I Fear I Might Break

Hayley punched Pete in the chest. "I used to be a self-injurer. I'm over that now."

"Once a self-injurer, always a self-injurer," Octave mumbled.

"Shut up, Octave," I mumbled back.

She doesn't need to hear you say that.

"You know, that may be true, but I don't identify as a self-injurer anymore," Hayley said.

She heard him?

Silence.

"Hayley and Sin haven't started fighting yet," Ryan whispered to Pete.

"Alarm the presses," Pete joked.

"It's too early in the morning," I said.

"Right," Pete stood, "I have to leave; see you all on the buses or at the first venue."

He left the room.

"Guys, you need to get your stuff together so we can get you to your bus," Ryan instructed.

Ryan followed the males out of the room.

"It's the same situation for the girls. Get to it," Hayley added.

Demanding. I like.

Heat spread to my cheeks.

"Aw, Sin, are you having naughty thoughts again?" asked Mina.

"Kiss my ass," I muttered.

"I know who you want to kiss your ass," Mina started.

"And every other part of your body," Nurse finished.

"Shut up," I whined.

"She likes someone?" asked Hayley.

"Yes and we'll tease her about it till the day she dies," answered Mina, walking to her suitcase.

"I could make that happen now," I whispered to myself.

Nurse's eyes glanced at me before making sure her bag was packed.

"Who is it?" Hayley asked.

"It's none of your business, Red," I snipped.

"Touchy subject, Arial?" she asked.

Arial?

"Who's Arial?"

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Hey, you two, conversations that involve only one word from each person bother me, so stop it," Mina interjected.

"Chill," I said.

A growl came from Mina, causing a snicker to come from Nurse.

"Anyway, why am I Arial?"

"Because, you have red hair and blue eyes, just like Arial."

"You should walk around in a purple sea-shell bra and a long green skirt," suggested Nurse.

"I'd rather not."

"Why not? It would be cool."

"It's because she's saving that for the bedroom," Mina added.

"Are you going to do this all tour?" I asked.

"Only until you tell her you like her."

"You like a girl?" Hayley asked, seeming a little more interested than she was.

"I'm a lesbian," I replied.

"That's cool."

She doesn't seem disgusted.

"I guess it is."

"So are you going to get your bag packed?"

"It's already packed."

She nodded. Mina threw an object across the room, hitting Nurse in the head. Nurse mumble obscenities. Hayley and I chuckled.

"Can I ask you something while you're calm?" Hayley asked.

Should I be scared?

"I'm tired, not calm, and go ahead," I looked over at her.

She looked me in the eyes.

"Why do you hate me?"

...

"Why do you care?" I asked.

That's right, answer her question with another question.

"I don't."

"Then don't ask."

"But I deserve to know."

"You said you don't care."

"You told me to go die. Can't I at least know why?"

Still can't believe I said that.

"I regret saying that. It was out of line."

"That is the closest you're going to get to an apology from her, so you better take it," said Mina.

I know another way to apologize and it involves lingerie, ropes, and ice cream...

"Why are you blushing?" asked Hayley.

Damn my face.

"I'm not blushing."

"Whatever. Just tell me why you told me to die."

There was a loud crash. Mina looked at us.

"What happened?" she asked.

The door swung open. Edward and a wide-eyed Ryan stood in the doorway.

"Nurse, we need you now," Edward said.

"Why?" Nurse asked.

"Just come on," Edward grabbed her arm and dragged her from the room.