The Barefoot Violinist

Reckoning

That afternoon, as he was entering the cafeteria, his friends came running toward him.

"Hey, Ben." Blue hugged him with a frown on her face. "I heard about what happened this morning. Are you okay?" she asked, worried.

"It's fine." he smiled sadly. "I'm used to it, so it's nothing new." he shrugged his shoulders, walking with them to their table.

Hector and Ellie kept throwing worried glances his way, but let the subject be. He was grateful for his friends and that they didn't prod any further and for the fact that they were trying to make him forget what had happened this morning.

"I'll see you in a minute guys." Blue waived them off as they got up to go to class, still sitting at the table. 

"What are you going to do?" Bennett asked in concern.

"Nothing at all. Why do you always think I'm going to be doing something?" she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Experience." He grinned, but picked up his bag and left the cafeteria.

Walking to Cory's table, Blue came to a halt in front of them, her eyes immediately on Jake.

"What did I tell you mother fuckers about messing with Bennett?!" she shrieked at them, while the room filled with a buzz and people turned to look at what was happening. When she received no response from them, she leaned in closer.

"What did I tell you would happen if you ever fucked with him again?" Again, she got no response. They all seemed to be avoiding her intense gaze. Then she walked over to where Jake was sitting with murder in his eyes. Without saying anything, Blue grabbed his collar and swiftly pulled him off his seat, landing him hard on his ass.

He immediately jumped up, ready to take her on, fists raised. Before he could make any sort of move, she raised her leg and kicked him hard in the balls. Again, he was on his knees on the ground, groaning in pain, the breath having been knocked out of him.

"Oh no, did you lose something down there?" Blue taunted him as he looked up. Before he could get up, she pushed him back down with her foot. "Pathetic!" she called out loud, turning to the others who had started getting up. "Look, I think we should sort this out this afternoon on the sports field, what do you say?" her eyes bored into them.

When she got no response, she grabbed Cory by the shirt, nearly lifting him out of his seat. They really didn't seem to know what to do with Blue, as they couldn't hit her or do anything else except bluster.

"Fucker, don't be a pussy. Bring your friends to the field this afternoon around three. Then you can beat me as much as you like. I won't tell any of the teachers, promise." she smirked into his face, pushing him back hard. "See you guys later!" she called out lazily, walking away to her next class.

After school, Blue sat on the bleachers waiting for Cory and his gang. She didn't want Bennett to be involved, so it was only Hector and Ellie sitting next to her.

"You're not going to kill any of them?" Hector asked concerned.

"Or hurt them too badly," Ellie added worriedly.

"Guys, I've got this. I just need to speak their language and everything will be sorted." her smile did nothing to lessen their feelings of trepidation.

 After five minutes of waiting, Cory and his group of friends walked onto the field. It didn't look like they wanted to fight.

"So you've finally arrived." She observed calmly as she walked toward them. Hector and Ellie waited for her in the bleachers, after she'd told them to stay put. "Okay, who is first, or do you all want to come at me together?" she smirked.

"Look Blue," Cory started. "We don't want to fight. Let's just let bygones be bygones." he tried to reason with her. In Jake's current state, he would be most likely to beat Blue into a pulp, which he was trying to avoid. Even with all the threats, she was no match for Jake in a fight.

"That ship sailed a long time ago." her smile was menacing. "Since this is all that you assholes understand, let's get to it then.

She planted her feet firmly on the ground, her fists raised, waiting for them to come at her. Cory and the others seemed to be really uncomfortable with the situation they were in. Except for Jake. He still remembered his embarrassment in the cafeteria, so he stepped forward, fists also raised.

Before he could do or say anything, Blue threw a punch at him, hitting him hard on the jaw. He shook his head, trying to come to his senses,  but she laid into him again, this time blood streamed out of his nose as he stumbled back onto his feet. His friends tried to hold him steady and convince him to leave, but he just pulled free from their grip and made another move toward Blue. 

No matter how many times Jake tried to get at her, she was always ready. While he couldn't land any blows, she made every time her fist came into contact with his face, count. By her fifth punch, it looked like Jake's face had come into contact with a hammer. Blood was streaming from his nose, which definitely looked broken and a nasty cut on his cheek. When he came at her again, she kicked him in the stomach, winding him, so that he was on the ground again, buckling under the pain.

His friends were all trying to get him to stop, but it seemed as if he was out to prove something. Unfortunately, it seemed as if Blue was in the mood to carry on and with one swift back kick, she had Jake lights out on the ground.

"Now, who's next?" she grinned at the others, moving her head from side to side and rolling her shoulders to loosen them up. She was ready. "Or you can all come at me at once if you like." She taunted them.

By now Cory was very intimidated and even a little scared of Blue. The way she had easily dodged all Jake's punches while turning his face into minced meat, was crazy. He'd never seen anybody fight like that. Certainly, never at school. Yeah, they would rough kids up or get into a fistfight every now and then, but this girl took it to another level, he thought alarmed.

"Look Blue, like I said, we didn't come here to fight you." Cory tried to reason with her and prevent her from killing the rest of his mates.

"Then you shouldn't have touched Bennett, should you? I warned you, but you didn't listen." She narrowed her eyes at Cory. "Now do you want to finish this, or did I make myself clear?" She looked around at the group standing behind Cory. "Why the fuck am I not hearing anything?" she ground out again, taking a step toward them.

Hearing a general rumbling from the group, she took another step forward. "If I have to take another step, I swear to god, I will shove your heads up your asses! Now, did I make myself clear?!"

"Okay, we get the picture," Cory spoke up. "We won't mess with Bennett again." He promised, holding up his hands to appease her. Before he'd just been another loser, no different from the rest. Now he looked at Bennett differently. Nobody had ever fought so hard for him or even at all, before, he thought. There must be something really special about that kid.

"Let this be a warning, I don't repeat myself. The next time I won't be alone." She threatened them. "Take this piece of shit to the hospital. I have a feeling they're going to need to reset his jaw." She turned around, taking off her knuckle duster, heading toward the bleachers where Hector and Ellie were standing.

"How about we camp out at my place this afternoon? We can go pick up Bennett on the way." She suggested grinning at both, who still looked a little shocked and dazed.

"Whatever you say. I'm too afraid to argue." Victor grinned back, shaking his head. "How is it that you look like a model, swear like a sailor and fight like a gangster?" He asked in awe.

"Hey!" Ellie poked him in the ribs.

"You're a supermodel Ellie! Not just any model, a supermodel!" He quickly added.

"Now I feel insulted." Blue laughed, hooking her arm into Ellie's while they walked to Victor's car.