Heather watched him closely as he explained his relationship struggles, her brain desperately trying to remember anything she'd ever learned about reading body language. It was hard trying to read people like that though especially when her knowledge was fairly limited. Instead, she focused on what he was saying, and it did feel sincere, so she was inclined to believe him.

Her nose scrunched up when he tried to imagine the type of guy that she would date. It was valid in all honesty. Her family would absolutely love it if she dated someone off the football team, but she knew the guys on the team, and they were dogs. Sure, Caleb was one of them and he was different but that was mostly because of Alice Mae. Even then, they still had their issues. "No, that would be my best friend. And me? Yeah... I suppose if Sunnyvale were to have an alt chick, then I would be her."

Heather sighed and her eyes sunk to the ground. "Sunnyvale doesn't like things that fit their mold... they do love cheerleaders. It's fun though and I like dancing so it's like it's all that bad. The boys though? They are pretty shitty." His scuffed-up shoes appeared in her line of sight, stopping a few feet in front of her and she scanned up his body until her eyes met his. Feeling too vulnerable, she wanted to attempt to feel bigger despite him towering over her.

Her hip popped out ever so slightly, her hand rested on it, and her eyes looked him down and up again before locking eyes again. She was tired of playing the part that they expected of her; she'd told herself at the end of summer that this would be the year that she started doing things for herself. Apparently, that now also included a tall, goofy Shadysider. Heather smirked up at him, "This." Her hand motioned over his body. "is hot."

Benji knew he was feeling some way about her, but he couldn't explain it. He wasn't sure why he felt as drawn to Heather Goodwin as he did. Benji had never had feelings this powerful. It was somewhat terrifying for him, and he did not want to say or do anything that might get Heather to turn her nose up at him. Benji didn't want to just get into her pants. He wanted to get to know the girl standing before him.

Heather had mentioned her a few times but never actually elaborated. "Who's your best friend? Was that the one who ditched you at the graveyard the other night?" Benji asked casually. He didn't like the sound of maybe having to double date with a football player soon, though. Benji knew how entitled football players were in Shadyside. He couldn't imagine having to deal with a Sunnyvale football player.

Benji couldn't take his eyes off her. He was hanging on to every last word she said. Almost forgetting how to speak when it was his turn to respond. Get it the fuck together! He kept repeating in his head. Benji watched her every move carefully. "Yeah? Well, I think you're fucking gorgeous," he said in a daze. He had the urge to kiss her, but something inside stopped him. Benji didn't want this to be another one and done. He wanted Heather to know she wouldn't just be his next conquest. Everything his ex-girlfriend said was beginning to make sense.

He felt like a magnet being pulled from the other as he forced himself to step back. Finally, Benji cleared his throat, "I wanna kiss you, but I... uh, I don't want our first kiss to be here," he said, looking around. "You deserve something more spectacular than some dingy high school," Benji added. He wanted to make sure Heather knew she did nothing wrong. She was perfect.

"Alice Mae? She didn't ditch me either. I wasn't ready to leave yet and they were, so I stayed." Heather explained. The tunnels had been scary but she couldn't just leave it at that without investigating more. She might not have been able to debunk what had happened down there but it had lead her to meet so Benji and so far he'd proven himself quite valuable in her investigation, so she was considering it a win.

Heather stared up at him, hoping he would kiss her and feeling slightly rejected when he backed away. That feeling fading quickly once he explained why. Her eyes finally left him and glanced around the dark office as well. He was right; she deserved better than this. Time to see if he really meant it though.

"You know, you're a thousand percent correct. Our first kiss will not occur until after you take me on a proper date," she agreed with a playful wink. Heather had no idea what kind of romantic places he could take her on a date in Shadyside but she certainly could not be seen going around on dates with someone like him in Sunnyvale. It would be another Goode/Goodwin bullying type of situation for her. Despite the clear chemistry that she and Benji had, she had to be smart about things, unless she wanted to become a complete outcast around town.

Heather had let her crush on him get the best of her, she had to remember the power she held from simply being a hot girl. Strolling back over to the student files, she riffled through them but didn't see any names of importance. Not even Mitchie's was in there. "I'm not finding anything in here, you having any luck?" Heather asked finally looking over at him again. She chuckled as he fumbled with the lighter in his hand, nearly dropping it on the floor.

"A date?" Benji was a bit taken aback. He hadn't expected Heather to want to go that far. "You want to go on a date with me?" Benji needed clarification because he didn't want to get his hopes up for something he had only imagined. Going on a date with Heather Goodwin would be a dream.

Heather soon began scrolling through the files again, leaving Benji confused. He started nervously fidgeting with his lighter, trying to think what to say next. Only to fumble the lighter and his brain blank as she announced she hadn't found anything.

"We aren't looking in the right places," he suggested as he picked his lighter up off the floor before pulling out his pack of cigarettes and taking one out. Benji walked back to the principal's desk and took a seat. He lit his cigarette and immediately felt at ease after the first inhale. "We need to look in places that wouldn't be our first go-to," he said between drags.

“Fuck! I need Max!" Benji exclaimed, but he was not ready to explain to her keeper what he was looking for because, honestly, he didn't even know. Heather got him on this wild goose chase, and now he couldn't stop.

Sunnyvale boys were a nuisance as far as Heather was concerned. They wanted in her pants, and she wanted nothing to do with them, but because she was stuck dealing with them on a daily basis, she'd found ways to entertain herself. One of her favorite things was to simply stay silent. For whatever reason it had this habit of making people nervous and she loved watching them squirm. Had this been what Heather intended to do to Benji? No, but it was a hard habit to kick, especially when she was feeling like the vulnerable one. It was easier to leave him to wonder if she actually wanted to date him, than admit again that she did. That and her mind was back to focusing on solving murders, not planning dates.

"Well, then where do you suggest we look?" Heather asked when he suggested they weren't looking in the right places. She watched as he casually lit up a cigarette in the middle of the school, totally not used to this type of behavior. Smoking wasn't a common thing among teens in Sunnyvale, usually only reserved for drunken house parties. "Places that wouldn't be our first go-to..." she repeated with a perplexed look on her face. Sometimes Heather wished that it didn't always have to be so cryptic when it came to the witch mystery, but she knew that would take all the fun out of it if it was too easy to figure out.

Heather started pacing back and forth as she tried to brainstorm places that they wouldn't think to look first. 'The basement? Does the school have a basement? That's probably too obvious. Okay, Heather, think. Classrooms, desks, books, library, lunch, cafeteria, hallways, lockers, locker rooms, gymnasium, weight room, pool, tennis courts... wait. This is Shadyside. I don't know anything about their school. But he does.' Heather finally stopped moving and stared directly at Benji, a smile creeping across her face. "No. We don't need Max. At least not yet. Come on, Benji. I believe in you." She leaned against the desk next to him and looked down at him as she continued, "Where are we going to find something? Where is a good place to hide something? Somewhere that you wouldn't have to worry about just any old rando stumbling on it?"

"Honestly, I don't think we will find anything here." Shadyside may have played into the whole witch and curse thing, but he doubted they'd keep any of that information on hand. They needed to do more research. Mainly to see if either Deena or Samantha still lived in Shadyside. He couldn't imagine they did. He'd want to get as far as away as he could if he experienced what they allegedly did.

"I know you don't want to go back, but I think we should," Benji said, referring to the tunnel she and her friends found. "Whatever is going on, I think we'll find the answers down there," he told her with an apologetic smile. "You don't have to go. I can do it by myself," he offered. He didn't want to make Heather uncomfortable, but he needed to see that tunnel and everything Heather described, even if he went alone.

Suddenly, Beni heard footsteps approaching outside of the door. He quickly got up from the principal's chair, putting out his cigarette before swiftly pulling Heather behind the door as it opened. Unfortunately, he forgot security made occasional rounds. It was only seconds, but enough of her bushing up against him and smelling her scent gave him a slight hard-on. He looked down between them, praying to whatever the fuck was up there that she didn't realize. Once the door closed, Benji signed in relief. He moved from behind her, trying to get away as quickly as possible. He had never experienced anything like that before, and it took him by surprise. "I think that's our cue to go."

Heather pouted, not wanting to admit defeat but deep down she knew that he was right. They weren't going to find anything here. Her eyes widened as he suggested that they return to the tunnels. "I'm sorry, did you sneak some weed into that cigarette or something? Did you forget the part where I said my friend ended up getting really sick from being down there? Like, supernaturally sick. Not that I still fully believe in all that, but I figure it's better not to risk it twice just in case."

Before she had a chance to tell him why she didn't want to let him go alone either, there was a noise and Benji had pulled her behind the door. Doing her best to keep quiet while the security checked the room, it became that much harder once she realized what was happening between them. Heather bit her lip as she tried to pretend that she didn't notice the bulge bumping into her. Smirking to herself, it honestly kind of made her happy knowing that she had that effect on him.

Letting out her own sigh of relief when the door closed and Benji moved away. "I think you're right. Come on." Heather quietly opened the door and peeked out into the hallway. Seeing the flashlight of security to the right, she ushered him to the left and followed him as he led her out of the building.