The Silenced Souls [Editing Process]

Ch. Seven - Ink

"Krissy Kris."

Nearing the end of my mushroom and pepperoni slice of pie, I paused. "What?"

"You've been walking weird since we've left. Are you okay?"

The food was dangerously close to dashing its way up and out of my mouth.

Yeah, Lionel. You noticed. Your sister did something R rated that involves another person, which one day you yourself will do with someone else when you're older.

"I'm okay." I mustered. " Work's been sort of hard, but I'm fine. "

His peachy little face still looked worried, as he hesitated taking another bite of his food. "I don't know. I don't like seeing you in pain."

For the love of God.

I was sore, but obviously not for any of the innocent reasons that were probably going through his head. If anything, the more we continued to discuss my "pain", the more vivid the images of last night became.

My ten year old brother was right in front of me, for fuck's sake.

" Let's take an exit to this topic. " I suggested with a smile. "So are you being invited to anything fun lately?"

He burst into the biggest smile ever. "Yes! Roy and Eman are inviting me to go camping with them next weekend."

Throwing a wink his way, he jolted, face red. "Hmm? Is Eman that girl you told me about? What is it you said ..."

"Shut up, Kris!"

"Black silky hair, beautiful ebony skin, flawless freckles, full lips, you could just-"

Lionel shook his head from side to side, covered his ears, and squirmed in his seat. "Shut up! I can't hear you!"

I laughed, reached across, and tapped his shoulder. "Finish your food, I'll stop. Promise."

With the cutest upset face, he eyed me warily, and brought the edge of the slice to his lips.

"Seriously though. Have you told her?"

He chewed for a moment thoughtfully, before responding. "No. No one likes a cowa-"

"Up up up!" I interrupted him, an index finger on my lips. "Don't even finish that sentence. Just heed my advice."

He nodded, eyes down. "I'll try. My heart knows, right?"

" Yes. "

How about you, Kristen? Does your heart know what it wants?

I found lately that my own subconscious was painting me into a corner, a corner that I had created as a consequence of my really bad decisions.

Whether or not Jude was one of those really bad decisions was yet to be considered.

"I need to make an important call." I told him, remembering that it was something urgent I had to do. "You keep eating, I'll be outside."

"Okay."

I walked outside of the pizza place, dialed, and waited for an answer.

Hello, miss thang.

I scoffed. "You answered, good."

R.J chuckled heavily into the phone. I was expectin' your call earlier. What happened?

"No yeah, ah, I had a couple of things to do."

Aaah. That explains it. Anyway, I imagine you've told your band everything?