Red Velvet

Chapter 12

This chapter is dedicated to  Sir Rob (RobThier) because Storm And Silence is so wonderfully written, you'd be a fool not ton read it.

RECAP- Randyll, Jeremy and Pierce (ofc) want Shim to join their band (ref. to song in previous chapter). Randyll and Jer started to tell Shim a story about Pierce's childhood which he wasn't too happy about and everyone was upset by the end of it. Creative, I know. Okay now on with this chapter, legoooo!

There is movement in this town again. I can sense it as I step out of the Magby front gate and make my way to Life360. I see a few police cars parked on the street, with no particular purpose it seems. The investigation obviously hasn't died down yet but there isn't any sense of urgency either.

But today, it's a different kind of movement. I pull my scarf tighter as the wind picks up again- dry, cold and unforgiving. My feet have picked up an unnatural pace, coordinating too well with my mind which is curious to find out what has got this place stirring again. Lorenzo would surely tell me and he would surely know.

He knows almost everything that goes around, one of the benefits of owning and operating a place where almost the entirety of townsfolk buy their grocery from.

Multiple questions bounce back and forth in my head like a berserk boomerang.

'Has there been any development in the case? Has Trevor given any statement? Any significant arrest?' I then reprimand myself for thinking about Trevor's statement.

I don't care what he does, I tell myself sternly.

'Well, you shouldn't,' my conscience laughs at me and this time when the gust of wind comes, cutting through my bones, I simply let my scarf lose.

I let my mind do the wandering, thinking it'll halt on Trevor again, instead- it replays the sequence of events this morning. Pierce hasn't spoken to me since but I know that I didn't do anything to irk him deliberately. Despite this knowledge, I inevitably blame myself.

He appeared forlorn at the mention of that Daisyfields trip. Something must've happened there, I conclude. Something that maybe Randyll and Jeremy weren't aware of otherwise they wouldn't have broached a sensitive subject.

'Brothers,' that is how Pierce had introduced his band mates to me. They will never hurt him.

It's not my place but I can't help myself from thinking about what it could be.

Mrs. Magby's words are beginning to make minor sense but I still have a gazillion things to figure out. My heart isn't ready to accept the fact that something could hurt Pierce, that he too has his damaged pieces. Even though I have known him for a brief period, I can say for a fact that he doesn't give up easily- especially not on people.

But today he looked exhausted.

My head is beginning to throb and my restlessness multiplies with each passing second.

I want to help him.

To help him, I need to find out more about him but he isn't ready to open up. My second best chance is to talk to people already close to him, people who know him. Randyll and Jeremy.

But how? How can I talk to them without it being weird?

I know the answer, I've known it since the time I saw Pierce look torn.

I have to join them.

I tried but my mind has failed to come up with alternate ways. Being with the band is a sure way for me to get some substance if I need to help Pierce.