The Barefoot Violinist

Curious

Cory sat at home, still in shock at what had happened. He'd thought that the first time Blue attacked him was just a fluke because he wouldn't fight back. She certainly didn't look like someone who could fight like that. Her looks were very deceiving. You'd peg her as one of the popular girls wherever she went or even a cheerleader, but what he saw was a far cry from being a fragile teenage girl.

Jake was still in the hospital with a butchered face, dislocated jaw and a cracked rib and would spend the next few days there. Once his parents were allowed in to see him, his mother burst out in tears at the sight of him. When they asked him what had happened, he told them he was mugged. The others didn't contradict his story because saying that Blue had beaten him to a pulp, would be laughed at.

Then there was that Bennett kid. What made him so special that Blue would risk expulsion and criminal charges to protect him? He'd always given him a hard time, not even thinking of him as a person, but after what he witnessed this afternoon... well, besides being in fear of Blue, his interest was also peaked by Bennett.

Again he felt a tug of guilt at the back of his mind. He'd really made Bennett's life miserable, if he had to be honest with himself. He was so caught up in himself, that he didn't even think that what he was doing was hurting someone else as well.

Is this all I am, he wondered while staring off into space. Am I just a bully with no other talent than hurting people? He sighed heavily. That was a conversation he wasn't ready to have with himself, yet.

Groaning, he got up off the couch. This was getting him nowhere.

--

At school, things were more subdued than usual for their gang. Or at least at their lunch table. The memory of Jake's beating is still clear in their minds.

"So, where do you think a chick like that learned to fight?" Tyler looked around at the group.

"I'd prefer if you didn't use derogatory language when referring to women or girls." Mindy a dark-haired girl with sun-kissed skin interrupted him.

"Jesus Mindy!" Tyler snapped, then turned to the others, "I preferred it better when cheerleaders were dumb, like in the movies." he smirked, earning him a slap to the head.

"Wherever she learned it, I've never seen anybody fight like that," Mason commented, sneaking a glance at Blue's table. "That was like a gang beating." He shuddered at the memory.

"So, what? You let a girl beat you up?" Mindy asked. "She doesn't look that tough to me." She looked over at Blue, who was laughing at something a blond-haired boy was saying.

"Believe me, you don't want to mess with her," Cory added, also turning his gaze in their direction, his eyes drawn to Bennett who was talking animatedly. All this trouble over one kid? It was crazy even thinking about it, but he was curious about what made him so special.

"Do any of you know the blond kid sitting with her?" Cory asked.

"Beats me. But he seems to be the cause of all your trouble." Tyler shrugged his shoulders.

"He's in my chemistry class." Mason offered. "He's always sleeping in class and never hands in any work. The teacher doesn't even say a thing."

"Now that you mention it," Mindy interjected. "He's in my advanced calculus class and comes and goes as he pleases. The teacher doesn't even blink an eye when he gets up in the middle of the class to leave. And sometimes he doesn't come to class for days." She frowned.

"He's a senior?" Cory asked confused. He'd seen Bennett in his English class before and he also never participated in the lessons. Most of the time he would stare out the window not paying any attention. But he looked like a junior, not older than sixteen. Again he got the feeling that something was with this kid.

"Must be." Tyler looked over at Bennett's table.

At that moment Bennett looked up and saw the stares of Cory and his friends on him. He quickly averted his gaze, trying to ignore the feeling that they were still staring. Were they plotting a way to beat him up again? Before he could dwell any further on the thought, Victor demanded his attention.

"What do you think? It will get me a pass, right?" He looked hopefully at Bennett.

"What?" He frowned in confusion at Victor.

"My project! Doing a model universe would get me a pass, right? He repeated in desperation.

"Why though? Then you might as well make a movie on paint drying." Bennett retorted without thinking. "And I think you mean solar system. If you're going to replicate the whole universe, you may have a time problem."

"Stop being a smart ass and help a mate out! That's about all I can do." He groaned. "Come on Bennett, spare me two brain cells to help me pass." He begged.

"You should have paid more attention in class." Bennett admonished.

"Don't be a dick, Ben," Blue interjected, throwing a sachet of tomato sauce at him. "Just help him out so that the moron can pass."

"But that's cheating!"

"I'm not saying that you need to do it for me. I only need some help and guidance." Victor said in hope.

"Oh, okay." He finally caved. "I'll help, but if we're going to do something that dumb and basic, then we might as well do it right."

"You know, you have a special talent for making people feel stupid." Victor frowned at him in displeasure. "I thought we could make the planets out of paper mache and then paint... " he started in excitement.

"Are you a child?" Bennett interrupted him in surprise. "I'll give you a list of things to get." Taking out a notepad, he started scribbling at top speed.

"Are we making a time bomb or something?" Victor looked at the list Bennett handed him in shock. "Where am I supposed to get half of these things?"

"Get them online. The rest I'll get." Bennett said, with a determined expression on his face.

"Still doesn't explain why it looks like we're building a bomb." He mumbled, folding the note and slipping it into his pocket.

"That's settled then!" Blue said brightly. "We can build the bomb at my place. What do you need Ben?"

"Are you serious?" Bennett asked, his mind racing at the possibilities of what he could do.

"Sure, we can hang out and work on it together. Mum will be happy to have the chance to decorate the den." She laughed, while Ellie vigorously nodded along.

"Okay," Bennett agreed with a gleam in his eyes, starting another list.

"Goddamn Ben!" Blue looked from the list he'd given her, back to him. "Are you sure you're not building a bomb? Some of the things on this list seem suspiciously familiar." She pursed her lips looking at the note again.

"Can you get it or not?" Bennett's tone was short, his mind had moved beyond the planning phase and was now considering how to execute his plan. He didn't have the time for the smaller details.

"Geez, I was only asking." Blue frowned at him. "Of course, I can get it." She said confidently.