Lauren is back in school on Friday.

Apparently she had missed "so much damn work" and it would be best if I just "pushed her out a window" so she could "die happily." Needless to say, I did not push her out a window. And right now, I'm kind of regretting that choice.

She had spent the last twenty minutes of lunch begging, and I mean begging, me to go to the boy's hockey game with her.

"Please, please, please, Puh-lease Ben!"

"Lauren, you know-"

"Yes, I know you 'hate everyone in this school', and that sports 'make you want to gauge your eyes out in confusion,' but I need you to help me! Just this once, please."

"I don't know. Won't it be cold?" My nose wrinkles in distaste and I pull my sleeves down to cover my hands.

"We'll wear warm clothes! We'll look so cute and wintery," she pleads.

"You just want to go because you think that guy from your Spanish class is cute."

"Of course that's why I want to go! Have you seen him? And could you imagine him all sweaty and-" Lauren's eyes glaze over.

"You know Bennie," Mr. Wright interrupts, "Lauren has a point. How do you know if you'll like something if you never give it a try?"

I give him a really-not-helping-so-please-stop-talking glare.

He puts his hands up in mock surrender. "Just trying to help kiddo."

"Please Ben," Lauren gets down on her knees, her literal knees, to beg and pulls her puppy dog face. "Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease-."

"Okay, okay, I'll go. Just get off the ground," I rush out.

"Thank you! I promise you'll have fun Ben," she squeezes me until I can't breathe.

"I better... and you're paying for my ticket," a pleading smile slips onto my lips, "please."

She grins. "Of course."

:)