Benedict and reader : Choir Girl

The other cheek

I covered Jules' mouth when I heard the door open again. It was Mr. Rinehart, he was making his rounds to spot any skippers, "Is he going to come up here?" Jules whispered in my ear.
"No. the door to the catwalk automatically locks on the inside...just stay still. He has eyes like a hawk."
Jules nodded as he ascended the steps to the stage, "She isn't here, Marcus." he told me Ex from the entrance door. Mr. Rinehart made his way back to the door to leave. I waited until he was out of sight, "We need to hide, now."
"You said not to move."
"Marcus knows my hiding place, lets go into the sound booth." I pointed to the thick windowed room built into the ceiling. Jules followed me closely as we quietly crawled along the catwalk.
"I forgot my book." Jules went back to it and she heard footsteps up the staircase to the catwalk. She quickly snatched it and followed me in just as the door opened. I yanked her down underneath the soundboard and locked the door,
"Do you see her?" The principal asked.
"No, she might have left the school." Marcus said looking in the window of the empty booth.
"Do you have the key to the booth?"
"No, the Janitor has it and he went to lunch. Where ever she is, she lucked out today."
The two of them gave up and left the theater, "Looks like we need a new hiding place." I said sadly, I loved the theater I didn't want to move my hiding spots. Julianna huffed out a frightened breath and looked at me, "We need to tell my uncle about this."
"What can he do?" I asked.
"I can do a lot actually." I jumped, bumping my head against the sound board. "Come on out girls, the coast is clear." Benedict said with that low brassy voice of his...such a lovely- NO!
I opened the door and he came in, stooping down to see us both, "Why aren't you both in class?"
"I didn't want to run into Marcus again."
"You cant keep cowering in fear of him, (y/n)." He took my hand helping me up and did the same with Jules. "I will escort you both to your next class, alright. The bell is about to ring anyway."
Mr. Tim led us down the steps and out of the back doors of the theater that led outside, "How did you know how to find us?"
"Mr. Rinehart asked where you went, (y/n). and then when I was heading to the office for some paperwork, I saw that both Marcus and Rinehart were hanging around the theater."
"I'm sorry that you got involved."
"Don't worry about it, (y/n). Even I know that Marcus and Mr. Rinehart are jerks."
I was surprised that Mr. Tim didn't get angry with us, he genuinely understood my problem. He sent us both back to our classes and tried avoiding Marcus, he said nothing to me until I walked in English.
"Where were you?" he asked.
"What do you mean? you're in all of my classes since you love me so much." I said with thick sarcasm
He gripped my arm and threatened to look me in the eyes, "If you or your friend ever do that to me again, I'll get you expelled."
"What's wrong Marcus? You didn't like the downsizing of your penis? Change is always painful."
"I don't like how she has effected you?"
"And how has she effected me? Hmm?"
"You have an attitude."
"Why just because I speak up more than I used to? Come on Marcus, I thought you liked a girl who speaks her mind."
"Just do as I say and don't hang around her."
"No. I am not going to stop being friends with her, she is the only person who has helped me through all of this unnecessary shit that you have put me through. Its all your fault because you couldn't keep that mouth shut because all you wanted to do was look like a man in front of your friends...you're just a scared little boy afraid to lose your toy."
I yanked my arm out of his grasp and he grabbed it again, turning me around and slapping me in the face. The pain wasn't the reason why I started crying, it was the fact that he hit me. "I hate you." I ran away through the halls until I hit something...someone, "Young lady? Why are you running through the halls?" Oh God, Mr. Rinehart.
I looked up at him with my hand still covering my face. He looked down at me like a giant looking down on an elf. "Get back to class." he told me in a stern, cold voice. I turned and went back to where I came from, What was I supposed to do? I'm the fish that has been hooked. I kept my head down the whole time, if anyone saw how red my face was, they would send me to the office and...yeah.
I hid behind my hair, at least that gave me some privacy. I didn't hesitate to leave when the bell rang, "(y/n)!" Marcus yelled after me. I didn't stop for anything, I let myself disappear in the midst of students, clutching my books as close to me as possible. Why did he do such a thing? Marcus never laid a hand on me when we were together. I understand that he didn't like what I said but it was the truth. He never hit me...never.
I couldn't go back into school, this was way too much for me to handle. Why? Why me? Anxiety started pumping through me like electricity. I bolted from the doors almost running into Benedict, "(y/n)? What is wrong?" He clasped my shoulders and brushed my hair away, "Oh, my God. Did Marcus do this to you?"
"I'm going home, If anyone asks. I skipped school. I'm done, I'm not coming back."
"(y/n). Please, tell me what happened." he asked.
"What do you think happened?" I asked keeping my tears from stinging my eyes. Benedict had this fire in his eyes that startled me, "I swear I will-"
"What? What can you do? You're a teacher. You didn't see this happen. Mr. Rinehart wont believe you and he wont believe me either." I sobbed. He took my hand and led me back into the office and met Mr. Rinehart at his desk.
"What brings you both here?" he asked.
"How about you look at this young lady's face and find out what we have come here for." Benedict sat me down in front of him, "Who did this to you, (y/n)?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you and you know it. So why should I say anything?"
"Because I can punish this person."
"It was Marcus. Do you still believe me?"
Mr. Rinehart sat there silent for a moment, was he actually contemplating if he believed me? My cheek felt like a huge blister had erupted on my face and he was thinking about it?
"How can I believe you, (y/n)?"
I slapped my knees in frustration, "I knew it. He doesn't believe me...I'm out." Benedict clasped my shoulders and pushed me down into the chair again.
"Why do you not believe her?" he asked.
"Because the football team is made up of some fine boys. They would never do this."
"Her face is bruised and turning purple and yet you sit in that seat and deny that it ever happened."
BENS P.OV.
"Ben-"
"Timothy." my name upon his lips felt like acid against my ears. Mr. Rinehart was fuming now, I could see it in the twitching of his fingers, playing with his pen. "Mr. Timothy, I am not denying that she has been attacked."
"Yet, you do not believe Marcus hit her."
"Do you?"
"Yes. Why would a young woman lie about being hit by her ex boyfriend?" I seethed. Anger pulsed through me like lava. The fury exuded heat from my body. Was this man really this thick? This arrogant?
"Well, with all do respect, Mr. Timothy. You have just met this woman a few days ago. I have known her for a few years now. And believe me when I tell you that she is known to embellish."
"I truly do not believe it. You see the bruise on your face and the distressed expression and you deny her justice and mercy. No wonder she didn't want to come and tell you about this." I took a breath and stepped back, trying to still my fast beating drum of a heart. My poor girl, beaten. (y/n) didn't deserve any of this, not after everything...EVERYTHING...
"I wonder what the superintendent would think about this situation if I told him about how you refuse to punish one of your valued players."
Rinehart looked livid now, there was nothing that he could do. He looked like a tiny rat cowering in a corner. And without a warning he leaned over the PA and spoke, "Will Marcus Meadows please come to the principal's office, Thank you."
"I don't want to be here when he comes in." (y/n) looked up at me with skittish eyes. I nodded and Rinehart stood to object, "This girl needs to see the nurse. Don't try to stop me either." I ushered her out and brought her to the nurse.
END POV.
"Do you need me to call you parents my dear?"
"No, that is okay." I protested.
Benedict didn't leave the nurses office. He wanted to make sure I was properly cared for. He even left a note for the other choir classes and posted it on his door just in case he was late to it.
He sat there, arms crossed and looking at the floor. He had such a bothered expression on his face, why? Why did he think he had to protect me? I'm not worth it. The nurse put ice upon my face, the cold against the heat that evaporated from my cheek made me flinch.
"Sorry. I should've warned you."
"That is quite alright."
"I think we should send you home, we can call you a cab if you don't want your parents picking you up."
"Don't worry about that. I'll take her home."
The nurse looked at him strangely. She couldn't let me go unless I gave consent, "Its okay. Mr. Tim is a friend of the family. My parents wouldn't mind." I lied.
"Well, Alright. Get some rest and keep icing that cheek." She sent us away and Benedict took me to his car, "Get in." he opened the door for me and shut the door as I climbed in.
"Benedict." I tried breaking through that wall of irritation. He just started the car and sped out of the parking lot. "Benedict."
"What?" his voice was stern and angry. I could tell he tried his best to keep the hint of anger away from his voice, "Don't be angry."
"Angry? I don't think anger is the right word to describe how I feel right now." he hit the gas pedal a little harder.
"Ben-"
"How dare he hit you. He shouldn't have laid a hand on you." he mumbled with agitation, gritting his teeth.
"Ben, Stop!" I screamed. He threw on his breaks when he spotted what I saw trotting about across the street. The car jolted to a stop and I leapt out of the car to scurry to the street, "Patch?" he stood there with his nose not even a millimeter away from the bumper.
Benedict froze, gripping the wheel. His eyes wide and he huffed out the anxiety building up inside him.
"Its okay. He is fine." I looked down at the little fox, "You are one brave fox." I pet him as Ben stepped out of the car and looked down at me, "(y/n). I-I'm so sorry..."
He looked just as scared as I usually do. I stood with Patch in my arms and placed him back into the thicket were he came from, "Be careful next time, Patch." he barked before he retreated back into the woods.
I turned around, he was leaning up against the bumper with that same look on his face, staring at the pavement. I walked up to him and his head lifted from its ashamed state and looked at me with sorry eyes. I didn't say anything. He didn't need words to console his wrathful spirit. I slipped my arms around his waist and embraced him, "Its okay, Ben. I know your heart is in the right place."