Even a Scream Has A Musical Scale - Chapter 10

The bruises on her knee hadn’t faded, even after the weekend passed. Though Anna had packed her a bunch of ointments, she never bothered to use them. Who was there to notice such details, anyway?

“Is your offer still good? About being my buddy?”

When she called him, nervousness tinged her voice, but Remington showed neither excitement nor surprise. His tone was indifferent as he replied, “Meet me at 4 by the east gate.”

They went to the principal’s office together, and as he had suggested, she apologized.

“I think the stress of being in a new place got to me. I’ll try to adjust better with Remington’s help.”

The principal smiled approvingly, marking something off in his notebook with two quick strokes. She was sure this time that the word was “problem child.” Relief spread through her, and a small smile tugged at her lips. But when she glanced at Remington, his expression remained distant and impassive.

Once outside the office, his voice took on a clinical tone, like he was reading instructions from a manual.

“We should have lunch together on Mondays and Thursdays. The teachers usually keep an eye on students in the cafeteria those days to check on how everyone’s getting along.”

His eyes hinted at annoyance, but his demeanor remained professional. The disconnect between the two was jarring.

“Thanks for helping me,” she said awkwardly.

Remington’s face twisted as if the word “thanks” was something unpleasant.

“I’m not helping you.”

With that, he turned away, signaling that he had no more time to spare on the matter.

Right… What was she expecting?

She stood in the hallway for a moment, staring after him, when Remington suddenly stopped and looked back at her.

“What’s up with your knee?”

“Huh?”

She blinked, caught off guard. It hadn’t crossed her mind that he’d notice the bruise. It was small and faint, barely visible unless you were looking for it.

Remington’s expression was still irritated as he spoke.

“Either wear pants or cover it with makeup. People will start spreading rumors.”

“Oh… okay.”

She nodded, still processing his words. Remington clicked his tongue in irritation before turning away again. She watched him walk off, his broad back retreating, then glanced down at her knee.

Did he even realize?

He was the only one in Eratum who had noticed or asked about it.

****

As planned, they began having lunch together every Monday and Thursday. She wasn’t entirely sure if it was the right move. What she did know was that being around him drew a lot more attention than she’d anticipated.

“Lucky you, Remington. A girl as your buddy? Why does the principal cut you so much slack?”

“Thief. You’re even taking Roderson for yourself?”

Guys passing by couldn’t resist tossing teasing remarks at Remington. She wished she could disappear into the background, but Remington appeared completely unbothered.

“Don’t get in the way. Can’t you see we’re on a date?”

Remington shot back playfully as he placed Dani’s portion of pork chops on her tray. The teasing only fueled the attention, and the guys around them erupted into cheers, stomping their feet. The cafeteria floor vibrated with the noise.

Dani quickly slipped through the crowd, praying Eleanor wouldn’t witness this scene. But just as she tried to move to a secluded spot, Cassie slid up beside her.

“What’s going on, Dani?”

“Hey, Cass. What’s up?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know.”

Cassie lightly nudged her shoulder, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“Spill it, Dani. Did Remington ask you to be his buddy first, or did you ask him?”

Her expression was sharp and nosy, like a reporter hunting for gossip. Even though Dani knew it was unlikely, she quickly scanned Cassie’s hand, half-expecting to see a hidden recorder.

“The principal suggested it. Remington and I just agreed.”

“What?”

Cassie’s eyes went wide as she clapped her hands over her mouth in shock.

“Are you serious? The principal?”

“He didn’t have a choice. I heard the other girls all turned it down.”

“Oh, that’s—”

“It’s fine. I’m not upset. I know I make people uncomfortable.”

“Wait, Dani! There’s something you don’t know.”

As Dani turned to leave, Cassie grabbed her arm, but before she could say more, a large hand gently rested on Dani’s shoulder, cutting in.

“Hey, Cass. Got something to say to my buddy?”

Remington stepped between them like a protective barrier. He emphasized the word “buddy” as if it were a pet name, like “sweetheart” or “baby.”

Dani glared up at him with a look of pure disgust, but Cassie’s grin only grew wider.

“Wow, hey, Remington. You know my name?”

“Of course, Cass. I also know you should probably head to Latin class soon. I’ll be taking Dani from here if that’s alright?”

“Sure, of course!”

Cassie’s eyes sparkled as she looked between Dani and Remington, her gaze filled with barely contained excitement.

This is so uncomfortable…

Dani turned away from Remington, trying to escape the awkward situation, but she barely got a few steps before feeling a firm grip on her arm.

“Wrong way.”

His hand slipped under her arm so suddenly that she nearly dropped her tray. A jolt of electricity shot through her body.

“Don’t touch me like that.”

She reflexively swatted his hand away, but immediately regretted her harsh reaction. Hastily, she added, “Sorry… I didn’t mean to overreact.”

Remington just snorted, completely unfazed.

“Be consistent. If you’re rude all the time, people just think you’re poorly raised. But when you’re unpredictable like that, it makes you seem crazy.”

Remington led her to a two-person table by the window, a spot that was both somewhat isolated and yet perfectly positioned to be noticed by others.

“How’s the seat?”

“It’s… fine,” Dani replied, nodding awkwardly. She could still feel the ghost of his hand under her arm, and it left her with a strange, unsettling sensation. Her toes curled uncomfortably inside her shoes, refusing to relax.

****

Dani and Remington only met on Mondays and Thursdays. Once, he asked if she wanted to have lunch on other days too, but she declined, and he didn’t bring it up again.

Most of the time, Remington was surrounded by people—Eleanor and the others—while Dani was usually alone. When they ran into each other in the hallways, they exchanged glances, nothing more. They were just two people who shared lunch twice a week. That was it.

Dani was certain they would never grow closer, but she was wrong. As time passed, conversations with Remington felt more natural, and surprisingly, she found herself growing comfortable around him.

“How can you eat meat pie without grabbing any sauce?”

A small cup of sauce landed on the table in front of her with a light thud. When she looked up, there was Remington, sliding into the seat across from her, his face showing mild irritation.

“Thanks for getting it for me.”

“Don’t call it that. It’s creepy.”

Despite his gruff tone, he popped open the lid and nudged the sauce closer to her, making it easier for her to reach. For all his harsh words, he had a disciplined, almost soldier-like approach to completing any task, no matter how small.

“Sometimes you do act like an older brother,” Dani mused.

“Bring your own next time. I’m not interested in playing big brother,” he shot back, though his actions contradicted his words. Last week, he’d brought her the knife she’d forgotten, grumbling something similar then, too.

The more meals they shared, the more Dani learned about Remington.

He was two years older than her. Not only was he part of the student council, but he was also involved in the rugby team, the newspaper club, Model UN, and several other activities. Since enrolling, he had never lost his top rank in class and rarely slept more than five hours a night. She also noticed that he had a surprisingly small appetite.

Remington never finished more than half of what was on his plate. Today, the leftover food on his tray was no different; the meat pie looked almost untouched.

“Why aren’t you eating? It’s really good.”

“Not my taste,” he said flatly.

Maybe it wasn’t to his liking, but to Dani, it was delicious. Her father always preferred she avoid heavy meat dishes, so this kind of meal was something she couldn’t even imagine having at home.

Dani knew her behavior was anything but refined, yet she couldn’t help it. She sliced into the pie with her knife and speared a chunk of meat with her fork, shoving it into her mouth. Focused on eating, she suddenly noticed the silence. When she looked up, her eyes locked with Remington’s.

He didn’t say a word, but his expression spoke volumes. He watched her like a reluctant billionaire forced to share a meal with a beggar. Somehow, even the water glass in his hand looked like an elegant wine goblet under his gaze.

Embarrassment flushed through her. As she slowly straightened her posture, a napkin appeared in front of her.

“Here.”

He lightly tapped the left side of his lips, indicating where she should wipe. Dani hesitantly took the napkin and dabbed at her mouth. Sure enough, crumbs from the pie smudged the white fabric.

If it were possible to die from humiliation, she was certain she’d be nothing but a ghost by now. Her father would have probably whipped her for being so disgraceful.

“Sorry, you had to see that.”

“As long as you know.”

His voice was indifferent as he pushed the fork back into her hand.

“Hurry up and eat. We only have 30 minutes for lunch.”

The pie was too delicious for her to let shame stop her, so she kept eating, even finishing off Remington’s portion. All the while, he rested his chin on his hand, staring at her. The intensity of his gaze was nearly enough to make her lose her appetite, but she somehow found herself more anxious at the thought of him looking away. It was a strange feeling.

“I’m stuffed. I can’t eat another bite.”

The moment she put her fork down, Remington’s eyebrows lifted, and before she could react, a cold sensation hit her scalp. Sticky liquid trickled down her face, carrying the sweet scent of oranges with it.

“Oh no, Janine! How could you pour juice on Roderson like that?” Eleanor’s refined voice rang out above her. Dani blinked, wincing as the juice stung her eyes.

“Sorry, Roderson. She’s new and doesn’t know better. Must’ve thought you were a trash can. Apologize, Janine!”

“I-I’m so sorry…!”

The girl named Janine fumbled as she handed Dani a napkin, bowing her head in apology. Eleanor, meanwhile, was smiling, clearly enjoying the attention now centered on them. Dani could feel the eyes of everyone in the cafeteria turning her way. A headache throbbed in her temples. Remington, still resting his chin on his hand, watched Eleanor with a detached expression.

“Are you alright, Roderson?” Eleanor asked, her voice dripping with false concern as she leaned in slightly, eager for Dani’s reaction. Dani met her gaze briefly, taking in the perfectly arched golden brows, the malicious glint in her green eyes, and the tight, condescending smirk.

At that moment, Dani realized something. She might just be the prey in this situation, and if she made one wrong move, the hunt could be over.