Chapter 7. Ben and the Soccer Game

Ben

Wednesday (the day after he picked up Jill from School)

"Hey man, what's up," Will says to me. He's been my best friend ever since I joined soccer which was 7 years ago, damn! "Hey what up man!" I say back while approaching his locker. 

"So, how was picking up your new girlfriend yesterday? Seems like you've already moved on since Alexa. Lucky enough to get some action in the backseat?" he says while smirking. "First of all, she's not my girlfriend we literally just met, and second, no way! That's just too fast. I bet she wouldn't want to anyway, which I respect."

"AHA what a simp!" says Noah. " Shut up man," I say as I punch him playfully in the arm. "Owww. That really hurt" he says in a baby voice. "Coward," I say. "Hey! I'm not! Cowards aren't ripped" he says while lifting his sleeve and flexing. I look over him and see that a bunch of girls is staring.

"Looks like you got yourself a Magic Mike show going on Noah," I say while laughing. "A man's gotta do what he's gotta do, especially if he's still single," says Noah. Noah's on the wrestling team and we've known each other since elementary school. 

After our little conversation, I head to my first class which was math. As usual, I expect the stares of girls and I just know they are imagining a life with me already. But, to my surprise, I get looks of jealousy and only a little admiring stares. The rest of my classes were the same. It's finally lunch and I go to sit down with Will and Noah.

"Hey what's up with the jealousy stares today?" I ask. "It's cause they think your dating that girl. What's her name, Jane?"

"Jill and let me clear that up for the whole school." As I say that, I climb onto the table and stand up. The whole cafeteria is staring and that's exactly what I want.

"For the whole school to know, I AM NOT dating anyone at the moment and probably won't be for a long time!" I yell so that everyone hears. I hear a couple of sighs and squeals from girls but I just dismiss them and sit back down.

"Ben," I hear someone say. from behind me. I look at my friends and their expressions change quickly as soon as they look up. I look behind me and see, the principal. "Was that you who just yelled?" says Ms. Pam. "Yes, it was," I say. "Well, that was really unnecessary and distracting for the people still in class so I will have to kindly tell you that you will have-"

"Detention," I say cutting her off. "Seems like you already know, very well then. Enjoy your lunch.". "See that's why I like her, she gets straight to the point and goes along with her day and not caring at all," Will says. "Mhm," I say.

Detention

I sit down on the nearest seat and take on my backpack. "Hey how long we gotta stay here for?" I ask the teacher in charge.". "For today, you will help clean the cafeteria for 20 mins then you can leave," he says in reply. "Oh ok." I head to the cafeteria with a few other students and I start wiping the tables.

The girls in front of me are also wiping tables but really they're trying to show off their butt to me. I roll my eyes and continue to work.

Friday

"Hey so like my parents are going on a honeymoon trip this week which is cool. Gemma's just gonna quote on quote 'watch' me but really she's going to talk to her boyfriend all the time." Says Jill. She called and said she wanted to catch up and she told me that finally, nobody thinks we're dating. 

"Oh that's cool. Got any plans Jellybean?". "No, just gonna stick to the regular. Also stop calling me that it's annoying.". I laugh and ask her,

"Hey I gotta soccer game on Tuesday wanna go?". "Wait let me ask my sister so she can drop me off". "Oh I can just pick you up." "Really? but don't you gotta prep and what not?". "Prep with me." "Ok, I don't know how to play soccer but sure! One more thing, can I bring Dani with me? Just so like I don't have to be alone...."

I can hear the uncertainty in her voice. "Of course she can!"

Jill

"Alexa, what's the weather outside?" It's Tuesday now and I'm getting ready to go to Ben's soccer game. "Right now it's 88 degrees. Tonight you will see a low of 76" 

  I put on a t-shirt and some black leggings while Dani waits for me in the living room. "Hurry up!" I hear her say. "I'm almost done jeez," I say while exiting my room. That'll be the first soccer game I've ever been to. I'm kinda excited. Anyway Ben says he'll be here in 10 minutes so we're just waiting.

Here's the plan: So Ben and his dad will pick us up and then we will go to the game. Once it's over they said we'll go out somewhere to eat and then once that's done, we'll drop off Dani and then me.

Hey, we're here now | 

oh okay |

"C'mon they're here!" I say to Dani. We enter their car which was a pretty nice one. It's really quiet. I don't know how to start a conversation!

"So, how was your day Jill?" I hear Ben say. "It was good," I say quickly. "Oh dad, this is Dani, Jill's best friend. Jill brought her because she said she didn't want to be lonely.". My eyes widen. Did he really just tell his dad that. 

"Oh okay. Nice to meet you, Dani." Tom says. "Hi! Nice to meet you, I'm really excited to go. My cousins on your team actually." She says. "Really? Who?" Ben says. "Oh Will Martinez," says Dani. "Oh my god! That's my best friend!". "Really? How come I've never met you?" She says

I feel like such a third wheel. I hate myself. Why did I ever agree about going to this? Why can't I make up a conversation? How come when I'm by myself I can think of so many things but when I'm around people, my mind goes blank. Ben and Dani are in a full conversation and Tom is driving and here I am staring out the window talking to myself.

"You alright Jill? You seem a bit worried." I hear Tom say while looking at me through the rear mirror. "Oh- I'm fine," I say and now I'm worried. I look over to Ben and Dani who are still immersed in their conversation about her cousin. "Okay, If you need anything just let me know." He says looking worried. "No, really I'm fine," I say trying to put on a smile and in which he smiles back. Tom seems to be a really nice person. No wonder my dad was friends with him.

Time goes by and we're here. We sit down on the bleachers that were set up on the grass. Ben heads on to the field where the rest of his teammates are and Dani goes and says hi to her cousin and her aunt. The game starts and I have no idea how this game works all I know is that you just kick the ball into the net and then you win. 

So far I just see guys kicking a ball and hear whistles. This is kinda boring. "C'mon son you got this!" I hear Tom yell at Ben. I look over to Ben and I see him kick the ball into the net and then the whole crowd starts celebrating. I think they won. I stand up and start cheering and clapping and so does Dani. I smile at Ben and he sees me and smiles and waves to me. The girls around me start waving back thinking that was to them which makes me laugh lightly as I wave back. 

We walk back to the car and Dani tells me the most horrid news. "Hey, my aunt says she can drop me off so you guys don't have to drop me off." Tom and Ben just say ok and say goodbye but I immediately go to talk to her. 

"What?! You can't just leave me like this again." I whisper yell to her. "C'mon Jill, you seemed like you had fun when he picked you up from school right? So this should be the same," she says calmly. "But-" "Ok bye I got to go!" She says while walking away. I hate her so much.

I walk back to their car and sit in the back again. To my surprise, Ben sits in the back too. "Hey, aren't you supposed to sit in the front with your dad?" I ask. "No, he doesn't care plus you're more lonely now since Dani's gone so I'm here to keep you company," he says while buckling up his seatbelt. "So, how did you like your first soccer game?" He asks while looking at me. "It was kinda boring not going to lie," I say shrugging. "What, no way. Never knew someone so quiet could be so brutally honest," he says. I laugh and before I can say anything, Ben's dad comes back to the car. "Sorry for the wait, just talking to his coach," he says while shutting the door. "Oh, it's fine," I say. "Yep. Jill told me that the soccer game seemed boring" Ben says. Jeeze could this guy shut up for once? 

"Really? Ben's mom thinks that too actually. Which is why she only comes to the big games. So, do you wanna eat with the team or somewhere else?" he says. I look over to Ben and say "Well, he did win, so I guess he can pick" I say trying not to show that I don't want to eat with the team because obviously, that's just too many people and too many boys.

I thought Ben saw and heard me and knew that I didn't want to go with the team but with my luck, he said, "Let's eat with the team then"

Oh no

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A/N: Hey guys! Sorry, I'm a bit late in updating but I started school and I didn't have time until the weekend to write. Which is also why this chapter is sorta long. Btw, I have some news about what going to happen in the next chapter... Let's say it's going to be fun. (disclaimer: When I think of things in my head they sound way more fun than when I write it so it may not be that fun as you think. Or is it??) Anyhow that's all. 

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