The Invitation

Ben stole a glance to his right, locking eyes with 'four words' and Chloe. Quickly, he shifted his gaze forward, doing his utmost to focus on the teacher's lecture.

It was only when he noticed Chloe, Eric, and 'four words' enter the classroom that he recalled they were his classmates. Chloe appeared as though she wanted to say something, but her words were cut short by the ringing bell that signaled the end of lunch.

In case you were curious, Ben still hadn't eaten; his snacks remained tucked away in his bag.

He resolved that once classes wrapped up, he would make his way back to the lunch lady, hoping whatever was still available wasn't burgers. Ben was certain he would faint if he had to wait until dinner.

As the history teacher concluded his lesson and exited the room, Ben mentally noted he needed to hit the books later that evening since he hadn't grasped much of what had been taught—his hunger was too distracting.

"Excuse me?" he heard from his right. Turning, he saw Chloe standing there, holding a hotdog. "My friend filled me in on what happened, so I wanted to apologize for him and offer to swap my hotdog for your burger, if you're interested," she said, extending the hotdog toward him.

She wore a polite smile, a stark contrast to Mr. Sam's unsettling grin. Ben felt puzzled about her kindness; apart from their brief encounter that morning, they hadn't exchanged a single word. Or perhaps she was simply a genuinely nice person?

One thing was clear: he was eager to accept her offer and trade snacks.

"I'd love to," he replied, rummaging through his bag to retrieve the burger. The way he had tossed it in there out of frustration had turned everything into a chaotic jumble.

"But it's all over the place, do you still want it?" Ben silently wished she would say yes. In his mind, he could already taste that hotdog.

"Sure, it's fine," Chloe replied, taking the burger and handing the hotdog to Ben, which made him beam with joy. Finally, he was about to eat.

"I hope you won't take offense to what my friend said. I swear he's not as bad as he seems," Chloe attempted to defend.

Ben glanced past Chloe toward 'four words,' where Eric was standing. Since Chloe was offering him the hotdog, he decided not to mention how hurt he was by 'four words' reaction.

What if she changed her mind about giving him the hotdog?

"It's all good; I've moved on," he finally replied. Chloe smiled back, "Okay, see you later." Then she walked away.

Without wasting a moment, Ben grabbed the peach soda from his bag and bit into the hotdog. He didn't care that eating in class was frowned upon; he was determined to satisfy his hunger.

As the food fueled his body, thoughts about the day flooded his mind. Even after their awkward encounter, Chloe had been kind to him. But why?

On the surface, Chloe seemed like a genuinely nice person. She joined the school just last year, which made Ben a bit envious when she was welcomed into the so-called 'popular group.' Ben was the only one who labeled it that way, given the striking attractiveness and charm of its members.

This friend group was unique, comprising the most sought-after seniors and juniors, effectively making it the ultimate social circle.

Chloe's inclusion wasn't due to her popularity—after all, she was a newcomer—but rather because Eric, one of the most admired boys in school, had taken a liking to her.

Remember when Ben began to pay more attention to the school's dating scene after that moment? That's how he became aware of all these details.

Eric and his best friend, known simply as 'Four Words,' had been inseparable since the beginning. Their presence in the 'popular group' was justified by three key factors.

First, they were undeniably good-looking. Even if you weren't a fan, it would be hard to argue against their appeal.

Second, they came from wealthy backgrounds. Their stylish accessories and lavish purchases made that quite clear.

Third, they excelled academically. While Ben boasted the highest grades in his class, Eric and Four Words still achieved impressive results.

With those three essential criteria for popularity in check, their membership in the group was never questioned.

Chloe and Eric's budding romance was sweet and endearing. Eric often trailed after her, seizing every opportunity to strike up a conversation. However, the other girls weren't fond of this; they resented Chloe for stealing Eric's attention.

Ben didn't share those feelings because none of the guys around him were gay, leaving him with no opportunities from the start.

He was well aware of all the LGBTQ+ students at his school—eight in total, himself included. However, none of them sparked his interest, so he didn't give them much thought. The only one who came close to fitting his type was already in a relationship.

In terms of romance, Ben felt hopeless.

He had a good understanding of Eric and Chloe's dating dynamics. He wasn't a creep; he simply knew what others knew. That's why he could easily identify who the girls were talking about when they mentioned 'four words.'

He had no clue what his actual name was. By the time Ben began to notice him, everyone was already referring to him as 'four words.' Rumor had it that he earned this nickname because he rarely spoke, and when he did, his responses were brief.

You know, like a classic 'I'm fine, and you?' kind of exchange.

Ben typically didn't give this guy much thought since he wasn't in a relationship. He mostly conversed with Eric and Chloe, occasionally mingling with the popular crowd but only on specific occasions.

Though he didn't admit it often, Ben secretly yearned for a friendship as strong as that between Eric and 'four words,' as well as a romance as delightful as Eric and Chloe's.

Shaking his head, Ben decided to push aside all these gloomy thoughts. Although he had eaten a hotdog, he was aware it wouldn't suffice to satisfy him. He was eagerly anticipating dinner.

The classes had finally wrapped up. Ben began organizing his belongings, zipping up his bag just as he noticed Chloe approaching him.

"Hey, I realized I didn't introduce myself earlier—I'm Chloe," she said, extending her hand.

Ben shook it, confusion evident on his face. "Uh, I'm Ben."

"I know. I'd like you to join us for dinner... as a way to apologize for earlier," Chloe offered.

Join them? The 'popular group'? The thought made him uneasy. What would he even say? How should he act? He didn't talk to any of them in class, let alone the upperclassmen in that group. He felt he would be a complete outsider. What would their reaction be to him dining with them? The idea did not appeal to him at all.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea. Honestly, I'm over how he reacted; there's no need for you to go out of your way to apologize," Ben replied, feeling the urge to clarify. Dinner with them seemed unnecessary, and he was convinced it would only lead to an embarrassing situation for him.

"Please, let me make it up to you. Just have dinner with us," Chloe insisted, genuinely wanting him to join.

By now, the classroom was empty except for two remaining students: Eric and the boy he referred to as 'four words.' "I still don't think it's a great idea, but I'll think about it," Ben said reluctantly.

He was lying; he had no intention of considering it.

"Alright, see you later," she said, heading off to rejoin her friends.

Ben decided to act as if the day had never happened and headed off for a shower. He wouldn't dwell on why Chloe was making such an effort to apologize; after all, she wasn't even the one he had an issue with.

The individual referred to as "Four words," with whom he had some conflicts, hardly cast a glance in his direction and appeared to have completely erased the lunchtime incident from his mind.

But it didn't matter; he decided not to dwell on it. He was quite confident that Chloe would let the invitation slip from her memory.

He was very certain that by dinner, Chloe would've forgotten about the invitation.