"And so that kid with the nasally voice I was telling you about, the one whose name I don't wanna ask for, he goes, 'What is he, deaf?' The whole classroom goes silent, I'm pretty sure everyone stopped breathing, and he says, 'Shit. He's blind, isn't he.'"

"How did he not know you were blind?" Ben asked, poking at the food on the tray. It was some mystery meat for sure and he wasn't quite in the mood to eat. Not after the whole bathroom scenario.

His throat still hurt.

"I think he's new. And also I wasn't paying attention to him because he was talking about foot fungus and I just... that isn't what I'm into," Ezra said. "Or maybe it is. Do you think I could start a hobby around foot fungus?"

Ben lifted his gaze to the other. "I don't think there is a hobby around foot fungus, Ezra."

The other mused silently, blind gaze cast to the side. Then he nodded. "You're right. And I don't even like feet. They feel... so weird." He shuddered in disgust, taking a reluctant bite of his mystery meat.

"Well," Ben began, grinning, "Ewan tried to kill me in the bathroom."

Ezra scoffed, choking on his food. "He what?" he scoffed. "Are you bleeding? O-Or bruised? Tell me what happened!"

Ben blushed, clearing his throat as eyes cast in their direction. They quickly looked away upon identifying just who was the center of the commotion. 

"I'm fine," Ben muttered. "I think he was just trying to scare me into, you know... being a better person."

The other rolled his eyes, letting out a huff. "Right, him. A demon. Thinking he could tell you about making better life decisions. What does he know?" He let out a slow breath. Then his face twisted into a prying grin. "Tell me about the girl you were talking to today."

Ben raised an eyebrow, grinning back. "So you were paying attention."

"Just because I was talking about Rain doesn't mean I wasn't paying attention," Ezra teased.

Ezra had had a giant crush on Rain ever since she'd told him to get out of her seat in tenth grade. It was an ongoing crush that was actually really sad, considering Rain only talked to him when it came to what Ben had done. She always wanted in on the drama and Ezra was the only one who had it "in its raw form."

"I don't know what you see in her, man..." Ben mumbled before narrowing his eyes and waiting for the onslaught of insults.

"Well, I don't see anything Ben, but I do hear how interesting she is."

"But you can do better than her," Ben argued. "You're a 5'10", fit kid with... really, really blue eyes and... and a nice smile, and-"

Ezra sucked in a breath through his teeth, taking on a look as though someone just insulted his favorite sweater that he knew was bad anyway. "That all you got?" asked the other. "Come on, I'm blind, I'm hyper, I can't focus on anything at once... I even wear colors that don't match because did I mention, I'm blind."

"You did," Ben breathed in defeat. 

"Anyway," Ezra continued. "Tell me about her."

Ben let his eyes slide over to the girl he'd mentioned beforehand.

The girl was outrageously tiny. She seemed about five feet tall and looked to weigh less than 80 pounds - her red-and-black striped sweater hung on her and her jeans looked a size too big, held up only by a belt. Her hair was slightly wavy and to her shoulders, dyed a sort of dark red. She was talking with June and Rain, both of which were touching it, and she gazed at them anxiously with wide, black eyes. 

Her eyes flicked to Ben, and he sucked in a breath, meeting her gaze. The world felt like it halted or maybe it was just Ben having a quick panic attack.

Quickly, she looked back down at the same time that Ben hurriedly let his gaze flit away.

"It looks like Rain and June already told her about me," mumbled Ben, "so it doesn't matter."

Ezra shook his head with a glare aimed at the table. "That isn't fair. They should've let you tell her."

"Right," said Ben mockingly, "because June is going to come talk to me after I cut her boyfriend's face open, ask if I'd like to tell her about what I do around here. Same day Rain will break up with Stirling and get with you."

They both went quiet as a realization dawned on them. Stirling was dead. Ewan was possessing his body.

"I'm gonna go ask him," said Ben firmly, beginning to get up.

Ezra's eyes went wide and he quickly lifted his gaze to the general area of the other. "No! Ben, that'll crush her, sit down!" He aggressively patted the table as if Ben needed an indication as to where to sit. "You guys aren't even on good terms, anyway - i-it it just is all a very bad idea."

Ezra was right. Ben wasn't usually one to listen to reason, but this time it did make sense. He didn't really want to talk to Ewan, especially not after he'd insulted the demon the way he had. 

Something he was beginning to surprisingly feel quite guilty for.

"Where do you think he went?" Ezra asked after Ben sat down. "Ewan."

"I just left him in the bathroom. If he's smart, he'd have gone to eat lunch with Stirling's friends, but... who knows. Maybe he's sucking souls or torturing the innocents."

Ben lifted his gaze to find Ewan sliding into the seat beside Rain, leaning over the table to talk to the new girl. Flirting. In front of Rain.

In front of Ben.

"What's he doing?" asked Ezra. "You're very distracted."

Neither of them could hear anything. Ewan was just talking a lot, flirting, and the new girl looked scared. Lilly and Rain were exchanging nervous glances. At one point, they both gaped after Ewan said something. They both began talking to the new girl at once, reassuring her of things.

Ewan then turned around to face Ben, and he pointed. Ben set his jaw and looked at the new girl for a second before glancing over to Ewan, narrowing his eyes.

In response, the demon simply gave a knowing grin and turned back to the girl. She was focused on Ben, staring at him, and Ben could only swallow nervously and avert his gaze. 

"Let's go," Ben muttered, getting up and throwing his trash away. Then he threw his bag over his shoulder and nudged Ezra, offering his arm.

"What happened?" whispered the other. He looked wide-eyed and quite confused, but he took Ben's arm and handed him his trash. Lowering his voice, he repeated, "What happened?"

As the two headed out, Ben kept his gaze on the floor, trying to be slow enough for Ezra but quick enough to just get out of there.

"He told her about the things I've done," mumbled Ben. "Probably that I killed someone but he conveniently failed to mention who."

"Ben Sawyer?" asked a familiar French voice.

Ben turned around to find the new girl, her mustard yellow messenger bag hanging at her side. She looked adorable, her face lit with a gentle smile. Something in the air smelled... beautiful. It wasn't perfume - it was more of a natural smell. Tulips.

"Yes. Y-Yup... yes. That's me," he stuttered quietly.

She seemed fragile. Like speaking too loud would shatter her or moving too suddenly would send her running. He needed to be cautious. Also, considering he didn't know what Ewan had told her, he was treading on broken glass.

"Stirling said you could help me find my, um... my..." She bit her lip, looking at her feet as she searched for the right word.

"Classes," finished Ben. He took in a slow breath, raising his eyebrow. "Classes?"

Ewan had done the opposite of what he'd assumed. The exact opposite.

"Yes," said the girl, chuckling nervously. "Classes. Ah... my name is Gabrielle Chain. We talked today, outside, if you remember. We have P.E. together?"

Ezra cleared his throat, smiling politely. He checked his imaginary watch. "Gosh, ten minutes before class. I'd better go." 

"How are you going to-" Ben started, but Ezra had already pried away from Ben and gotten his stick out of his bag. And he was hustling off with a fierce intensity that he'd never seen the other have.

Ben licked his lips and glanced over Gabrielle's head - a rather easy feat considering her height - and found Ewan standing there, talking with Rain. Though he didn't appear to be listening and was rather looking at Ben, a sly grin on his lips.

The two locked eyes. Ben felt a chill go down his spine as the demon continued to grin before his eyes flicked back to Rain, and he listened intently.

"Right," said Ben, looking at Gabrielle. "Do you have a... list?"

The tiny girl nodded and pulled it out of her messenger bag, handing it to Ben. His heart flipped as he read it, noticing they had four of six classes together.

"You've got Spanish with me next," he said softly, glancing at her.

The French girl smiled, nodding and taking her schedule back. The way she held herself, the way she sort of bit her lip as she smiled, even the way she fiddled with the sleeve of her sweater as she shifted her weight.

As they walked, Ben initiated a conversation. Usually, he wouldn't even consider talking to someone other than Ezra. Obviously, though, this was a little different.

"Where'd you move from?" he asked, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Canada," she replied, putting her hands in her pockets too, grinning at him. "Did you come from... here?"

He looked forward, down the hall, chuckling. "Yeah. I, uh... yeah."

The two walked in silence for a second and he could feel her eyes roaming her. Though, so as not to make her - or himself - uncomfortable, he kept his eyes plastered on the end of the hallway. Until finally, she spoke.

"It looks like we have matching, ah... color schemes," she said happily. A delighted grin lit her face as she held up her yellow bag, then reached out and tapped his hoodie. Instinctively, he flinched back, blushing slightly in response to her own blush of panic. "Sorry. S-Sorry."

"No," Ben rushed, "you're fine. I'm sorry. Uh... um... yes." He looked down at his hoodie. "Yes."

He had tons of questions but now they sat in uncomfortable silence and he knew he'd ruined things. Maybe if he just... went really slow, he wouldn't be so nervous. "Why'd you, uh..." He swallowed nervously, scratching at the back of his neck. "Why'd you move here? North Dakota is... probably the worst place to be."

There was a beat's pause, then she chuckled softly, glancing up at him. "Promise not to laugh?" she asked.

Ben raised an eyebrow, looking down at her. "Sure."

She hesitated, then whispered, "My father didn't want to move too far."

Ben huffed, rolling his eyes. "That's not... awful." He let out a slow breath. "Then why move at all?"

"Because he thought a change of scenery would be nice," she said, blushing, "and because I didn't like walking an hour to get to school."

"That'll do it," Ben replied. 

The tiny girl blushed but never stopped grinning in reply. She ducked her head, looking at the floor as they continued to walk. Soon, Ben motioned to a door. It had "Lirth - Spanish" written in a fancy yet clearly legible font, and around it were tons of Spanish words that Mr. Lirth consistently said would be incredibly important in the future. All they said were words of motivation, usually - 'inspiration,' things like that.

"If you want to get off easy," he said to her, "you can go in there speaking full French."

"No será necesario. But thank you," she replied, before glancing into the classroom. She beckoned him in with a nod, but Ben stepped back.

A tiny grin came to his lips at her fluent Spanish, but faded when she indicated he should go in with her. "I've got something to do," he lied. Honestly, he didn't want to walk in with her only for the fact that he didn't want to give her the same reputation he'd given Ezra. Something along the lines of an outcast.

Ezra was no longer allowed to sit with anyone at lunch because once someone was Ben's friend, they were only Ben's friend. People only talked to Ezra if they needed help with homework or if they wanted to know Ben's thoughts. Why he'd done something. Who he'd hurt. No one talked to Ezra simply because they wanted to or could.

He didn't want that for Gabrielle.

Ben exhaled softly, turning around to head off. Then a soft hand landed on his arm, pulling him back to the door. He turned, looking down at Gabrielle, who was now holding his hand. She was still smiling.

"Come on," she said quietly. "I want to sit beside you."

Something in Ben melted, and he soon nodded, smiling gently. However, the second he walked into the classroom, the smile vanished and was replaced with his usual cold front. 

Gabrielle didn't notice - or if she did, she didn't say anything - but the entire room fell into a pit of silence.

She simply sat down somewhere, setting her bag in her lap, and Ben sat beside her. They didn't talk, but it took her a second to let go of his hand, almost as if she was afraid of letting go. When they did, Ben placed his on the desk, and she set hers gently on her bag.

Class began and all they did was sneak glances at each other.

Ben couldn't explain what it was with Gabrielle, but something about her was so pure. Her smile, her gaze, even the way she walked. Everything about her was lovely and Ben couldn't help but want to be with her all the time. But he knew he couldn't, not with who he was, what he did. Gabrielle may not have known about it yet, or the extent of it, but she would soon. And she would hate him for it.

They'd hardly known each other for a day, anyway.

The bell rang, knocking him out of his trance. Students began packing up as Mr. Lirth tried to squeeze in some final instructions.

"For your assignment, I want you to get with a partner and come up with a full five-minute conversation that you'll be able to present in class on Friday," said Mr. Lirth. "It can be about anything but please keep it classroom appropriate. Obviously, you can use whatever search engine but make sure it's accurate. And no note cards!"

Ben put his bag over his shoulder, getting up. Gabrielle was putting her things in her bag, looking slightly shaken as she did. Nervous, Ben put a hand on her desk and leaned down.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly.

She jumped, clutching her bag tightly. When her eyes scanned him, though, she let out a quick sigh and chuckled nervously. "Sorry. Nothing." She got up, clearing her throat and looking at him. There was a look of expectancy in her eyes, and Ben bit his lip, squinting, trying to figure out what she wanted him to say.

"Oh," he said, "do you - would you want to be... partners? For the assignment?"

"I'd love to," she said quietly. Putting her bag on her shoulder, she pulled her schedule back out. Her eyes darted over it before she put it back in her bag and glanced up at him. "Biology?"

"With Mr. Smith. Yeah." He nodded, beginning to walk.

She followed after him, the sound of her black, oversized boots hitting the floor making Ben grin gently.

Biology was going to be tough. He had it with Stirling, Charlie, and June. If they - excluding Ewan, of course - saw Gabrielle with Ben, she would forever be an outcast. Just like Ezra. Considering this was Charlie's last week, though, perhaps the girls would be easy on her without their leader. Hopefully. Although it would be a good idea, in general, to just stay away from Gabrielle for this class.

He stopped at the door, and Gabrielle stopped too, turning to him. "Ben?" she asked quietly.

"I..." He licked his lips. "I don't think it's a good idea to go in there together."

She glanced at the door before stepping out of the way so other students could enter. "Is this about the way you alienate yourself from others?"

"They... tend to do that on their own," mumbled Ben.

Gabrielle sighed before taking his hand in her own. Her nails were painted white. "I'm not going to do that." She nodded to the door. "We are in this together now, Ben."

Ben felt his heart skip a beat, and he stared at her for a second. Where did Gabrielle come from? How did he get this lucky? It felt surreal.

Taking in a shaky breath, he nodded in return, stepping past her and opening the door.

Smiling, she walked in, him behind her.

The class fell silent, and Gabrielle looked nervous once again before hurrying to a seat closer to the middle of the room, at the same table as Charlie's gang. Ewan was already there, and he gave Ben a knowing grin, his chin resting on his palm.

Ben sucked in a sharp breath. This was his doing. Ewan had clearly performed some sort of magic on Gabrielle to make her nice. Polite to Ben. To make her see him as someone worth talking to, worth sacrificing her social life for.

Charlie glared right at Ben, clenching his fists. It wasn't common, but sometimes, after Ben beat the living Hell out of people, they were ready for more. They wanted to show Ben up. Fight him. Make him feel like they had. It never really worked out well for them, but they tried. Charlie would try. Repeatedly.

"Gabrielle," greeted Charlie, raising an eyebrow at the new girl.

She flinched and glanced over at him. Gabrielle seemed to wither under his gaze, and she flicked her eyes down, beginning to get things out of her bag.

"Sorry," Charlie mumbled, setting his hands on the table. "I just... do you know what Ben has done?" 

Ewan cleared his throat. "Gotten better grades than you," he said casually. "Or... having a girl hang out with him because she actually wants to and not because it's good for social status. Or," he continued, standing up, "not beating his friends up. Which one were you going to say, Charlie?"

The boy gaped, looking up at Ewan, and so did Ben. This wasn't how Stirling would act. Stirling was a submissive friend who followed Charlie around like a lost puppy, who only joined the basketball team so that he could be a wingman in the locker room too. 

Ben only clenched his jaw. Maybe he should've said something to Ewan, should've cast him a disapproving gaze, but it felt wrong. So he looked down at the notebook he'd gotten out, twisting his pencil in his hand.

"Good afternoon, class," said Mr. Smith.

Jennings class was the one Ben was truly worried for. She didn't care who was in the room when she told him off for hurting people, but now Ben would. Usually, he didn't, considering everyone already knew what he did and they usually left when Jennings went to confront him. But Gabrielle wouldn't. She would wait for him. Because that's what she'd told him. They were in this together.

As he'd expected, Jennings called for him after class. Gabrielle glanced over at him curiously and Ben bit his lip, leaning back in his chair.

"Four inches this time. What, was that some sort of statement?" asked Jennings, coming up and sitting in front of him, turned in the seat to face him with her angry glare. She still wasn't scary.

And she still had that damn lipstick that wasn't a color.

"No," mumbled Ben. He cast a glance at Gabrielle, who was clutching the strap of her bag, watching him quietly. She looked... calm.

"Then why did you have to cut up Terrance's face too? With a pen? He's going to have ink poisoning now and his parents are threatening to take us to court. Not you, not your dad, but us." She pointed to herself, then clenched her jaw before exhaling sharply. "Why did you cut up Terrance's face?"

This was the same part. Where they didn't believe him. "He was lying. I can't prove it, but he was."

"Lying about what, Ben?" asked Jennings, exasperated. "What did he lie about?"

Ben set his jaw, then mumbled, "He said he didn't peer pressure Marley into drinking... And he did."

"How do you know? Ben, we talk about this every single time and every single time you just say 'it's a hunch,' or 'I can feel it,' but that's never been good enough. So give me something I can work with. Something I can understand." She hesitated, then put her hand on Ben's, who jerked his hand back. She only looked sad. "I know your mom... passed. And I know this might be a coping method for you. But it can't keep happening. It's been four years. I've gotten you signed up for therapy - please just tell me you'll go."

"Or what?" hissed Ben. "Are you going to call my dad?"

Jennings sighed through her nose, looked down at her hands. Then she shook her head. "No. But it'll give me peace of mind and maybe it'll help you a little bit." She handed him a piece of paper with a name, time, and place. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Ben glanced over to Gabrielle again, but she was turning around and heading for the door.

Quickly, he got up and slung his bag over his shoulder, hesitating before grabbing the piece of paper. Then he jogged out the door, finding her, waiting for him.

"Gabrielle, I can explain," he said.

She bit her lip, looking him over before she shook her head. "You don't need to, Ben."

This couldn't happen. Ben licked his lips, shaking his head. "Please, I can't... I can't lose you, too... Just give me a chance. I'll tell you everything you want to know."

A soft smile came to her lips. "You don't need to," she repeated softly. "I said we're together in this. If you want to explain... you can. But things happen to people and those things are horrible and painful. They do things to people that... hurt. And even though they cry for help, no one is there." Gently, she put a hand on Ben's chest, looking up at him. "But I am here, Ben."

He stared at her, silent. Where did Gabrielle come from? What had he done? He lifted a hand, gently grabbing her wrist. He didn't know what to say. What could he say when someone seemed to be digging into his soul and picking out the brokenness, picking out the disaster, and piecing together the broken pieces?

"Let me tell you everything," he choked out. "Please."

He took her home on his motorcycle, to her house. She said her parents wouldn't be home for a while.

Her house was nice. It was a small apartment with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a large kitchen and living area. She set her bag on the couch before glancing back up at him with a gentle smile.

"Tea?" she asked.

Ben cleared his throat nervously. "Coffee...?"

She nodded, going to the kitchen and beginning to put on coffee. Ben began glancing around the house. There were tons of boxes - nothing on the walls yet, nothing to indicate a family even lived here, but it still felt homey in a sense. He didn't leave the living room and simply set his bag down on the couch beside hers, then lifted his gaze to watch her.

She returned with two cups of coffee a minute later, handing him one, and he sucked in a sharp breath, sitting down. Gabrielle sat down beside him.

He took a deep breath.

And he spoke.

"My mom died four years ago. She got... sick. And I don't know what with or why or what even happened... I never asked. It just happened and then she died.

"Dad took her brain and began using it to recreate her. It worked, but... every six months her brain began to stop working, and then she'd die, and he'd recreate her again and again. He never leaves his lab in the basement because of it, and... I started having outbursts. Ever since Mom died, I could... feel when someone was lying. I could feel my dad had been lying when he said he was sorry I was sad... when he said he loved me... when he said he didn't kill her. I hated it so much that I acted on it. Whenever someone lied, I hurt them. To make them stop. I... didn't know how else to deal with them.

"He did," said Gabrielle, suddenly squaring her shoulders and looking Ben right in the eyes. "Your father did kill her."

Ben went quiet, looking at her nervously before chuckling humorlessly and shaking his head. "How would you..." He took a deep breath. "How would you know?"

She put her hand on his arm, looking him square in the eyes with a different sort of look. A look that wasn't the Gabrielle he'd met at school, a look that was... strong, fierce. But pure nonetheless.

"Ben, I'm... possessed by an angel," said Gabrielle, looking him firmly in the eyes. "She told me."