Tommy dragged himself up from the clinic bed, his legs still feeling shaky.
He had no idea what Benjamin wanted, but he wasn't keen on finding out. Yet, there was something about those eyes that made him curious.
As he walked through the school's hallways, he couldn't help but notice how quiet it was. It was good, better than hearing mocking words.
Most of the students were still gathered in the courtyard for the debate.
He reached the dormitory building and found room 314. His hand hesitated on the doorknob as he took a deep breath, then opened the door and stepped inside.
Benjamin sat at a desk, scribbling in a notebook, and looked up as Tommy entered. His expression was unreadable. "Close the door, will ya?," he said.
Tommy did as he was told, feeling a lump forming in his throat. "What you need, man?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Without a word, Benjamin threw a flat plate toward Tommy. Startled, Tommy barely caught it, noticing that it had food on it, securely tied to the plate by a nylon wrap.
Benjamin then walked over to a nearby fridge, pulled out a carton of juice, and poured it into a glass.
"You're hungry, huh?" Benjamin said, holding out the glass to Tommy. "Eat up."
Tommy took the glass and sat down on the edge of the bed, unwrapping the plate. It was a simple meal, but his stomach growled in anticipation. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until now.
"Thanks, man. I appreciate it," Tommy muttered before starting to eat.
Benjamin scoffed, rolling his eyes in disdain. "Toss the cup and plate when you're finished, okay?," he said curtly.
Tommy's face darkened with offense as he frowned. "You think a little food'll make me forget you're dissin' me, just 'cause I'm black?" he snapped. "That was a mighty low blow, man."
Benjamin looked at Tommy, his expression unchanged, his eyes devoid of empathy.
"I didn't mean it that way," he said flatly, his tone lacking any sincerity. "Don't make a big deal out of it. Tch! Talkative."
Tommy's glare intensified, his anger flaring like a wildfire. "Yeah, right. Sure thing, man," he spat, his voice heavy with disbelief and scorn.
Benjamin stood up, his demeanor turning colder, his eyes frosting over. "Do you think I care about feeding you? I don't. I'm only doing this because I have to, not because I want to. You're a burden, a necessity I can't avoid."
Tommy's grip on the plate tightened, his knuckles white with restrained anger.
"You think I'm just gonna jump for you like a pup, just 'cause you're wavin' a chicken leg in my direction?" He spat the words, his voice trembling with indignation.
"Tsk!" Benjamin sneered, his expression twisted in disdain. "You're making this about race? Come on now. I couldn't care less about your skin color, buddy.
You think you're the only one dealing with crap? You ain't special, kid. You're not a victim. You're just a nuisance I have to put up with until you decide to move on."
Tommy stood up, his fists clenched, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Ain't said I was nobody special," he growled, his voice low and even. "You got your own struggles, but that ain't no excuse to treat me like a piece of trash."
He took a step forward, his jaw set in determination. "I ain't asking for much, just a little bit of respect, even if you're too broken to give it."
Benjamin took a step closer, his eyes narrowing, his voice dripping with condescension. "And you don't get to play the victim every time someone tries to help you out," he sneered.
"If you want to make it here, you better toughen up, 'cause nobody's gonna coddle you. Least of all me."
He didn't know why but he felt this sudden need to tame this black boy! And he'd surely do that when he thinks of a way to!
Tommy's eyes flashed with defiance, his voice steady and firm. "I'm good, I don't need your support, especially not from someone who thinks I'm nothing but a nobody."
"I'd rather fast than feast on your pity, man." He spat out the name, his lips curling in disgust.
Benjamin's voice was ice-cold, his eyes glinting with a cruel light. "Fine, starve, see if I give a damn."
Tommy threw the plate onto the bed, the food scattering in all directions, a dramatic flourish to his declaration.
"I'd rather starve than take a crumb from you, man," he spat, his eyes blazing with defiance, his chest heaving with emotion.
Oh god, how he hated this devil's spawn now!
The two boys stood there, glaring at each other, the room filled with a charged silence.
Benjamin and Tommy continued to glare at each other, the tension in the room thickening.
Tommy's anger was fierce, but as the seconds passed, his gaze wavered, and his stomach betrayed him with a loud grumble. The hunger gnawing at him was undeniable.
Benjamin noticed the internal struggle and rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"For crying out loud, just eat already," he said, his voice laced with disdain. "You're making a fuss over nothing. It's just food, not some gift from on high."
Tommy's pride fought with his hunger, but the hunger was winning. His stomach growled in protest, his eyes fixed on the scattered food.
"I'd rather struggle on my own than take a thing from someone who thinks they're better than me, dig," he said, his voice firm, but his resolve wavering. "You've made your feelings clear, brother. I won't stoop to beg for your scraps."
Benjamin sighed, clearly frustrated. "Look, I ain't thinkin' I'm better than you. You're just makin' this harder on yourself. If you wanna sit here and starve, that's your choice. But you gotta eat."
Tommy hesitated, his eyes flickering to the scattered food on the bed, his stomach growling in protest.
"What's it to you if I go hungry, man?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You ain't my keeper."
Benjamin crossed his arms, his expression softening slightly, a hint of reluctance in his voice. "I don't care about you, kid. But if you faint again, I'll catch flak. So, just eat, alright?"
Get in trouble? Why? Not wanting that to happen, Tommy reluctantly picked up the food, unwrapping it and taking a cautious bite.
The simple act of eating felt like a small defeat, but the food was a relief to his empty stomach. He ate in silence, the tension between them still palpable.
Benjamin watched him for a moment before speaking again, his tone still guarded. "I ain't your enemy, Jones. But you ain't gonna make it here if you keep picking fights with everyone."
Tommy chewed his food thoughtfully, not looking up. "Maybe I wouldn't have to struggle if people didn't treat me like dirt, man."
Benjamin sighed, his shoulders sagging in frustration. "Not everyone's out to get you, kid. But you gotta stop seeing every act as an attack, Jones."
Tommy didn't respond immediately, finishing his meal in silence.
When he was done, he looked up at Benjamin, his expression softer, but still wary, like a wild animal cautiously emerging from its defensive stance.
"Thanks for the grub," he said finally, his voice gruff, but a hint of gratitude seeping through the cracks in his tough exterior.
The tension between them eased slightly, like a small crack in the wall, allowing a sliver of light to seep through.
Benjamin nodded, the animosity between them easing slightly, like a tentative truce. "Just toss the plate and cup when you're finished," he said, his voice a little softer, the edge of hostility worn down.