Ch. 13 Don't let it get to you

CH. 13 Don't let it get to you

(Ben POV)

I was going towards the break room when I heard my name being mentioned.

I stood next to the wall, listening to what was being said. Of course, my co-workers were talking about me.

"Do you think he thinks he's better than us?" a voice that I recognized as Derrick.

"We always invite him to have drinks with us, and he turns us down. He's always getting ahead of his work, making it seem like we're slacking when we're all going at a normal pace," Lucas, another co-worker, said.

A woman's voice spoke.

"You two need to cut it. So what if he doesn't want to hang out with you both, and so what if he's always more invested in work? It's his life, and some people don't care for groupies or wanting to hang out; some people just want to work and go home to be alone after a long day of work or some people just don't want to hang out with their co workers," The woman voice said.

It was another co-worker named Lilian.

She was one of those co-workers who always spoke to me and have always been friendly with me.

"Yeah right, that dude has no friends and is a loner with a lame personality," Derrick said.

"Well because of his lame personality, he got to have an interview with Jesse Hutcherman and you didn't get picked for that. He's good at his job and he doesn't do anything to bother you. Just stop taking it to heart and let it go, it's not like he's ever done anything to you." Lilian said.

A laugh came. "Woah Lilian guess you have a crush on Ben huh?" Lucas said.

"No, I like him. He's a good guy. I am just being the adult I am who doesn't have a child mindset like you two. What the hell are you? Elementary kids? Apparently, talking behind a fellow employee's back like that." Lilian's voice raised, and my eyes widened now that their tone was getting louder.

This would not be good if a full-blast argument ended up happening.

"We didn't say anything but the truth," Derrick said, and I heard Lilian laugh.

"We didn't say anything but the truth." She mimicked Derrick.

"This is why you guys aren't doing well; look how you both behave," she said.

I took that time to walk into the break room.

The room fell quiet. From outside the break room, I thought it would be just Lilian, Derrick, and Lucas. My eyes widened when I realized that 10 people were in the break room, but only Lilian stood up for me.

Derrick and Lucas tried to play it off like they weren't talking about me.

"Hey, Ben," Derrick said, and I raised a brow.

"Talking shit behind my back but can't say it to my face? Save your Hi." I said, Lilian, and let out a laugh.

I walked to the fridge to get my lunch.

I turned towards Lilian.

"Thanks for having my back," I said, giving her a small smile.

"No problem; I just can't be fake like the others," she said, giving me a small smile.

I nodded and gave a farewell wave as I left the break room.

I heard Lilian's laugh, knowing she was laughing at Lucas and Derrick.

I should talk to her more. She's been nothing but pleasant to me.

I walked towards my desk and was about to start my lunch. I heard my boss call my name from his office.

I walked towards his office, going in and closing the door behind me.

My boss was beaming.

"I went over the interview, Ben. It was great, kiddo! I knew my star jounalist could do it. I liked it, and I sent it forward. Everyone liked it also. Hey, what's wrong?" he asked me.

I raised a brow, wondering why he was asking me such a question.

"You seem upset?" He asked.

My eyes widened; I could never understand how this man could know how I was feeling.

I was good at hiding my emotions, and ever since this man hired me for an internship and then leveled me up to different positions within the company, he's always been able to tell my moods no matter how good my poker face was.

"Who's bothering you?" He asked me. I shook my head.

"It's nothing serious to worry yourself about," I said.

He shook his head, not letting me brush it off.

"No, Ben. I like you, kid. I see you as a son. Hell, I don't even have a son, and me seeing you as a son means a lot. Don't let them get to you, and if they're bothering you, do something great that will make them feel ashamed that they ever thought to bother you." I nodded my head, and he let out a sigh.

I did want to avoid getting into this more. I felt relieved when my boss changed the topic.

"So, how was meeting Jesse Hutcherman?" he asked, and when his name was mentioned, my face got heated.

I look at the boss and find his mouth dropped open.

Alarm ran through my body, scared of what he might think. I knew from the facial expression I gave out that he most likely figured out by my reaction that I was gay.

"Well, Damn. I didn't see that coming. So did you enjoy the meeting or what?" He asked.

My eyes widened. My boss shrugged his shoulder, showing me that he didn't mind.

I nodded my head.

"Yeah, it went well. He's a cool person," I said, causing my boss's eyes to widen.

"Oooooh, so you like him like him." He said, giving me a small smile.

I don't know my facial expression, but he chuckled loudly.

"I'm liking these facial expressions, usually someone else would have said. That this couldn't happen, but I'm all for it. Honestly, kid, I want you happy and I want you interacting with people who want you in their lives. So what's that thing that these kids call it nowadays. When you approve of people getting to know each other or dating. Oh yeah, I ship it." He said, chuckling.

I lightly facepalmed myself at my boss, trying to be in touch with this year's slang terms.

"Well, I guess you can call me a matchmaker since I'm the reason you two met. I guess I should change professions," he said, rubbing his chin.

Which got a small laugh from me. He smiled softly at me.

"Thanks, Steve, for the matchmaking," I said shyly.

"Alright, son, I'm going to let you go back to your lunch. You can extend it by the way, until you're actually finished eating because I know I cut it short with me talking to you and all." He said.

I thanked him and left his office.

Walking back to my desk, I noticed Lilian sitting on her seat eating.

She probably couldn't take being in the break room anymore.

I called out to her; Lilian stared at me with a shocked expression.

Even though I was shocked by what I had just done, I didn't back down.

"Would you like to have lunch with me?" I asked, and she smiled, grabbing her food quickly and coming my way.

"You bet ya." She said, laughing.

I don't know why, but meeting Jesse has made me feel many things.

I was starting to like it.

(*Kassandra Speaks*)

Oh, so you like like him. Lol, oh my gosh, anyways, there's this thing that's been going on where people are repeating the same word twice to get their thoughts across, and I thought it was silly at first, but then I got a kick out of it.

Ben is starting to change slightly, and he says it's because of meeting Jesse; hmm, do you all agree?

I love how Lilian stood up for Ben. We all know things like that happen everywhere, and it does not matter who stands up for you as long as someone stands up for you in your absence.

Give this chapter a VOTE, COMMENT & SHARE. See you all in the next update!!!!!!!!!!!

XOXOXO

-Kassandra Vivu