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Plastic Love - Chapter 10
Stuart's POV

"SAL!" I called after her. "Wait a minute!"
She ran for the stairs down to the lobby. I chased after her, going as fast as my legs could carry me.
Sal ran out of the hotel doors and down an alley. I skidded to a stop.

I peeked around the corner to see her huddled up and crying.
she was quietly talking to herself.
"I blew it! He saw my eye...he probably thinks I'm ugly...Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"
"I don't think you're ugly." I walked into the alley and sat down beside her.
She scooted away from me and hid her face.
"Yes you do..."
"No, I don't and I mean it."
I slid closer to her and gently pulled her arms away from her face.
Her face was still dripping with tears.
I put my hand under her chin and lifted her head up so she was facing me.
While our eyes met I had that strange feeling again.
I swiped a tear from her face and started to push her hair away from her right eye.
"No! Don't-"

Her eye had deep, permanent burns that ran along her cheek and the side of her face.
I found it interesting, actually.
"Listen to me, You're absolutely beautiful. And don't ever let anyone else tell you different."
I smiled at her and I took her hand and helped her up to her feet.
Sal weakly smiled back at me and then tightly hugged me.
Tighter than my sister ever had.
I was a bit surprised, but I smiled, closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around her too.
Finally she let go and backed away a few steps.

"Th-thank you, Stu...you really make me feel...normal."
"Sal, you ARE normal...well, not normal-normal, but you know what I mean."
I smiled at her again.
"I guess you're right."
"I am right!" I winked at her and held my arm up.
"Huh?" she had that funny expression on her face again.
"Let's get back to the hotel. Our friends are probably looking for us."
I raised an eyebrow at her and said "Well, take my arm."
"Uhm, okay!"
she blushed awkwardly.
Then we linked arms and made our way back to the hotel.

-----

When we were back at the hotel we unlinked arms and stopped at the lift.
We both grinned at each other.
"Hey, you should come back to our room and we can talk in peace."
she laughed a little.
"But what about your bandmates?"
I found Sonny quite scary and Kandy quite annoying.
"Well, I think Sonny might still be chasing Kandy around seeking revenge."
"Haha, well then let's go see."

It was unusually quiet as we made our way to their room.
As we were walking I thought of the dumbest thing ever.
I thought maybe since Sal and I were walking so close...
I'd maybe try to hold her hand.
No no no, we barely know each other, right?
And she probably doesn't even like me that way, right?
But I didn't care.
I went for it.

I slowly reached over and gently took her hand.
She gasped but then looked at me and smiled.
She looked away blushing, and I did too.
Sal lightly squeezed my hand.
"I..uh...your skin...it's really soft."
"Oh, thank you, Stu."
We had made it to room 206.

Salmon pulled a room key out of her pocket and slid it through the door.
She opened the door quietly and walked in, still holding onto my hand.
The room was empty.
"Hm. I wonder where they all went."
I looked over to the mini fridge and there was a small post-it note.
"Hey, look at that." I pointed to the note with my free hand.
"Oh, a note!" she let go of my hand and it fell to my side, cold without her warm grasp.
Sal snatched the note up and read it aloud.
"Gone shopping downtown. Just in case you get back before we do. Love - Sonny, Kandy, and Elie."
"I guess we can talk in peace now." I laughed awkwardly.
"Yep." she smiled at me.
The most beautiful smile in the world.