Quiet Like a Ghost

Chapter Eight: Pain

I have to put on makeup but I honestly don't feel like it. I don't feel like doing any of it. Just one more day of being able to hold Opal and cuddle would be great but noooo, tour had to start today.

"Babe? What you doing? Don't you have to get your make up on?" Opal asks, coming out of the bunks. "I'm too lazy..." I mumble, patting my lap, motioning her to sit. "Babe, do you want me to? I can." She offers. "No, it's ok. I'll just wear shades." I say, pulling her into my lap, and kissing her.

"You two can suck face as long as you'd like after the show but for now, Ghost get your makeup on, it's showtime." Our temporary drummer, Vinny demands, obviously sent by Chris. Chris is making this so frustrating. "Ok..." I sigh, Opal getting off me.

During the show, Chris is out of it. Performing fine, but seemed extra agitated and aggressive than usual. Everytime the band isn't around him we gossip about what's going on with him but there's a pretty popular thought; Penelope.

I walk around the venue, wanting some space from everyone. Do I even want to be in the band anymore? I don't know. I know it's insane but all I want to do is lay in bed with Opal and joke around. It's very clingy of me but she doesn't mind. We just love eachother, almost, I admit, too much, but I can't imagine how my life would be without her. I'd probably still hide behind different personas, suffocating the real me, drinking from time to time when the self-loathing thoughts were too much.

I hear something that snaps me out of my thoughts. It's Chris, talking to someone on the phone. "Baby, don't. Look I know it was rude of me to say. I was mad. Please, I need you." He apologizes for something, it must be Pen, or that was a really short relationship. Maybe just a 1-2 night stand? "No I don't just love you for the sex! Penelope, please, I l-l-love you." He stutters, jesus he has issues. He never says it unless he means it, even then never says it. "I'm not just saying that--" He sighs, pacing.

I decide now would be a good time to intervene, texting Penelope.

Me: I'm overhearing Chris's side of your guys's argument. Idk what it's about but if he says he loves you, he really does.

Penelope: Bullshit, heard that before.

Me: Pen. He's a mess, please.

Penelope: What do you want me to do? :(

Me: Idk, come over here before the bus leaves and cheer him up? He's been being a dick to me all day, please.

Penelope: His dick-ness comes naturally XD, and yeah I guess I can.

Tmi, thanks. "You want to talk in person? Oh, uh, okay, the bus leaves at midnight... Oh yeah? Why don't you hurry up and we might be able to work that out..." He smiles, biting his lip. Okay, my job of wingman is officially a success.

I walk back to the bus, getting in the bunk with Opal, before Chris saw me. I try to not wake her up by slipping her earbuds in, failing miserably. "What are you doing?" She asks, about to laugh at me. "Saving you; your sister is coming over to cheer Chris up." I whisper. "Ew. Thanks." She mumbles, chuckling, putting the earbuds in, messing with her phone, putting on some music. I put my own in, blaring Cradle of Filth to the point of possible hearing loss.

As I set my phone down, she kisses me, sliding herself above me, smashed underneath Ricky's bunk. She grabs my hands from her hips, holding them above my head, kissing me harder, leaving me defenseless to whatever she wants to do. She moves, kissing my neck, slowly letting my hands go. My hands automatically go to grip her hips as she works on my neck. Losing my sense of restraint, I push her shirt up her abdomen but before I get very far, she stops me, pulling out one of each of our earbuds.

"We can't, I'm on my girl thing." She sighs, bumping her head on Ricky's bunk. "Oh, you ok?" I ask her. "Yeah, thick hair protects me." She smiles, "And with the sex, it's ok. I don't care, but I would like to make out a little longer..." I whisper, her lips crashing against mine.

I wake up to her still for the most part on top of me, sprawled taking up the bunk. Our earbuds were still in, my playlist of every song I own, looped back to Cradle of Filth. I reach over to my phone, pausing it and sliding out from under her, onto the floor. Thank God we got a bottom bunk. Our bunk is right acrossed from Chris' and I can see Penelope's tattooed leg popping out from under the curtain. They must've had fun.

I walk out of the bunks, going to get some coffee. "You got laid too?" Ricky asks. "I didn't feel anything." I shake my head, "No, we made out but that's it." I say, stirring in my creamer. "Oh well, you have sex hair going on." He points out. "Yeah, she likes putting her hands in my hair." I shrug. "Obviously."

I sit on the other couch, drinking my coffee and feeling a migrane come on. "Fuck, why?" I mumble, guarding my eyes from light. "They're coming back?" Rick asks, referring to the headaches I had two years ago. "Worse..." I set my cup on the ground, laying down, cradling my head squeezing my eyes shut. "Dammit would you just take medicine? We hate seeing you in pain." Ricky says, getting up to do something.

I don't see where he goes but he did exactly what I didn't want him to. "Baby!" Opal coos, rubbing my back as if that helps. "God dammit Rick! Why did you wake her up! Ow!" I say loudly, cringing in pain. "Ricky get him some medicine!" Opal demands. "He won't take it." He tells her, handing her a bottle of pills. "Devin. Why don't you want medicine?" She asks. "If you take medicine for every bit of pain, ow, you will never have the strength for it when there is no medicine." I mumble. "Okay, that's understandable, but please, for once, take it for me." She pleads, I shake my head. It's not even that bad if I block light out.

"Dev. Please--"

"No! It's not even that bad! Opal just go back to bed." I yell, starting to sweat from the stabbing pain in my head. "Medicine or cancel the show and disappoint a lot of fans." Chris says, hearing my yelling. "Fine." I mumble, a tear running down my face. Opal hands me two pills and I swallow them dry. She moves my head so she could sit and hold me, I flip over, nuzzling my face in her shirt so no one would see the now constant flow of tears falling from my eyes. She rubs my back comfortingly with one hand and caressing what she could see of my face.