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Stuart feels awful!
The English teacher gave him a terrible marking on his test!
He was wonderful at English, what happened!?
”Stewie, it’s okay that you didn’t get an A+ on one test.” Donna reassures him. “A lot of people don’t even get close to an A!”
“Are we still playing scrabble at your house or are you too gloomy?” Ben ripped Stuart’s attention away from Donna and onto himself.
It was like Ben had some sort of ability to do that.
One time Diana joked that Stuart could probably hear Ben breath in a crowded room.
”I don’t know if I can even play scrabble anymore!” Stuart snapped his fingers in distress.
He does want to play scrabble, he just doesn’t think he’s good enough.
”God, Stewie!” Ben rolled his eyes. “You got one B-! You didn’t forget the entire language!”
Donna shoots Ben a glare, kicking him in the shin for his bluntness.
”Ow! What?” Ben rubbed his kicked shin.
“That was rude! You know he’s sensitive!” Donna gestures to Stuart. “You can’t say that in front of him! He might cry!”
Why does everyone think Stuart is a sissy?! And the only girl that likes him is Donna and she only likes him platonically, not that he’s complaining about her only liking him platonically. All the other girls snicker at him and call him a loser and that nasty word just because he does movements he can’t control!
Even Donna thinks he’s a sissy, she doesn’t out right say it but she makes it clear with how she defends and speaks about him. She would never talk about Ben or Bobbie like that, they’re tough guys.
Whatever, Stuart will just play scrabble no matter how injured his confidence in himself is.“Do you want to join us Donna?”
Ben’s frown turns into a smile.
“I’d love to, it’s just I already promised someone I’d hang out with them today, sorry” Donna smiles.
”Is it a date? With who? Is it with a boy?” Stuart questions.
”Ew!” Ben chimes in. “Even if it isn’t, it’s still none of your business”
Ben always reminds Stuart not to pry, he can’t help it! He will just be taking to someone and then a question about their personal life will slip out! He doesn’t mean to!
”Well, I gotta go or I’ll be late” Donna says before leaning in to Ben and whispering something in his ear and running off.
Ben rolls his eyes.
“I made cookies last night,” Stuart mumbles “We can eat them while we play scrabble if you want”
He always bakes the night before they play scrabble with his mom. Sometimes he’ll bake brownies and other times he’ll bake cookies then on rare occasions he’ll bake both!
“Sweet! I love your baking!” Ben’s face lights up.
Stuart feels he chest grow warm.
He’s about to try hold Ben’s hand before remembering he doesn’t like that.
When Stuart and Ben had become friends he was at first confused by Ben being off put by Stuart’s physical affection.
He questioned Ben on why he didn’t like it.
Stuart’s mom had told him about how when she was his age she’d give her friend tight hugs and hold her hand as they walked. How they would cuddling during sleepovers and how they would fall asleep in each other’s arms.
Why didn’t Ben liked physical affection as much as Stuart’s mom’s old friend?
Ben had answered that he just doesn’t like being touched and that Stuart’s mom and her friend were weird and that normal friends didn’t do that.
Stuart stares intently at the board.
He feels soft, warm, fingers gently inter lock with his, causing his heart to skip a beat.
“You did great on that test, compared to me at least.” Ben’s voice was soft, almost soothing, like a lullaby.
Stuart’s heart starts to race, it feels like he’s having a heart attack, and his cheeks starts to burn hotter than a furnace.
He looks up at Ben, expecting to see a smiling face, but something’s wrong.
Ben’s shoulders are tensed, he’s looking away and his face is scrunched up.
He’s clearly uncomfortable. Extremely uncomfortable to be exact.
The realisation hit Stuart’s heart and made it shatter.
Ben looks… ashamed.
Ashamed to touch him.
Ashamed to be near him.
Ashamed of him.
Stuart’s throat becomes tight.
Did Ben not like him anymore?
Did he hate him?
Tears prick his eyes causing his vision to go blurry.
”I need…” Stuart pulls his hands away from Ben’s. “I need to go to the bathroom, I feel like I’m going to vomit.”
He stands up on shaky legs.
”oh- should- should I call my mom to pick me up?” Ben turns to face him.
”Yeah, yeah if you want” Stuart hold in a sob.
He rushes out the bedroom and into bathroom, locking it.
Ben only made an effort to comfort him when they were alone.
Tears stream down his face.
Is that what Donna whispered to Ben?
To comfort him?
He snaps his fingers.
He wants to pull out his hair.
He wants to scream until his vocal cords snap.
He wants to punch the mirror.
He wants to distract himself.
He just stands there in pure silence for another two minutes until there’s a gentle knock on the door.
”My mom’s gonna be here in like… thirty minutes.” Ben says through the door.
”…”
”…”
”…”
“…Do you wanna talk?” Ben sounds awkward.
”…”
”…”
”…” Stuart looks at his feet. “…no…”
”…”
”…”
”…alright…” Ben pauses, not knowing how to respond.
“…”
“…I… I’ll be downstairs..”
Footsteps start only to fade away.
Stuart puts his head in his hands.
Why can’t just he be normal?