"This far?" Henry asked, scaling the scissors down my hair.
"Little shorter." I said, looking in the mirror.
"You're going to look so badass." Rico grinned while stroking my arm, I returned the friendly smile with a nervous nod.
Henry went up an inch and I nodded, toying with Reid's locket laying on my chest I slightly flinched at the snip of the scissors. I looked at the beginning of my haircut in the mirror and smiled, motivating Henry to keep going.
Ever since the Maldives, my hair has been the root of a lot of my anxiety. Every time I saw it, touched it, brushed it, I thought of the rough hands tugging it, pulling me down, hitting me. It's something I can't overlook. Not now at least.
I sighed and turned around, my once long, thick hair, is now shorter, and loose. I ran my fingers through my hair and smiled.
"Thank you so much, Hen." I giggled while hugging him.
"No problem, Claire." He smiled while returning my hug.
"Damn, Claire." Rico laughed while running his nicely groomed fingers through my new bob, I laughed and shook my head in response.
"It looks nice."
I turned to see Reid, leaning on the doorway, as I turned to thank Henry and hug Rico one last time they were already gone.
"Like it?" I asked with a hint of insecurity.
"You look beautiful, as always." Reid said, drawing closer to me. I wrapped my arms around his neck while he held onto my waist.
"Are you okay?" He asked with sympathetic eyes, slightly tightening his grip on my waist.
"Yeah, I'm always okay." I replied with a weak smile.
"I know, and it scares me."
"Pain management." Mikey said, circling the fifth unit of our combat class.
"So you're gonna hit me?" I asked, cracking my knuckles and neck.
"No, I am." Laurie laughed, entering the gym while tightening her gloves.
"Management is a huge part of pain, Claire. The better you manage it, the better you take it." Mikey informed me.
"Like this." Laurie said punching me in my gut, I groaned out and fell to my knees.
"The pain will hurt worse if you let it get in your head, don't let it in your head." Mikey said, standing above me with his arms crossed.
"Easier said than done." I coughed out on the ground.
"Up."
I got up and caught a few breaths.
"When dealing with this you need to focus on the pain, where is it and how does it feel."
"In my gut and it hurts."
"Good place to start." Laurie shrugged.
"You want to focus on a painless part of your body, focusing on a painless area will make it the dominant area, with practice of course."
Laurie kicked me in the shin and I grabbed it as I yelled out.
"Right now your leg hurts, focus on the pain, but don't give the pain all of the power. Think about currently painless areas, your arms, torso, anything."
I took deep breaths and focused on my forearm, the most painless area I could think of. Breathing in, I contained the pain of my shin and breathed out.
"Good, since we've been working on breathing during every unit you're pretty good at that."
I slowly regained my cool and Mikey nodded towards me.
"Again, Laurie."
I sat on the swing, swaying back and forth with the passive gusts of frosty wind, staring into the blue cloudy skies.
"That's it, Moonlight! You've got it, kick your feet!"
"I'm trying, daddy, I got stubby little people legs!"
"You can do it, you can do anything if you affirm and push yourself, don't ever forget that."
I kicked my short, brown legs as hard and far as I could, outstretching myself as if I was reaching for the clouds. My long, kinky hair blurring my vision.
"There you go, Moonlight, you got it! You've got it!"
"I've got it!"
I quickly swiped the crisp tear, from the thought of my father, away. Standing up I sighed to myself and left a Cheerio next to the swings seating.
"Love you, daddy."
Walking into the lively house I fixed my demeanor and sat next to Jessie on the vast, red couch.
"You better be glad we ain't snitches, what if Reid came home from the meeting early?" Jessie shot at me, leaning back watching The Bachelor.
"I had to do something." I sighed, laying my head in his lap.
"Claire, we've been expecting you." Laurie chimed in while walking out of the kitchen with two big bowls of popcorn.
"You never even tried asking to go out." Jessie blurted out while stroking his fingers through my hair.
"I'm sorry, I forgot my rights as a kidnapee." I said as I rolled my eyes and took a handful of popcorn.
"Yes, you're technically kidnapped, but you're also technically free, they don't let inmates out for Chick-Fil-A., Claire."
"I know- I'm sorry, Jess." I sighed into his chest.
"Let your guard down, Claire, we aren't gonna hurt you." Laurie smiled, giving me a big kiss on my cheek.
Penny sat curled up in my lap, her dark fur occasionally catching my salty tears as I sat on my clean linen sheets, letting my feelings out in salty masses.
Crying, fucking crying.
~~
Hey, guys! So I've decided I want to add a FEW fillers for character development, they'll usually be released in doubles with a regular part. Claire's emotional side is fun to write for me.
Q: What can you make that no one, not even you can see?
( I struggled with this one a little)
A: Noise
-Until next time, lovers 🎈
YOU ARE READING
Gang Ties
Storie d'Amore"Fuck it." He muttered. Reid smashed his lips onto mine, his hands wandering into my hair. I moaned into the kiss, causing him to pick me up and slam my body against the wooden walls of the warehouse. "You're mine." He growled as he bit down on m...
