Page 50 of Learning to Love

It's not long until Axel answers. "He's heading toward the pool tables where Sasha and Dallas are. Guys, you're up next."

I see him out of the corner of my eye. The dartboards are close to the pool tables. He sits on a stool and talks to a guy from our Lit class. The guy looks around to make sure no one is watching. My heart is beating out of my chest because surely they will not exchange money and drugs right here in front of everyone. The guy goes to give him a handshake. Benji looks around and is satisfied that no one is watching and shakes his hand.

A whisper from Sasha comes through our earpieces. "Guys, he just gave Benji a crisp hundred-dollar bill! I saw it."

"We got you, you lousy son of a bitch." Jake is elated.

"We don't have him yet, because he hasn't given him any drugs yet. I saw Benji's hand, and it was empty when he went to grab the guy's hand. He must ask for the money upfront and then deals them the drugs somewhere else."

After a minute or two, the guy heads toward the bathroom. Hector comes on the speaker. "Looks like I need to take a bathroom break, guys."

Sasha and Dallas fake an argument to cover up Hector walking toward the bathroom. Benji buys it as he looks on with everyone else. He waits a few minutes and makes his way to the bathroom and then Hector sends out a text to all our phones.

Not many people are in here. The guy is standing by the urinal looking like a douche turd. I'm in the stall. I'll start filming when Benji gets in here.

I'm shaking with anticipation. We hear nothing for hours but it's really only been minutes. Hector walks past us from the bathroom, saying hello and giving Jake a high five. Everything has to be exactly as it usually would be. I want to ask him so badly if he was able to film the drug deal, but I don't. The shit-eating grin on his face tells me he did. What do we do next? He obviously won't go to jail because of this video, but it's a start, at least.

Chapter 30

Group Decision

Everything Fearless 24/7

Benji stopped flirting with Janet as soon as he realized Dani was at the bar. Jake, it looks like your teammate wants a piece of ya girl. Love triangle, anyone? #JustSayin

We get back from McCarthy's and sit down in front of the TV while Axel uses the chrome cast to pull up the video of the drug deal. My heart is beating so fast, and I have butterflies in my stomach. I know just one video won't get him arrested, but it's a start. We plan to get more of him breaking the law so that he at least gets kicked off the football team, and ultimately we want him arrested and long gone from here. You don't have to go home, Asshat, but you can't stay here!

I grab Jake's arm as the screen comes into focus. Hector is pointing the camera through the slit of the bathroom stall. It's not the best picture quality, but you can see well enough to know what's happening. The guy from school is waiting in between the urinal and the sink. Benji walks in, and he's all business, no small talk.

"What you want, man?" He asks gruffly. He's impatient for some reason, or maybe he’s always like that. I don't know, but it makes me roll my eyes.

"What ya got?" Clearly Lit guy didn't get the memo. Benji is an Asshat. Benji pushes him against the wall, making me jump in the process. Jake wraps his arm around me. I hate that I showed a moment of weakness, but I love how he fiercely wants to protect me.

The guy holds up his hands. "Whoa, man! I don't want any trouble. I'll take some of those two sweet girls, man. Yeah, that's right, the best you got. I love when Molly and Mary Jane come out to play." Benji laughs. The tone of which comes out harsh and cold. He lightly slaps the guy on the cheek. Does he even have a soul? Benji backs up, takes out his phone, and quickly sends out a text.

Seconds later, Jeffery walks in and gives the customer what he wants. Benji stops the guy from Lit as he's walking out. "Tell anyone about this, and I'll end you."

The guy looks at him dumbfounded. "I'm buying drugs, man. Who the hell am I going to tell? I'd get in trouble too."

Benji nods his head. "That's true. Glad you see it that way. I don't make idle threats. Just remember that."

A shiver runs up and down my spine. Benji's a ruthless criminal, and for the first time, I don't play down the fact that he scares the hell out of me. What are we going to do? I don't want anybody getting hurt, me included. But how can we let him get away with what he's doing? If we don't stand up, who will?

I'm not one for public speaking, but I know I won't be able to get any rest tonight until I say what's on my mind. "Watching this tape tonight, y'all, has me scared to death. Benji may be a teenager just like us, but he's a hardened criminal already. I could see it in the way he handled himself in that video. I don't think any of you would disagree with that. I saw your facial expressions just like you saw mine. I don't want to stop our mission of bringing him down because I believe Benji won't stop unless we take him out of commission. I think that every single one of us needs to think seriously about what it is we are doing because one of us is bound to end up hurt. I won't think badly of you if you decide it's not worth it. I don't think any of us will."

I look at all of their grave faces, all torn on what to do except for Jake. My Sex King is such a cocky ass. He's been sitting on ready since the locker room incident. Throw in Benji's apparent "admiration" for me, and he's past his boiling point.

The Benji situation is complex, and we could face significant consequences, like being killed by the Godfather! I don't know what else to tell them or how to make it better. All I know is I won't stop. I laughed when Axel joked about Benji being infatuated with me, but the more I think about it, the more I believe he could have misplaced feelings. Very creepy misplaced feelings!

Guilt tears me apart. If I had just left Benji alone and never danced with him the night of my first party, and if I had heeded Jake's warning and not talked to him anymore, maybe we wouldn't be sitting here tonight. I mean, the boy sniffed and stole my underwear. Lord only knows why he did that!

Sasha speaks first. "Will you stop if we do?"

I don't want to lie, but I don't want anyone doing this just because I won't stop. So, I give a vague answer that's more an omission than a lie. "I'm torn by what my decision is."

She gives me a stern look. In our limited time of being friends, she's come to know me. "Dani, don't bullshit a bullshitter."

I grin. "Okay. You got me. I don't know how to continue, but I wouldn't just sit back and do nothing. I couldn't. I think…I think..." I look over at Jake, and he is intently staring at me, eager for my following words. "I know Axel was joking when he said that Benji was in love with me, and I don't think it's love because how could it be? He doesn't know me, but I think he's slightly obsessed with me."