Text message from Astor to Bennett

[Astor Young]

Astor sat outside during lunch drinking a bottle of water. The water would give her a false sense of being full without taking in any calories. She'd probably have to pee every 15 minutes but for now she wasn't thinking about that. For now she was thinking about her new friend...well, she hoped new friend, because Astor could really use a friend.

She'd added his number into her phonebook, although he didn't have her number. She hadn't had a chance to give it to him before hastily running away from having to eat that burger. She hoped he didn't notice her eating habits. She was always lying to keep people from noticing...saying she just had a big meal or making up faux food allergies. It was easier when she could be alone...chug some water and pretend to be full the rest of the day.

But she did need to eat something and sushi was usually the perfect answer. She lived for sushi cause she could eat a few pieces and actually legitimately feel full for a bit. Plus, raw fish wasn't exactly a lot of calories...sometimes she'd even allow herself some edamame or seaweed salad knowing the things wouldn't add to her weight much, even if they were a bit salty...

Just do it, she told herself, clicking on Bennett's number and quickly sending a text:

"Hey it's Astor - the milkshake spiller - I'm actually working at my dad's after school instead of the diner - I know you're obsessed with burgers and milkshakes but how do you feel about sushi? I was going to get some sushi for dinner and then hopefully avoid going back to my mom's house. Would you want to get dinner and do something after? I don't know what. I don't really know anyone at school and your nice and I'm almost out of text charac"

She ran out of space. She sighed and hit send and then continued. Man, she even rambled in text...

"Sorry ran out of room. I talk to much or text to much. I don't know. Sorry. Let me know if you want to hang out. Bye."

After she hit send she took another sip of water and wished she'd formed a better message. He was going to think she was such a spaz.

[Bennett Durnham]

He couldn't believe it. His brothers had actually left him at home. Bennett had to catch the bus and had arrived to school late as a result and when he passed his younger brother Jesse in the halls, he had laughed at him. The nerve of the little twat.

The only thing that made him smile was the fact that he would be seeing Astor any time soon. Finding out his brother was in some classes with the pretty blonde didn't sit well though. Jesse was a good looking guy. A twat for sure but a good looking twat and Bennett wouldn't be surprised if Astor fell for any of his charms. That would be disastrous.

But then a ray of light shone upon him in the form of a text from the aforementioned pretty blond. Bennett couldn't help but smile as he read her rambling text that broke into two; the second explaining the broken first message. She was asking him out! Who would have thought that was even possible?

He had spent his freshman year being so awkward around girls to someone who was asked out by possibly the prettiest freshman in Gould Silver. How lucky was he?

"Hey, milkshake spiller" he paused and frowned. How lame could he get? He deleted the message before starting a new one. "Hey, sushi sounds great." See, simple always worked better. "But aren't you going to the game later?" He paused again and wondered if this was relevant. Shrugging, he continued with the text. "Sushi sounds better though so yeah, I'm free to hang out." Before he could pause again, he hit the send button and pocketed his phone.

Lunch suddenly became irrelevant.

[Astor Young]

The text reply came back almost instantly. She found herself smiling as she opened it up to read it. Milkshake spiller...she blushed...hopefully he didn't keep that up. And the game...right... Somehow she'd forgotten about it despite all of the hoopla around school. That was why she'd come outside in the first place...to avoid it all.

She typed quickly:

"The game. Right. I forgot. I kind of had a one track mind on the sushi thing. We're you planning on going to the game?"

She was supposed to help her dad today but maybe she should go to the game instead. She knew that he'd let her. He pretty much let her do whatever she wanted. In fact, her work for him was voluntary unlike working for her mom. Maybe she could go to her dad's right after work, grab dinner, and then go to the game? Well, she'd only go to the game if Bennett was going, she quickly decided because it wasn't as if she was going to go and sit there alone.

As for the whole asking him out thing, if she knew he thought that she would have been mortified. She honestly hadn't thought of it any more than hanging out with a potential new friend. If Bennett thought it was a date or something Astor was oblivious to that and in for a big surprise.

[Bennett Durnham]

Astor's reply came back soon after he sent his and he replied: "Nah. I'm opposed to any activity that requires me to sweat. Want me to wait for you at the entrance later after school?" He actually sounded smooth in that message, if that was possible, sounding smooth in text.

He ate lunch alone as always, kind of glad nobody was disturbing him. He was lucky enough to be away from his brothers who practically rule the school, living up to their cousin's legacy along with a few other alpha males. The grin on his face grew bigger when he realised that he was actually making plans with Astor Young.

Whether it was a date or not, Bennett was just glad he would be spending more time with the girl he'd had a crush on for a few months now. It was sadly the highlight of his year.

[Astor Young]

Astor scrunched up her face sort of confused. Watching a football game made him sweat? Why? Astor shrugged and texted back, "Yeah that sounds good."

She then hit send figuring she'd ask him about that football thing later. Astor put her phone down and took another sip of her water.