Something Like Summer by Jay Bell

Author:Jay Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3, pdf
ISBN: 9781458015327
Publisher: Jay Bell

Chapter 15

The next week was spent waiting. Ben tried to tell himself this was just another fight. Tim would calm down, eventually feel safe again, and would return to him. All he needed was space. That was what Ben’s brain was telling him. His heart, on the other hand, felt something very different.

When his calls weren’t returned the second week, Ben decided to write Tim a letter. He stressed that there wasn’t going to be any trouble with the cops. Ben’s father had covered for him, claiming that Ben was out with his sister that night. Mr. Bentley was no fool. He understood that it would only be inconvenient and possibly expensive if he let the police take his son. Ben’s parents hadn’t been happy, of course, but they preferred to administer their own justice.

News of what had happened wasn’t likely to spread around the school either. Daniel Wigmore was uncharacteristically tightlipped about the event. He had no doubt tipped off the cops to Ben’s name, but had no intention of informing his peers at school. Most likely he was afraid that one of them would put two and two together. The police were out that night looking for an arsonist. What Ben and Tim had been up to was obvious, but what was Daniel doing there? In retrospect Ben could swear that the sound on the pavement had been a plastic lighter and that Daniel’s silence was further testament to his guilt.

By the end of the second week, it was clear that Tim had no intention of responding. That only left one option—sneaking into the Wyman residence at night and slipping into bed with him. Ben rebelled against the idea. He was sick of feeling like he had done something wrong. Any other couple would be laughing about being caught by the police, or at the very least come together in times of trouble. Why did Ben feel like he had to apologize? Why should he have to talk Tim into being with him? That wasn’t how love worked, was it?

“Ronnie changed the lyrics.” Allison shoved a piece of paper into Ben’s hand.

“What? The talent show is tomorrow!”

“I know, but he only changed a few lines. Just read it.”

Ben browsed the new text, eyes growing wider by the second.

“I hope you’re not mad,” Allison said. “I told him everything, and it just fell into place. What do you think?”

Ben features set with determination. “If they’re willing to play it, I’ll sing it.”

They spent the evening practicing the new lines, Ben’s emotions growing with every word he sang. They carried him through to the next day, when his nerves started playing up at the idea of performing in front of the entire school. The gymnasium, usually separated by a folding wall between the girls and boys sides, had been opened. The bleachers were moved to the far wall, opposite the stage on the other end. Students were stuffed into every available inch, the bleachers groaning under their weight and the floor lost beneath a mass of bodies.

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