Rumor Has It I'm Dating the Football Captain

Chapter 95: Chapter 95: The Walls We Build

The journalism office was surprisingly quiet on Friday morning.

Audrey walked through the double doors, holding her usual cup of coffee. She took two steps into the room and immediately stopped in her tracks.

Ben’s layout desk was no longer just a desk. It was a literal fortress.

He had taken six heavy boxes of unused printer paper and stacked them up in a massive wall around his chair. He had added a row of thick dictionaries on top to completely block the view.

Audrey walked over to the paper wall. She peered over the top.

Ben was sitting in his rolling chair, entirely hidden from the rest of the room. He was typing aggressively on his laptop.

Ben, Audrey asked slowly. What exactly are you doing?

I am optimizing my workspace, Ben replied without looking up. The visual clutter of this office completely ruins my creative flow. I require isolation.

Audrey raised an eyebrow. You built a fort.

It is an acoustic barrier, Ben corrected defensively.

Audrey looked across the room. Daisy was sitting at her desk in the corner. She was wearing a bright yellow sundress. She was happily humming a pop song and organizing her camera lenses.

You are hiding from Daisy, Audrey noted dryly.

I am protecting my professional integrity! Ben hissed quietly. She is relentless, Audrey. She texted me last night. She asked me what my favorite dinosaur was. Who asks a senior editor about dinosaurs?!

What did you say?

I told her the Stegosaurus, obviously, Ben grunted. They have excellent defensive plates. But that is entirely besides the point! I am building a wall.

Walls do not work against Daisy, Audrey warned him gently.

Audrey walked to her own desk and sat down.

Five minutes later, Daisy stood up. She grabbed a small paper bag from her bag and skipped happily across the room. She walked right up to Ben’s massive paper fortress.

She stood on her tiptoes and rested her chin on top of the dictionaries.

Good morning, Ben! Daisy smiled brightly.

Ben jumped so hard he nearly fell out of his rolling chair. He slammed his laptop shut.

How did you bypass the perimeter? Ben demanded.

Your wall is only three feet tall, Daisy pointed out logically. I can just look over it. It is a very cute castle, though. Am I the dragon or the princess?

You are a severe workplace hazard, Ben groaned. He rubbed his temples. Preston, please. I have to format the entire track and field section.

I brought you a gift, Daisy announced.

She reached over the wall of dictionaries. She set a tiny, ceramic pot directly onto his keyboard.

Ben stared at it. It was a miniature green cactus. It had one tiny, pink flower blooming right at the top.

What is this? Ben asked, completely bewildered.

It is a plant, Daisy explained happily. His name is Spike. I figured since you hide in closets and build paper walls, you might need a friend who requires absolutely zero emotional maintenance.

Ben stared at the tiny cactus. Then he stared at her.

You bought me a cactus, Ben repeated.

He matches your prickly exterior, Daisy smiled. But he still has a flower! Because deep down, you are actually a massive softie.

I am not a softie! Ben yelled loudly. Several junior writers across the room jumped in their seats. I am ruthless! I cut paragraphs for fun!

Drink your water, Ben, Daisy instructed smoothly, completely ignoring his outburst. And make sure Spike gets some sunlight. I will be back in ten minutes to help you crop the photos.

Daisy gave him a bright, sweet wave. She turned around and happily walked back to her desk.

Ben sat alone in his paper fortress. He looked at the tiny cactus sitting on his keyboard.

He slowly reached out. He poked one of the little green needles with his finger. It was sharp.

Spike, Ben mumbled to himself.

He hated how much he liked the stupid plant. He gently picked the cactus up and moved it to the corner of his desk, making sure it was sitting directly in the patch of morning sunlight streaming through the window.

Ten minutes later, the heavy office doors swung open.

Mrs. Higgins, the head journalism professor, marched into the room. She carried a thick clipboard and looked incredibly strict.

Listen up, everyone, Mrs. Higgins clapped her hands sharply. The printer is running a tight schedule today. Ben, I need the track and field photos formatted directly onto the front page spread immediately.

I am on it, Mrs. Higgins, Ben yelled from behind his paper wall.

Good, Mrs. Higgins nodded. Preston! Grab your photo files. Go sit with Ben. Do not leave that desk until the cropping is completely aligned with the text margins.

Ben completely froze.

Daisy immediately grabbed her laptop. She practically beamed with joy. Yes, Mrs. Higgins!

Mrs. Higgins walked into her private office and shut the door.

Daisy dragged her rolling chair across the room. She squeezed her chair through the narrow gap in Ben’s paper wall. She parked herself directly next to him.

The space behind the paper boxes was incredibly small. Their knees brushed under the desk.

Ben stopped breathing.

Daisy smelled entirely like vanilla and strawberries. She leaned closer to him to look at his screen. Her curly hair completely invaded his personal space.

Okay, Daisy said softly. Which photo do we want for the header?

Ben stared at his monitor. The screen was completely blank. His brain was completely blank.

The... the running one, Ben choked out. His voice cracked terribly.

Daisy pulled up the photo of a runner crossing the finish line. She leaned a little bit closer. Her shoulder bumped gently against his arm.

Do you think this looks too dark? Daisy asked. She looked up at him. Her face was only a few inches away from his.

Ben’s heart gave a massive, violent thump against his ribs. He felt his cheeks turn burning hot.

Your heart is beating really fast, Ben, Daisy whispered. A tiny, entirely mischievous smirk played on her lips. I can literally see your tie moving. Are you stressed about the layout margins, or are you just distracted by my perfume?

Ben gripped the edges of his desk so hard his knuckles turned white.

It is the caffeine! Ben practically shouted in a frantic whisper. I drank two energy drinks this morning! It is a cardiac event!

Daisy let out a soft, sweet giggle. She reached out and gently patted his arm.

Just breathe, Ben, Daisy teased gently. It is just a photo of a runner. You are going to survive.

Ben closed his eyes. He let out a long, shaky breath. He was a senior editor. He yelled at adults. He intimidated freshman reporters on a daily basis.

But sitting next to Daisy Preston, he was completely losing his mind.

He finally opened his eyes. He looked at her. She was smiling at him. It was such a warm, genuine smile.

Without meaning to, the corners of Ben’s mouth twitched upward. He actually smiled back.

Daisy’s eyes went wide. You smiled!

Ben instantly dropped his smile. He scowled aggressively at the computer screen.

It was a facial spasm, Ben lied bluntly. I need more potassium. Now crop the photo before I fire you.

Daisy just laughed again. She turned back to the screen, happily typing on the keyboard.

Audrey watched the entire exchange from her desk across the room.

She saw the way Ben tried to build a massive wall to keep Daisy away. And she saw the way Daisy just completely ignored it. Daisy didn’t get scared. Daisy didn’t run away when Ben acted chaotic and loud.

Daisy just bought him a tiny cactus and forced him to smile.

Audrey looked down at her own blank laptop screen.

Don’t settle for safe just because you are scared, Rowan’s voice echoed in her head.

Audrey felt a massive, tightening knot in her chest.

She was doing exactly what Ben was doing. She was building a wall to protect herself from the hurricane. She told Mason his life was too messy, just like Ben told Daisy he was too busy.

But Mason had fought for her. He had risked everything for her.

Audrey slowly closed her laptop. The quiet, safe life she had tried to force on herself felt entirely wrong. She did not want to sit in silence. She wanted the loud, messy, terrifying reality of being with the person she actually loved.

She stood up from her chair.

She grabbed her coat from the back of the seat. She didn’t care about the layout margins today. She didn’t care about the sports bulletin.

She had to go find Mason.