Colourful Emotions

Chapter One

Anthony

Anthony James sat at the end of an empty table at the back of the cafeteria, waiting for the bell to ring and signal the end of lunch. He was about to pull the roast beef sandwich he made last night out of the crinkled brown bag when he watched it get snatched out of his hands and a pair of arms push him out of the seat.

He looked up from under his dark hair to find Richard Green; a taller, stronger, fair haired boy with his arm cocked back, ready to punch him in the face. Anthony took the first punch right in the nose. His eyes watered, but he stood there without saying a word. He still didn't cry out when Richard began punching him in the gut. He had given up begging Richard to stop when he knew he'd only just hit him more. He took Anthony's arm and twisted it behind his back, almost breaking it. He kept silent, holding back the urge to scream; to give Richard what he really wanted.

It had become daily routine; to have his food stolen and get beaten half to death at the lunch table. Anthony learned quickly to keep it all hidden; every emotion and every feeling. All the words he wished he could say or scream, he kept them all inside.

"What, can't even fight anymore, fag?" Richard sneered. He let Anthony fall to his knees, leaving him to whimper quietly in pain.

After Richard left, Anthony slowly stood up and limped his way to the bathroom which was luckily empty. He went to the sink and turned the faucet on before splashing his face and ridding himself of the crimson blood that had drained from his nose. He stood there for a moment, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.

'Useless.' he thought. 'You're a useless coward who can't even stand up for himself long enough not to get beat up by that idiot Richard.' Although Anthony knew it wasn't his fault, he blamed it all on himself. He truly believed that it was his own doing that Richard continued hurting him everyday. But you can't change who you are.

Anthony was about to leave when the door opened. He looked at who walked in and his eyes widened briefly in surprise before he made his face go slack and hold a blank expression.

The boy that had walked in was a boy Anthony did not know. The boy seemed muscular and had a face that Anthony had not seen around the school but that was all Anthony cared to notice before he bowed his head and stared at his shoes intently. Anthony not knowing this boy was strange because he knew who everyone in the entire school was. Being silent and in the same town your whole life has it's benefits.

"Hello." The boy said in a cheery voice. "My name is Daniel Reece."

His hand shot out towards Anthony and Anthony tensed. He relaxed after he realized it was only a handshake. He didn't bother to move his hand from his side to grasp Daniels in return. He only stood silent. Daniel put his hand down awkwardly.

"Well aren't you gonna tell me your name?"

Anthony shook his head. He already knew Daniel wouldn't like him. No one liked him.

"Okay, well I hope I see you again." Daniels cheerful smile never left his lips as Anthony walked on and out through the door. "It was nice meeting you!" He heard the boy call out as the bathroom door closed behind him.

Anthony practically ran to his next class in order to avoid the massive herd of students that would soon be making their way through the currently vacant hallway.

When he reached the music room, he went to the left of the room to the four dozen white lockers and pulled out his music from his own locker before walking over to a dusty brown piano sitting at the edge of the room across from the lockers. He gazed across the room, looking over the many music stands and black chairs, before turning his brown eyes back to the piano. He pulled out the music for Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, his favourite song, and began to play. His fingers flowed over the keys reflexively, barely touching them as he pumped the pedals with his feet.

While playing he thought about all of the problems in his life. These thoughts allowed him to play better. He let his emotions; bitter as they were, flow through the music. Every note a tear and every crescendo a sob.

As he finished, silent tears began to fall. He thought back to all the times he played in concert and all the times his father refused to come and watch.

"You should play professionally." A voice stopped his thoughts. Anthony's head shot up in surprise to see Daniel, the boy from earlier, standing in front of the piano.

Anthony hadn't had time before to look at Daniel's features because he wanted time to play before the rest of the students gathered noisily into the classroom. Daniel had shaggy orange hair and sparkling green eyes. Anthony noticed a scar hidden just below Daniels left eyebrow and he wondered idly what Daniel had done to gain such a scar. Daniel coughed quietly and Anthony dropped his head in embarrassment.

"So have you ever thought about playing professionally?" Daniel asked. Anthony shook his head.

"Well your playing is fantastic. Could you maybe play something for me? Another time of course because the bell is about to ring."

Anthony glance up at Daniel with disbelieving eyes to see the same smile from before placed on his lips. He thought for a moment before nodding his head once.

"Great! Maybe tomorrow? We can come in here at lunch." Daniel said enthusiastically. Anthony nodded again.

No one had ever asked him to play for them before. On second thought, no one really asked him anything before or even talked to him in a friendly manner except his twin sister, Anika. But she died three months after they first noticed the spread of the breast cancer and were unable to cure it, leaving Anthony alone.

As soon as Anthony thought of Anika, his eyes began to tear up again. It was a miracle he was even able to live without her so far. The small, barely visible cuts on his pale wrists were proof of how much he missed her and how hard it was to live without her

He shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts. 'Just focus on school.' He thought. 'Only two more hours and you can go home and play the night away on your piano.'

Of course the only way he'd get to play his piano was if he used his old, beat up headphones or if his father was out partying. But just the simple hope was enough to get him through the day.