Silent Pain

Part 6

As Chris sat in the event hall, he felt pleased with himself. He'd managed to disguise his pain well and no one had asked him any questions about it. It was lunchtime, so the guests at the events could go and eat in a private room away from fans.
As he got up, his bag protecting his side from being hit off the table, Hattie got up at the same time.
"You okay?" she asked,
"Yeah, fine." Chris replied, side hurting him. He'd been down for a while now and it was a shock to him getting up.
"You sure?" she asked him as they walked out of the hall.
Chris simply nodded, holding his side as it hurt. He disguised his pain holding by moving something in his jacket pocket.
"Alright. Well, Robert said to find a place and he will come to us." Hattie smiled and walked into the cafeteria with chris, seeming to not notice his pain.
As Chris followed, he felt more and more pain. He felt sick again and hadn't eaten since this morning. They sat at a table, Chris took the bag off him and put it in his lap.
Hattie was smiling, as usual.
"So, how you think it's gone so far?" She said, placing her hands on the table,
"Alright. Fans have been fine." He said, checking his phone. Aleks had text him, asking if he was okay. He sighed, he wasn't, but couldn't tell her that. This was the first time he had been out since the operation and he'd promised her he'd be okay.
As he replied, he bit his lip to try and keep the pain down. It still hurt. What had he done?
"Is everything alright Chrissy?" she asked,
"Yes fine." He lied again, sending the message. He told her he was fine, when in actuality, he needed to go home. He needed to go back and take painkillers.
"Sure?"
Chris sighed. Should he tell her? Did he want her knowing? As he was going to tell her, Robert came over to them.
"Hey you two." Robert said, sitting next to Chris. He still smelt of cigarettes, but had got used to the smell after being with Craig so long.
"Hi bob." Hattie replied,
Chris just smiled, hurting a little,
"So, what's everyone having?" he asked, picking up a menu. Chris noticed he was glancing over at him occasionally.
As Hattie and Robert tried to decide what to eat, Chris was busy trying to not to show his pain. He knew he wasn't good today, but couldn't simply go home, they had the Q&A next.
Robert passed Chris the menu when he was done with it. During the exchange, Robert seemed to notice Chris's feelings.
"You sure you're alright?"
Chris nodded, looking at the menu, trying to prevent his hand from going to the pained area.
"Hmm. Alright." He said. "Hat, can you go order for me and you?"
"Oh, right." Hattie said, leaving the two of them.
After Hattie left, Robert turned to Chris,
"What's up?"
"Nothing."
"No, there's something. Is it your op?"
Chris sighed, "Yes, it's hurting really bad."
Robert looked around for some reason, "Was it this bad before?"
"No." Chris said, holding the pain,
"Hmm. Maybe you should check it out or take something?"
"No."
"Why not? We have still got time before our Q&A?"
"I, I just don't want to." Chris sighed. He didn't want to worry people. It hurt, but he guessed he could live with it. He was doing well so far.
"Why not just take something for it? Look, I'm taking you back anyway."
Chris thought for a moment, could he really medicate here? He had everything but that was beside the point. Could he take the stuff and still answer questions?
"Alright, I will take stuff."
"Alright, I will wait for you when you get back." Robert said, sitting at the table still.
When Hattie returned, she placed the tray with their food on the table.
"Where's he gone now?"
"To, erm, take something." Robert said and began to eat.

*****************

After the Q&A, Chris felt relieved that the pain had stopped whilst he answered questions. The three of them walked back over to their tables for any last requests and to tidy their pictures up.
As Chris tidied, the pain came back, somewhat number than before. He glanced over at Robert at the further table. He was watching him carefully.
Giving the steward the pictures, he walked over to Robert.
"You sure you're okay taking me back?"
"Well, would Aleks be happy if I didn't?" he said, getting his coat and bag.
Hattie came over, "What you boys talking about?"
"Oh, Roberts taking me home." Chris smiled,
"Oh right. Well, I'm waiting for someone to take me back."
"You have no one?"
"No. I came here by taxi."
"Hmm." Robert thought. "Well why don't I take you both back."
"You sure?" Both asked at the same time,
"Yeah. She'll carry both of you." He said and the three of them left together.

Whilst in the car, Chris noticed that Hattie seemed to be very happy around him, perhaps almost flirtatious. He was hurting, but feel he couldn't show her. Even though she'd been there for him, he still couldn't, he felt it would be improper of him to do so. She sat close to him, texting someone and resting her head on his shoulder. He glanced down at who she was texting. It was a friend she knew as he had heard her mention him one time. He didn't think anything of her lying on him; just wanted to be friendly that was all. Something at the back of his mind thought that this was due to the fact that Hattie 'liked' him, but dismissed it. He had Aleks, he couldn't have her. He didn't want her in that way anyway. He continued to watch her carefully. She wasn't texting anymore, but just lying on him. He felt nervous for some reason, like this action was bad.
"You alright Hat?" He asked her, feeling pain in his side again,
"Oh yes." She said, getting up quickly, almost suddenly realising that she was lying on him.
"Good." Chris said, smiling at her.
"You two alright yeah?" Robert asked, stopping at a light.
"Yes." Both replied,
"Good." Robert said, driving for a while. "Oh, is Aleks home for you Chrissy?"
"Yes." Chris replied, looking at Hattie who seemed to be glancing at her phone.
"Hat? Anyone for you?"
"Well, the person I'm staying with isn't back yet and I don't have my key." Hattie said, texting them back,
"Well, what do you want to do?" Robert asked,
Chris had an idea, but wasn't sure how she'd take it, "You could always come to mine for a while. I'm sure Al wont mind."
"Really?" Hattie said, eyes relighting,
"Yeah. I will ask her." Chris said, beginning to text Aleks. He wasn't sure how either women would take the proposal, but what else could he do? He was a gentleman; he couldn't leave her on her own.

When they got to Chris's, Aleks had agreed tothe idea that Hattie could stay for a while. She had done once before, butChris felt that Aleks got jealous of her for some reason.
"Thanks Bob." Chris called and Hattie and him walked down the drive.
Aleks met them at the door, smiling at the two of them. Hattie seemed too closeto him, too close for Chris or Aleks liking.
"Hello you two." She said, allowing them in.
Chris smiled and walked into the living room. Alfie and Louis were in there ontheir phones.
As Chris sat on the sofa, the boys joined him. They continued to play, butLouis lay on Chris' lap. Chris wanted to take painkillers, but didn't want tomove louis.
Hattie then came in.
"You sure this is okay?" She asked, Aleks walking in also,
"Yes, sure." Aleks smiled, "You're living with someone then?"
"Yes." Hattie smiled, "A friend."
Chris turned to look at her, he was pleased she'd found someone.
"A male friend?"
"Yes, I met him a short while ago." She said, seeming to be getting very shy,
"Oh?"
"Yes. Erm, he's living with me at the moment and isn't back yet."
"Oh." Aleks said, seeming to be getting very excitable, "Are you with him?"
"well, I don't know yet. Ive only met for a few weeks."
"Would you want to?" Aleks asked, holding Hattie's hands,
"Well, erm, yes." She said, laughing with happiness. The two of them seemed tojump and speak relatively high pitched,
"Well, that's girls for you." Chris said to the boys, the boys laughing inresponse.