High School story arch: Story of the first time Static stayed at Cornelius house
POV: static
Cornelius parked his car and got his and my book bag out. I was unable to comprehend what was going around me after the ‘shock attack’ at school. It’s similar to a migraine except my vision goes out. Luckily Cornelius found me, but I don’t remember how we ended up in the car. I felt like we were heading to practice.
This was the first time I’ve been to Cornelius house - and it was huge. I didn’t know he was this kind of rich. My head still hurts from his incident at school. I just hated how vulnerable I feel. “Hey. Do you need help getting out?” I can't believe I didn’t realize the car had been parked for a bit and I just still hadn’t gotten out. “No no I’ll be fine I- '' I'm panicked. He knows and is helping me out of the car. “Here I got you on my back if you just hold on to my neck real tight and I’ll get you up the stairs.”
I feel like I’m floating in the clouds. Me and Cornelius really never spent time alone. Usually we just did band stuff with Harvey, or maybe stayed later while packing up to talk. Sometimes I would wait for an excuse to see him between classes. I really didn’t have a really solid reason to do this. Cornelius just listens to me and I like that. More than I think he would know. If Cornelius was to find that I had a crush on him. His smell was so warming. Ahh don’t think about it.
Oh shit how’d I get in his room. “Static, I know we have stuff to study for our test but I just- wanna hang out if that’s alright. Figured you might be tired anyway.” Oh fuck there’s a test tomorrow. I start sinking my head into the pillow. “Oh you’re tired. Ok..”
No I’m not! I shoot up and snap out of it. “I’m ok! Just forgot we had tests this week!” Holy crap he was so close and I just shouted. His eyes are like auburn. They’re so warm. Cornelius begins to laugh and then grabs my hand. “Here let’s go get something for that headache.” I got pulled into another room of the house which I guess was a bathroom. It was so big. My sneakers squeak on the tile. Cornelius is looking through a cabinet. “Does headache stuff - work? Or is it more of a pain reliever..”
“Uh I think..” Crap I can't focus. “I usually just take ibuprofen or something for the pain part. At least the frequency is correct.”
Cornelius hands me the pill and some water. I take it as we head back to his room. On the walls there are so many family photos. I just have to look. There’s photos that look so unnaturally staged and a few of him and his brother. I look down and Cornelius has grabbed my hand to pull me in. “We should stay in my room, my brother is also home at the moment. He doesn’t usually say much, but I don’t want him to know I have a friend over.”
Oh yea we’re just friends. My brain kind of feels in a slump. Why does this upset me so much. Ahh- “Static did you hear me?”
Fuck.
“I asked if you want me to get you had eaten - ah forget it.'' Wait what’s happening. His legs are shaking - is he nervous?
“I-..” Come on just tell him
Cornelius then just grabs my face and kisses my cheek. “I - uh - I” he just kind of backed off. He looked off just blushing.. “Please don’t tell Harvey… I” What’s going on...he- I.
“Cornelius I-“ Cornelius looked back. His brown hair looked so cute without the hat. He had taken off his checkered jacket also. “Static I’m sorry.” Cornelius is holding his head. “I just acted on impulse I-“ That’s my chance.
I’m just gonna kiss this boy. Cornelius, however, turned his head too fast. And our heads hit. “Ahh”
Cornelius immediately looks back in shock. “OMG I’m so so sorry. Is your head o-“ I kiss Cornelius. I grabbed his shirt so hard I think I ruined it. My eyes shutter open. Of course the static is just louder than ever. Cornelius is saying something to me but I can’t hear. “I-I” He grabs my hands and pulses it three times.
I. Love. You.
I feel like my face is gonna explode. I don’t know if that’s an ok thing. Should I be watching myself? Suddenly the Static clears up. Cornelius holds my hand. “Are you feeling ok??” I respond. “Ya-a” The next thing I know I’m in Cornelius’ arms and I’m crying. “I guess I hit my head harder than I thought. I’m dreaming haha..” Cornelius rubs his hands through my hair. “Sorry.. I’m so sorry” Oh he didn’t take it as a joke. “No no I’m kidding” Cornelius stays quiet. He starts to snake his hand up my back of my shirt. Ah. It’s. “Hey, I.. can take your shirt off.. sorry if that’s too sudden”
Oh fuck. I. My head is swimming and I forget.
Cornelius went to pull off my shirt and discovered my secret. The expression on his face makes me wish I was dead. My wrists and sides were scattered in scars from cutting. I can’t take it. I have to leave. Everything just sounds like noise and everything goes white. Not again.
All I can feel are his arms. The warmth floods my brain. It’s the only thing that I can feel. It reminds me of when I was invited to be part of the band. I had felt so lonely in school. I wish I could see his face right now.
After a bit he adjusts my dial and his face appears in front of me. This kid with freckles that was hiding from the world like I was. Lost in himself. “S-s-s” I hear a slight byte of words. “Static can you hear me.” I shake out a “ya”.
The feeling of his chest near mine felt unbearable. My head felt like it was swimming from emotion to emotion. Cornelius' house was quiet like his, but the noise of cars driving seemed so distant. There weren’t any posters on his walls. The room was mostly bare. It felt like solitary confinement. Cornelius' hug got tighter to the point I couldn’t breathe. I start patting him to loosen. “Is your anxiety down?” Huh? why does he - “Well. I think so.” Cornelius hums. “I’ve been reading on techniques. I don’t know how to do it for myself, but I’m glad I could help you.” He pauses. He rubs the scars. “It’s ok. I just hate seeing someone hurt.” That’s saying a lot with knuckles like his.
His smile felt so warm. Warmer than after practice. Cornelius then begins to lift up his shirt. “Ahh” I shield my eyes in embarrassment. “Oh sorry I’m just trying to show-“ he lifts it up only to reveal a scar on his right side. “We all have scars we hide. My mom threw coffee on me during practice last month.” I had seen the scars on his knuckles and everything was starting to make sense. Cornelius sat up on the bed sighing. “I want to get away. I want to run far away with you and Harvey. I want to tour the world.” He starts to laugh. “But I’m stuck. I’m stuck here.”
I hug him from behind. His body was frail. I held it gently. I could hear him start to cry. “I’m here Cornelius.” He fumbles to find my hand and squeezes it. “Static - I.” He leans in to kiss me. We then fall on our side on the bed and just hold each other. He rubs my palm with his thumb and pulls me in closer. Cornelius starts to fall asleep, and I still haven’t gotten my shirt back on. It was cold with the fan on. I look over and brush my hands through his hair.
“I never want this feeling in my chest to cease..”
Cornelius stays asleep and I cuddle into his arms.
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“Shit my mom came home early - fuck HIDE!”
Shit. What am I doing. Where am I? I don’t have a grip on reality. So exhausted. I scramble to get my shirt finally back on. What happened.
Oh ya. I’m hanging out with a freakin Cadenza. How could I be so dumb. I’ll just hide in his closet till things settle then sneak out. Oh just kidding this closet is huge as hell.
Cornelius also runs into the closet and starts to strip. I turn away as he puts on professional clothes and combs his hair back. He looks so stressed compared to last night. Before he runs out I grab his hand and pulse 3 times.
He does it back. I check my phone and notice it’s 6am. It’s barely even time for school. Then I hear it.
The grand piano. It sounded like going to a symphony or concert. How. Was this the same guy I knew that played a freakin keytaur. How.
Then I heard the slap. It just kept going and going. Everytime the piano jumped I heard a wince. I creeped the door open and looked out. There he was. The boy prodigy. One of the Cadenza’s treasures. I was unmatched for him. There was no way. I freaked out. I need to get out. I climb carefully out the window after leaving a note under a pillow.
Darting past I find a car parked and a kid in the driver's seat. Is that his brother? I just decided to run past. “I hate how she makes him play in the morning when I’m trying to sleep. But glad to see my brother isn’t a loner but a ***”
My chest tightened. What kind of brother is this? What did I get myself into?...
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I’m too tired to go to school. I head back home and slump into my bed. I feel my phone vibrate and it’s Cornelius asking if I was going to be at lunch today to study. F
I hustle to school before the bell starts and just continue along my way, at least there’s practice after school.
At practice Cornelius pulls me to the side. “I’m happy to see you.” His hands are wrapped up again. “How are you going to play?” He looks down.” Ah. I’ll be ok. As long as you’re here.” This is no good he’s a fool in love. “Cornelius. You need to care about yourself.” I didn’t want anything to hurt his soft freckle face.
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