Page 10 of A Stealthy Situation

Me:

Class

Unknown:

Yeah, but WHERE, dummy?

I choke a laugh at the tone, suspicion sneaking in about who it could be.

Me:

That depends. If this is Benny, I’m in the science block. If it’s a stalker who’s going to kidnap me and demand a ransom: I’m way too poor for that, man. Give up now.

Unknown:

Guess you’ll find out soon enough.

“Soon enough” is exactly fifteen minutes later when I step out of class and find Benny leaning against the wall opposite my classroom. He has a takeout bag in one hand and is thumbing through his phone with the other.

“Tell me there’s a cheeseburger in there for me, and I’ll come to all of your frat parties.”

“You sure you wanna be making me promises like that?” He smugly pulls out a burger that he tosses to me. “We throw a lot of parties.”

“You got me lunch.”

“Yep.”

“But I lost.”

Benny shrugs his slim shoulders. He’s not a small guy, more … streamlined. Like he’s built for running rather than taking on a football team. “You pointed out how much you really love a free lunch, and I just couldn’t disappoint you like that. Besides, you did make me laugh. At you. That was valuable entertainment.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to tell people you’re laughing at them.” We walk side by side, heading for the exit doors.

“Hey, don’t blame me. I grew up with no parents, remember? How am I supposed to know those things?”

“And now I get the feeling you’re fucking with me.”

“Good. You’re a fast learner.”

I tear open the cheeseburger as we walk across the grounds. “Goddamn, I’m glad I made a wager today.”

“Bet you’re glad you switched seats too.”

“Duh. I watched you walk right by me, and I was like, nope. I need to sit next to you.”

For some reason, that surprises him. It’s not like I’ve made a secret about needing that extra nudge for statistics, and he’s always been happy to give it. Maybe Benny’s one of those guys who likes when people need him. He clearly didn’t see me this morning, and I wasn’t letting him get away that easily.

“Well, I’m glad you did.”

The sentence hangs between us for a second because it’s an odd response. Like we don’t always sit together.

We reach a bench seat, and I drop onto it to finish scarfing down my burger before making a dent in the fries Benny bought me.

“You want some money for these?”

“You keep that money for a future ransom. You might need it if you have that many anonymous people messaging you.”

“In my defense, you literally just asked my location. Who does that?”

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