Christmas and New Year had been a blur and already they were back in school from their respective winter breaks. Rafe had another meltdown after arguing with his father. He was not welcome back home for Christmas. Norah knew there was no way he would spend Christmas alone, so they had him over for the entire festive season along with Benny. He had been taking cooking lessons from Joyce and actually managed to make a delicious dinner with Norah for New Year's day. It had been a long time since she'd been this happy during a school break.

"You know, when Rafe first came to this school, the last thing I imagined was the three of us spending Boxing Day together. And New Year eve and day. I mean, we practically lived together."

"Yeah I suppose we've become close."

"Has your mum been questioning you non-stop about him?"

"Actually, my mum has a new boyfriend of her own now. That's why she didn't fly in for Christmas."

"Wow, good for her," Benny said.

Norah observed him closely. The last week of their holiday Norah hadn't seen him as his new boyfriend, Louis, drove into town and they spent the whole time together again. She had met him once.

Benny was the type of person who would mope around over trivial things. Complain about his hair and get sad over a movie or a book. However, when matters came to something more serious, when a problem truly bothered him, he retreated into himself and tried too hard to cover it up. He sat fidgeting with the ropes of his hoodie and kept asking 'what else is new' repeatedly.

But Norah wasn't fooled. She noticed from the morning the bags under his eyes and his lips turning into a line from concentration or sadness. But something bad happened.

"Benny. What's wrong?"

"Nothing! I just didn't get any sleep. All that excitement with spending the weekend with Louis," he said. It didn't get past Norah that the moment Jack entered the cafeteria, he tensed.

The violent footballer didn't even look their way and joined his usual gang. Norah watched Rafe talk and laugh with Luke. The girls (always different ones) sat around listening to his every word. He caught her looking at him and he nodded her way and she gave a little wave. Hazel, who saw the gesture, scooted closer to Rafe and placed her head on his shoulder and continued to talk to Amber like nothing had happened. 

Norah inwardly rolled her eyes. She really admired Rafe's patience. All the girls always yearned for physical contact from Rafe. She couldn't imagine how annoying that must've been. It's for that reason alone she shooed Rafe away when he tried to sit with them at lunch. Because of him, the rest of people she'd never even talked to before swarmed around him. Norah and Benny liked their little corner, and to eat without getting harassed by excited girls.

"Are they dating?" Benny asked.

Norah shrugged. "I think they made out at a party whilst drunk. Or maybe it was Amy. I don't know."

After a pause, he went on. "But he likes you. I can tell," Benny said, sweeping his fringe to the right.

"Of course he does. I help him with his homework, make sure he's not late, feed him bananas during break. And all of this for free. Who wouldn't like me?"

He looked at her deadpanned. "You know I'm not talking about that."

"You think he wants to have sex with me?" she asked bluntly, making Benny cough into his coffee.

"Norah," he said irritably, "all boys want to have sex at this age. But that's not what I meant. He likes you, like, he will probably ask you out at one point and I wouldn't be surprised."

Norah shook her head and briefly glanced at Rafe. He looked like he was trying to read their lips from across the cafeteria and listen in on their conversation. He knew they were talking about him. She smiled.

"I don't think I'm his type. Anyway. Stop trying to make this about me. Will you tell me what's bothering you? You know I won't leave you alone. You're my only friend, I have nothing better to do until the end of the day."

He let out something between a laugh and a sigh. "Honestly, it's nothing."

"I will cut off your fringe in your sleep."

After a couple of more threats and further coaxing, he finally broke. "Fine. You know Louis drove down here to spend the weekend?"

Norah nodded, her eyes narrowing in concentration.

"Well, he parked his car outside the B&B he was staying in. We were out all day on Sunday and in the evening, when I was walking him back to his car, there was graffiti on his car." He was fiddling with a napkin as he recounted the incident.

"What did it say?" Norah asked.

"'Die, faggots," he said quietly.

"Jesus," she said with a sigh and smacked her hand against the table. "That's disgusting."

"I know. The word was spelt with one 'g' as well. How terrible," he attempted to lighten the mood. 

Norah was silent. 

He went on. "I was so embarrassed, Norah. Embarrassed and annoyed, and for the first time, scared. At least this was a spray paint. What if we were ambushed? Beaten up? You know I can't fight to save my life."

"How's Louis?"

"He laughed it off. Said he wanted a new paint job on his car anyway. We drove around for ages trying to find the nearest MOT or where to buy acetone. Most stores were closed because it was Sunday. We had to drive to Yorkshire, all the whilst people saw the message on the car. It was mortifying," Benny said last sentence into his hands that covered his face. 

"I'm so sorry, you should've called me and—"

"What would that have solved?" Benny asked shaking his head. He was right. Norah wouldn't have known how to help, she never even owned a car much less know how to repair its paint job. She placed her hand on Benny's. "You think it was Jack?" she asked in a low voice.

"I don't know," he croaked. "It could've been anyone from the football team, or any of my dad's friends. Or anyone in this town. I just don't know. We tried asking for CCTV footage, but there was none."

The bell rang and people began spreading out to their lessons. "I wish you told me straight away..."

Benny was clearing his stuff away. He shrugged. "I was worried you were going to try to take matters into your own hands."

"Like how?" she asked in exasperation.

"Don't pretend, Norah. You'd go to talk to Rafe and maybe ask him to find out. Or involve your favourite principal."

She let out sigh. "That does sound like a good idea..."

His eyes widened in a plea. "I beg you, please don't. I don't want the principal or Rafe or anyone to get involved or know. This is humiliating enough as it is. Just let it go. No one was hurt, that's the most important thing."

"Fine."

Before entering his next lesson, he gave her one more pleading look and went in. Norah sighed and knew that she would have to do as Benny asked. It was true that involving Rafe or the principal would already cause more problems than it would solve. Defeated, she headed to her next class.