Arthur stayed after school late. He was still at the school around five, in detention with Francis and Gilbert. He knew there was a concert a half hour after he gets out of detention, and if Amelia was there, he'd apologize and all that sappy stuff. He would apologize to Ivan though, the brute. He was a coward for not fighting back, so he wasn't worth his time.
He wished he still had some sort of chance with Amelia. He could only wait and see...
-∆-
Ivan sat in the car with Katyusha, holding onto the Jesus handle tensely. She'd never seen him that unnerved (besides when she drove him to school), and it made her anxious as well. They pulled up close to the auditorium, and Katyusha put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay, we'll all be here. Break a leg Iv." She wish him luck, but unfortunately, it probably won't help much.
"See you Katka." He waved, his red violin case in hand.
She drove off, leaving him at the school auditorium to get ready to play.
Everyone who was playing that night was in the auditorium before they would be going to their holding rooms backstage. The orchestra dorks, the band nerds, and the chorus snobs. They were all there. It would be a big concert. Ivan looked for someone he knew and could sit by...
There was Chun-Yan, the small Chinese girl who sat second chair in his orchestra. She was polite, but seemed weary around Ivan. He didn't know if he want to burden her, but it wouldn't hurt to ask if the seat by her was taken. He ended up next to her.
"I'm jealous, I've never been first chair. And I'm Asian!" Was one thing that came out of her mouth when she talked to him before the concert started. She was funny, but it was apparent that her and Ivan were two entirely different people, which made it hard to converse.
Oh well, it's only one evening. Just killing time before Ivan would play his heart out for Amelia. He was too excited!
Amelia was as well. She couldn't wait to see him up there, with and orchestra behind him, sharing his talent with the audience...
She walked down the hall of the school with her mother and brother. She was happy she was with her family to see Ivan, but dejected that her father was still out of town. She looked into a classroom as they walked to the auditorium and made eye contact with Arthur, much to her disliking.
"Go on without me and save me a seat, I'll be there shortly." Amelia walked back, and slipped into the classroom. Francis and Gilbert were long gone, but Arthur waited so he could catch her here.
"What was that?!" She yelled at him, anger flooding her mind as she stomped towards him.
"He came up on me first! I felt helpless, but when he stalked away I took the chance to defend myself." Arthur fibbed.
Amelia's mouth gaped open, "He wouldn't, you're such a liar. You weren't even touched!" She back-handed and shoved him, sending him toppling over a desk. He yelled in pain, his shoulder blade practically screaming.
"That was exactly what he did!" He screamed at her, his tone impatient. He got up, holding his shoulder.
Amelia shook her head repeatedly. "No no no, he wouldn't..." She glared at Arthur.
"...That's probably... what he would want you to believe..." Arthur was out of breath. It was working, he totally fooled her.
He approached her, Amelia backing up. She was against a wall, while he was pretty close to her.
"He's not worth the time Amelia... He's out of your league anyways. You could be spending more time with me, but you chose the lunatic over someone you've known far longer.." He brushed some hair from Amelia's face, "Do you even know how crazy I am for you?" He asked her forcefully.
Amelia spat, "Crazy is right, get off of me!" She tried shoving him off of her, but he was too stubborn to move. He grabbed a hold of her wrists and held them over her head. She tried to wriggle away, but he just wouldn't let go.
To get her to stop moving so much, he planted his lips firmly on hers. She wouldn't keep still for one moment! Her eyes were open, and she was telling him to stop, stop. Why didn't she love him back??
He kept trying to kiss her lips, her cheek, her neck, trying to get her to feel something for him.
"I love you Amelia, I love you! How could you not tell?!" He screamed at her, shoving her against the wall. She yelled out, slumping to the ground.
"I've always made it so obvious! But you were so ignorant, so stupid and oblivious, that you couldn't see it! You blind bitch!" He approached her, and picked her up by the shoulder of her shirt.
She swung at his eye, and kicked his shin. "You didn't have to tell me like this!" She cried, hot tears streaming down her face. "I would've listened if you told me straight up instead of letting this crazy shit go to your fucking head!" She went towards the door, "Merry Christmas Arthur, I hope you gain back some of your sanity over break, you crazy fucker." She left him in that classroom, looking at a clock through the door of another. Holy shite! She was going to miss Ivan's solo if she didn't hurry up.
She sprinted to the auditorium, wiping the tears from earlier out of her eyes and trying to wipe away the deep disturbance she felt deep down in her heart and brain. She felt tainted, disgusted, and scared after that whole ordeal.
She ignored that for now, and put Ivan first. She would see the performance. She would be there to support him.
She finally reached the auditorium, and went to open a door. She tried pulling it open, but it wouldn't budge. Then she tried push. Still didn't work.
"It's locked..." She groaned, rolling her eyes. She tried another door, and then the other two, but they were all locked. She went to all the places she thought could be opened, and only about thirty minutes later did she find a door to one of the holding rooms for the ensembles.
"I can take you to your seat, if you'd like." Monica opened the door, smiling at her worriedly.
Amelia hugged Monica, so grateful for her being there. "Please! Oh, thank you so much Mo!" She whispered.
"What happened-"
Amelia interrupted, "I'll tell you later." She shuddered. She followed Monica through the halls until they reached the vomitorium (lol just look it up), and Amelia could hear a single violin with an orchestra accompaniment.
"Is that Ivan?" Amelia asked quietly.
Monica nodded. "I think it's almost over, the piece he's playing." She moved her towards the curtain. She slid in silently, standing off to the side and listening to the the last two chords of the the solo.
He dropped the bow, and suddenly slumped over on the stage. Amelia couldn't believe her eyes she looked up into the seating near the catwalk and saw Ivan's mother stand.
"IV!" she screamed, running down the isle frantically.
Amelia was frozen in her shoes, in a daze. What just happened? People were rushing around her, but everything around her was in slow motion. She heard someone on the phone.
"Yes, a boy has fainted at Weston High!" A worried voice said behind her.
A girl screamed, "Is he okay?!"
Amelia finally was able to get out of her state of shock, and moved towards the stage. His mom had already gotten to him, his sisters and Il'ya on the opposite side to Amelia but still by the auditorium. Natalia had tears running down her face, but made sure to hide it. Katyusha did nothing to hide the fact that she was crying.
Amelia walked towards the stage, but the music teacher stopped her.
"I'm not good with these situations, but I think it would be best if we kept off the stage until someone gets here to take care of Ivan.." He said warily, his face looking tired and scared. "I sure do hope he's okay." He looked up to the stage where a couple of the kids who played in the orchestra came to comfort Ivan's mom and pick up his instrument.
"Sir?" Amelia asked Mr. E, not turning around to speak to him.
"What is it?" He asked urgently.
Amelia didn't move an inch, "How did he play?"
Mr. Edelstein sighed, and replied sincerely, "He played with grief." He shortly replied, walking off to control the frenzy of people.