Beep! Beep! Beep!
The shrill sound of the alarm yanked Ben out of sleep. His eyelids felt heavy, his body stiff as he turned over with a groggy groan. Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. He sighed. A new week. Another day of school.
Forcing himself upright, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and reached over to silence the alarm. The sudden quiet was almost deafening, but he welcomed it.
Stretching his arms over his head, Ben let out a long yawn before swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His joints popped in protest, but he ignored them.
No time to waste.
Pushing himself to his feet, he stretched once more before trudging toward the bathroom. If he dragged his feet too long, he'd risk being late—again. Moving with a mix of urgency and routine, he brushed his teeth, showered, and got dressed.
A plain black T-shirt, a green jacket with a white stripe running down the side, and a pair of well-fitted blue jeans—simple, comfortable. He slipped on his black-and-white sneakers, tying the laces with practiced ease.
With one final glance in the mirror, Ben exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his slightly damp hair. Another day, another routine. Time to get moving.
As he headed downstairs, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of maple syrup. His stomach grumbled in anticipation.
In the kitchen Sandra, Ben's mom moved with practiced ease, flipping pancakes on the stove while simultaneously preparing eggs. Ever diligent, ever efficient. Ben's father Carl sat at the table as always, hidden behind the morning newspaper, a steaming mug of coffee within reach.
"Good morning, Ben," Sandra mother greeted, turning with a warm smile. She leaned in to plant a quick peck on Ben cheek, though she had to stretch a little—he was nearly a head taller than her now.
"Morning, Mom," Ben replied, taking his usual seat at the table.
Even if he risked running late, skipping breakfast wasn't an option. Breakfast was his time. Starting the day on an empty stomach was a guaranteed way to put him in a bad mood.
Carl finally lowered the newspaper, giving him a nod. "Morning, sport. Big day ahead?"
Ben shrugged. "Just school. Maybe some homework to catch up on." He huffed slightly, already dreading it.
But his mild annoyance was quickly forgotten when his mother set down a fresh batch of golden-brown pancakes. The sight alone lifted his spirits. Without hesitation, he grabbed his fork and dug in, savoring the warm, fluffy texture with each bite. Whatever the day had in store, at least breakfast was a win.
For a while, silence settled over the kitchen as Ben focused on his meal. He was nearly halfway through when his mother Sandra finally decided to break it.
"So, Ben, how's Gwen? I haven't heard from her lately," she asked casually, though the teasing grin on her lips suggested she was fishing for something.
Ben nearly choked on his pancake. Coughing slightly, he grabbed his glass of orange juice and took a quick sip, buying himself a moment to recover.
"Uh, she's fine, I guess?" Ben responded, trying to sound nonchalant. But even he could hear the uncertainty in his voice. Something had been bothering him more than he wanted to admit.
Sandra arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his weak attempt at indifference. "You guess?"
From behind his coffee mug, Carl smirked knowingly, ever the silent observer. He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes said, Yeah, sure, kid.
Ben sighed, stabbing absently at his pancakes with his fork. "I mean, we texted a little yesterday. She's been busy with school stuff." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. Lately, he and Gwen had been talking less. Not for any specific reason—at least, that's what he kept telling himself. Life just got in the way… or so he was supposed to believe.
But deep down, he knew something wasn't right. Gwen was keeping something from him. And somehow, he knew Kevin was part of it.
Sandra hummed knowingly, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Well, you should check in on her. You two have been friends since you were kids, after all."
He nodded, more to end the conversation than out of actual agreement. "Yeah, I'll text her later."
Satisfied, Sandra turned back to the stove, and his father went back to his newspaper, sipping his coffee like he hadn't just watched his son unravel for a moment.
Ben finished his pancakes in peace, but his mind wasn't on breakfast anymore. Instead, it drifted toward the rest of the day ahead—school, unfinished homework, maybe goofing off with Kevin if he was lucky.
He grabbed his backpack and glanced over at his parents before saying his goodbye. "See you later. Bye."
Swinging his leg over his bike, he pushed off the curb, the cool morning air brushing against his face as he pedaled down the familiar streets of their neighborhood.
The world was just beginning to stir—cars easing out of driveways, joggers passing by with headphones in, kids standing at bus stops, yawning into their sleeves. The distant hum of the city waking up filled the air, blending with the steady rhythm of his tires against the pavement.
Ben kept his pace steady, letting his thoughts drift. Breakfast had left a lingering weight in his mind, a nagging feeling he couldn't quite shake. It wasn't just that he and Gwen hadn't talked much lately—it was the sense that something was off. That weird gut instinct that gnawed at him whenever things didn't add up.
And then there was Kevin.
Exhaling sharply through his nose, Ben gripped the handlebars a little tighter. Kevin and Gwen had been spending more time together, and he didn't know how to feel about it. Kevin was… complicated. Unpredictable.
They were friends, but there was always this sense that Kevin had one foot in and one foot out, like he was always considering whether he wanted to be here or not. Gwen, on the other hand, was steady—someone who didn't waste time on people without a reason.
So what had changed?
Ben shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside as his school came into view. No point in overthinking it now.
Pulling into the bike rack, Ben hopped off, locked up his bike, and slung his backpack over one shoulder. The parking lot was already buzzing with students—some huddled in groups, laughing or chatting, while others trudged toward the entrance with half-lidded eyes, still waking up. The usual Monday morning chaos.
Ben was just about to head inside when a familiar voice called out behind him.
"Yo, Ben! Wait up!"
He turned just in time to see Kevin jogging over, his usual smirk in place. Ben forced a smile as he approached.
"You're early today," he said, glancing at Kevin with mild scrutiny.
Kevin chuckled, his signature smirk firmly in place. "Yeah, yeah. Try not to sound too surprised, Tennyson." He draped an arm over Ben's shoulder briefly before shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "Figured I'd change things up, keep you on your toes."
Ben gave him a sideways look. "Right. Because punctuality is so on-brand for you."
Kevin shrugged. "Hey, even I have my moments."
Ben wasn't convinced. Kevin was a lot of things—laid-back, unpredictable, occasionally reckless—but an early riser? That was new.
Before he could push the thought any further, a familiar figure caught his eye. Gwen.
Her face lit up as she walked toward them, her smile warm, effortless, and genuine—one of those smiles that pulled you in before you even realized it.
"Hey, Ben. Good morning."
"Good morning," he responded.
For a second, all the nagging thoughts from earlier almost melted away. Almost. But then she turned to Kevin.
"Kevin," she said flatly, her expression instantly cooling.
Kevin stiffened slightly before recovering, flashing her a halfhearted smirk. "Wow, no good morning for me?"
She raised an unimpressed brow. Kevin exhaled and clapped Ben on the back. "Welp, time to pretend I care about algebra. Catch you two at lunch?"
"Yeah," Ben muttered.
The bell suddenly cut Gwen off before she could say anything.
"We should probably get to class," Ben said quickly, walking off before she could regain her composure.
Without looking back, he could still feel her gaze on him. They had been friends for far too long for her to keep secrets from him.
Gwen, however, just stared at Ben's retreating figure, her expression showcasing deep contemplation before resolve shone in her eyes. Perhaps it was time she told him everything.