Ben is pacing in my changing room when I enter. He straightens up once he notices me. There is that awkwardness that’s never there between us. I take one more step inside and almost run out when he stalks towards me. He is furious. I’m not sure why. We won. It doesn’t feel like a victory but that money is ours.Stopping a few feet from me, he thunders, “Why didn’t you block that punch?”I wince at the harshness of his voice. This boy sounds and looks like Ben but he doesn’t act like my Ben. We have come so far and fallen apart. Maybe I can try to salvage our relationship. We will be okay.“I... I’m sorry.” His cheek is red from the contact with our opponent’s fist. Accepted, I was in the better position to stop the punch but I was distracted by our proximity. It was different from the stage play with our mediaeval outfits separating us. It has been so long since we stood

BENWhen I get home to Josef’s place, the house is unusually quiet. I shut the door behind me and take a tentative step in. The television is on but no one is the parlour. I jog up the stairs to my room and stop. Josef is in my room. He’s not alone. Mum is with him. They look up at the sound of my footsteps. I see fear in  her eyes when she stands to hug me briefly. I am left alone with Josef. He pats the spot on the bed for me and I stagger towards him to sit. “Benjamin.” It cannot be good. He never calls me by my full name. “I need you to be honest with me.” My palms moisten and I swipe them against my jeans. His tone of voice spells bad news. “Are you in trouble?” I shake my head, quite unsure what he might be talking about. He places both hands on his knees and sighs. “Are you doing drugs? Be honest.” “What?” Josef sags. His whole body deflates and I feel th

There are a few things to note about my new school. I have only been here for a month and I love it. There is no hierarchy. The cheerleaders sit with the nerds. The jocks sit with anyone. The sitting arrangement has more to do with friendship than a ranking. Broadway Heights can learn from them.I join the queue waiting for lunch. They have a great lunch too and I’m already friends with the lunch lady. It is a bit sad but I am having a hard time making new friends. Mum says it will take a while but I haven’t made much of an effort to socialise. Someone nudges my arm. Annoying Calum. I am starting to get used to him. But today, I am extra sensitive. It’s our four months anniversary. I wanted to forget it like I did with our third month but Fazebook reminded me with a memory of us. Stupid Fazebook. Just when I was trying to move on from him.I disabled my account. I will create a new one when I think I can handle the little reminders about

BENCrescent High is cool. What’s not cool is that guy putting his hand on Gracie’s seat.  We need to talk.  My phone buzzes in my pocket, I throw a look at the teacher before typing rapidly on my screen. Jonah wants to know how I am. Jonah is the oldest child of the family I am staying with in New York. I am not fine and it’s exactly what I tell him.  “Benjamin,” the teacher’s sharp voice cuts me off.  I offer her a sheepish smile and make a show of putting my phone away. Gracie’s head jerks up slightly. She wants to look in my direction but she doesn’t. If only she would spare me a glance. I miss my Gracie. The class is not boring but I barely pay attention. If Gracie refuses to speak to me, then I might have made the greatest mistake of my life by asking to come here. Josef is not just filthy rich, he knows the right people. He made the plans for me to come here after I got Gracie’s school details from Maria.

Stupid. Why did I let myself get carried away by a kiss? I touch my lips again. I have been doing that since I ran away from Ben. I am mad at him but I want to kiss him. It’s crazy.  “Why do you keep smiling like that?” Leah asks. She throws an arm around me and drags me away from the entrance of the dressing room.  The other members of the band are inside discussing their performance. Ben is also there. Maybe he needs as much space as I need from him.  Back to what Leah asked me, why am I smiling? I know it’s stupid but I’m smiling because of the kiss. I really, really liked it. I’ve missed him. I’ve missed kissing him. I’ve missed being held by him. “Leah?” She stops. We are outside the pub. There’s a blue light hanging from the signboard bearing the club’s name and it shines on her forehead. I laugh because she looks funny with the light and her hands akimbo. “Can I ask you a question?”  “Sure.”  “Ho