#benb

JASPER- Hey Elise! “

She just walks by without responding.

JASPER- “Why is she so hot, yet so stuck up? She could have at least said hi back.”

CHAD- “Maybe because you are just not her type?

BEN- “Some girls are like that. Unless you play sports, or have money they aren’t interested. Isn’t that your brother over there, Chad? He keeps staring at me.” 

CHAD- “Yeah, that’s Daryl. So speaking of sports, you played football at your old high school, right?”

BEN- “Yeah, played Varsity Quarterback since my freshman year. Went to state twice.”

JASPER- “Wow, Varsity in your freshman year? You must be really good. You should try out for the team here!”

BEN- “Yeah, but Newcrest already has a Quarterback, Chad here, right?”

JASPER- “But Chad doesn’t sound as good as you!”

You woke up early that morning with the intention of making a breakfast for you and Ben. He had to wake up soon in order to get to an audition, so an early breakfast was just what you thought he would be needing. It started with a battle to escape his arms and then go down to the kitchen but you managed and he continued to snore lightly.

You went down to the kitchen and hummed as you started mixing together ingredients for an omelette. You were whisking when you heard a frustrated groan and then footsteps coming towards the kitchen. Ben came in, hair everywhere, and not looking happy.

“Why did you leave?” He questioned.

“I’m surprising you with breakfast.” You explained, showing him the chopped up peppers, onions and ham. He did immediately calm down and gave you his puppy dog eyes.

Finally Winter break was over and Spring was in the air, and the students at Newcrest High were itching to get out of class and be in the sunshine. And it was only the first day back!!

MS. LLANGEVIN - “Welcome back everyone! Hope you all had a great holiday vacation! Before we get started, I want to introduce a new student here with us today. Benjamin Baldwin. Benjamin, if you don’t mind come on up here and tell us all about you!!”

As he get’s up to go to the front of the class, Daryl’s friend Nyla whispers over at Daryl.

NYLA- “You were right, Daryl, he is cute.”

DARYL- “Hot, I said he was hot.”

BEN- “First of all I go by Ben, not Benjamin, that is my dad. So everyone just call me Ben, please.

MS. LLANGEVIN- “My mistake, Ben, go ahead.”

BEN- “Not much to say really. I am Ben Baldwin, we moved here from Pleasantview, my dad is an attorney and took a position here as the Newcrest Prosecutor, my mother is a stay at home mom and I have a sister Sofia who is 11.”

MS. LLANGEVIN - “So what did you do at Pleasantview High? The choir, sports, band?”

BEN- “I played football. Was all-state two years in a row. I also play the guitar and do a little computer gaming.”

As Ben heads back to his seat, Daryl decides to do as Ms. Llangevin asked.

DARYL- “Welcome to Newcrest Ben. I’m Daryl Pence. Nice to meet you.”

BEN- “Hi. You too”

NYLA- “Could you have been any more obvious, Daryl? Your eyes were almost rolling back in your head, and I think there is still a little drool on your mouth.”

DARYL- “What? I was just making him feel welcome like Ms. Llangevin asked.”

NYLA- “Mmmhmm? Right.”

DARYL- “It’s all in my plan, Nyla. Shower him with kindness and attention. He will notice and soon be drawn to me.”

MAREN- “Like flies to shit? He is not gay, Daryl.”

Maren was also a good friend of Daryl’s but she was quite attracted to the new guy as well.

DARYL- “You didn’t think I was either, how did that work out for you, Maren.”

MAREN- “Awe, you know. You broke my heart, but I am over that now. Onto greener pastures.

NYLA- “Maren, your metaphors sound like my grandmother.”

DARYL- “Okay girls, I need a plan.”

MAREN- “How about try hitting on a gay dude. That would be the first step.”

NYLA- “I think she is right, Daryl. I don’t think he is playing for your team.”

The tapping sounds of the typewriter hung thick in the air. So very much so that when Ben would take a break, the silence made it harder to breathe. He was getting his thoughts out on the paper as best as he could, letting his more romantic side take over.

It was true that he was not at home, as he wished to be, with you. He was still on a movie set but the directors and the other actors had gone home. He was by himself, and was very much in the scene that he would be shooting tomorrow, but this letter was not just words remembered from a script.

He laughed as he typed down the memory of when you two had met. How you had been a student and had to get random opinions for a poll that was your assignment. And how Ben had been a bit sarcastic at first but had to stop you from putting down the wrong answer and you both had a good laugh about it.

With a couple more keystrokes, he was finished the love letter. He was thankful that the typewriter was a real one and not only a prop. He liked the way that the structured letters looked on the page. It was much better than an email or a text message. He took the paper out of the roll and blew on the ink to help it dry faster.