Bennett — Age 16
The old community barn seemed like it was at risk of collapsing from the ground-shaking bass of the massive speakers on both sides of the DJ.
Katie leaned in and said something to me, but I couldn’t hear her over the music.
“What was that?”
She leaned closer, placing her hand on my arm. “Who do you keep looking for?”
“No one.”
Katie quirked her head, studying me.
“I’m just thirsty.” I motioned toward the back doors. “I’m going to head outside. Can I grab you a drink?”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Yeah. Okay.” I didn’t sound nearly as convincing as I’d hoped, but she likely didn’t notice over the music.
The truth was, I wasn’t just looking for Maven.
I mean, I was, but I also needed a breath of fresh air and a bit of quiet.
There were way too many people in here. And there was way too much noise.
Katie grabbed my hand, and I was leading her through the crowd of people when one of her friends came bounding in front of us, taking hold of both of her arms. “You need to come with me.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Brynn is in the bathroom.” Her expression grew more serious. “Seth just broke up with her.”
Katie gasped. “At homecoming? What a jerk!” Then her gaze shifted to me, clearly uncertain what to do.
“You should go. I’ll be outside whenever you’re done,” I said. “No rush.”
She gave me a grateful smile I didn’t really deserve, then hurried in the opposite direction. I continued to make my way through the mass of bodies until the crisp evening air hit me. Instantly, I could breathe easier.
“Hey, Ben.”
I spun toward the familiar voice to find Maven standing near the drink table, holding a cup of icy liquid to her flushed, glistening cheek to cool herself.
She had her hair pulled up with little pieces hanging loose and wore a sage green dress that fit her way too well.
I was attempting not to stare as I searched for any remaining trace of the annoying girl in baggy shirts and oversized baseball caps who used to follow Carson and me around. There didn’t seem to be one.
“Hey.” My voice came out weirdly breathy. I needed to try that again, so I cleared my throat. “Hey.”
She gave a knowing smile, like she was fully aware of the effect she was having on me. “Where’s Katie?” she asked.
“Friend emergency.”
She nodded, switching her drink to her other cheek.
I filled a cup with icy water and took a sip. “Where’s Levi?”
“Still dancing. It just got a little warm in there for me.”
“You having fun?”
Her smile grew. “I actually am.”
An odd pain settled into my chest at her confirmation.
“How about you?” she asked.
“Yeah. Absolutely.” Why did this conversation with Maven seem so awkward?
Over the last few years, she’d kind of become one of the guys.
Well, clearly not a guy, but she’d been around constantly, and I’d never found it difficult to speak to her.
Even when we’d found ourselves alone from time to time.
“Are you and Levi doing anything after the dance?”
She shook her head. “My curfew’s eleven, so I have to go straight home.”
It took every bit of restraint within me to not smile. Or to not applaud Ms. Price on her excellent parenting.
“There you are!” Levi came strutting out of the open barn door like he owned the place, then wrapped his arm around Maven’s waist like he also owned her. A buzzing vibrated through me at the sight. “You ready to come back inside?” he asked her.
She glanced at me, and it was only then that he seemed to notice I was standing there. “Hey, Bennett.” He tugged on my tie. “You look sharp.”
If by sharp he meant I looked ready to punch him in that pretty face of his, I could see it. “Thanks, man.”
“Not that I expect you’ll look this put together by the end of the night.” He grinned. “Katie likes to end her dates up at The Ridge.”
“Make-Out Ridge?” Maven asked, her glare shooting to me like I’d been the one to suggest it.
“Yep.” Levi smirked. “Have you been?”
“Only with my mom and brother to see the view.”
Levi leaned in close. “If you want the real experience, I’d be happy to take you.”
Maven’s cheeks grew even pinker, and she glanced at me. Was she uncomfortable with his insinuation or just that I was standing here for it?
What was I talking about? It didn’t matter. There was no way Carson would be okay with this guy taking his sister to The Ridge.
“Her curfew’s eleven,” I said.
Levi’s eyes narrowed, like he was trying to make sense of my overly protective comment. “I was just teasing. Ease up.” He turned his attention back to Maven. “Ready?”
Maven drained the cup in her hand and tossed it in the garbage. “Ready.”
Levi clasped Maven’s hand in his, making my own hands fist at my sides. “Have fun with Katie tonight, Benny-boy.”
Maven met my gaze for only a second. “See you, Ben,” she said, her voice clipped.
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out before the two of them disappeared back into the barn.
For the next fifteen minutes, while also having to engage in an occasional conversation with peers coming outside to get drinks, I envisioned different scenarios where I confronted Levi. Every single one of them would unfortunately get me suspended, if not expelled with a battery charge.
“Sorry that took so long,” Katie said, making her way to where I was standing. “Brynn is a complete mess.”
“If you need to stay with her, you can.”
She gave a seductive little pout and stepped in front of me. “I’d rather be with you. In fact, I was thinking we could leave early and take a drive. Maybe head up to The Ridge?”
I stared at her. Levi hadn’t been kidding.
When I didn’t respond, she slid her hands down my arms, then intertwined her fingers with mine. “It’s such a pretty view, and I figured we could talk. You know, get to know each other a little better.”
With the way she was looking at me, that was definitely not all she had in mind.
Katie was stunning. A senior. And the head cheerleader. She was the stuff of every high school guy’s dreams. So why did I want to run in the opposite direction?
“Katie, you’re an amazing girl. It’s just that I…” I gave a hard swallow, not sure how to say what I needed to.
Katie’s fingers went stiff in mine. Then she pulled her hands free. “Are you serious right now?”
I gave a mostly confident nod. “Yeah.”
She shook her head, taking a small step away. “I don’t get you.”
That made two of us.