The Barefoot Violinist

Uncertain

Bennett had been mulling all the events from when he and Cory were together and the day that he was beaten up. He was still confused about what Jake had said. He'd told Cory that he loved him, so why would he go to that extreme a few days later? With that, he also realised that he did love Cory. But he loved the Cory that wanted to care and protect him. This may be a different Cory he was dealing with.

Bennett could still remember the look on Cory's face as he was shaking him. It was frightening. It was as if a monster had replaced the person he was with. The person he loved. If he really had to be honest with himself, he missed Cory's company, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to have that conversation. It still hurt him too much.

--

He cycled over to Blue's house two weeks later to help him make sense of everything. When he got to the door, he rushed to the den without knocking or ringing the bell. Blue was sitting watching one of her documentaries.

"Hey Ben!" she switched off the TV and patted the seat next to her on the couch. Sitting down, he didn't know where to start.

"Blue, I think I need to speak to Cory. There are some things that don't add up." he frowned at her. When she didn't say anything, he continued, "It's just that I'm not sure what to do with my feelings anymore. On the one hand I hate Cory for what he's done and on the other hand, I miss him..." he trailed off, "I think I love him..." the last part almost a whisper.

"I'm just trying to make sure that you are okay, Ben." she earnestly looked at him.

"I know." he sighed, looking gratefully at her. "Do you think I should speak to him?" He was uncertain of what he wanted. "I don't want to make a mistake again, but I also don't want to lose out on something that could be good, you know?"

"Only you can answer that Ben. The heart wants, what the heart wants. I understand that better than anyone, but I do know that I will kill him if I see him again." she proclaimed with malice in her voice.

Bennett smiled, "Do you think we can maybe hold off on the killing for now? Maybe I should speak to him first."

"If you're sure, I'll arrange it." she pulled out her phone. "When do you want to do it?"

"Maybe tomorrow evening?" I should have sorted myself out by that time, he thought to himself. "What do you think?"

"Tomorrow evening is fine, let me just give the guys a call." she turned back to her phone again.

"No, no that's fine. I'll just ask him to come over. It should be fine. I'm sure he won't hurt me." Bennett placated her.

"No, and that's the end of it. I'll arrange the time and place and the car will bring you around. Shall we say nine?" she didn't wait for a response, instead barked a few orders to whomever was on the other end of the line.

"You're not going to hurt him, are you?" he asked worriedly. Since he'd returned from hospital, Blue had made her thoughts on Cory very clear and there was no dissuading her.

"Not any more than he hurt you." she said quietly. "Now, catch me up on the whole twenty yards." she changed the topic, not wanting to dwell any further on Cory and what she'd like to do with him.

"It's nine, you know." Bennett corrected her with a grin.

"Yes, but with your drama, there are always a couple of extra miles to go!" she laughed at him.

"Thanks Blue." he mumbled, looking at his hands in his lap.

"What for?"

"For sticking with me and for being my friend, even though I've caused you nothing but trouble." He looked up briefly to meet her eyes.

"I've never had as much fun as I've had with you, Ben. Trust me, in my previous school everybody was too afraid of my family to talk to even me. That's where I learnt how it felt to be really alone." she sighed, reaching out to take his hand. "It only got worse when my dad went to prison."

"Was it really that bad?" he asked quietly. This was a part of Blue that she hadn't shared with him before. He knew that things at her previous school didn't work out and that they moved soon after her dad went to jail, but she always skirted the subject and he didn't want to push.

"Feeling and being alone was the worst." Another sigh escaped her lips. "Ben, you are my first real friend. Even after I told you about my dad, you didn't act any differently. You weren't afraid of me or my family." He could see the sadness lingering in her eyes.

"There is nothing that I wouldn't do for you or those other two snot rags." she laughed lightly. "For the first time, I feel like I belong, if you know what I mean?" she gave his hand a gentle squeeze, smiling warmly as she looked at him.

"Hmm, I know exactly what you mean." he nodded. "It was the same for me." he went quiet for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. "Does that mean we're the misfits? The odd ones out?" a smile slowly spread over his face.

"We've always been the misfits!" she laughed. "Why do you think there are only four of us? We should come up with a name for our merry band."

"Oh god, please don't. Victor would never stop mentioning it, trying to make it a trend" he chortled.

"Just to piss you off, I'll do it!" her laughter filled the room. "Now, let's get the others over and make a proper night out of this." She immediately took out her phone, threatening Victor with castration if he didn't turn up with Ellie in tow.