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"I'm gonna kill myself," Ben stares at himself in the mirror.

"Ben stop it" Mackie sits on his bed,

"A freaking arm sling, really?" He turns to Mackie complaining "was the cast not enough?"

"It doesn't look that bad,"

"I feel like I look stupid" he turns back to the mirror, "if you didn't know me and I had this thing on you wouldn't even give me the time of day."

"It's 7:45 and we're gonna be late for school."

After taking a couple of days off to get better, it's finally Monday morning and it's back to school for Ben, "go without me I'm not going" he walks to his bed sitting down next to Mackie.

"If you're staying then I'm staying," they turn to each other.

Frowning Ben lays his head on Mackie's broad shoulder, "this is my karma for what I did to Jenny, getting hit by a bus."

Mackie chuckles "it wasn't a bus, Ben"

"It felt like one,"

"You really don't want to go?"

Lifting his head "you know what I really want?" He looks at Mackie "I want to set this sling on fire, for my arm to be totally fine, and act like my face isn't cut to hell."

Mackie hated complainers, he never liked complaining from his friends or family, even when the worst was happening to them he'd just say suck it up and figure out how to fix it. But with Ben he's willing to put all that aside, he wants to fix Ben's problems even if he doesn't know how, that's how much he feels for this boy.

"All right I'm done bitching, let's go." Ben stands up walking out of his room leaving Mackie, chuckling at the act Mackie picks up Ben's backpack and follows.

When they get to school the halls are empty meaning they're late, "pick you up after class ends?" Mackie asks as they stop in front of Ben's first period

"You don't have to walk me to every class I'll be fine, see you at lunch?"

"Ok," Mackie hands him his bag and Ben walks in.

Going about his day pretending he was ok wasn't really working for Ben, people have been hugging and touching him all day sharing their sadness and pity. Ben hates being touched by just anyone so this was a nightmare, even his locker was decorated as if he'd died, making him even madder.

Hiding out from everyone Ben goes to the back of the school find a bench, he stares at the sling on his arm making his life difficult. Wanting to rip it off Ben tried his hardest not to, "hey" looking up he sees Jeremy standing next to him.

Usually, Ben would tell him to go away almost immediately but this time he doesn't, "hi" he replies.

"I'm sorry about what happened, I was going to come visit you but I figured you still hate me and didn't want me to."

"You figured right," Ben looks at anywhere but Jeremy trying to ignore him. Walking around the bench Jeremy sits next to Ben, "what are you doing?" Ben asks

"I brought you something," Jeremy opens his bag pulling out a hoodie

Unfolding it Ben sees it and a slight smile shows on his face, "your bear mountain hoodie?"

"I remember it was your favorite hoodie I own, you used to say how comfortable it is and even wrestled Sadie for it-"

"Oh my god, I forgot about that" Ben laughs. "Your dog hated me!"

"Remember when she buried your backpack and we spent two days digging for it?"

"And the freaking thing was in your neighbor's yard all along!" They laugh together

"It was her special way of showing you that you were part of the family."

"Or her way of trying to get rid of me,"

"Guess it worked" Jeremy comments making their moment awkward. Still holding the hoodie he looks down at it, "my mom asks about you a lot," he says, "she thinks I messed up letting you go." They continue to sit next to each other and Ben decides staying quiet is best because Jeremy seems sad, and whatever he says will probably just hurt Jeremy's feelings. "I think I'm going to get expelled"

"What?" Ben looks at him "why?"

"They're still looking for the person who exposed Jenny, and she's gonna tell them it was me, so sooner or later I'm going to get kicked out."

"I'm so sorry Jeremy," Ben is wracked with guilt watching someone else about to pay for what he did.

"Why are you sorry?" Jeremy looks in Ben's sad eyes

"You don't deserve this,"

"You believe that I didn't do it?" They stare at each other and Ben nods, taking that as a signal they might be ok Jeremy leans closer. Ben sees it about to happen and has so many chances to stop it from happening but doesn't, their lips touch and the kissing begins.

It doesn't last very long because Ben pulls away, "Holy shit!" He quickly stands

"I know right" Jeremy smiles standing up too, "that felt so good."

"No! No it didn't" his mind wonders to Mackie who he'd just betrayed, "stay away from me Jeremy" he picks up his bag rushing away.

Calling his sister after school, Ben tries to make a break for it hoping to not get noticed by Mackie, but it doesn't work. Turning the hall to stop at his locker he sees Mackie standing there, quickly turning he tries to head for the exit but Mackie sees him anyway.

Finding what he just did weird Mackie follows him, "Ben?" He calls as he's following behind him, "hey!" Mackie rushes stopping Ben "what's going on?"

Unable to look at Mackie in the face "um nothing, what's up?"

"I was waiting for you, where are you going?"

"Serena called said she wants to hang out, she's waiting for me so I should go" Ben walks past him heading out of the door.

"Ben stop," Mackie says stopping him when they get outside, "did something happen?" He tries to find the boy's eyes but Ben is too ashamed to look Mackie in the face.

"No, what do you mean?"

"You're acting weird,"

"Am I? Sorry" he looks at Mackie and tries to be normal, "I'll call you ok?" He kisses Mackie and walks away

"Okay..." Mackie watches him get in Serena's car.

"Hey," Serena greets as her little brother deeply sigh sinking in his seat.

"Please drive away," he begs trying not to turn and see Mackie.

As she's driving Serena asks, "what happened?" Telling his sister everything Ben goes home hating himself.

What was a normal afternoon at work is ruined for Mackie when he hears, "MA!" Harley walking in the garage calling for their mother. Where are the boys? I just stopped at dad's and he said to check here," standing up Mackie watches his brother walk around looking for their mom. When he doesn't see her anywhere he turns and sees Mackie scolding him. They haven't seen each other since Mackie moved out weeks ago, Harley's deceiving smile reveals itself as he stares at his brother. "where's mom?" He asks as if everything was magically ok between them, ignoring him Mackie goes back to work "still a bitter bitch huh? It's been weeks man get over it." Mackie continues to work "Come on Mack I forgave you for being a fag-"

"Your mom's not here Harley," one of the other mechanics say to him as he's disturbing them, "so maybe you should get out of here and let your brother work."

"Joe shut up this is between me and Mack, follow that gut back over there." Mackie sighs having had enough

"What do you want, man?" He turns to Harley

"Bro, let's put all that shit aside and be cool again, what do you say?"

"You mean your homophobia?"

He shrugs "I let go of all the times you attacked me, I can also ignore the fact that you're a homo too."

"Harley get the fuck out of here before I lose my shit, all right?"

"Is that a threat?" Harley watches the wrench in his hand, "mom's not here so I can kick your ass."

"Please try" Mackie moves towards him,

"HEY!" Their mom walks in, "what the hell is going on?"

"I stopped by looking for the boys and Mackie's just being an ass."

"All you do is fucking lie!"

"Ken please go back to work," listening to his mom Mackie goes back. "What the hell are you doing, Harley? We don't see you for weeks, and now you show up here bothering him?"

"First of all, you're the one that left a message for me to pick the boys up to take them home."

"THAT WAS LAST WEEK HARLEY!" She barks at him, "what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Whatever I don't need this" he walks away.

"HEY! I am still your mother,"

"Barely" he leaves the garage.

Walking over to Mackie as he's working, "are you ok?" His mom asks and he nods "why don't you head out early and finish tomorrow."

"Thanks" he stops and starts to pack up his tools.

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