The Violinist

Shoran's POV 

I was sitting in the band room, trying without success to tune my awful, beat-up, school-provided violin. It was after school on a day that we didn't have practice so not many people were in there. Suddenly, my best friend, Aloysius, ran in. He stuck himself against the wall right beside the door like he was trying to hide from someone. 

"Hey, Alo," I greeted him. "What's going on?" 

"Sh!" he shushed me. When we heard retreating footsteps he sighed with relief, then he seemed to actually notice I was there. "Ran!" he said in an overly friendly voice, walking toward me. (Alo is the only person I let call me Ran.) 

"What?" I eyed him suspiciously. 

He grabbed my wrist. "Come with me," he said, dragging me off. 

"Why? Where are you taking me?" I asked, trying to struggle. 

"Just...around," he mused. 

"Who were you running from?" I asked. 

"Girls," he replied simply. 

"So, what? You think I scare off girls?" 

"I didn't say that." 

"You're implying it." He didn't respond. "What's wrong with girls anyway?" I asked when we got to his locker. 

"Nothing, unless they're constantly asking you to go out with them," he told me, digging around inside it. His locker was a friggin' mess. Amidst other things, I saw an envelope fall onto the floor. 

"I guess that might be a little annoying--What's this?" I bent down and picked it up. Before I could flip it over and see who it was addressed to, he snatched it out of my hand. 

"Nothing!" he said, shoving it back inside his locker and slamming it shut. 

"Jeez, sorry," I said. I'd obviously touched a nerve. And was that a hint of a blush on his cheeks? Was it a love letter to someone? Before I could pry further he grabbed my hand and dragged me off again. "Just cause you're dragging me around isn't gonna keep you safe forever," I told him. As if to prove my point, I heard a group of girls around the corner. 

He stopped before turning it and said to me, "Look, whatever I say or do, just play along." 

I didn't like how that sounded. "What do you mean?" 

"Just go with it," he told me. 

We rounded the corner and I saw some of the more popular girls chatting and blocking the hallway. 

"Hi, Aloysius," the obvious leader, I think her name was Ashley or something, said, turning to face us. 

"Hello Allison," he said a bit coldly. Allison, Ashley, same thing. 

"Come on, Aloysius, would you please go out with me?" she asked, sounding as though this was about the 50th time she'd said it. 

"What will it take to make you girls stop asking me?" he asked, exasperated. 

"Saying yes, maybe," another girl chimed in. 

"But I can't do that," he said. 

"Why not?" a third girl asked. 

"Yeah, what's keeping you," Alice asked, drawing the attention back to herself. 

"I'm already with someone," he said. This was news to me. 

"Who?" they all asked in unison. That was a bit creepy. 

He pulled me more into view in front of himself and wrapped his other arm around me under my neck. "Him." 

Their eyes were all about as wide as mine would've been, but I kept my poker face. Allie, or whatever, was the only one not falling for it. "I don't believe you." 

"Believe what you want. I'm telling the truth," he said. 

"Prove it." 

I thought the jig was up, but Alo said, "Fine!" and spun me around to face him. Before I could even react he pressed his lips to mine. I was too shocked to do anything but stand there frozen. After a few seconds he pulled away. "Is that proof enough for you?" he asked her. 

She just scoffed, turned, and walked away. Her little posse followed like sheep. I could've sworn I heard one of them say, "That was kinda hot." 

Once they were way out of earshot I finally asked, "What the hell was that!?" 

"I had to do something! And when I said 'play along' I didn't mean just stand there like a doll." 

"I had no idea what was going on!" 

"Well, sorry," he said. 

We headed out in silence. Then I asked, "Why won't you just go out with one of them to shut them up?" 

"Cause I don't like any of them. What's the point in going out with someone I don't like?"

"Hm..." I guess he had a point.