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-mean principal to the right-

     Matthews, William and Veronique were in the soundproof Music Room, William reading a book with his thumb in mouth while the two other boys attempted playing their instruments in a duet.

     They had changed the location from the Library to the Music Room, seeing as a few days ago one of the principals, Mr. Grimerson, caught them in the library and scolded them. All of the orphans called that principal Bogeyman, since he was mean and would spank the naughty. But back when he caught the two friends playing the instruments in the Library, Bogeyman was stopped by the second principal, Mr. Quin, before getting the chance to harm them.

     Mr. Quin, after his partner left, suggested that they played in the Music Room, seeing as it was soundproof and would therefore not disturb anyone, much less distract Mr. Grimerson.

     "Again! You keep screwing up!" Veronique complained, placing the violin back under his chin while Matthews repositioned the guitar on his lap. "Now."

     Matt touched the stings 6, 3, 2, 1 in a slow pace, then continued with 2, 3, 6, repeating the process four times, point at which Veronique joined in and Matthews had to continue to the hard part. After focusing to press the right tabs, Matthews attempted playing the notes but once again made flats, and hurried to correct them, while Veronique continued with the raspy screech of his violin, and so they lost whatever rhythm there might have been.

     "Mattie!" his friend whined, at which he could only offer a helpless shrug. With a sigh, Veronique rolled his eyes and walked away, placing the violin back on its place on the wall and turning around swiftly, watching as Matthews continued struggling with the guitar.

     With a sigh he walked up to him and took his hand, placing his pointer on tab 8, string 1. "You hold this here and pull the string once, then pull it again along with the 6th one." he instructed for what felt the nth time, and Matt obeyed, grinning when he got it.

     "Great, now let's go to the Chemistry Lab." Veronique urged, walking towards the door, his two friends hurrying after him, Matt still holding the guitar.

     "Why?" he asked, gripping at Veronique's hood and tugging him backwards.

     "You'll see!" his friend rearranged the hood and continued walking. "We'll need someone to watch the hall for us." he pondered, darting a look at Williams before a voice interrupted.

     "I can do that for you!"

     The three friends turned around to see Viola, a chubby girl with long, blonde hair. She had two grey striped bows clung to her two loose braids, and was wearing a light brown dress. Viola was 5, being the youngest between the boys- Veronique and William having 6 years old and Matthews approaching 8.

     Matt had been there for about a week now, and was aware that his appearance at the orphanage had excited most the girls, Viola being no exception as she smiled at him dreamily.

     "Were you following him?" Veronique spat, crossing his arms with a scowl. The blonde girl looked away guiltily.

     "It would be nice of you if you guarded the door for us." Matt indifferently stated, turning to walk.

     "But... May I get something in return?" the blonde asked hopefully in a small voice, at which he turned around.

     Seeing as she would have to stand at the door by herself while the boys had fun in the room, Matthews knew she'd deserve a decent reward. "How about a hug and a peck on the cheek after we're done?" he offered, at which the girl grinned and fumbled with her blonde braids sheepishly.

     Veronique rolled his eyes and turned around, leading the three other kids to the Chemistry Lab, Matt watching his back, curious as to what his friend was planning to do there. His eyes couldn't help but wonder to his stockings now and then, questioning the femininity of his shapes.

     Once they reached the Chemistry Lab, Viola wiggled her fingers at Matthews, who nodded before joining the two boys in the room.He looked around the classroom, the place looking really different now that it was empty. The clouds outside the windows were similar to the smoke he would occasionally see escalating from the cigarettes the older orphans consumed, the sky's darkness casting a chilling atmosphere in the empty classroom.

     He grinned at the feeling, but William didn't seem as fond of it, he deduced, as the younger wrapped an arm around his, holding his book to his chest.

     "In here!" Veronique ushered them from the doorway to another room, frowning upon their position. "Willie, stop being silly."

     Matthews leaded his shaking friend towards the room Veronique was in, and once they entered, he could only gape in awe.

     He always wondered what 'potions' stood in the big stockroom of the Chemistry Lab, and it was just as he imagined. There were obscurely shaped bottles on every shelf, containing liquids of colours he didn't even see before. The room was really big, but the top-to-ceiling shelves made it seem crowded, the only considerably large space being around the huge table at which Veronique currently sat.

     Well, he wasn't sitting, he was just crouched up on the chair as he pulled towards him a big demijohn of alcohol, a funnel and a mixing bottle, not that Matthews or William were aware of their names or purposes.

     Matt was instead focused on his friend's position- he had noticed that he would never place his butt on a chair unless it was cushioned. Shrugging that off, he walked towards an empty chair after William let him go, and plopped down on it, placing his guitar on his lap.

     Will simply sat on the floor since there were no other seats left, and continued his book, now content at the light in the room- offered by the lamp on the big table.

     Matt would occasionally look up from his strings to see Veronique pick up different bottles, adding them to the mixing bottle seemingly at random, but the squint of his eyes, curved position and inaudible counting of drops told Matthews he knew what he was doing.

     The two boys would ask him what he was up to, but he'd just ignore them, so they eventually focused on reading respectively attempting to play the guitar, until Veronique stood up on his chair determinedly, looking closely at the bottle of mixture.

     He pressed a foot against the backrest of the wooden chair, putting his weight on it until it stumbled back with a thud, and then he continued walking, sniffing at his creation thoughtfully.

     Veronique then approached Matthews and shoved the thing under his nose. "My nose is confused by all of the other liquids I smelled, is this scent good?"

     Matt lowered his head curiously, taking two sniffs.

     His nose scrunched up and he made a choking noise, shaking his head to get rid of the sensation. "Ugh, too concentrated and piercing!" he exclaimed, wiping at his watery eyes.

     Veronique silently cussed, placing a glass stopper on the monstrosity of scents he created, and dismissing it on the edge of the table before getting to the demijohn and pouring some alcohol in another mixing bottle.

     "Is it perfume you're trying to make?" Matt concluded, leaning his guitar against the chair and walking towards his friend, peeking at what he was doing.

     Veronique nodded absently, focusing on pouring something pink in the glass. He then winced after letting a few drops. "Damnation! I already ruined this one as well!"

     Matthews eyed it curiously. "You could just pour more of that base thing you always use." he offered, pointing to the alcohol. "And maybe use a bigger bottle. Also, you should focus combinable scents. Earlier I felt something minty with some other thing rosy. Be careful about the matching."

     The slender kid offered a glare. "But I want to make something unique! Why, anyone can mix attar of roses, orange blossom, clove and rosemary then call it a day! I seek to make something none other has ever mustered before!" he stated, raising his nose gloriously.

     "As you wish, but let me help you. You can't use your nose from scent to scent, it will confuse it, so let me sniff the mixture from time to time to assure it's all right and not too concentrated."

     Veronique's bright turquoise eyes widened up at that in enlightenment as he nodded eagerly.

-------------

     "This is quite admirable!" William exclaimed in wonder at the final product.

     Matt and Veronique cheered at that, the taller one ruffling his friend's pitch black hair affectionately.

     "May I spray it on my scarf?" Will asked, raising the thin grey striped material pleadingly.

     Veronique swiftly turned around, walking to the table and picking a perfume bottle. "This shall be mine and Mattie's scent only, like a best friends bonding." he announced, pouring the orange liquid from the mixing bottle into the perfume one, whose glass was gracefully shaped in the form of a diamond, the glass stopper glistening in the light of the lamp as he put it on. He then wrapped a ribbon to keep the cap from falling, ignoring William's shattered expression.

     "Veronique, William is as much of a friend to us as we are, we shouldn't treat him like that. How about we make it a bonding between all three of us?" Matt suggested.

     The pale boy offered a nonchalant look his way, parting his lips to retort something, but was interrupted.

     "Bogeyman! At the end of the hallway!" Viola whisper-yelled as she entered the room before scurrying away, the three boys running out of the stockroom after her. They looked around the classroom frantically, searching for spots to hide.

     Matthews took William and Veronique by the arms and pulled them towards a closet, opening it and ushering them inside before entering, guitar forgotten in the stockroom.

     Will hugged the book to his chest, whimpering at the darkness surrounding him, and Matt hurried to hug him tightly, pinning his head to his chest as to muffle his sounds. Veronique scooted closer to him as well, watching with Matt through the crack between the closet doors, offering perfect view on Viola.

     The blonde girl was watching guiltily from the doorway, widened brown eyes glistening as the creaks in the hallway got louder and louder. She was apparently serving as a bait, and Matthews would be sure to reward her courage.

     The steps eventually stopped with an echo, and the two boys watched as long, slim fingers made their way into the girls loosened braid, trailing down it until it reached her bow.

     "Viola..." a dark, husky voice drawled out suspiciously, tugging at the blonde curls slightly. "What might you be doing here?"

     The girl gulped nervously, shaking under his touch, eyes lowering to the ground. "I just..." she whimpered, playing with her chubby fingers. "I just wanted to see the pretty colours."

     A low chuckle was her reply, the hand in her hair sliding out and the sleeve of the man's dress jacket was then raised to expose a gold watch. "Is that so, lovely?" he murmured, before letting his hand fall.

     "I'm afraid I am busy at the moment, but be at my office in two hours. By then I will have inspected the stockroom, and if I find something missing, you will receive what is deserved."

     With that he walked away, steps fading out with the same menacing echoes, if even darker after his words. Viola silently cried as the three boys slowly got out of the closet, approaching her wearily.

     Matthews untangled himself from Will to cup the blonde's round, puffy cheeks between his hands and leaned in to offer a peck on her wet lips before hugging her to his chest, feeling his striped shirt soaking as she cried in the material.

     "You shouldn't have done that, Viola..." he sighed, darting a look down the empty hallway.

     "We shall name it Verothews. Or Mattique." Veronique said thoughtfully as he eyed the perfume bottle, Matt and William watching him from Matt's bed.

     Each bedroom of the orphanage had three rows of triple bunk beds, in a total of 9 seats,Matt and Will having been lucky enough to get in the same room. Veronique's was a few rooms down the hall.

     "We should worry about Viola instead of trying to come up with a name for our perfume." Matthews murmured, rubbing Will's shoulder, who was still shaken up after almost being caught. He really was afraid of spanking.

     Veronique looked towards the door and then back at the perfume, sighing. He tugged at the collar of his hoodie, sliding a hand in and pulling out a round clock hanged by a long necklace. The clock was a rusty yellow, scratched by time, but he had no problem checking the hour after tapping it two times.

     "It's been two hours and a while, I'm sure she's already dismiss-"

     And then the door slammed open.

     The three friends and the other 11 other children present in the room all jumped in their places, gasping and straightening up when seeing who entered.

     "Veronique dearest." 'Bogeyman' drawled out, entering the room slowly.

     Matthews shuddered at the sight. He had only seen the principal a handful of times, but he still couldn't keep his body from guarding up.

     He was tall, his broad shoulders hugged by the grey vest he was wearing, matching his dress pants. His shirt was a dark, greyish shade of purple, and he also wore a grey striped item, that being his long, slim tie.

     The features of his face were sharp and stiff, but together created a handsome, dark look. His eyebrows were at an 180 degrees angle, much like his slim lips. He had a stylish stubble along his jaw, a trail of it reaching his chin all the way to below his lip.

     And yet, despite his handsome self, the sight of him made Matt feel the most submissive he'd ever be.

     "Grim." Veronique spat, crossing his arms and straightening up.

     "That's Mister Grimerson, or 'Sir' for you." the principal deadpanned, walking to him, the tips of his fingers touching another in a menacing manner.

     "It took four spanks for Viola darling to tell on you. Not that it was necessary, since after checking the stockroom and seeing that only the substances required for a perfume were missing, I had a fair guess it was you."

     Matthews looked at his friend nervously, not seeing any sight of the bottle. William was gripping at him fiercely, sucking on the thumb of his free hand, and Matthews scooted closer to him, as afraid as he was.

     "I don't know what you're-"

     But then Bogeyman slapped him with the back of his hand, sending Veronique stumbling to the side a good few steps. He held a palm on his cheek as he walked back to his place in front of the principal, eyes on the floor this time.

     "Don't you lie to me, pet. Now, how many times must I tell you to use your remarkable intelligence on something productive? Do you expect to cure cancer with a little 'tsf tsf' of perfume?"

     "Perhap-"

     Another slap.

     "Don't you talk back to me, pet."

     Matthews gently pushed Will away and scooted out of the bed, wishing to step up for his friend, but just then Bogeyman moved his hard glare on him, pure black eyes intently locking with his in a murderous stare, sending him back on the bed quicker than he had stood up.

     "Show me where the bottle is." Mr. Grimerson continued, eyes back on the slightly shaking boy in front of him.

     Veronique didn't move, fists clenched at his sides and head lowered, but then the man sneaked his hands around him, searching the pockets of his sweater, his hood, even unzipping it to make sure, all the while Veronique froze with a small whimper.

     And then Bogeyman sneaked a hand to the boy's back, lowering quickly, moment at which Veronique jumped a foot away. "Don't!" he pleaded, stopping to catch his breath. Then, with shaky hands, he raised his hoodie and reached in the back of his black boxers briefs to retrieve the small bottle of perfume, holding it to the man hesitantly.

     Bogeyman looked at the thing, utterly offended at being offered something retrieved from between a pair of butt cheeks, so, with a scoff, he slapped Veronique's hand.

     And then time turned lazy, Matthews and Veronique watching as the bottle flew to the ground as if in slow motion, the sound of it shattering ringing loud and piercing in the silence of the room.

     "You filthy rascal." Mister Grimerson said between gritted teeth, and then gripped Veronique's ear, dragging him towards the door.

     "No! Please don't spank me! I'll be good!" the boy pleaded, finally bursting into tears, and Matthews could only watch as they left the room, his friend's sobs fading down the hallway.

     Matt once again looked up as he heard steps, and sighed disappointed as he noticed it was yet another kid.

     He had been waiting for his friend to return for a while now, really worried and sorry for him. On top of all, guilty since he couldn't stand up and help him. But no matter how much he beat himself up over it, he knew that if time was to go back, he still wouldn't manage to face the Bogeyman.

     As he once again heard steps, he didn't even look up, neck already aching by then. However, when the sound got near him, he managed to hear how slow and hesitant they were, and looked up with a gasp.

     Veronique's cheeks were red and tear stained, his bright turquoise eyes bloodshot. The boy's black boxers briefs were around his knees, the straps connecting them to his stockings hanging loosely, and he was holding the back of his hoodie up, most probably not wanting any material to touch his bottom.

     "Veronique..." Matthews softly exclaimed, but his friend's expression was blank and hard. He watched as his friend continued towards his own room, unable to keep himself from glancing at his back.

     Matt bit at his thumbnail upon seeing the deeply red striped skin, his round, puffy buttocks wiggling innocently as he walked. He hurried after him as he reached his room.

     "Are you mad at me? I'm so sorry, I tried..."

     Veronique shook his head, wiping at his eyes with a glare. "I appreciated i-it." he assured, sniffling. "It's fine, I'm used to this."

     Matt's eyebrows rose at that. "What do you mean..."

     "The bastard always finds excuses to spank me." Veronique complained, scowling down the hallway. "I'm here since I was a baby, and it has been enough time to tell he hates me more than the other kids, always spanking more and harder."

     Matthews wrapped his arms around his friend, feeling the boy's fingers grip at his striped shirt thankfully. "Let's share bed tonight..." he suggested, at which Veronique nodded, pulling back and slowly letting his hoodie cover his behind with a wince.

     They entered his room, eight pairs of eyes moving on the beaten pitifully as he limped to the bed, supported by his friend.

     That night they lay on the mattress, Veronique's head resting on Matt's arm. The older friend gently massaged Veronique's injured, warm skin, thinking back on his words as he took a conclusion.

     That must have been why Veronique never sat down.

Sheesh :o

Next chapter will be adorable :)

Remember, Bogeyman to the right. Hmm. Wouldn't mind that Bogeyman under my bed... You did not hear that.

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