From the way Gina is staring at your ears as you cook you can already tell what her question is going to be. She probably knows as well, but for the sake of it she says it out loud anyways.
"Why do you still wear those?"
The question is soft, and you wonder if she thinks she's going to hit a bruise somewhere. You can't blame her; the whole situation is full of bruises that refuse to heal no matter how long time beats at it.
"If I told you I'm too lazy, would you believe me?" You ask her, more as a joke as anything else. You know this topic is going to end somewhere dangerous, and you want to postpone dealing with it as long as you can.
You're no better than them, after all.
Gina laughs at you, something more mean sounding and surprisingly nostalgic. You wonder if the question has been on her mind for a while. "No way." She replies, swinging her legs as she sits on top of the tabletop. She isn't looking at you now, eyes trained on the frying vegetables in the pan. "You're one of those dummies who never do anything without a purpose."
You laugh a little dryly, shaking your head as you shake the pan a little bit more. There is an expectant silence filled the crackling of oil and fire as Gina waits for your answer. "...In memory of them, I guess. 'Once a member always a member'. You still have your piercing, don't you?"
Gina sheepishly tugs up her shirt slightly to reveal the glinting stud that is her bellybutton ring. She tugs it down after you look away with a little snort. "Yeeah, I guess you're right."
Silence reigns once more as you turn off the stove, and once more you guess the question before Gina asks it. You do not however expect her to tug on the back of your shirt when she asks it, voice surprisingly vulnerable.
"...Ian?" She asks softly, and you pause in the task of setting up two plates. You glance back at her, raising an eyebrow. "Do you...do you ever wonder what they're up to?"
You turn back around with a small little smile, balancing both plates on one arm just so you can take Gina's hand for reassurance. What kind of best friend would you be if you didn't?
"Yeah," You say, tilting your head towards the plates as if to say 'Eat.'. "More often then I'd like."
Gina nods slightly in understanding and raises up her glass in a solemn motion that hadn't existed until the summer's events. "Cheers." She murmurs, and the pang of sour feeling that closes up your throat barely stops you as you raise your glass in unison, clinking it gently against hers. You try to smile again but it's pitifully weak, so you just respond to her instead.
"Cheers."
 Siyaahi · Fri May 10, 2013 @ 10:27pm · 0 Comments |
