Margot hated it when she would read "I felt his/her burning gaze on me" in books. For some reason, her morbid mind couldn't help picturing half of the face of the unlucky person disintegrate into ashes. She now understood exactly what it meant, and she tried to keep her face blank throughout the lecture. Reedley has been trying to catch her attention since she entered the classroom and Margot was busy pretending Mr. Howard's topic for the day was riveting.

There was no question about what Reedley wanted to know. Margot couldn't really blame her. When she and Jacob left the library, Margot was resigned to the fact that Jacob would cause unwanted attention by walking her to class. They were never close. People would be curious at best and suspect she was trying to snag him at worst. But she was naive to think that it would end as soon as she entered the class.

While she "hmm-ed" and "uh-huh-ed" throughout Jacob filling their short time on their way to her class, she thought that all she had to do was say goodbye when they were a few feet from classroom door, enter the class, and shut it before anyone in the class would notice. Before Reedley would notice. Instead, Mr. Howard commented that Margot just about made it before the late bell.

Then, Jacob had to announce himself from the door.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Howard. It was my fault. I was bothering Margot."

Margot's heart dropped. She turned her head and found Jacob's big frame halfway in, giving every single one in their class a reason to ask why he would even talk to her. Margot couldn't even return his megawatt smile and ugh, a wink, before he disappeared behind the door.

Being swallowed by the floor wasn't enough. She wanted to chuck her phone on Jacob's head.

And Reedley had her eyebrow raised as she pointedly followed Margot's quiet walk to her seat.

Great.

"What the..." She felt a speck of paper hit her left cheek. Margot looked up to see Reedley giving her 'I cannot believe you're ignoring me right now' look, her palm up, gesturing erratically like throwing stuff at her was totally normal.

"What?"

Reedley continued to look at her, her expression changing to 'really?'. Margot sighed. She was sure that she'd be having an uncomfortable conversation later with her and Lauren. She didn't doubt that Reedley already texted their friend.

Margot's phone vibrated and she took a peek. It was a message from Lauren.

She wanted to rub the bridge of her nose in frustration, but her glasses were in the way.

-----------

As soon as the bell rang, Reedley had Margot's wrist in a firm hold and led her out of the classroom to a nearby deserted small hall leading to the lab. Lauren was already there, leaning on the left wall while quickly scrolling through her phone. She pocketed it as soon as Reedley brought Margot to her.

"Really guys? Is this 'meeting' really necessary?" Margot asked, already uncomfortable.

"Yes, it is. Because I'm going to bet that you wouldn't have told us anything." Reedley looked at Margot pointedly, crossing her arms.

"Wow. I didn't think talking to Jacob was such a big deal." was Margot's defense.

Lauren's eyebrows rose. "You approached him?"

Right. When was that Margot's M.O.? "Uh no. He went to the library."

"Jacob MacGibbon went to the library?" Reedley asked skeptically.

"During lunch period?" Lauren added in monotone.

All Margot could do was brush off the questions with a 'no big deal' nod. Her friends exchanged knowing looks and stared at her.

For a few seconds, Margot just stared back. What was she supposed to say?

Her friends watched her try not to squirm in their pointed looks but she kind of knew what they were thinking. She was shaking her head in denial but didn't speak.

Lauren rolled her eyes. This was typical Margot. If she didn't acknowledge it, it didn't happen.

Welp.

"First, the party invite. Then seeking you out at the library?"

Reedley nodded. "I didn't know Jacob knew where it was."

"Don't be ridiculous, guys. He can't be working on some school stuff like the rest of us?" Margot countered, trying to move the conversation slightly to the left.

"Yeah? And what, dear Margot, was he working on there during lunch period?" Reedley smirked.

Margot cringed when the first answer that came to her mind was, 'me.' She took a quick glance at her watch instead. "Gots to go guys. I don't want to be 'almost' late to Mrs. Brown's class too." she said, walking backwards to the main hall.

"I'll see y- umph!" her words got stuck when someone crashed against her side. Again.

This time though, dark leather swallowed her, preventing her from doing a replay of the other day. Through the ringing in her right ear which collided against a leathered chest as well, she heard an obnoxious voice that she never thought she'd be relieved to hear at that moment.

"Damn, Marge. No need for drastic measures to get my attention."

Tristan Broder. The closest this high school has as the stereotypical bad boy.

"Sorry dude." she apologized to her somewhat friend, lifting her head so that she's not deaf on one ear. Tristan followed the movement though.

"Your minions seem angry as usual." he whispered in her ear.

Margot looked over to her friends. Lauren's eyes were narrowed in disgust seeing who interrupted Margot. Reedley rolled hers, barely hiding her annoyance. "See you later, Margot." she said, swiftly walking past them and not acknowledging the tall disruption still holding on to her. Lauren went the other way, only touching Margot's elbow as a farewell.

"What, ladies?" Tristan yelled over the buzz of students loitering the hallway. "No 'see yas' for me?" Neither one turned around.

Margot sighed and elbowed him so he would let go.

"Ouch Margey." Tristan faked hurt, bending a little with a hand on his chest. "So...you can see me?"

"Unfortunately." Margot answered, turning to walk towards her class.

"Then your friends are rude." Tristan straightened and quickly caught up to walk in pace with her.

"Stop provoking them." she said.

"And where's the fun in that?" He reached out to tug a braid, but Margot already knew it was coming so she slapped his hand before it got to her hair.

-----------

Freshman year

Tristan fit the profile of boys Margot was used to in her previous school. Privileged and arrogant. It didn't bother her as much as it bothered her friends. It was weirdly, comfortingly familiar and it was easy for her to handle whatever he dished out. Mind you, he was way more obnoxious in the beginning.

He had tried his absolute damnedest to get a rise out of her the first day they met.

She was the second student to come in her first day of Music class. It was the first time she'd been excited to attend school. But Tristan already beat her there. When she entered the class, he was sitting behind the drum set. Being the only two people at the time, she watched him watch her settle on the seat closest to the door. Instead of introducing himself, he smirked and hooked up his phone to the classroom speakers. He then proceeded to show off with a fairly complicated drum cover of a metal band song.

He would occasionally look up and watch her reaction. He seemed keen on blowing her away with his performance. Other students started to pile in and most lingered near Tristan as they watched. Girls fangirled, pulling out their phones to take a picture or videos. Boys hooted and whistled in particular parts, egging him on. Margot stayed in her seat and just watched.

When he finished, the class clapped while others patted him on the back. He raised his drum stick mimicking a rock star, reveling in the attention.

His eyes darted around the room to see Margot just watching everyone, her face giving nothing away.

"You new?" His voice carried across the music room, making every other student turn curiously to her too.

Great.

She took a deep breath. "Uh, yeah."

"Did you like that?" If Margot's face could go blanker, it would.

"Sure." She shrugged.

The other students were suddenly quiet, looking between them. Tristan's eyes narrowed, seemingly annoyed at her reply which Margot could see even through locks of black hair that almost covered it. She already knew he was going to say something rude, but their music teacher hurriedly entered the classroom, a flurry of 'sorrys' interrupting the obnoxious boy. Students quickly dispersed, scrambling for seats and bad boy drummer disconnected his phone to give the floor to Mr. Charleston.

Margot thought that was that, but she should've known better. Tristan tried his best to challenge and annoy her during their classes together. But Margot wasn't there to put a spotlight on herself in any manner. She's had enough of that. So, she dodged, ignored, and avoided reacting to him. By the next following months, Lauren and Reedley were practically at their throats when Tristan would say something smart in passing. Being friends with her, he broadened his assholeness to now include her friends. What was amusing was her friends seemed more triggered by him, than she supposedly should be if that was Tristan's point. Margot likened their interaction to two yapping dogs going wild while the cat licked itself in front of them.

Then one time, near the end of their sophomore year, Gillian Deveraux, was out sick. She was a Junior then and was the best celloist they had. She seemed to already know some of the pieces that their music teacher had picked out for them to practice. She had caught the flu one time and they were still in the early stages of a piece that was known for a short but memorable solo. At music class, everyone was just lounging around while waiting for Mr. Charleston, knowing they would probably watch some video in lieu of practicing the piece since their best celloist was absent. But Mr. Charleston walked in class and asked everyone to bring out their sheets. The students were a little confused yet didn't question it. Tristan had guessed they were probably just going to skip the solo part.

When the last few notes leading to the solo dwindled, Margot had picked up the bow and simply played it.

Flawlessly.

The rest of the students were stunned. Margot was their pianist/keyboardist who altered with Jeremy, another Junior like Gillian at the time. Until that moment, it was the only instrument she had played in class and Tristan dismissed her as a one-trick pony. Nothing remarkable at that. She stayed in her lane and played what she was told to play.

When she finished the solo, there was an audible buzz and Mr. Charleston just cleared his throat when it took most everyone too long to pick up the next part. He patted his baton impatiently on his stand to stop the murmurs and gestured for the rest to continue the piece in time. Two other celloists, who apparently were not good enough to do the solo, tried to follow the pace as they gawked as their eyes followed Margot as she quietly moved back behind the keys.

At the end of the class, Tristan was itching to annoy her with the hidden talent. Unfortunately for him, Margot didn't linger and just said a couple of 'thanks' to those who complimented her on her quick way out of the classroom.

Since Margot had been refusing to take Tristan's bait so far, he decided he'd poke at Margot just a tad harder after that.

It ended up blowing up in his face.

A week after Gillian's absence and Margot's secret talent had been revealed, Tristan had to miss one Friday to a planned yearly family reunion. This was something his family had been doing and have always asked permission from school ahead each year since he was a kid.

Ever since the first time he saw Margot at Music class, she had not come in early like he did. She would come in at the same time as the other students. She was always quiet, would not spark conversations unless someone approached her. When he came back from his family reunion, he checked with the others what he missed. The other students had told him that Margot had filled in the percussions because his alternate was held back by another teacher.

'What? She can play any instrument on hand?', Tristan skeptically thought.

"Was she any good?" was his first question.

Eric, a guy at their grade, just shrugged. "I guess? She followed the part?"

And Tristan just couldn't get it off his head. It stayed with him the whole week, trying to figure out what he could do with this tidbit of info. By the time Friday rolled out, Tristan was anxiously tapping his drum stick on his shin, waiting for the supposed resident music utility person to come in to Music class. He sat near the door, about two rows over from where Margot usually sat while they all waited for Mr. Charleston. As soon as she came in, he saw her pause, seeing him close to her seat. But she did sit, probably deciding Tristan was still tolerably far enough.

They stared at each other, Margot looking blankly at him as per usual, waiting for him to speak. She never started anything with Tristan, and she was never compelled to break that. Predictably, Tristan was blunt.

"So, you play the drums too, Marge?" He was facing her, straddling his chair, arms on top of its back.

Tristan watched her take a deep breath at his anointed nickname for her before answering. "I'm sure you already heard that I could."

He smiled. He was getting to her.

"Well, what do you know? A fellow percussionist too!" He exclaimed, making the rest of the class look over what's going on.

It seemed that Margot could feel every single head as it turned to her and the obnoxious drummer. She just stared back at him though. There was no need for her to agree a second time.

"So, you can play keys, strings, and percussions? A one-person orchestra, right here."

No response.

"How about you play something for us?"

Ugh. Margot thought she should've known this was where this conversation was headed.

"And why would I want to do that?"

"To share your talent with the rest of the class." Tristan answered, his arm gesturing to the said students who were now listening intently to them.

Margot leaned back and crossed her legs. "Nah, I'm good."

"Aw, don't be like that." He twisted around to address the other people in the room. "How about it guys? Do you want to hear from Margot?"

There were murmurs of 'yeahs' and a few other positive reactions and Margot hated it. She didn't need this right now.

"Well they've heard me play. So why should I satisfy your curiosity?" Her voice was calm, but deadly.

Tristan was quite possibly just about as giddy as he could be inside. He didn't know what it was, but actually getting any kind of reaction from Margot just made his day.

Before he could retort, Mr. Charleston rushed by, oblivious to the tension in the air as Tristan and Margot just continued staring at each other. One smirked annoyingly, while the other refused to give an inch and show any type of reaction.

The other students reluctantly moved to their seats, their eyes darting warily between the two.

Tristan, however, didn't move and still facing Margot.

"Mr. Broder, is there a reason you can't tear your gaze away from Ms. Simmons and face me?"

Tristan, the drama king, mocked surprise and only then faced their Music teacher. "Oh sorry, Mr. Charleston. I just found it fascinating that we have an actual prodigy among us."

"Well now you know." was all Mr. Charleston said. He tapped his baton to address the other students. "Bring out your sheets please. We'll -"

"Excuse me, Mr. Charleston." Tristan interrupted.

Mr. Charleston narrowed his eyes, looking down at Tristan. "Yes, Mr. Broder."

"I was wondering, it would be beneficial to our class to hear Margot play."

'Son of a...' Margot thought. This kid just won't quit.

"And why would you think that, Mr. Broder?" his voice not sounding any bit amused.

Tristan shrugged. "It would be just inspiring for us budding musicians, you know," he said, playing up the innocent, eager to learn student role he never showed before.

Margot was fuming. What is the deal with this boy?

Mr. Charleston looked up to Margot and stared at her for a few seconds that seemed to stretch to a minute.

"Come down here, Margot."

Margot didn't move. Tristan's smile was so wide, it almost hurt.

Mr. Charleston sighed. "Come on, Ms. Simmons. Let's get over this quickly."

Margot stood up stiffly from her seat and she had to tamp down the urge to whack Tristan's head when she passed. She could hear the curious whispers from the other students. When she reached Mr. Charleston's side, her mind was blank. Fortunately, he laid out some rules first.

Mr. Charleston raised his hand to stop the growing noise. "All of you, show me your phones." he said. He watched as every student raised them. "Then turn them all off now."

He waited until every single one had their phones off. "This is a class, not a show, or a viral video to be ogled by people I don't care about. This is a one-time thing and will not happen again."

He turned to Margot, his demeanor changing, almost apologetic. "Go ahead, Margot." Then he whispered to her ear, "Shut the kid up."

Margot was momentarily taken aback. A couple of the students in front heard him and laughed softly.

She surveyed the class, who were intently waiting for her to play. Her eyes zeroed in at the emo-wannabe. Margot's eyes narrowed at the obnoxious wink he gave her.

Alright then.

She walked over Gillian at the second row. "Do you mind?" she asked, pointing to her cello.

"Oh no. Sure, go ahead." Gillian handed it over with a smile.

Margot positioned herself and breathed. It's been a while since she's performed with an audience. She usually didn't. Her father kept her trained, but unseen.

She took one pointed look at Tristan.

'Shut him up.'

She breathed deeply, then started to play. Immediately, the class recognized it. It was the same metal band song Tristan had covered when she first met him.

Using the cello.

There was a reason people recognized the song so easily. It had a particularly long intro, the rhythm established by the guitar for quite a few seconds before the drums started. Tristan sat up straight, his eyebrows furrowing even when his eyes went wide. How is she going to...?

Then to everyone's amazement, Margot beatboxed to cover the drum part. A couple of the boys hooted. Tristan heard a 'daaaym.'

Margot continued the elaborate intro, her eyes closed, her head nodding to keep her rhythm while her arms and fingers kept the cello in time. The students started nodding their heads in time with the music, enjoying the different and refreshing version Margot was playing. Mr. Charleston contained his smile.

She played until the end of the first verse. Her performance was probably under four minutes.

As soon as the last beat fell from her talented mouth, the class erupted with applause, stomps, and whistles. Some pounded their desks. A 'Margot' chant started, and it took some time before Mr. Charleston was able to calm the class down.

Margot was a little embarrassed by the ruckus although proud that her class liked what she did. She simply walked over to Gillian to give back her cello and thank her.

"That was awesome Marge." Tristan said when she passed him. He sounded sincere but she had had enough of the attention. She just nodded her thanks and went behind the keyboard.

Mr. Charleston cleared his throat and tapped his baton loudly.

"Now, can we start?"

Tristan looked back at Margot who was studiously ignoring him. He was excited to know more about her.

Strangely enough, he thought it would be a start of an awesome friendship.