"Ya, I do have a friend," I reply to Nick's question.
Nick leans so close to me that his warm breath tickles the side of my neck. "Is she single by any chance?"
"Dude," Benjamin elbows Nick, making Nick lean back and laugh.
I smile. "Actually-"
"Hey, Nick!" I guy's voice echoes from the other side of the cafeteria. "Coach wants us. He doesn't seem too happy."
"You got it!" Nick exclaims back. He quickly shoves the rest of his cheeseburger into his mouth before grabbing his tray and standing up.
"See ya, man," Benjamin says.
They both high five.
"See ya!" Nick says back before taking off.
Benjamin and I sat in silence for a bit before Benjamin spoke again.
"Sorry about that." He said, rubbing his neck.
I smiled.
That's when the lunch bell rang.
I stood up.
"E.J," Benjamin says, looking nervous all of a sudden.
"Ya?" I say, chewing on my lip.
"Uh...um, do you wanna..." he stutters, raking a hand through his hair. "Do you wanna hang at my house on Sunday?"
I look at him for a moment, watching him nervously pick at his leftovers, before smiling. "I'd like that."
He meets my gaze, a smile spreading across his face.
I could just sit here and look at his pretty face forever....
That's when I realize I'm staring at him.
He and I both look away. I feel myself blush hard.
"Um..." I say, standing up to walk to class. "Well...I'll see you then, Benson."
"See you," he says, and I feel him watching me walk away. "My house is 758 Jackson St!!"

It felt like the days were going so slow after Benjamin asked me to hang out with him. I can't believe he asked me on a date!
Well, technically it's not a date-date...but still. I get to hang out with him!!
What should I wear? Do I have any zits forming?
I run to the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror.
What am I talking about? I already have zits and blackheads forming that I can't get rid of or hide.
I sigh. "Why am I so ugly?"
That's when Jerry and Terry came bursting into the bathroom, mud all over themselves.
"Jerry! Terry! What have I told you about walking into the bathroom when the door is shut?" I shout at them. "And why are you two covered in mud?!"
They grin at each other.
"Well," Jerry started.
"We were walking outside," Terry said.
"When I accidently kicked mud onto Terry,"
"So I kicked mud back at Jerry,"
"And...well, we started wrestling in the mud." Jerry finished.
I roll my eyes. "You two. Get changed. Now!"
I walk out and slam the door behind me before heading to my room.
What should I wear?!
I start going through my clothes, and before I know it I'm tossing clothes everywhere like I always see in movies.
Finally, I decided to ask dad if I could go to the store and buy a new outfit.
I just hope he'll say yes....

"No," dad replies, setting down his guy magazine to look me in the eye. "You already have enough clothing as it is."
I moan, and start walking up to my room.
"Hi, Sweetheart!" My stepmother stops me. "What's wrong?"
"Dad-" I start, but stop. I think for a little bit before saying, "Dad won't let me go on a stepmother-stepdaughter shopping spree this morning."
"Why this morning?" She asks me.
"Because," I say, coming closer to her. "There's this guy-"
"A guy?!" She practically screams.
I put a finger on my lips. "Shh! I don't want Dad to know about this. He'll freak out if he finds out."
"So," she says in a low voice, wiggling her eyebrows. "You're going on a date, eh?"
"Well, not really a date. But a hang out!" I say shyly.
"Ah," she says, bumping my arm with her elbow. "You're 'hanging out'. I got it."
I roll my eyes and smile. My stepmother wasn't as bad as I thought she was.
"So," a wide smile crept onto her face. "You want me to help you find the perfect hang out clothing to impress this boy, am I right?"
I look at the ground. "Maybe?"
She smiles. "Okay...okay! I'll get my purse, and tell your dad that I want us to have a bonding time. Oh, I'm so excited!!"
She disappears, and I softly smile at myself. I think this family is growing on me a little.