Chapter Two
Stumbling up the street, Clark rubbed his sore jaw. “I can’t believe Andrew sucker punched me like that,” he said, looking at Donnie. “What the hell is wrong with him? Is he on steroids or something?”
“Andrew’s always been passionate,” Donnie said, “though I never saw him hitting you as a possibility.”
“Is it really true what he said?”
“About what?”
“About people writing on Heaven’s locker,” Clark said. “Are people really harassing her?”
“She…well you did call her a slut in front of the whole school,” Donnie said. “What did you expect to happen?”
“I don’t want her to be frightened. I was just trying to make a point.”
“And a point was definitely made,” Bennett’s voice came from ahead of them. Looking up, Clark and Donnie saw Bennett leaning against the tree in front of Donnie’s house. He looked moodier than usual, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his overly-toned forearms and his tattoos. On the field he usually wore athletic bands to cover them up, but he seemed not to care this afternoon as he looked at them with a grim expression.
“Well hey,” Donnie said, smiling as they approached him. “Just the man we were looking for.”
“How goes it?” Clark asked, standing up straight.
“What the hell happened to you?” Bennett asked Clark coldly.
“Andrew sucker punched Clark while we were…speaking with Leo,” Donnie explained.
“I see,” Bennett said coldly. “Like you sucker punched Heaven?”
Both men narrowed their eyes. “What are you implying?” Clark asked. “I never laid a hand on her.”
“You laid your words all over her in front of the whole school,” Bennett said. “Your lies, I mean.”
“They weren’t lies, Ben,” Donnie said. “You know that. We told you—”
“I know what you told me,” Bennett said, turning to Clark. “And you said that Andrew punched you?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s the least that you deserve,” Bennett nodded.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Clark asked, straightening his shoulders. “How do I deserve that? It wasn’t a fair fight. He punched me and ran.”
“Indeed,” Bennett said, “it doesn’t sound like it would have ever been a fair fight. Which is why I was looking for you guys.”
“Looking for us?” Clark asked. “That’s good because we were looking for you too. This whole thing with Heaven has made me so upset lately – I could use a little humor.”
“It appears that Andrew and I have similar taste in humor,” Bennett said, looking at the bruise starting to form on Clark’s chin. “Would you really like me to show you?”
“Are you…are you saying you want to hit me too?” Clark asked.
“Wow, now this is impressive,” Bennett said, chuckling. “You figured something out right away without me spelling it out.”
“Come on, Bennett,” Donnie said. “Give the guy a break. He just got punched—”
“He deserved it.”
“What’s your problem?” Donnie asked. “You look grumpier than usual. Did Bea say something to you?”
“Irrelevant.”
“Oh come on now. I bet she did,” Clark said. “It’s not a big deal. You need to lighten up a bit, I mean look at me. Heaven cheated on me and I’ve already moved on. You need to chill.”
“Leave Beatriz and Heaven out of this,” Bennett said. “You sound like an idiot, which I know is your preference, but let’s be smart for once.”
“Ahhh so someone cheated on you too?” Clark guessed, smiling. “It doesn’t surprise me with Bea being friends with Heaven and all—”
“Stop, Clark,” Donnie warned. “Look at him. He’s getting more and more pissed off. I think Bennett’s serious today.”
“If he ever thought about being serious with Bea, then that was his problem.”
“I want to talk to you,” Bennett said, motioning at Clark.
“Are…are you kidding?” Clark asked, his face paling only for a moment. “We’re talking now.”
“In private.”
“What would you want to talk to me about in private?”
“I’m disgusted with what you did to Heaven,” Bennett said. “I’m not joking when I say that was a dick move what you pulled at the dance. Did you think for a second about what you were doing, or does that take too much effort on your part? I think a few minutes alone with you—”
“Are you saying you want to fight me? Do you see my face? I’ve had enough today,” Clark said.
“You will accept my challenge,” Bennett said. “What you’ve done to Beatriz’s friend pisses me off. I’m tired of her crying—”
“So this is about Bea,” Clark laughed but his smile vanished quickly as Bennett strode up to him and pushed him against Donnie’s car. “Whoa, man! Easy!”
“I’m tired of this shit,” Bennett said, easily pinning Clark to the car with one arm, leaving Donnie to stand there gaping. “You’ve spread rumors without proof and I intend to give you what you’ve had coming for a long time. What do you say?”
“I say that while I don’t want to fight, I will defend myself.”
“Come on, guys,” Donnie said. “We don’t need to fight. Let’s just get some food in us—”
“What is this, a damn Snickers commercial?” Bennett said. “There will be no dinners, no lunches and certainly no hanging out and shaking hands with smiles.”
“Just let me go, Ben,” Clark said. “I agree so let me go.”
“Ahh, not laughing? I’m sure you were smiling and laughing like a moron when you were talking to Leo. It’s a bit different, isn’t it, when you’re not slandering young women and taunting old men? You’re pathetic.”
“Bennett, stop. Bea wouldn’t want you to fight like this.”
“Donnie, shut up,” Bennett said, never releasing his grip on Clark. “She and I are in agreement on this course of action, you simpletons. She’s cried endlessly since that night and I’ve grown tired of seeing her tears.”
“So she cried,” Clark grunted. “Women cry—”
“Beatriz isn’t a typical woman,” Bennett said. “She wants you to pay for what you’ve done to her friend and I offered my help.”
“You would kick my ass for her?” Clark asked.
“In a heartbeat.”
“So you really do love her,” Donnie said. “Man, you are whipped now. I pity you.”
“Not as much as I pity you,” Bennett said, suddenly releasing Clark, who nearly fell to the ground. Adjusting his collar, he frowned as Clark stumbled back to his feet. “Now, are you prepared to join me in the street?”
“No, man. I told you, I need to ice my jaw,” Clark said.
“Then I’ll add coward to the list of adjectives used to describe you,” Bennett said. “I no longer consider you guys my friends until you right this – until you right Heaven.”
“There’s nothing we can do,” Clark choked out. “Bennett, you’re not really that pissed about this, are you? Just because Bea said—”
“It’s true that Beatriz’s words brought me here, but that doesn’t mean that I’m pleased with how you idiots are acting. We’re seniors. Dammit, Donnie and you plan to attend college. You’re acting like children with your lies and your rumors, so I’m getting out of here. I quit.”
“Quit?” Donnie asked.
“Quit what?” Clark asked.
“The team. I’m done with you both.”
“You can’t quit!” Clark shouted. “It’s the middle of the season and we need you!”
“And I need you to learn about taking responsibility for your damn actions,” Bennett said, turning away and only pausing briefly to light a cigarette. “And I’ll tell you now…don’t you think that it’s convenient that Jason has chosen this exact time to go on vacation?”
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“Vacation?” Donnie asked. “He never mentioned anything to me.”
“What a surprise,” Bennett said, beginning to walk away. “I’m sure that he’s on the beach laughing at how he’s manipulated the two of you idiots into ruining a good woman. Congrats, baby-face,” he said to Clark over his shoulder. “I look forward to giving you what you deserve.”
“He…he’s serious,” Donnie said, looking over at Clark. “I’ve never seen him this upset.”
“Damn serious. It’s all because of Bea.”
“I don’t know about that,” Donnie said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Do you really think he’s planning to fight me?” Clark asked.
“I can’t see Bennett joking about something like this,” Donnie said.
“I don’t know if I can take him,” Clark said. “I’m taller but God knows how much thicker and stronger he is than me. It could get pretty ugly.”
“Did you hear what he said? How Jason’s on vacation?” Donnie asked. “That part of the story bothers me. Why would he go now and not mention anything to either of us about it?”
“Do you think?” Clark asked, frowning.
“He…he wouldn’t. At least I don’t think he would. He said he changed.”
“Shit…” Clark muttered, covering his mouth with his hand. “I wouldn’t put it past him to pull something like this. I’m sure he would.”
“Damn!” Donnie shouted suddenly.
“I know right?”
“No! I mean damn! Look up the street! Isn’t that Connor and Bordin?”
The two young men looked up the street, trying to make sense of the scene. Connor and Bordin were in the middle of the street facing several younger neighborhood boys. As they watched, a tall and lanky boy tried to swing at Bordin.
“Come on,” Donnie said, “let’s go see what the hell’s going on.”