Jasmine stared at Christian. She stood with her mouth open, looking like a fool, and stared. Had she heard right? No, it was no wonder. Who would notice a shy person like her when there was a beautiful girl, no woman, like May in the room? Her heart dropped to the pit of her soul and she fought back fiery hot tears. She had to escape, had to breath, and she sprinted out of the room before the first sob emerged. All five watched after her, then Christian turned to Paul.
"What's her problem?"
"No...nothing." Ben managed to stammer but, being Jasmine's best friend, he knew exactly what was wrong. "I'd better go check it out."
Mark nodded in agreeance and Ben left the room hastily. Mark turned to May as she groaned and buried her head in her hands.
"I can never do anything right." She cried. Mark raised an eyebrow and looked at her, clearly puzzled.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Never mind. Long story."

Ben caught up with Jasmine and gripped her shoulder softly, forcing her to turn around.
"Hey, what's wrong...?"
She twisted around and he stopped dead in mid sentence as he took in her red tear-streaked face.
"You've got it bad for him, don't you?" He said softly, and instantaneously felt a twist of jealousy. He was surprised. When had that started to happen? Could he have feelings for her? He shook his head. He was the one she knew best out of all the guys and Ben wanted to avoid a relationship, because if she got hurt by him, she'd have no one to turn to. That and the fact that he wanted to be single just in case May suddenly decide to ask him out. Jasmine swiped angrily at the tears invading her eyes.
"I'm not sure..." Then, whilst the sorrow had caught up on her she decided to be impulsive. "The truth is I like someone else."
"Oh." Ben said, his heart sinking. Why had that happened?
'No feelings whatsoever.' He reminded himself.
"And who is that someone else?" He gathered up the courage to ask. Might as well know the competition.
'STOP IT!' His mind screamed from within. But he couldn't. The thoughts kept on popping up involuntarily.
Jasmine faced him and braced herself, preparing to tell her eight year crush the truth.
"The person I like..."
"Sorry, am I interrupting something?"
Jasmine shut her mouth and Ben knew that she wouldn't tell him anything for a while. He cursed May and praised her at the same time, hating her for interrupting who she was going to say and loving her for just being that, radiating her beauty, and also for stopping Jasmine announcing his worst fear. He ground his teeth at the thought.
'There I go again.' He warned himself.
"No, nothing at all. In fact, I was just going to see the sights." Jasmine said quietly.
"Oh, now that I think of it, we're all going to see a movie. Are you guys coming?"
"Hell yeah." Ben smiled. Jasmine watched them silently. May looked at her.
"How about you?"
Ben's gaze was fixed firmly on her as she hid her face behind a curtain of long wavy brown hair.
'Why does she do that? It would be good to see her face more often...'
'Stop it.'
It was a battle of wills for him.
Jasmine knew that in a movie she might be able to get closer to her man but that also meant that May was coming, and if May came, it was doubtful the guys would look at her.
"So?" Ben asked curiously.
Jasmine looked straight up into May's eyes as she answered.

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