Chapter Text
It was typical, Ben couldn't have a moments rest in this house.
It was obvious, as he looked up to see his younger sister staring down at him, a smirk evident on her face and the pillow she had just smacked over his head in one hand. At least she wasn't trying to hide the evidence, nor did she even attempt to look guilty. Huh, she definitely takes after her big brother in that sense.
"What do you want?" He groaned, throwing himself backwards onto the comfort of his bed. He hadn't fallen asleep till at least 2:30am, after all, the moment Jay challenged him to a game of Fifa, it was over for him and a good nights sleep. He took one glance towards the clock on his beside table and groaned, 8:25am, he was going to be late for sixth form...Again.
"Sharon told me to wake you up." Was her excuse, although she had clearly enjoyed waking him up via a pillow to the face. "You're going to be late."
Ben figured that Sharon should be happy that he even attended Sixth form in the first place, after all, after senior school he had declared himself done with education. But apparently, Ben you can focus on the subjects you enjoy and now, a year into his A-Levels, he wanted to confirm that A-Levels really do kill the love you have for your 'favourite' subjects at school.
He motioned towards the door that she had left wide open, "You can leave now."
He gave her one more glare before she was huffing, straightening out her Walford High sweatshirt and leaving his room, careful to slam the door behind her as she left. He silently reminded himself that he had to be a nice brother, that Louise's mum was in hospital and that's the reason she was staying with them full time again. And Ben really did love his sister, but he wasn't afraid to argue with her, especially when it was too early and Ben was already in a bad mood over another day at college.
Once he was finally dressed in his usual pair of black jeans, combat boots and a levi's jacket that he had found shoved in the back of his wardrobe, he made his way downstairs, throwing his backpack over his shoulder and flipping off Louise who was sarcastically smiling at him from where she waited by the front door. "Shift." He mumbled, because the kid was complaining about him being late and now she was blocking his exit.
"Dad is giving us a lift." She said in a matter of fact tone.
He narrowed his eyes, "Dad's giving you a lift." He corrected, "I'm meeting Jay and getting the bus."
Before she even had chance to protest, he grabbed her shoulder and moved her to the side, ignoring his dad's protest of Ben! in the background.
He made his way across the square, securing his backpack over one shoulder as he nodded towards Bex who was clearly rushing over to his house to meet Louise for school.
When he finally reached the bus stop, Jay was stood there staring back at him in his usual, seriously? before motioning towards the time that was lit up on the lock screen of his phone. Ben waved him off, running across the road just in time for the bus to pull up in its spot, he grinned, "Just in time." Despite the knock to the shoulder he received from his best mate.
"I have double maths today." Jay complained as they walked through the entrance of sixth form, flashing Dotty a grin as they passed her in the reception. By the looks of it, she looked hungover, and Ben wanted to comment that she looked how he felt, but he was already half an hour late to class and he was borderline pushing it at this point.
"It's your own fault for picking maths, anyway." Ben replied.
Jay laughed at that, "Oh yeah?" He added, "You picked literature mate, when have i ever seen you pick up a book?"
Ben faked offence, "Excuse me." He started, "I read of mice and men in senior school."
"For starters, what British teen hasn't read that book at school." Jay hit back, "Secondly, the teacher basically read it to us. It didn't involve much reading on your side. C'mon, you only picked literature because you find it funny listening to people's interpretation of poems."
Ben shrugged, "C'mon, they're always reaching." before he turned to look at Jay, "You tell me Jay, what does the colour red symbolise to you?"
However, Ben didn't get a response because he was already staring away from Ben and it didn't take Ben long to figure out who he was staring at.
Jay was staring directly at Lola Pearce, the girl that was in one of Ben's classes but apparently all of Jay's because he talked about her enough. It had started about three months ago, Jay mentioning in passing that he had been paired up with Lola and they got along really well. Apparently, that's where their interaction stopped.
And now, poor ol' Jay, is a lovesick puppy.
"Mate." Ben groaned, catching Jay's attention once more. "Have you still not asked her out?"
However, the look Jay gave him in response was a clear no. "Ain't gonna happen." Jay sighed. "It's impossible to get her attention, the only person she listens to is that best friend of hers."
Ben quirked his eyebrow, glancing back over towards Lola to see she was in fact stood with somebody else. Ben recognized him as Callum Highway, the student that didn't go to school with them before sixth form as Ben knew most people here, but he had never had one conversation with Callum.
All he could go off was other people’s opinions of Callum, which happened to be, that he was a straight A student that could be put under the definition of a goody-two-shoes.
So, essentially the opposite to Ben.
However, before Ben even had the chance to question Jay on his lack of confident with the Lola situation, his literature teacher was turning the corner onto the corridor, and he thought, oh shit.
“Yeah good luck with that.” Ben decided, placing a comforting hand on Jay’s shoulder. “But, I have to go before Alison kills me with a large stack of books.”
He waved off Jay as he walked away from him, following after his teacher, ready to be glared at for the entire lesson.
=
When Ben caught up with Jay next, it was in the cafeteria and Ben was faced with a dish that even Denny could make if he tried hard enough.
Evidently, he instantly regretted choosing to stay in college for lunch instead of nipping out to the co-op, and even more so because Jay was currently gazing at Lola from across the room, the definition of pining happening right in front of him.
And to make matters worse, Ben was surrounded with a number of people that shared Physics class with Jay, including Keanu Taylor, the bane of Ben's life. The eldest Taylor son and him had clashed from the moment they met in year 10, now however, Ben just saw the guy as a smart ass.
"Why don't you just go over there and talk to her mate?" Ben suggested as he bit into the piece of bread that he had grabbed in an attempt to make the soup taste better, it didn't work. After all, Ben could see where Lola was sitting across the hall, and she was in fact with Callum again. Huh, maybe they are joined at the hip.
"She's with Callum." He shrugged.
"And?" Leo pipped up from the other side of the table, smirking. "You know, Callum's gay right?"
"Yes, and that ain't the problem, they are basically brother and sister." Jay said. "I swear they have an agreement that they don't date unless the other one doesn't."
Dotty burst out laughing at that, "Oh, c'mon. Don't be stupid."
"Why don't you just go make friends with halfway?" Keanu suggested, leaning over to knick a bit of Dotty's food. "Butter him up, he might big you up to Lola then."
"Only problem with that." Jay pointed out, "They're basically glued to the hip, can't get one without the other."
For a moment everyone was silent, and Ben thought that he had finally found the peaceful silence that he had been craving before he had to go to his next lesson. Until, Keanu spoke again. "Even better idea." Ben wanted to point out that he was pretty sure that Keanu has never had a good idea in his life, but kept his mouth shut out of fear that he'd get a lapful of hot soup. "Distract Halfway. If you want Lola alone, and have a chance of dating her...ship Halfway off to somebody else."
Ben hid his smirk with his hands, because Keanu really was a dummy but then- "That's it!" Jay said a little too loudly, grabbing the attention of the table next to them.
And then Keanu was staring directly at him, "You want Jay to be happy don't you, Mitchell?" He asked, and Ben clenched his jaw, before looking up with a fake smile. "Why don't you take goody-two-shoes over there out on a date, perfect opportunity for Jay."
Ben quirked his eyebrow, turning fully towards Keanu. "Why? Because we are the only gay guys you know?" Before he was adding, "I ain't even had one conversation with the guy."
Keanu smirked, "What afraid he'd reject you?"
Straightening up in his seat, Ben narrowed his eyes. "Reject me?" He chuckled, lifting his cup to his lips. "I'd probably scare the life out of the guy, he looks like he wouldn't say boo to a goose."
"Alright then, show us what you've got." Keanu started, "Ask the guy out on a date so Jay can finally shut up about this girl."
He wasn't surprised to see Jay looking hopeful beside him.
"I bet you Halfway won't be interested." Keanu added, "I'd give it a week at best." He said as he pulled out his phone, Ben keeping a careful eye on it.
"And i bet you he will." He shrugged, "Easy, it won't take a lot." His eyes drifting across the room to find Callum. He was showing Lola something on his phone and they were laughing between themselves, shoving his hand out towards Keanu, he said. "Bet you fifty that i can convince the guy to date me and get Lola and Jay together in the process."
Keanu clasped their hands together, "Oh deal."
He frowned when he noticed Keanu's phone was recording this, "Are you recording me?"
Keanu looked at him as if he was dumb. "Yep." He nodded. "I need a verbal contract so you can't back out when you forfeit when uptight Halfway rejects you."
Ben rolled his eyes,
Silently hoping that he wouldn't live to reject it.