The Barefoot Violinist

The Chase

So far he'd been left alone at school. Thankfully, things were returning back to normal. Well, that is, the new normal. Everybody seems to afraid to look at him, for fear of Blue's retribution. After her last prank, which she still denies, Cory's friends had not been in the best of moods, but couldn't do anything about it.

As for Cory, well he was confused... He seemed to show up all over the place, randomly walking by Bennett's classes or giving him a grin in the passageways. Bennett didn't know what to make of it. 'Bullies don't change their spots, so what exactly is Cory planning?' He thought to himself. Getting to his locker, he was surprised to find a white rose taped to his locker with no note. Frowning, he looked around, wondering if this was another prank. Leaving the rose where it was, he slammed his locker shut and moved toward the music room.

Cory watched from around the corner to see Bennett's reaction to the rose. Nothing. Just the slamming of his locker. Sighing, he followed Bennett to the music room. He has been sitting outside of the room listening to Bennett play as much as he could. To Cory, it seemed as if he's gained some pf his confidence in playing back. The beautiful face that lit up at the sound of the violin, the way he swayed in sync with the music, the look of pure happiness on his face. Sliding down the wall to sit, he raised his knees to rest his head on them, listening, tears quietly slipping down his cheek. After an hour of listening, he wiped his face and moved on to his next class. 

Bennett was surprised when he saw Cory enter the classroom. His face looked red and blotchy, as if he'd been crying. Seeing Cory look over to with a sad smile this time, Bennett pulled his hoody over his head and with a cold glint in his eyes, proceeded to ignore Cory, as if he'd never entered the classroom. 

Cory sighed and sat down. This is going to be a long, uphill battle trying to make Bennett remember and love him again. 'Why doesn't he remember me already?' Cory thought bitterly.

At lunch, Bennett found another rose stuck to his locker, a red one this time.

"Who's giving you roses?" Ellie asked as she got to him. 

"Dunno, don't care." he said dismissively, leaving the rose where it was. "Come on, Victor's probably worried sick because he hasn't seen you for two classes." he joked with her, pulling her along with him.

"Says the man who has a secret admirer!" she shot back, linking her arm through his, walking to the cafeteria.

The minute they sat down, Ellie began telling the story of the rose. Bennett rolled his eyes, as the other two's heads shot up looking at him. Victor enquiringly, Blue with narrowed eyes. "If anybody is fucking with you, I swear I will kill them!" she spat in all seriousness.

"Nobody is fucking with me, promise." he pleaded with her, not wanting another altercation.

"Dude!" Victor looked up at him in surprise. "When did you start swearing? You don't even like it when we do that."

"Maybe Blue's rubbing off on me. Her vocabulary is very colourful and expressive." he smirked, trying to look serious. 

"Two words for you Ben, just two words." she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Let me guess, it starts with 'Fuck' and ends with 'You'! Right?" he threw his head back in laughter at the look on her face.

"Actually no. It's Piss Off!" 

Victor sprayed them with a mouthful of water he was drinking, as he started to laugh. "Gross!" Blue shouted.

"So, what? Someone just leaves roses for you?"

Hmm.." he hummed in agreement, looking at Blue scanning the room. 

When the bell rang, she hung back, waiving them off. Walking over to where Cory and his mates were sitting, she stopped next to him, tapping his shoulder.

"Oi, piss head!" she called loudly even though she was next to him.

Cory didn't have to look around. There was only one person in the school that called him that and then some.

"Red!" he smiled at her.

"Don't Red me, mother fucker. We're not friends, so shut up and listen." she leaned in closer to them, looking at each of the boys at the table. "Don't fuck with Bennett, if you know what's good for you. If you so much as sneeze in his direction, I'll have your balls for earrings and put your dead bodies in a hole before you can even raise a finger. Got that?" she asked, waiting for a response from them. 

"Did you fucking get that you sons of whores?" she roared at them. The cafeteria now quiet, students who were still milling about, listening to the altercation. 

"Yes..." they grumbled, looking as if they wanted to be anywhere else and not caught in Blue's fiery stare.

"Good. And just fair warning, what happened to your snot nosed little friend, can easily be arranged for you, so don't fuck with me!" she slammed her hand on the table to prove her point, before she stormed off.

"Damn, that girl's got some serious issues." Mason shook his head looking at her walking away, the others shrugging. "Don't get me wrong, she's as hot as hell, but she's got some serious issues, I'm telling you."

"Her heart's in the right place I suppose..." Cory trailed off. "I'd do the same for Bennett, if I could."

"She isn't that bad when you get to know her." Tyler let slip. "What?" he asked seeing their curious expressions. "We've been hanging out for a bit, since we talked at Bennett's place."

"Wait what? That kid's the missus?" Mason leaned in to his twin. "I thought we were brothers, why didn't I know about this?" he said looking perplexed. "And what's with you hanging out with that chick?"

"Yeah, that's the missus." he mused, grinning at Cory who didn't look very impressed with him.

"What about you hanging out with Red?" he countered, watching Tyler blush.

"Look, it's nothing serious. We're just friends hanging out, that's all!" he forestalled them. "It's not like I'm boning her. In fact, I'll probably have my dick ripped of if I even tried!" he laughed, then stopped when he saw the surprised expressions on the others' faces.

"Piss off all of you!" Tyler brought the conversation to an end, grabbing his bag as he got up to leave.