After days passed on, Benjy's crush on Sarah became more obvious. He was looking at her more often and he asked about her during class one day. I guess he didn't really care about Mr. Harrison's lesson. I didn't either. I already know it. It was easy.

March is coming up and my feeling for him has almost grown into an obsession! It's almost scary how much I think about him. I can't get him out of my mind and his laugh has molded into mine. This was farther than any of my feeling for someone has gone. This, unlike everything else, is new. Was this my punishment for existing? There are so many options that could be happening to him.

New paths that someone could take. I don't know what will happen anymore. And at this point in time, I don't even know what time it is! He had thrown off my whole thinking and my head is spinning for the first time in years! I hated this feeling. It felt like an aching pain that I can't get rid of.

This was different and I hated this change. I hate change! His whole being distracted me from my work. I had known the future because the past is always repeated. I knew how people think of me. I knew what was going to happen to the mean group. I knew what was going to happen to the prodigies. I knew how I would feel about anyone. But he, he swiftly turned that around by just being near me. For the first time in over a hundred years, I didn't know anything. I am scared to see what was going to happen next.

I don't want to go on. I want it to go back to normal. The only thing that wasn't new about my thinking is that I know he doesn't love me back. How could he? I'm the freak with no name. Besides, he likes Sarah. He likes athletic girls.

Time doesn't wait for people, so school went on. I trip along the way, of course. Now that everything is new, I wondered: "What would happen if I told Benjy I liked him?" Who knew. Not me.

We were in Language Arts; Mrs. Herrison's class. Benjy sat right next to me. Sarah sat right next to him. They were talking and laughing. Mr. Harrison had already told them to stop talking every day these past couples of weeks.

The bell rang; our signal to leave the freezing class.

"Class is dismissed. Don't forget to pick up your worksheet up here! Don't walk out of this classroom without getting one. Yes, I'm talking to you Dylan!" A quiet laughed erupted in the classroom as people went to the front of the classroom to get what they need.

I got up with Benjy and Sarah and went to pick up the worksheet that I have memorized over the years. I walking in front of Benjy out of class while he walked beside Sarah. They were still talking. "Ah, no. Ben, Sarah, I want to see you." With those words only made the two turn silent. I looked back at Benjy. He was scared.

It was his first time getting in trouble for talking. I felt bad for him. This was new to him. It was new to me. I said bye to him and went on with my last few classes.

Once school was over, everything seemed scary. Who knew how Benjy would feel? Is he angry? Is he sad? I was about to find out.

I was outside of school waiting for him. It was dark out. He was late. It was unlike him. He came out of the school with Sarah. He approached me with an angry look on his face.

"Hey, you're late..." I stated. "I know, but I have news!" He was cheery and smiling. "And what is that?" I'm half expecting it to be that him and Sarah are dating. Instead, I hear: "I got suspended for the rest of the week."

Today is Tuesday. Three days of suspension I guess. "What? How?" I yelled. He laughed and sighed. "I might have gotten 'physical with another student.'" I was surprised. I never knew Benjy to have gotten in a fight with anyone. What set him off?

"Okay... anyways! I was wondering if you wanted to go to The Diner a couple blocks away." I said. I hope he says yes. It gets lonely after school. "Oh! Uh, yeah, sure. Actually can- can Sarah join?" I was hesitant. It's Sarah. I guess you could say I was jealous.

I didn't want to disappoint Benjy, so I agreed. My face was red and I wanted to stab Sarah right then and there. "Meet me at The Diner. Ok?" Benjy nodded and the two took off to his car. I went to mine.

I started up my car, pulled out of the parking lot, and went straight to the diner. We don't call it by a special name. It was just "The Diner". The only thing I can think of is Benjamin. I have to tell him soon. The end of the year is coming up and prom is approaching. Is it okay to be scared?

I get to The Diner and pull into a parking space. I get out and see that Benjy and Sarah aren't here yet, so I go inside and sit down at a booth in the corner. Rosalind, the waitress, comes up to me. I was a regular here. I'm older than this building. I've been here for around 45 years.

I've known Rose for less, but not by very much. She is the only one who knows my secret. She's my only real friend. "Hello, 243-and-counting! What can I get for you today." I smile at her and chuckle. "A couple of minutes and advise, please."

Rose is a married 64
-year-old woman with 3 kids. She had graying, blonde hair that is always pinned up and she wears a blue shirt and jeans and you can always catch her wearing her apron like wear. She should know what and why Benjy is different. She waves her hand to another person working here. They nod and she sits down across from me. "This is new... You don't like new. Is something wrong?"

"You read my mind, Rose. I'm in love... It's not like any other type of love! It's different." She leans in, telling me she is listening. "He makes me want to scream and he turns my whole body inside out. I subconsciously think about him and I can barely pry him away from my mind. I love everything about him and I always find myself most comfortable around him. He's funny and generous. He's got this weird quirk to him that is not like any other."

Rose looks at him with irritation. "What's the catch?" My oblivious smile turns down. I sigh and say, "He's in love with a girl named Sarah." Rose sits back and looks at me with confidence. "You need to tell him soon. If it's obvious he love's her, then you might just miss your chance. This isn't any guy to you. This is the person you love and will love forever. If you mess up with him, you will never get this feeling back." She looks concerned and determined.

I sigh again. "I don't want to feel this feeling." I look down An the table. "Hon, trust me. You may not like it now, but it's addicting. You don't want to let him go. If you mess up, for at long as you live, you will hate yourself and you will regret everything. He's the only person you can think about and that's not gonna change anytime soon or in the future. You better get used to it."

"And remember your curse, Maya. You don't want to take chances, especially if you could miss it in one second." I looked up into her eyes. She had called me Maya. She was using the name Benjy gave me. He calls me M now, not Maya. But it's where he got the name "M". She brought my up curse as well. She knows it's a touchy subject. I will stay immortal until I kiss my true love. Rose really thinks that Benjy is my true love, huh?

At the least, she was right. I say thank you as I here the bell on the door ring. Rose gets up and whispers, "I'll come back in a minute." I smile and wave. I took me 243 years to finally get in love and I'm not going to let that pass me up. I can't. I'll never get this again.

I have to tell him tomorrow