The Impeccable Infinity

Chapter 31

Mute and I spent the day finishing packing everything in his room. Yeah, it's not exactly the most exciting birthday activity, but he needs to be ready to leave tomorrow. I think what I hate most about this situation is not that he's leaving too soon, but that he's leaving before I had a chance to learn more about him. I haven't known Mute long, but I'm already extremely emotionally attached. I don't trust anyone but him.

"I'm sorry you didn't get a very exciting birthday," I said while I sealed a box closed with thick masking tape.

"Haley, it's okay. We're spending time together now. And once I leave, we'll plan a day to makeup for my birthday."

I smiled and nodded while I continued to place small things around his room in a box. I made sure to sign my name at the bottom of each on I packed, just so he has something to smile at once he opens them.

I tuned the handle on one of the drawers in his room and pulled on the door. Inside was multiple bottles of ink, a few rolls of paper towel, and a small tin of sewing needles. My face burned red when I thought about all of the ways he could've hurt himself with these things.

"Mute, why do you have a drawer filled with ink and needles," I asked over my shoulder.

I heard him put something ceramic down on his desk before he walked up behind me. He studied the drawer with me, as if he has never noticed it was here before. I looked back and forth between him and the ink, waiting for his answer.

"I forgot these were here."

"But what are they for?"

His concentration eased into a smile as he reached forward and pulled out a clear bottle of black ink. He rolled the bottle around in his hand and felt the labeling on the front.

"They were for stick-and-poke tattoos."

"Stick-and-what tattoos?"

"You take the needle and prick your skin in a design. Then you take the ink and pour it over the open skin."

I stuck my tounge out and made fake vomiting sounds at the thought of the process. I placed a hand on my chest and took a deep breath as I looked back at the other bottles of ink.

"You'd prick yourself and pour ink over your skin?"

"Not usually mine. I mostly gave them to my friends when they came over. I only have one."

I smirked at him while he continued to study the writing on the bottle and playing the the nozzle opening. When he looked up and saw the expression on my face, he shook his head quickly.

"I'm not showing you it."

"Mute, please! I'm not going to judge it, I just want to know what they look like."

"No."

"But-"

"No."

I folded my arms over my chest and turned away from him. He continued to sift through the drawer and read the different labels.

"I don't believe you," I said over my shoulder.

"What do you mean you don't believe me? What do you not believe?"

"I don't think you really have one. I think you're just making it up to seem cool."

He was silent behind me. I smiled in satisfaction when I realized my plan's working. I know for sure he has one, he's Mute, but if I doubt him he'll get so angry that he'll just show me.

"Haley, you don't want to see it."

"Where is it?" I asked, turning now to face him.

His face burned red and he looked down at the ground, moving his hands around in each other and biting his lip. He looked up at me after a long moment and took a deep breath.