Headstrong (A Benedict Cumberbatch Story)

Chapter 10

Whilst Antonio was getting ready for a date with his girlfriend the next evening, I wrapped up warm in a thick wool coat and red scarf and took a taxi back to my old flat. The landlord opened the door for me and the package was leaning against the wall in the hallway. I tucked it under my arm and had just pressed the button for the lift when Matthew came out into the corridor. 

"Well well well." I had not missed his voice one bit. I turned to face him slowly. There he stood, with arms folded and sneering at the package. 
"I saw Ellie drop that in." he stated and I raised an eyebrow,

"Yeah? Well just be thankful I'm not going to drop it on you and beat you with it." 

He glared and opened his mouth to retort but was stopped in his tracks by Mrs G clucking.

"Maria! Have you decided to come home?" she took my face in her little hands and patted my cheeks. I explained what I was there for.
"Oh, well at least Benedict will know that thing's going to a good person." I smiled gratefully and the lift dinged. Looking expectantly at her, I stepped to the side.

"You know what, I think I'll save my creaky knees and take the lift for once." Mrs G grinned. As the lift doors closed, Matthew chucked one final judgemental glance through the gap. 

"He's just ticked off that you're so het up about Benedict." Mrs G nodded wisely as we journeyd down to the ground floor. I stifled a laugh. Matthew didn't really bother me anymore.

The lift reached the ground floor and I happened to turn my head towards the stairs. Thank god the person I saw was walking up them and not down: Ellie. I scarpered.

In the end I decided to open the package in the taxi home. I ripped off all the wrapping and opened the leather case to reveal an Ibanez acoustic guitar: naturally dark wood with a cutaway, tiny golden leaves engraved on the scratchplate and a little plaque on the back of the neck.

For Maria,
    B x

"That's a mighty fine instrument you've got there." the driver commented.
"Yes, yes it is." I answered quietly, running my fingers over the scratchplate. 

As soon as I got home I shut my bedroom door and blocked out the noises that were coming from Antonio's room next door. I found a plectrum in the pocket of the jumper I wore the night I first heard Benedict at the pub. 

Must have picked it up from the stage afterwards, I thought to myself. Either way, I now had all I needed for the guitar.

I googled "how to tune a guitar" , and "simple guitar chords" .

Fumbling around the fretboard for half an hour, and I was ready to go. With the fireworks exploding in the night outside, I strummed the first chord...

"There is freedom within, there is freedom without, try to catch the deluge in a paper cup. There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost, but you never see the end of the road, while you're travelling with me.
Hey now, hey now, don't dream it's over. Hey now hey now, when the world comes in. They come they come, to build a wall between us. We know they won't win."

I finished the song and found myself welling up. Suddenly the door opened and Antonio came barging in - in his dressing gown -  telling me to keep it down and since when did I have guitar. 

I gazed up at him, clutching the neck of the guitar. He saw the desperation in my face, and since the voice of his date was calling him away, he backed out of the room, shutting the door.

Benedict nosed his way out from under the bed, and sat and listened as I played the song over and over again; until I had it perfectly.

Glancing at the clock, I realised how late it was: 2 o'clock in the morning. So I put the guitar back in its case and climbed into bed fully clothed. The cat found his usual spot ontop of my feet and the house was suddenly quiet. Antonio had stopped his antics. The firework display was over. I tugged the covers up over my head and closed my eyes. Everything's always so much more peaceful when you're in bed with the covers surrounding you. It's warm and secluded and safe. Tonight I felt like I was hiding under them; not from the dark, or from nightmares, I was old enough now not to feel so scared by all that. I was hiding from people - well, a person. 

When you're under the covers anything happening outside of them can't reach you - Benedict couldn't reach me at all. 

**

The next morning, I rolled out of bed at 11am; with Benedict following me constantly the whole day, I lazed around the house, making endless cups of hot chocolate and watching The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy. 

Antonio came home from work just as Tim Messenger got the top of a church statue dropped on his head. 
"Ugh, what film is that?" he grimaced, taking in the state of his little sister. I blew over my 7th hot beverage, ignoring the judgemental tone in my brother's voice. 
"Hot Fuzz, you've missed most of it so there's no point in watching from here." I said, not taking my eyes off the screen. 

"Oh," Antonio huffed, "well then I guess I'll just have to sit in my room while someone else sits in MY living room, drinks MY Green and Black's hot chocolate and uses MY Netflix!" he flounced off and I didn't flinch when the door slammed. 

"Tough luck, big brother." I muttered. 

Just as Nicholas Angel arrived at the castle, a message arrived on my phone. From the guitar shop again.

Dear Miss Bellini,

Mr B Cumberbatch has requested an item be sent on Thursday 7th November, to the following address:

 39 Springton Crescent...

How did he find out where I'd gone?