Misleading Titles, chapter 2

"Look at him, he thinks he's so cool, make him go back into his actual grade."

"Little freak. Her derrrr I'm so smart just because I skipped two grades. What person does that?"

"I've seen his partner for the project, fits that freak to a T, he looked so odd."

Ben frowned deeply and glanced down at his lunch tray, tugging down on his long sleeves, he bit his lip and tried his best to hold in the tears that started to collect and blur his vision. Swallowing hard, the boy shut his eyes and gave his head a quick shake from side to side. He held his breath and slowly stood up from his seat.

"Fucking freak, just because his dad is rich he thinks he's so cool."

Without saying anything, Ben scurried away towards the bathrooms, once in the restroom, Benjamin sniffled a bit and wiped his eyes on his sleeves, turning the water on he cupped his hands underneath the tap and waited as the water collected in his hands, once enough water was in his hands, he splashed the water on his face. Cringing a bit at the coldness of the water the boy jumped up when he heard the sound of a stall opening. Looking down at the sink, refusing to make eye contact with the stranger.

"Here."

A squeaky male voice said to him as a tissue came into his eyesight. Looking up at the owner of the tissue, Ben frowned when he saw that this guy seemed to be in the same problem as Ben, his bright red hair messed up, his eyes slightly puffy the left eye sporting a rather bad black eye, while his long nose looked to be broken just a bit, nothing that won't heal over time. He also showed some clear signs of crying. Gently taking the tissue, Ben dabbed his misty eyes.

"Thanks..."

This teenager gave Ben a soft smile and extended his hand for a handshake.

"Twigleg!" He said happily, Ben gave the guy a strange look as well as a questioning eyebrow. "O-Oh! My real name is Tyler, but, I've pretty much been called Twigleg since I could walk." The guy explained his cheeks growing slightly red as scratched the back of his head.

"Oh...Ben..." He greeted, cautiously taking Twigleg's hand, once they finished their handshake, Twigleg jumped up and sat down on one of the sinks, making Ben take a slight step back.

"Middle school sucks, doesn't it?" Twigleg asked with a sigh as he kicked his legs absent mindedly, When Ben didn't reply, Twigleg spoke again, "I mean, everyone is just so angry and judgmental and they think they know everything, well let me tell you this, they do not! I would say high schoolers are better, but, they aren't either..."

"I...I should go...Thanks for the tissue." Ben mumbled and quickly scurried away.

"Oh...You're welcome..." He heard Twigleg say, obviously a bit downhearted as the boy left.

Ben shuffled out of the cafeteria all together, even though it wasn't allowed for students to leave the cafeteria building, he did so anyway, he didn't care if he got caught, he just wanted away from any and all other students for the remaining ten minutes for lunch. He knew where he was going to go. It was obvious, even the teachers patrolling around knew where he was going and they didn't care. They just seem to conveniently look the other way when he passes them.

He wasn't complaining, he knew that almost all of the adults in the school pitied him for his loneliness around the school, it was pretty apparent. Walking to his sanctuary, Ben opened the door and was met with air conditioning, followed by the librarian's soft voice.

"Hello, Benjamin, kids giving you a rough time again?" The woman asked him as he shyly approached the desk, all he could do was just nod to her and she gave him a sad smile and sighed out softly. "I really shouldn't let you stay in here again, but, just put the book back when you're done." She told him that sad smile turning into a smirk as she turned and started to type away on her computer.

Ben made his way to the back of the library, crouching down in front of the bottom row of books, he hummed softly as he looked for his book. Finding it, he pulled it out and looked at it. It was placed in the fantasy section, in Ben's eyes it wasn't a fantasy book, it was real. A book on all the mythical creatures ever recorded in history. He was about halfway through it, the only time he ever gets to read this book were the times he hides out in the library, which didn't give him much time. Ben would love to check the book out, but, his father would lose his mind if he saw this book in Ben's bag. Plus, Ben didn't even have a locker or anywhere else to hide it, no, he just had to settle with the way it was for the time being.

Taking a seat on one of the stiff arm chairs, Ben quickly started up where he left off last time. On the Dragon page. Crossing one leg over the other, he rested the book on his knee and started to read about the dragons seen and recorded.

It was rumored in the late fifteenth century that dragons would walk in human form, often luring woman and children to their nests for their feeding.

Ben scoffed a bit as he read that small passage, you think a dragon in human skin would be a bit noticeable, even for those ages. Then again, what did he know? He wasn't around for that time. Sighing out, he continued to read on.

People were always cautious when going around caves in those times, in fear that the dragon would snatch them away. Being unwilling to take the risks, the people would often dress in animal furs and walk on their hands and knees pretending to be that animal, hoping that the dragon would not spot them.

Pursing his lips, Ben just snorted bitterly, man, people were really gullible back then if they thought that dragons didn't attack animals as well as humans. Resting his head on his arm, he continued to silently read until the bell rang out overhead. Shutting the book, Ben got up and placed it back on the lonely bottom shelf.

"Good bye, Benjamin, see you tomorrow." The library called out as he left the room, waving to her, he slowly made his way out of the library and to his classroom. Lumbering inside the room, he gave the teacher a slight wave as he walked inside the classroom, at least there was only three hours left till it was time to leave, though, that didn't give him much comfort either. Sitting down in his seat, that was of course in the front of the class, Ben frowned and scratched at his wrist, his breathing starting to get heavy as he thought of returning home. He gave his head a slight shake, it didn't matter, he had a plan and it was almost complete.

He just needed to tough it out for a month or two...Then...He would be free...