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"You're serious? Friday was your first time?" Mackie sits at his desk with his feet up

Ben is on his back in bed holding the phone to his ear, "yeah I don't know a lot of people with motorcycles, and Jeremy may act tough but I know he'd probably never get on one."

"Wow you have more balls than your boyfriend"

"He's not-"

"I know" they talk softly to each other. "So we ever gonna talk about Friday night?"

"What about Friday night?" Ben acts clueless "oh do you-you mean the kiss?"

"Yeah that and you basically telling me you were in love with me"

"Wait" Ben sits up laughing "I did not say-"

"Mackenzie! Why are my good towels covered in engine grease?" His mom barges in as he's on the phone

"I don't know! Ask Harley he fixes his car here all the time!" he replies waving her out of his room.

Hearing the entire thing Ben asks, "Harley is..."

"My older brother"

"How many siblings do you have?"

"I have three brothers, Ryder is the youngest, Bentley, and Harley the oldest"

"Four sons?" He scoffs, "that sounds awful"

"Be lucky you don't have to share a bathroom with them, it's literally hell."

"Damn that must suck,"

"It does. So, how exactly is this going to work you and me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean where do we go from here? Can I pick you up tomorrow and we go to school together? Then maybe I can take you out"

"Like on a date?" Ben asks interested but nervous

"Bad idea?"

"No, I just mean you don't seem like the type who takes people out on dates"

"I guess I'm not but I think we should"

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Yeah, why should we do this? Why not leave what happened on Friday there and move on?" It's not going to be easy for Ben to explain this to people, so if Mackie decides to leave it all alone, he'd agree to save his reputation.

"Because we've been on the phone all weekend and I don't want just a kiss from you, I want to talk to you, walk you to class, and beat people up for you."

Ben smiles "who would you beat up for me?"

"I really want to kick your ex's ass,"

"He's not worth your time, Mackie."

"If you say so"

"You'll pick me up tomorrow then?"

"Whatever you want"

"Good night Mackie"

"Good night."

Still on his back in bed, Ben can't help the smile on his face thinking about Mackie, his feelings were growing and although he didn't mind them, his fear of being judged still lingers.

"Yo," Mackie's older brother Harley walks into his room shutting the door, "so the guys and I got a pickup tomorrow at noon and we need a driver. Cancel whatever you're doing all right?"

"I can't cancel school, H"

"Then don't go I need my brother there, and if it goes well there's 500 in there for you"

Mackie thinks about it, "I can't skip" he remembers he has to take Ben to school

"Mack come on-"

"But! I can leave after lunch"

"Yes! I'll pick you up, good looking out bro."

"Yeah yeah get yourself out of this shit Harley, I can't keep doing this with you."

"Don't lecture me, dude, I know what I'm doing" Harley leaves Mackie's room.

Next day after getting ready Ben walks out of his room to the kitchen where his mom is pouring coffee in a mug, "good morning" she greets him, "want breakfast?"

"No thanks I'll get something on the way to school"

"Jeremy on his way?"

"Um," Ben remembers he hasn't told them about that yet "actually no Jeremy and I broke up last week."

"Seriously? What happened? I thought you guys were solid"

"So did I but he cheated on me with his ex-girlfriend,"

"Jeez, Ben I'm so sorry" she walks to him hugging him.

"What's going on?" Ben's dad walks in fully dressed ready for work

"Jeremy cheated on Ben" she walks back pouring her husband a cup of coffee too,

"Oh" he turns to his son "are you ok?"

Nodding "sure it's whatever"

"You're unbothered" Mom notices "why?"

"I'm actually-" he stops and thinks before telling them about Mackie, realizing it's probably too soon to do that. Ben says "Jeremy isn't worth me being sad, I'm a little heartbroken but he's a meathead I don't expect much from them."

"That's the spirit honey" his mom kisses him on the head.

"Good for you kid" the dad pats his head, "but we should get going, come on I'll drop you off it's on my way."

"It's ok I have a ride,"

"One of the girls coming?" Mom asks grabbing her things

"Sure" Ben smiles lying, "I'll see you guys later."

"Bye Benji" they leave him alone waiting for Mackie.

Ben found himself nervous sitting on the steps of his porch waiting for Mackie, between what happened on Friday and everything they talked about all weekend, he didn't know what to expect when the boy's motorcycle pulls up. Hearing him coming from streets away Ben stands as the bike appears in the distance. A smile appears on Ben's face when Mackie stops in front of his house taking off his helmet.

"Good morning Benjamin Quinn" Mackie greets,

Chuckling "I told you my middle name in confidence" he walks over to Mackie.

"I got you something," Mackie says getting off the bike

"What?" Opening his bag Mackie pulls out a helmet with Ben's favorite color on it, "a purple helmet" Ben smiles

"And look" Mackie turns it "it even has your initials,"

"When did you have time to do this?" Ben holds the helmet running his fingers on the engraved letters

"Yesterday while I was at work."

"Thanks, I really like it"

"You're welcome" they both smile at each other. "Now put that on and hop on," Ben does so and once they're ready Mackie pulls away. Ben knows if his parents were to see him on the back of a motorcycle they'd have a heart attack, so this is probably something he's going to keep to himself.

Ben's popularity is based on him doing everything others think is cool, he never gets to be himself because he's afraid of what people will think. Which is one of the reasons why he likes Mackie, he needs someone to be strong enough to do whatever he wants with. This wasn't going to be easy though

They get to school and Mackie parks and they climb off. Taking off his helmet "dating you is gonna give me helmet hair, isn't it?" Ben asks as Mackie takes his helmet off too

"Probably" he leans on his bike and Ben stands there as they're talking, "but if you don't want to ride the bike we don't have to, my mom sold me an old comet and I'm working on trying to get it to start. Once I'm done with it I can pick you up in that instead."

"A comet?" Ben smiles "you're so eccentric,"

"One thing you should know about me Benjamin Quinn is that I'm an old soul."

"Yeah, your favorite musician is Tom Petty"

"Now who's using things said out of confidence?" They stand across each other talking as everyone head towards the school. Reaching his hand out Mackie waits for Ben to take it, he sees Ben look around before taking it but doesn't say anything. "I have to leave for a little bit after lunch but I'll be back before school ends to take you home, ok?"

"Where are you going?"

"Just helping my brother Harley with some stuff," Mackie answers vaguely.

"I can find another ride home if you're busy,"

"No don't" he pulls Ben closer, "I'm your ride now so I'll be here, promise" they lean close. Mackie's grin made it easy for Ben to forget where they were, tapping his nose against Ben's playfully to make him smile Mackie meets his lips to Ben's and they kiss. As they're leaned against his bike kissing, Mackie opens his eyes seeing something that will probably freak Ben out. He pulls away "don't look now but your friends are giving us death glares," he says seeing them.

"Oh god" Ben pulls away, "how am I going to explain this?"

"Easy... go to them and say you're dating the freak"

"Stop it you're not a freak, and they'll get over it. I promise they're not that bad."

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

"Shush. I should go explain I'll find you before lunch"

"Ok, later" Mackie watches him walk away purple helmet in hand.

Ben is walking to his friends about to explain, but they see him coming so they stand up walking away. Feeling dissed "guys?" He follows them "I can explain"

"Yeah?" Ali and Brooke turn to him "can you explain why you're turning into that loser?" Ali asks

"What I'm not-" she signals to the helmet in his hand "it was just a ride."

"Ben we love you" Brooke starts, "but people like him and us don't mix, you ignored us all weekend and now you're kissing him? We're supposed to be your best friends if you're not going to tell us what's going on then..." the bell rings

"Come on Brooke" Ali pulls her away and they leave Ben behind.

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