Changing Hearts (GeminiFourth Fanfiction)

III

Chapter Three

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The week had been an unsettling calm, a reprieve from the usual onslaught of pranks, threats, and humiliating games orchestrated by Gemini and his clique. Fourth had barely seen them in class, except for Winny, who seemed to be the only one not entirely invested in Gemini's reign of terror.

"Hey, don't you know one of our classmates is having a party tonight? Wanna join?" Ford asked, his voice brimming with excitement. But Fourth immediately shook his head, his aversion to parties well-known. He wasn't a fan of crowds, of forced social interactions, and the thought of being in the same room as Gemini and his friends filled him with dread.

"Please... please. Come with me. Besides, I know her," Ford pleaded, his usual cheerfulness replaced with a desperate plea. But Fourth remained firm, his voice a quiet "No."

"Please... you're my only friend here. Can you accompany me? If it's not good, we can go home immediately," Ford persisted, his words laced with a desperation that tugged at Fourth's heart.

Fourth rolled his eyes at his friend, a small smile playing on his lips. "You promise?"

Ford, his face beaming with relief, nodded enthusiastically. "I promise."

Fourth, unable to resist his friend's pleas, finally relented. "Okay."

Ford, his face alight with excitement, hugged Fourth tightly and began chattering excitedly about the party, his enthusiasm a stark contrast to Fourth's quiet apprehension.

As the night fell, Fourth and Ford arrived at the house, greeted by Film, the host, a bubbly girl with a contagious laugh. At first, Fourth felt out of place, the unfamiliar faces and loud music a stark contrast to his usual quiet life. But as the night wore on, he began to relax, drawn into the warmth of the conversation and the shared laughter.

Ford, however, was called away by a group of their classmates, who needed his help with something. He agreed, leaving Fourth alone with Film and a few other students. Initially, Fourth felt comfortable, enjoying the easy conversation, but as the minutes ticked by, he began to feel anxious. Ford had been gone for a while, and a sense of unease settled over him. Little did he know, his worry was about to escalate into something far more terrifying.

Gemini, accompanied by Prom and Perth, entered the house, their arrival announced with a deliberate swagger. They made a point of mentioning Fourth's encounter at the coffee shop the previous day, their words dripping with malicious glee, as if it were a crime, a transgression against their unspoken code of dominance. Fourth, his cheeks burning with shame, wished he could disappear, but Perth was too quick, catching him before he could escape.

"Where are you going? The party hasn't started yet," he said, his voice laced with a cruel amusement as he dragged Fourth towards the center of the room, where a group of students had gathered, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

"Everyone! Ready your cameras!" Prom announced, his voice echoing through the room, the air thick with a palpable tension.

Gemini sat down, his eyes fixed on Fourth, a predator sizing up its prey. Fourth's knees trembled, a wave of fear washing over him. He knew what was coming, but he couldn't escape, his body frozen in place, his mind racing with a desperate plea for mercy.

"What are you going to do to me?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, his words laced with a desperate hope that they would reconsider, that they would show him a sliver of mercy. But his plea was met with laughter, a cruel, mocking sound that echoed through the room.