The Barefoot Violinist

Stranded

"Where's the missus?" Tyler asked as they walked to Cory's car.

"Shut up, will you?!" He was in a bad mood. "He isn't here, is he?" Bennett would be spending the afternoon with his friends, which meant that it would be a whole day before they see each other again.

"Dude, you've got to learn how to chill. Are you guys that serious already?" he frowned at Cory over the roof of the car, his hand on the door handle. His friend had never been one to get too hooked on one person or even get into a relationship for that matter. For that person to be Bennett, was most surprising to him. It wasn't as if they were great friends before.

"Why are you standing next to my car anyway?" he grumbled, his frown deepening. He'd rather spend the rest of the day alone.

"You forgot?!" Tyler accused in surprise.

"What?" Cory was only half listening. He was contemplating sending a quick text to Bennett.

"Come on guy, you're really going to forget about your friends for a piece of ass?" he shook his head in disbelief. "We said we'd look at college applications! Mason is meeting us later. Jake is being his usual miserable self and wants nothing to do with anybody these days." he informed Cory in exasperation.

"Fine." was all he said with a sigh, getting into the car.

For the rest of the evening Cory could hardly concentrate on the brochures or information online that they were looking at. He'd always thought that he'd go to any college with a good sports programme, but right now, he wasn't as sure. He always enjoyed football, because it felt like having a family and he was good at it, so he naturally thought he would just carry on playing after school because that was all there was, but now?

Bennett, he was sure, would of course go off to some fancy music school that was halfway around the world. But the way that he was feeling now, he'd want to stay as close to Bennett as possible. Unfortunately, it would mean that he'd have to get his head out of his ass because, as things stood at this moment, he wasn't destined for a stellar academic career.

He pulled out his phone again, staring at it with a frown, wondering again if he should text or call Bennett. He hoped that he was having a better time, but also wanted him to come back already.

Hey, Cory!" Tyler's voice brought him back to the present, looking at him as if something was wrong. "Bro, are you seriously so hung up on the missus that you're not even interested in what we're doing?"

"Wait, what?" Mason interrupted, his pen hovering mid-air. "When did you start dating anybody? Who is it?" he asked still frowning at Cory and Tyler.

"Shut up both of you. Let's just get this over with, so that you two can go home." his bad mood was back again.

"Okay, if you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I'll just find out at school who it is. I'm sure Mindy would be happy to spill the beans." Mason confidently informed them. "Or is it Mindy?" he looked at his brother for confirmation, but he resolutely looked at Cory as if waiting for a response.
When nothing was forthcoming, Mason cleared his throat. "I take it that's a hard no on Mindy then?" he looked from one to the other.

"Oh come on guys!" He slapped the table in frustration. "What happened to telling each other everything? I thought we were brothers!" he whined, hoping to get some more information.

"Look, don't get me involved." Tyler held his hands up, leaning away from the table. "That's for Cory to say, but what I can say is, that the missus has got him whipped." he whistled shaking his head.

"Don't you have your own lives to interfere in?" he snapped, quickly picking up his phone that had started buzzing. "Hey," he said, a huge grin taking over his face. He listened for a while, a frown replacing the grin.
"Okay, don't go anywhere or do anything. I'm coming to pick you up. Send me your location." Cory was already on his feet, the twins forgotten as he grabbed his jacket.