Amnesia

Chapter 38

"I think I'm going to shave my head, dye what's left purple and pierce my tongue," Penny says nonchalantly, falling down on the couch next to Avi, adjusting her position so her head is lying in his lap.

Avi continues to stare blankly ahead of him, nodding absently as he rests his arm across her stomach. "Uh-huh," he agrees, "Okay, good, what-wait?" His face screws up into the perfect mask of confusion and Avi finally tears his gaze away from the empty space in front of him and peers down at Penny. "What are you talking about?"

Penny sticks her tongue out at him and smiles, laughing as Avi falls deeper into confusion, his eyebrows knitting together and a frown forming on his face. Reaching up, she pats the side of his face affectionately, brushing her thumb along the edge of his beard. "You've been acting weird and a bit distant since we crossed into North Carolina last night." She lets her hand fall from his face, resting it atop his hand already lying on her stomach. Avi turns his palm up against her fingers allowing Penny to lace their fingers together. "And you just agreed to me shaving my head; tell me what's on your mind."

Avi sighs and shakes his head. "Nothing. Just nervous for the show tonight." He quirks his mouth up in thought. "And you'd be cute with a shaved head."

"I'd like to think I know you better than that, so, no, I don't believe you're just nervous," Penny starts, keeping her eyes trained on his. "I don't want you to hide yourself from me." When Avi remains silent, she adds, "You're also full of shit."

"What?"

"Seriously, Avi? Shaved head?"

A small smile tugs at his lips and he shrugs innocently. "Oh, totally," Avi says, "I could rub your head before each show for good luck." Penny's anxiety regarding his behavior eases slightly and she playfully smacks him in the chest. "Hey!" he laughs, "I think it's a good idea."

They both fall silent and Penny relaxes against him, closing her eyes and tracing the lines on his palm. "Can you promise me you're okay, though?" Penny asks softly, "That I have nothing to worry about?"

"You have nothing to worry about," Avi answers. Penny opens her eyes and blinks up at him. Avi smiles down at her before bringing her hand up to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to her palm. "I promise whatever negative, uneasy thoughts you're thinking right now are unfounded in reality. You have nothing to worry about."

"We're okay?"

"We are more than okay."

+++

Despite Avi's assurances that everything between them was fine, Penny still has an uneasy feeling in her gut that keeps lingering and growing stronger throughout the day. As sound check is beginning, Penny is situated in the wings of the stage, carefully removing the telephoto lens to her camera and replacing it with the short lens. She keeps peeking up from her work to watch the five of them on stage, running through watered down versions of their songs, finding the right levels for the mics and warming up their voices. Avi seems at ease and content on stage, grinning at the sound stage at the back of the arena and cracking jokes with the others. Penny can't help the frown that tugs at her lips, wondering if Avi's reassurances were just empty words.

Esther walks up next to Penny, planting her hands on her hips, watching the five of them for a few moments before turning to Penny. "Good sound in this arena, huh?" Esther comments pulling her phone from her pocket and scrolling through a text, her fingers working fast against the screen.

Penny glances up at Esther, drinking in her appearance-oversized sweatshirt hanging off her shoulder; long brown hair pulled high into a bun on the top of her head; glasses perched on her nose; her legs clad in skinny jeans with flats on her feet. She can see the family resemblance between Avi and his sister, but for all their similarities, they're both vastly differently.