Vic rushed out of the bus. I sighed loudly and watched the door slam behind him. "Fucking hell," I growled under my breath. I walked over to Mike and placed a hand on each hip. "Look what you've done," I spat.
"Me?" Mike laughed humourlessly.
"Yes you," I glared.
"Thea," Jaime warned.
"No, it's his fault," I snapped. Jaime came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "Get off me,"
"How is it my fault my brother cuts himself?! Do you know how fucking tough it is for me to watch that?" Mike said quickly.
"You don't understand him," I narrowed my eyes.
"And you do?" Mike laughed.
"Maybe," I shrugged.
"No you don't. If I can't understand him you're not allowed to either!" Mike yelled at me.
"Stop," Tony sighed. "Leave it. Both of you,"
I frowned and looked down. "How can you be so mean to him? He needs you,"
"I've tried being the worlds best brother. But I'm not winning any awards while he's still got some cuts on his arm," Mike explained. "Why does he do it, Thea?" he asked me desperately.
"He's hurting," I breathed.
"Tell me how to help him,"
"Don't shout at him," I said through gritted teeth. "Before you say a word against him you should drag a blade across your own arm to stop the pain,"
"I'm sorry,"
"Maybe you should tell him that," I replied. I stepped back and looked at Mike. I shook my head a little before I looked down. "If I wasn't so concerned about Vic right now I'd hit you," I said easily. I turned and started walking.
"Where you going?" Jaime asked.
"Someone should be with him," I explained.
I stepped off of the bus. I looked around for Vic but couldn't see him. Eventually I spotted him sitting alone. I rushed over and sat down next to him. Vic didn't look up, he just held his head in his hands. I linked my arm with his and rested my head gently on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Vic," I said quietly.
"What for?" he asked, not looking at me.
"A lot of things," I shrugged. "Right now I'm sorry for shouting. Mike just made me mad. Sometimes I find it hard to calm down when I'm mad,"
"Are you mad now?"
"No," I shook my head. "I feel calm," I explained. "And I'm sorry that you think you're not a nice guy. You are. You're so caring and honest and sweet,"
"I don't think I am,"
"I didn't ask what you thought. I was telling you," I chuckled. I saw Vic smile a little and he raised his head. "And I don't like Jack. I promise. You're my favourite person on this tour," I told him. Vic didn't say anything for a while.
"Do you think I'm a freak?" he finally asked me.
"I could never think that about you," I said easily. "How're you now? Do you want to go back?" I asked. Vic looked at me and shook his head. "Okay, we can stay here," I smiled. "How's your arm?" I asked but he didn't answer. "Vic," I urged.
"Sorry," he breathed.
"Can I see?" I asked quietly. He nodded and pulled his sleeve up. My eyes widened and I winced. The fresh healing cuts had been scratched and opened. I scratched my thighs where my cuts were under my jeans. I had to stop. "We need to go and clean your arm,"
"I don't want to go back," he told me firmly.
"Let's go find a bathroom," I sighed. I stood up and so did Vic. I took his hand and squeezed it. Vic and I started walking. I spotted a bathroom just outside the venue. We went inside and I locked the door. Vic jumped up onto the counter and went to get some paper towels.
"You don't have to do this," he told me. I shrugged and ran the tap. I started to clean the blood from his arm and gently dab his cuts.
"I want to do this for you," I explained. "Besides, you'd do the same for me,"
"You'd never hurt yourself," Vic said quickly. "I know it," I sighed and looked down. Am I really that good? Part of me wants him to see through it though.
"How do you know?" I asked casually.
"You're better than me, Thea. You just wouldn't. It doesn't go with Thea,"
"What does that mean?"
"That only nice things go with you. Like music and smiles and stuff,"
"But I'm not just made up of good things,"
"You are," he disagreed.
"Nobody is. Nobody has just light inside them. Everyone is a little bit dark too,"
"Some more than others,"
"You're not perfect. Neither am I. So what?"
"Stuff like self harm doesn't suit you,"
"It doesn't suit you either,"
"Maybe," Vic looked down.
"I'll wrap it when we go back," I told him and gently pulled his sleeve down. "Try not to open them up again. They scar that way,"
"I know," he groaned.
"Mike is sorry," I said gently.
"He isn't,"
"Believe me, he is,"
"What happened after I left?"
"I shouted at Mike. Mike got all sad and desperate. I threatened him and came after you,"
"What did you say?"
"That I'd hit him," I shrugged.
"Did you?"
"No," I shook my head.
"Good," he nodded to himself. I sat up onto the counter next to Vic. He watched me and I leant back against the wall. I tapped my fingertips on the counter for a while.
"It'll be okay," I told him.
"How do you know?"
"There's some things that I just know. It's one of them," I shrugged. "I can see a light with your name shining on it,"
"Where's the light?"
"At the end of the tunnel," I explained. "I promise it isn't a train,"
"If I should be so lucky," he laughed lightly. I narrowed my eyes and Vic smiled. "That was a joke, Thea,"
"I hope so," I nudged him.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? Thea isn't happy with Mike. Do you think she's right? What about her talk with Vic? Will he find out about her self harm? I'm really excited for this story! So is Simone. We're both so happy you're all looking so deeply into our story. Thank you!