//-------------------------------------------------------// Old Scars New Friends -by Madforce Entertainment- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// A Cold Warm Day //-------------------------------------------------------// A Cold Warm Day After losing the Battle of the Bands at CHS, The Dazzlings were beyond down on their luck. Close to a prestigious school called Wisdom Academy, The Dazzlings found themselves in a dark, dank alleyway. The month was now november. And it was very cold that day. The girls all huddled together to keep as warm as possible. Without warning, Aria’s face twisted into a deep scowl, as she stood up and stomped her foot with a growl. “I can’t take it anymore!” She shouted angrily. “I’m cold, I’m hungry and most of all I stink!” She finished with a moan. Adagio looked up at Aria and frowned. “it’s not just you, Aria. We’re all cold, hungry and yes we smell awful, so shut up and deal with it!” She ordered. “You know what, Adagio?! This, all of this, this is all your fault!” Aria shouted. “My fault?! How is this my fault!?” Adagio shouted back. “We had those stupid bimbo’s right where we wanted them, but you just had to come up with another grand scheme, and now look at us!” Aria continued. Adagio stood up and glared at her. “You know, if you just followed my lead then…” She was abruptly interrupted by Aria. “Your lead? YOUR LEAD?! Every decision you’ve made throughout the years has led us from bad to worse, and now we have hit rock bottom! Well done you, oh glorious leader!” Aria gave a slow, sarcastic clap. As Adagio and Aria continued to argue, Sonata’s eyes welled up with tears, and she started to cry. The other two stopped arguing, looked down at their distraught sister, looked back at each other, and Aria sat back down in her own corner. Adagio sat down next to Sonata, put her arm around her shoulders, and let Sonata cry it out. By now, it was getting dark. Sonata then finished crying as she got, to her, a bright idea. “Hey, I know. I’ll go get us some food!” She said with enthusiasm. “Good luck with that.” Aria said sarcastically. Sonata walked along the quickly darkening street. The icy cold wind felt like knives on her small body. As time went on, she started to feel more and more numb. She eventually found some garbage cans, but she couldn’t open them because they were locked. She continued her search. Just when she was about to give up, she found one garbage can that was still unlocked. “Finally, things are starting to look up.” She said. With her numb and shivering hands, she opened up the garbage can and started to search through the garbage for food. Inside the house, a young man walked into his kitchen, carrying a brown paper bag in his hand. He took off his coat and looked inside the bag. “What?” He said in frustration. “They got my order mixed up again. I'm getting tired of this…” Just then, he heard a noise from outside. He put the bag down and picked up a broom. “Anyone stupid enough to piss me off is a dead man!” He pulled open his back door and saw a person rummaging through his garage. He walked up to the trespasser and shouted. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!” Sonata fell out and landed on the snowy ground. She looked up and saw the young man with the broom glaring down at her. She was now frozen from both the cold and fear of the boy. The boy looked down at her. “Why are going through my garbage?” He asked. Sonata did not answer him with words, but with her tummy growling from hunger. She was about to run away, but the boy stopped her. “Wait, your hungry right?” He asked. “Look, I got some tacos if you want them.” Sonata looked up at him with a shy look. The boy then held up the bag and presented it to her. Sonata stared at the bag and hesitated for a moment, before she reached out and took the bag. “Thank you.” She said with a blush. She then stood up and ran off back to Adagio and Aria. The boy walked back inside, closed his back door, and turn on the radio. “Severe Weather Warning.” Said the announcer. “Temperatures tonight will drop below -30 degrees. It is highly advised everyone stay in doors. Do not go out. I repeat, do not go out, unless absolutely necessary.” After hearing the report, the boy set out to find the girl he had helped. Sonata was now back with her sisters, eating the food she had brought them. Adagio looked over at Sonata with a pleased smile. “Good job, Sonata.” She said. “These are delicious.” “Where did you get these?” Asked Aria. “Well, this guy gave them to me.” Explained Sonata. “So your telling us that some guy just gave them to you?” Asked Aria doubtfully. “Well yeah.” said Sonata. “He just give them to me when…” She was interrupted by Adagio. “Men don’t do anything out of kindness, so you must have done something for him.” Adagio said accusingly. “So just tell us the truth.” Sonata was about to protest, when they heard footsteps crunching through the snow. They turned to look toward the entrance of the alley. A young man dressed in his winter attire walked into the alley where the girls were. He pulled down his scarf, revealing his face. Sonata recognised him. “What are you doing here?” She asked. “You three need to find somewhere else.” He replied. Adagio stood up to face him. “And why should we listen to you?” She asked, her eyes narrowed. “Haven't you heard the weather report? The temperature will drop below -30. You will all freeze out here.” The boy warned them. Aria walked up beside Adagio.“He has a point Adagio. It is getting colder out here.” She said. Sonta stood up as well. “Yeah, Adagio. I can’t feel my toes. And I like my toes.” She said with a shiver. “You see, your friends are cold. If you don’t go somewhere else, you'll probably die out here.” The boy said. Adagio took a moment to think. “Ok, but we have nowhere to go.” She finally said. “Then you will just have to come with me.” Said the boy. The boy lead the Dazzlings back to his home. Once they were inside, he tried his best to be hospitable. He had never had guests before. “Well, the couch turns into a bed and one of you can use the recliner.” He offered them. He then walked to the stairs and turned to the girls. “If you need anything, just let me know.” He climbed the stairs and went to his room. Adagio waited for half an hour, then sat up from her chair and woke up Aria and Sonata from their sleep. “Wake up, you two. Rise and shine.” She said as she shook them awake. “What's going on?” Grumbled a half asleep Aria. “5 more minutes.” Mumbled a still slumbering Sonata. “Get up now!” Adagio ordered, shakes the two girls even harder. Aria and Sonata were now fully awake and very annoyed. “What the hell Adagio!?” Aria said angrily. “Shhh, keep your voice down.” Adagio said, putting her hand over Aria’s mouth to silence her. “Now listen, I’ll head up stairs to make sure that our host is still asleep, while you two start looting.” “No, Adagio.” Sonata protested. “For once, I’m with Sonata.” Said Aria. “I mean, the guy feeds us, then lets us into his home and out of the cold, and now you want to turn around and rob him?” Adagio raised her eyebrow. “Look, the fact is we don’t know him or owe him anything. Alright?” She said with a stern look. “So you two get to looting and I’ll check that our friend is fast asleep.” Adagio creeped away and up the stairs. She quickly found the boy’s room. She looked inside. It was empty. Then she heard a door creaking open, and turned to see him walking towards her. Without his shirt on. Her eyes went wide as she saw his body was covered with scars. “Oh, um, hi.” The boy said. “Is everything ok downstairs?” “Oh, yes, everythings fine.” She said, trying not to stare. “Um, rude question but ... What happened to your body?” The boy was carrying his shirt under his arm. He put the shirt back on before answering. “I’m different up here.” He said, pointing to his head. “Different?” Asked Adagio. “And is that why your body is covered in…?” “Yeah, people can be so violent to others for being somewhat different.” The boy said. Adagio remembered a time when her and her sisters were treated like outcasts, and couldn’t help feeling a little bit of sympathy. “Say, why are you up here?” Asked the boy. “I was looking for the bathroom. I forgot where it was.” Adagio lied. “Oh, alright.” The boy said, seeming to buy it. He then held up a roll of Toilet Paper and gave it to Adagio. “There was none in there. Goodnight.” He walked back into his room and closed the door. Adagio then put the roll in the bathroom, before making her way back to her sister’s. Downstairs, Aria and Sonata were sitting on the double bed, not following Adagio’s orders. They looked up as Adagio walked back down the stairs. Aria stood up and looked at Adagio. “Adagio, me and Sonata have been talking and we are not robbing this guy’s house.” She said firmly. “Yeah, don’t worry about it.” Said Adagio dismissively. “I've had a change of heart. We are not going through with this.” Adagio walked back to the recliner and got herself ready for bed. Aria and Sonata looked at each other in surprise. “Uh, and you changed your mind so suddenly, why?” Asked Aria. “We’ll discuss it in the morning. Get to bed.” Replied Adagio as she laid down. Aria and Sonata looked at each other again, shrugged, and then went to bed themselves. As she lay there on the recliner, Adagio thought to herself. “Look at this. I end up going soft on the first guy with scars and a sob story.” She fell asleep soon after. In the morning the girls woke up, only to find that boy had left. Sonata found a note from him. It read… “Gone to school back later. Make yourselves at home.” “Well now that we're alone, time to fess up Adagio. What happened last night?” Asked Aria. Adagio hesitated before she answered. “I just lost the heart to go through with the robbery. That guy, his body. It’s covered in scars. And yet he still helped us.” “WHAT?! COVERED IN SCARS?! ARE YOU SERIOUS!?” Shouted Aria. “Yes, I’m serious! I saw him without his shirt on and…” Adagio stopped as her eyes went wide. “I just realized, we don’t even know his name and he doesn't know ours.” Aria had just realized this herself. “Oh my God! And he still helped us out.” She said. “Wow, he must be like a saint or something.” Sonata said as she sat down for breakfast. “You know, she might be right from once.” Smiled Adagio. The girls stayed at the house for the rest of the day. When the boy returned, his nose was broken, and blood covered the lower half of his face. Needless to say, the girls were shocked at this. “What in the actual FUCK happened to you?!” Shouted a freaked out Aria. “I fell down some stairs.” The boy mumbled quietly. Adagio ran off to search for a first aid kit. “Found it!” She shouted. While the boy was getting cleaned of all the blood, Adagio had to ask. “Why did you help us last night? You helped us out and yet you didn’t and still don’t even know our names.” “And none of you know mine.” Said the Boy. “Well I think we should introduce ourselves. Because it’s weird that we don’t know each other. I'm Sonata.” Sonata said with a cheerful wave. “The name’s Aria.” “And i’m Adagio.” The boy was somewhat happy to see that the girls trusted him enough with their names. “My name is Mad Page and I am happy you three would tell me your names.” He said with a smile. Throughout the evening, the four of them spent the time getting to know one another. The next day was a free day for Mad Page so he went for his weekly checkup at the local health clinic. The Dazzlings accompanied him. In the waiting room, Sonata was curious about something. “Why do you come here every week?” She asked. “It's Complicated.” Mad Page said simply. “You know I have thought about seeing a doctor about our singing voices.” Said Sonata. Mad Page looked at Sonata. “What happened to your singing voices?” He asked. Sonata realized what she had just said. “Ohh, I meant that our voices got damaged when we last sang.” Just then Adagio and Aria returned with drinks for them all, and Mad Page was called in to see the Doctor. The check up only lasted about five minutes. Then out of nowhere, the Dazzlings were called by the Doctor. They were confused, they hadn’t even made an appointment. Once they went in, the Doctor examined their throats. “Hmm, yes, I can see that your vocal cords are slightly damaged.” He said. The girls rolled there eyes. Like they didn’t already know this. “But they can be repaired by a quick surgery.” The Doctor continued with a smile. “Wait, what?” Adagio said in shock. “Yes. Like I said, I can repair them by a quick surgery. It’s quick, but very expensive.” Said the doctor. The girls looked at each other. How could they possibly pay for something like this? “There is no need for you to worry about payment. Mr Page said he would pay for it.” The doctor said. “Hold on! Mad Page said he’ll pay for it?” Asked Aria. “Yes…wait, are you three telling me you don’t know?” “Know what?” Asked Sonata. “Mad Page is beyond rich. Needless to say, it’s because of that he’s still moving. And because of him I’m still in Medical Practice.” The Dazzlings jaws dropped. “I’ll get everything ready for the procedure to be performed tomorrow.” The doctor finished. The four of them made their way back to Mad Page’s home. None of the girls could think of what to say or try to question his motives. Later that night, Aria screamed. “This is driving me Mad!” She stomped towards Mad Page and looked at him right in the eye. “Why are you doing all of this?” She demanded. “Can you specify.” Said Mad Page. “First you get us out of the cold. Then you let us stay in your house. And now you're paying for us to get our voices fixed! Just tell us why!” “Alright, just take a chill pill.” Said Mad Page calmly. “I just can’t help it. When someone need’s help, I help them. I just do it.” After hearing that answer, for once in their lives, The Dazzlings were genuinely grateful. The next day, the girls had their operation, and after a few days, they found that they really could sing again, better than ever before. The Dazzlings were back. Shortly after that, they decided to attend Wisdom Academy for an education, but it was mostly for Mad Page’s sake. Throughout the whole time, his body was getting covered with more scars, mostly from Bullies. The girls helped keep them off his back. And Mad Page also joined the girls in their group, and with their help, he also found he had a great singing voice. From that point on, Mad Page had three new friends and the Dazzlings began a new life with their own, rich new friend.