Sativa.

24. The Other

On her fifteenth birthday, Blaine had Tina pretend to be her Mom so she could sign a permission forum for a tongue piercing. For weeks she could hardly talk with her clunky swollen tongue. Until it healed properly, she cursed herself for ever wanting the piercing.

Life is comparable to piercings in a way. Some places hurt worse than others depending on where the skin is broken. And, while it remains painful during healing, the body gradually adjusts to the change until it becomes natural.

Blaine's tongue is still pierced and she hardly remembers the pain of the rod spearing through. Her relationship with Travis is comparable to the memory. Whenever she reaches the "getting used to it" phase something else gets in the way.

Its been four days.

Four days and three sleepless nights where his side of the bed remained cold and empty. A few weeks after the Fourth of July party, Travis received a call early Monday morning. That was the first job he accepted, assuring it would be a simple two hour fix for a jammed door. It's Thursday now but he still hasn't come home. All of her calls go straight to voicemail.

When she wakes up, cold and alone again, she calls off work. An hour later she's standing on Serenity's front porch wobbling precariously on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Unwilling to console his easily rattled sister, Blaine didn't want to involve her, but waiting for Travis to come home gets unbearable.

Although rapidly knocking four times is a bit aggressive, Blaine regains composure once the door opens. Managing a smile she says, "Good morning."

"Blaine?" Serenity's hair is a mess of tangles and she looks at her with droopy eyes narrowed into thin slits. "It's seven in the morning."

The smile falters. "I know. Um, is Travis here?"

"No. Haven't seen him since last Friday."

Blaine hangs her head in dismay, burdened. Still determined not to concern anyone she replies, "Alright. He probably just worked overnight."

Although she's never visited Serenity on her own she'd expected to ask about Travis then be on her way. Another question stops her as she turns to leave. "Are you two fighting?"

"No, nothing like that." As the conversation carries on it's harder to hide the worry darkening her thoughts. Tense, her expression pinches into a grimace. "He just wasn't home this morning."

Or the morning before that.

Puzzled, Serenity scratches the back of her head then leans out the doorway. "Car's still here. He shouldn't be gone too long."

The fact he hasn't borrowed his sister's car actually worries Blaine more. But she can't say that without revealing the actual amount of days he's been missing.

"Either you're hungover or you've been hit by a train. You look like hell, Blaine." Even sober Serenity is as blunt as a club.

In a stupor, Blaine had pulled on yesterday's creased jeans and a loose fitting flannel shirt. She'd went outside to water the plants but started walking down the road seeking solace instead.

"Coming here was sort of spur of the moment," she admits.

"Long walk." Serenity's brow quirks, definitely suspicious. "How'd you get here?"

"Called a cab."

"Oh. Well, I have to wake Brittney up for school." Opening screen door wider she offers, "Come in for some coffee if you like."

It would be easier to decline the invitation if caffeine wasn't involved. She hasn't had her practically mandatory cup of the morning. After a mumbled, "thank you," Blaine steps across the threshold.