes at me. "He wasn't like you."

"You don't even know how he was," I smirked and kissed her cheek. "I'm going to my room now," I said and dashed out of the kitchen, but slowed down when she continued.

"There is this thing called Karma, Andrew! Someday a girl will break your heart as you do with others!" I chuckled, shaking my head, and replied to her as I walked up the stairs to my room.

"There's no girl in this world strong enough to break my heart!"