Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2004 16:03:26 -0800 (PST) From: Equinus Scorpius <equinusscorpius@yahoo.com> Subject: Silent Violin chapter 17 Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Although the names of places used DO exist, they are in no way reflected factually in this story. Don't read this story if: * You're not 18 or over, * If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, * Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. Note: This story will be slow moving, and plot oriented. It is not a porno, though sex will happen. It's a fact of life. Words in between <> are sign language, as text formatting does not support italics. E-mail responses to the story, questions, suggestions, criticism, and comments to: EquinusScorpius@yahoo.com Thanks to all my readers for the feedback so far! As always, sorry for the long delay! THE SILENT VIOLIN CHAPTER 17 The weekend passed quickly. Aiden and Bastian couldn't help but worry and anticipate the posting of the cast list for the Fiddler on the Roof. All the same, Sunday morning came too soon for the lovebirds. Marjorie had driven Aiden home when she returned from the mall. Both boys had noticed that she seemed distracted and angry but not wanting to cause any problems, they kept their observations to themselves. Aiden certainly didn't want to wear out his welcome with her. Doing that could cost him Bastian. "Aiden, wake up. You're going to be late for school!" Cassidy's voice broke through the fog of sleep and Aiden raised his head from the sign language book that had been his pillow. His neck was in agony from sleeping slumped over at the desk and he felt absolutely horrible. Blearily Aiden looked at the alarm clock and cursed when he realized it was 6:30 and he had at least an hour ride on the bus to get to Kingston. "Goddess, why me?" he muttered. "Come on, Aiden. The shower is free now." Cass's voice came again. Aiden rolled out of bed grumbling at the cheerful tone in his brother's voice. Cassidy was always so happy. God it was annoying. Aiden chuckled. But he dearly loved his littlest brother. Cassidy was so emotionally stable and mature. Far more so than his twin or Aiden in any case. Jaime, despite his impressive build, was the more insecure Aiden knew. He slogged through the piles of clothes on the floor. His room was a mess as it usually was. Clothes were strewn everywhere, postures were taped haphazardly to the walls portraying vastly different images. Anything from an anarchy symbol to a fey androgynous creature in a grove of trees to a small framed family portrait could be found in his room. For a moment he debated taking down the anarchy symbol. It was, after all, just a symbol at his attempt to ostracize himself. He wasn't that way anymore. In the end he was too lazy, too rushed, and it was too early to make a decision. He opened the door to the hallway, wincing at the bright light from the hall ceiling fixture and headed for the bathroom with morning wood leading the way. He showered quickly with several interruptions by his mother calling through the door to tell him he would be late. Wrapping a towel around his waist and grabbing his deodorant off the counter - Now who had used it? he thought irritably - he ran for his room, clutching the towel with one hand while applying the deodorant with the other. The alarm clock read 6:46 and he was suddenly glad he'd been born a boy. Well, he amended, patting his crotch, not so suddenly. I've liked you for a long time now. He grinned to himself. In short order he dressed, combed his fingers through his unruly curls, stepped into a pair of sneakers and was back out of his bedroom before the clock turned 6:50. Since the accident, his dad had been wheel chair bound and out of work while he recovered. The accident and resulting swelling to his brain had bruised the motor cortex and he had some difficulty getting around. To help out and keep busy Shamus did the majority of the cooking and cleaning around the house. When Aiden ran through the kitchen he slapped a bagel slathered with cream cheese and a bagged lunch into his hands. "Thanks, dad." Aiden said, scanning the room for his bookbag, missing from its accustomed spot by the kitchen door. "Cass grabbed it for you. Caetlyn's waiting outside in the car with the twins. She has to head into Kingston for an assignment so she offered to give you guys a ride. Better hurry up," Shamus said gruffly. Aiden gave him a quick kiss on one stubbly cheek and a pat on the back in thanks before heading out. Caety drove an old and well-used metallic blue Beetle. It looked like crap with its duct-taped rear bumper and chipped paint but it was reliable and got good gas mileage. Aiden's only sister was digging in the trunk for something when he came out. She heard the house door close and pulled herself away from the car. Her arms were full with reams of cloth and she smiled at him around the bagel clenched between her jaws. "What are those for?" Aiden asked, gesturing to the bolts of cloth hanging out of the trunk and threatening to spill from her arms. Caety balanced the cloth on one hip and took the bagel out of her mouth. "Well you know how I helped modify your clothes for you when you were Goth, right? Well I liked doing it so much that I started to modify my own clothes. A lot of the girls at the office have commented on what I've been wearing to work so I'm going to start doing some fashion design in my free time. Maybe I can make some extra cash besides the photography gig. Mom picked these up for me from JoAnn's Fabric." Aiden nodded in understanding. Caetlyn worked for the Hudson Valley Daily News as a full-time photographer and also sold pictures to various magazines in the hopes of signing a deal with some place more major. She was a good photographer but her love was fashion. She leapt into helping Aiden modify his wardrobe with him barely having to mention the idea (he hadn't even thought of asking her, he had just been lamenting the cost of Goth-punk clothing). The safety pin jeans had been her first foray into 'alternative' fashion and Aiden loved them. He still wore them occasionally, not because they were Goth or punk, but because Cate had made them and they were surprisingly comfortable. "Go hop in the car, I have to make some room in the trunk. I'll be ready in a few." She turned back to the task of fitting the fabric into the trunk. Aiden walked around to the driver's side door and scooted the seat forward to climb into the back seat. Jaime was riding shotgun and Cass was sitting behind him with Aiden's backpack on the seat next to him. Aiden sat down and pulled the driver's seat back into position. "Morning guys," he said between bites of his bagel. Jaime grunted in response. He was even less a morning person than Aiden was. "So, are you excited to see if you got the part in Fiddler on the Roof, Aiden?" Cassidy asked him. His auburn curls were neatly gelled and styled. Jaime looked over his shoulder at them. "You tried out for a musical?" he asked, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "Man, that's so gay," he chuckled. Aiden felt a surge of anger and disappointment but ignored his jockish brother. "Shut up, Jaime," Cass snapped and turned to Aiden awaiting his answer. "I am, but I doubt I got anything though. Its not like I have any experience or anything. I don't think she refused anyone, I mean Fiddler has a pretty hefty cast, but a lot of people tried out." Caetlyn slammed the trunk and peered at them through the winter-dirty windshield. "Let's roll guys." She darted around to the driver's side and hopped into the seat, closing the door with her foot in one practiced motion. She buckled her seatbelt with one hand and took the bagel out of her mouth with the other. "Sean, as navigator, you're responsible for music. None of that acid metal shit, but everything else is good. Now buckle up, we're running behind." She twisted the key in the ignition and the little old car revved and came to life. She gunned the engine, shifted into gear and took off. Jaime popped a CD into the player and they drove to the accompaniment of Eminem. Cass continued their conversation over the rap blaring from the speakers. "That's cool, Aid. The AV club is planning on filming at least one of the performances, maybe all of them. I'll be there, probably at a few rehearsals at least and the performances, helping out with lighting and sound." When it came to electronics and anything media- related, Cassidy was a wiz. "Really?" Aiden and Jaime said at the same time. Aiden continued, "I don't know if I want everyone watching me screw up." "Guess you shouldn't have tried out then, huh?" Sean sneered. Caetlyn smacked him hard on the arm and Jaime glared at her in reproach as he rubbed his arm. "Knock it off, ass hole. You've been in a bad mood all morning. What the hell is wrong?" she asked in her typical no-nonsense-big-sister type way. Jaime pouted and mumbled something under his breath. "What? I didn't catch that." "Nothing." He crossed his arms over his broad chest and stared moodily out the window. "Whatever it is, get it out of your system and knock it off. I'm tired of it and I'm sure your brothers are too." Caetlyn's outburst was followed by silence broken only by Eminem as they drove towards school. Over breakfast Monday morning, Bastian timidly coughed to draw Marjorie's attention away from the novel she was reading and at her questioning eyebrow raise signed: <Don't forget that if I make the play there'll be practice until 7:30 tonight. If Aiden gets in too maybe you and Mrs. McKennough can trade off picking us up? If you're too busy I can get a ride home with someone else, probably.> Marjorie smiled at Bastian, surprising him. "How could I forget? Let me know how you boys did as soon as you find out and I'll talk with Meg about getting you two back and forth to rehearsals." Her eyes swung from his to the clock above the sink. "We better get going, kiddo, or we'll both be late. Let's roll." At Bastian's request, Marjorie dropped him off at the side entrance nearest the drama department. Bastian ran eagerly inside and straight into a crow of students. Most of them he recognized from the tryouts - the others he assumed were friends and well- wishers. He began looking for Aiden, futilely standing on his tiptoes to see above the throng. He saw no sign of Aiden's black-to-red curls but the crowd shifted and he saw Harmony, Jen, and Alex standing together in a doorway. He waved to get their attention but they were talking animatedly amongst themselves and didn't notice his gesture. Shrugging his shoulders with a slight sigh he made his way towards them. "Congratulations, Bastian," a quiet voice behind him said. Bastian whirled around in surprise to see the other boy who had tried out for the part of the Fiddler. At his questioning look, Ben realized that Bastian hadn't seen the cast list. "You played better and got the part." He reached out and shook Bastian's hand. "You really deserved it." By his tone of voice and body language, Bastian could tell that he was disappointed but still trying to be a good sport. Bastian mouthed, 'Thank you, Ben,' still stunned. In the back of his mind he had known he was the better player, but he was only a freshman and Ben was at least a year or two older. He had worried for a while that they might grant Ben the part by virtue of seniority even though he secretly hoped that he would get the part by virtue of skill. Distracted, he made his way towards the bulletin board to see for himself the cast list. A couple of girls he vaguely recognized stepped back smiling at their apparent good fortune to give Bastian access to the list. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF CAST LIST PART CAST MEMBER (UNDERSTUDY) Tevye, the milkman Matt Werner (Aiden McKennough) Golde, his wife Mindy Christiansen (Abigail Herlihey) Tzeitel, his oldest daughter Rosie Montgomery (Veronica Hollingsworth) Hodel, his second daughter Erica Weeks (Joan Butler) Chava, his third daughter Lori Downs (Julianna Butler) Shprintze, his fourth daughter Jillian Grainger (none) Bielke, his youngest daughter Marian Grainger (none) Motel, the tailor, loves Tzeitel Jason Bremner (Barry Watts) Perchik, a revolutionary Davo Rodriguez (Gregory Sykes) Yente, the matchmaker Alisha Davis (Colleen Blue) Lazar Wolfe, the butcher Anthony Stanton (Ricky Peterson) Rabbi Micah Goldstein (Alex Bell) Rabbi's Son Rodney Feyr (Daniel Smith) Grandma Tzeitel, Golde's grandma Rebecca Glass (Mary Alice Tamarino) Fruma Sarah, Lazar's late wife Sara Dunn (Dawn Robinsen) Fyedka, a Russian youth Drew Gordon (Nathan Briggs) Constable Patrick Prim (Warren James) Russian Arkady Brighton (Maxwell Anderson) Fiddler Bastian Blackmoore (Ben Custern) Russians/Chorus Maxwell Anderson Xun Wu "Sunny" Wei Sasha Brighton Paulo Rodriguez Townsfolk/Chorus All understudies will be a part of the chorus. In addition: Elizabeth Montgomery, Katy Bremner, Clara James, Eleanor Prim, Hannah Kennemore, Mathew Roberts, Vince Rice, T.J. Whittaker, Hank Sykes, Brian Davidson, Sean Kennemore Bastian was somewhat awed by the size of the cast. In Rouses Point their theater department was little more than a half-dozen drama majors-to-be. He did a quick count. Fifty-two cast members, not counting supporting staff, costumers, orchestra, electricians and the like. This was a major production. For a moment he was scared but also excited. This could be a big break to really come through, to show off his talents and shine. I wonder if I can arrange to be Fiddler when Aiden is Tevye? I guess I'll have to ask Hunter, but how without making it sound odd? Where is Aiden anyway? Bastian looked around the hall again and still didn't see those distinctive black-to-orange curls. Caetlyn dropped them all off at the main entrance and waved them goodbye before zooming off to her day job. Jaime quickly jogged towards the gym. As an athlete he was in an athletic homeroom, otherwise he would normally be in Cassidy's homeroom. Aiden suspected that Jaime also wanted to distance himself from them. He had been moody all morning long and Aiden didn't like the comments he had been making. Maybe he needed to talk with him, but he wasn't ready just yet. Cassidy waited for Aiden and they both stared after Jaime's retreating form. "Do you know what's wrong with him, Cass?" Aiden asked as they started inside. "I have some suspicions. I don't think its normal teenage angst. Maybe he's been getting some flack from the other jocks about having us as brothers. Connor at least was a big man on campus. I'm sure some of the seniors remember him. But neither of us are quite the popular ones," Cass mused. "What are you talking about, you're certainly more popular than me." Aiden looked at his curly-haired brother incredulously. "Oh please. The makeup and dye must have addled your brain. I may be more normal looking, but I'm no jock. My friends are all in the advanced classes, the nerds if you will. Not that I mind. But I think Jaime might." He shrugged. "I don't know for sure." "Well hopefully he'll talk to one of us or Connor or Cate. Otherwise his mood will get tired fast." Cass chuckled. "You're such a hypocrit. Complaining of someone else's bad mood? You who've been in a bad mood for the past how many years?" He smiled to take the edge off of the jab. "Yeah, yeah. I know. Whatever." Aiden rolled his eyes. Cass opened his mouth to speak and the warning bell rang. "Oh shit, we're gonna be late. I'll catch you after school Aid." With that, Cass shifted his backpack onto one shoulder and took off at a jog down the hall. Aiden started quickly in the opposite direction. Aiden rushed into homeroom with bare seconds to spare and Mrs. Yao looked annoyed that she wouldn't be able to write him up as being late. She scowled at him as he took his seat and began to take role call. Since he had changed his image, people were less likely to avoid him, but he still had few friends in class. Because of that, he had never really paid attention to who was in his homeroom. He was surprised when he recognized one of the girls in homeroom as Elizabeth Montgomery. She had tried out for Fiddler on the Roof too. She waved at him and beckoned him to sit in the empty seat next to her. Mrs. Yao didn't believe in assigned seating - she knew them all from last year anyway - so Aiden slumped into the adjacent seat next to Beth. Beth had long, light brown hair that curled and frizzed around her round face. Her lips parted in a ready smile. He remembered she did fairly well singing "Memory" from CATS. "Morning," Aiden muttered, not wanting to attract Mrs. Yao's draconian attention. Talking wasn't specifically prohibited but Mrs. Yao's mood was more fickle than the weather and what she didn't enforce last week she could enforce today as the whim took her. "Morning Aiden. Congratulations!" Her face positively beamed. "Congratulations?" "Haven't you seen? I thought maybe that was why you were almost late. Anyway, you got understudy for Tevye, so congratulations! My sister Rosie got Tzeitel, but then again, she's a senior." "Really?" Aiden was amazed. Tevye was the main character and it was a very big part. Ms. Granger had said she planned for all understudies to get at least one performance in their role. Not only would he be on stage with a major role but he'd also be on stage with the biggest part. He thought he'd get chorus, not something big like Tevye. He had only checked the 'any' role box because he didn't know what role to try out for. And he had only tried out because Bastian was a shoe-in for the Fiddler and he had wanted to spend more time with him. Suddenly he felt nervous and very sick. He had to talk to Bastian or Ms. Granger. "Aiden, are you okay?" Beth asked. Thankfully the ringing of the bell to end the period saved him from having to make a response. He grabbed his bag and lurched for the door. _______________ To Be Continued.