Watching the boy crumble in desperate crying had him wishing more than ever that he knew what to do. He had never felt so lost in a situation where he clearly was needed; he knew that much. If he didn't find a way to calm his friend down, he was likely to faint or worse.
"Hey, buddy. Calm down…," he tried crunching down beside him once more, but it only managed to make Corey start screaming and grab his golden locks between furious fists. "Stop, stop. What are you doing?" He tried to pry his hands open and away from his hair, but the contact seemed to burn him by the way he cried and twisted to get away from him.
As if it was possible, he hunched even more to get away from AJ so the musician immediately stood up. His mind desperately tried to find some sort of solution, but so far all he had accomplished was make things worse.
The impotence of not being able to help him soon turned into anger towards the cause. That man had done some number on the boy to have him so terrified. The possibilities were infinite and each scenario had AJ gritting his teeth more to the point his jaw hurt. If he had caught the guy and taught him a lesson, he would feel better. On the other hand, it was better he wasn't there with them, that way he could reach Corey.
That's it!
"Corey," he tried once again. This time keeping a safe distance that could tell him he was not alone, but at the same time assure him no one would get to him. The blond guy kept his head stuck behind his legs, contorted in a way he would only think possible for someone in Cirque du Solei. "Hey, you're safe," he whispered in the calmer voice he could muster, trying to keep his own racing heart at bay.
The guy didn't react, building up AJ's frustration. But he had a task at hand, he was good with those. Point him in a direction and he would get things done. He had to calm him down and keep him from hurting himself, and as little as he knew at the moment, he knew rushing him wasn't an option.
"Corey, I'm here with you…." The guy stopped trying to rip the hair out of his skull and AJ filled with hope. "Please, Corey… can you look at me?" The shaking boy didn't move a muscle.
The panic was somehow receding, but he was still far from OK. He was still heaving and shaking, but he was no longer trying to fuse himself with the wall.
"Corey," he paused. "I know you were scared, but you're safe now." The scared boy lifted his eyes and darted them around the place as if looking for that impended threat. "I got you. You're safe. He's not here." Corey's eyes immediately locked on AJ's as if he had just discovered the magic word to drop down his walls.
For the first time, AJ saw something other than fear in his eyes. Now, there was the faint glow of hope as his lip started trembling. The musician clenched his hands over his legs trying to refrain from hugging the boy that was now shedding new tears, a crying so raw that had AJ looking away seeking for some air to calm himself down.
This was a different cry. It was not a cry triggered by panic, it was a heartbreaking cry of pain and relief he for sure was feeling knowing the danger had passed. The same hands that had tried to rip his hair out of his head, were now covering his face. He then did the only thing he could, he crumbled and gave into the waves of emotions that crushed against him; emotions that were no doubt overwhelming him.
After long minutes of watching Corey crying and rubbing his face with his sleeves to clear the snot and tears, AJ was finally breathing fine knowing the worst had passed.
"What happened?" He ventured asking once the buy had calmed down. The worst-case scenario pinned on his mind, hoping it wasn't the case. "Are you hurt?" He surprised himself by stuttering the question.
Anxiety grew on him with no answer to work with. Corey kept staring at a fixed point in the air, a hard contrast to the ball of raw nerves he had been an hour ago. Everything in AJ demanded him to do something, to help fix things, make his friend feel safe and better.
He was so out of his depth it was almost painful. What little experience he had with crying friends, the solution had always been an honest hug, some patting on the back, swearing and then a couple of beers; yet, somehow that didn't seem to cut it this time.
For now, giving him space was all he could do; and worked. He was a little bit calmer and his breathing had improved, but he was still sitting on the floor and he didn't seem physically hurt.
"Corey, where is Matt?" The guy locked eyes with AJ for the first time and bare himself raw to the other. There were no walls protecting him now. The silent guarded guy he had met during this week was gone and once again this image he had of him had to be rearranged to this new fragile, vulnerable Corey in front of him.
AJ waited patiently. This was working, he just needed to be patient. He was slowly responding to him.
"He didn't come back from classes," Corey stammered in a whisper. His voice, soft as it was, hit AJ like a truck blowing the air out of his lungs, rendering him speechless.
AJ took in the heartbreaking eyes that stared back at him, begging for something he didn't quite understand. His cheeks were red and bruising where the other guy probably had grabbed him. AJ's guts churn in disgust, but he kept it inside not to alter a finally calming Corey.
AJ's concern changed its focus from Corey to Matt. For what little he knew about the couple, they were never uncommunicated. For Corey to get out of the house looking for Matt meant he hadn't called him or let him know what was going on or why he would be late; but Matt would never leave his soulmate hanging without an explanation.
Something must have happened. Once again, he cursed himself for not asking for his phone. Now he couldn't reach him and let him know Corey was with him or know if he needed help.
There is nothing to do there, he sighed. He needed to focus on what he could actually do, and for now that included calming Corey and keeping him comfortable.
"Do you want me to call a cab or to take you home?" Matt did say he'd rather be at home.
His shaky head discarded the idea before it got to bloom on AJ's mind. Panic was setting once again on his eyes and the crying started once again. His head hid deep behind his knees as he kept hugging his legs. That had been a setback.
He didn't want to go home.
His options were limited. They guy wouldn't move; he didn't want to go home and wouldn't allow to be touched. The idea of guiding him upstairs to lay down on the couch was practically impossible, at least for now. He felt safe in that little corner of the world and AJ was apparently allowed to be around, as long as he wouldn't try to get too close to him.
He didn't want to call the police or any other emergency service since the guy didn't look particularly hurt and having the store swarming with unknown people sounded rather bad for a guy like Corey.
Maria would be a great help, but it was the same thing. A stranger coming over was not a choice. He had to deal with this by himself.
Corey kept crying softly and didn't lift his head anymore.
What do I do? What do I do?
The idea came as a whisper in his mind. It was simple, but straightforward. His uncle used to do it all the time whenever he felt down or depressed. Truth, he never had a meltdown like this, but it was worth the try.
Slowly, he got up and backtracked his step across the store towards the wall full of guitars. He took one of the acoustic ones out and, with a last look towards the counter, he sat on the little stool his customers use during the day and started sliding his fingers along the strings; this had to work.
There was nothing specific on his mind at the moment, so he just let his fingers do the work by instinct. He could only hope the music would have the same calming effect it had on him during his own darker hours. At a distance, he could still hear the quiet crying of the boy and sighed in resignation of not being able to do anything else.
The music started to flow as easily as ever. There was no music sheet or melody learned by heart, just what his heart told him to do and soon the melody surrounded the place in a warm heart-felt embrace.
After a while, the crying stopped. Little by little they were silenced until there was nothing but the soft melody pouring out of the strings.
AJ didn't dare to look in the direction of the counter, but from the corner of his eye he saw Corey sitting on the chair. He had now his eyes trained on him as he hugged his legs the way he used to do during Matt's lessons. Relief took over his body knowing he had at least found the strength to leave the floor and use the chair.
The melody had no beginning and no end; he could keep playing all the time he wanted, however he wanted. Through this universal language he was being able to speak to the guy and bring him back from his state of terror; now, he wanted to make him feel safe and protected.
Each new cord came to life and traveled across the store to reach Corey's ears. The fearful boy was finally able to breathe, letting his body be covered by a healing power he had never known. It was as if some warm energy was embracing him and making sure to tell him he was not alone.
Not a few minutes ago, he had felt his heart explode with fear and anxiety. He thought he would die, yet here he was, holding on to that thin thread of hope the melody brought. Hope he had regarded as worthless just the day before.
His eyes closed without his permission as his heart rhythm slowed down in perfect sync with his breathing. Things were slowly finding the right place inside his mind. He was no longer suffering or scared, his guards were all down and he was now floating on a sea of peace meant only for him.
The music spoke to him in a way no other could and had him questioning why he hadn't tried anything like this before. A soft smile drew on its lips when he felt his skin warm and tingle the way it felt after his soulmate caressed him, but the funny thing was that he was nowhere around; so, what was this weird and rich feeling that had all of his nightmares submitting silently, with the unfounded certainty that no harm would come to him.
AJ was not unaffected by this weird phenomenon that had them sharing this special moment, as time went by, his breathing slowed as the soothing magic of his own music worked its way through his muscles. He hadn't even realized how tense he was, but now the knots on his neck were melting. In the same way, Corey had found his way to let go, AJ was letting all of his worries go away. Just as it always happened with music, he felt his soul be completed and satiated.
They changed around them, picking at his curiosity. There was the same peace and happiness music always brought to him, only charged with more. A new renovated energy vibrated within him. It was stormy and wild by design, it triggered his senses to an alert stance; yet it felt tamed right now, much like a cobra dancing to the music.
In a second, the spell was painfully broken. New banging at the door tore the thin fabric of peacefulness they had gotten to weave for those magical minutes, leaving a sore Corey to launch himself back at the floor right before he burst out crying loudly as he for sure tried to cover himself from the new threat.
AJ tried to make sense of what was happening, but he himself felt as if he had been ripped out of a dream. His heart was pumping as if powered by a coffee-filled hamster on a wheel. It took a few minutes to understand the peaceful stupor he had been a few seconds ago had been shredded.
He blinked slowly, trying to focus his mind out of the blinding light he conjured. The magic was gone and they were both left bare to pick up the pieces.
Outside, a new wave of banging and kicking threatened to blow the door down.