Chapter 7

(A/N – In this chapter, a flash back will be italicized. As before, signing is bold, and spoken words are in "quotes".) (Also, special thanks to Muzic-iz-Life ! I love coming and seeing your reviews!) ( "Skin" is property of Sixx A.M. I do not, in any way, shape or form, own the lyrics. All credits go to Sixx. A.M.)(Again, sorry for the super short chapter!)


Emmett, go ahead, I've got something I need to do. Can I borrow your motorcycle though? I signed.

I'll go, but no. Ask Regina or Toby or Wilke for a ride. I don't want you getting hurt. He replied.

Fair enough. Tell Bay I'll be back in a little bit, I gave in. I ran down the hall, texting Wilke to meet me out front.

"Where we going?" He asked as I slipped into the passenger seat of his car.

"Emmett's house, then the cemetery," I replied, watching his face and lips for a response.

"Alright, Boss," he said with a laugh.

I grabbed my guitar from Emmett's room, and ran back to the car.


Once at the cemetery, I walked slowly to my mother and brother's graves. They side by side. I took a deep breath and looked at Wilke.

"How good are you at improvising?" I asked, nodding at my guitar.

"Decent, why?" he asked.

"Because I can't play and sing. I promised my mom that on her birthday, I'd do a cover for "Skin" by Sixx A.M. and I have no intention of breaking that promise," I said.

"I know that song. I got it," he replied, a smile crossing his face.

I took a deep breath and nodded. I hadn't sung since their deaths. I refused to even let Emmett witness me singing, even though he couldn't hear me.

I watched Wilke's fingers as he strummed the intro. I counted backwards until it was time for me to sing.

"Paint yourself a picture,
Of what you wish you looked like,
Maybe then they just might,
Feel an ounce of your pain.

Come into focus,
Step out of the shadows,
It's a losing battle,
There's no need to be ashamed.

'Cause they don't even know you,
All they see is scars,
They don't see the angel,
Living in your heart.

Let the find the real you,
Buried deep within,
And let them know with all you've got,
That you are not your skin.

Ooh ooh

And when they start to judge you,
Show them your true colors,
And do onto others,
As you'd have done to you.

Just rise above this,
Kill them with your kindness,
Ignorance is blindness,
They're the one who stand to lose.

'Cause they don't even know you,
All they see is scars,
They don't see the angel,
Living in your heart.

Let them find the real you,
Buried deep within,
Let them know with all you got
That you are not your skin.

Oooooooooh.

Well they don't even know you,
All they see is scars,
They don't see the angel,
Living in your heart.

Let them find the real you,
Buried deep within,
Let them know with all you've got,
That you are not your skin…

Oooh, ooh," I took a deep breath and cracked my fingers. I wasn'tused to signing full songs, but I spent the last 12 months learning every sign for Skin.

Wilke stared at me, tears in his eyes. I cocked my head in curiosity.

"You…Kanzii, do you realize how much talent you have?" He asked.

"Wilke, I'm deaf. I'm lucky when I can hear Emmett on the drums. I'm even luckier when I can actually sing without sounding like a dying cat. Seriously, Wilke, I appreciate the compliment, but I definitely don't have talent." I said. I shook my head. I loved that song, and it had meaning. I practiced it for so long. That was the only reason I nailed it.

"You do have talent. Anyway, you ready to go back to the hospital?" He asked.

"In a second," I said. I took my guitar and took out my lighter. For the last two years, whenever I came to my relatives' graves and played, I'd melt the strings on my guitar. I actually lost two guitars doing that, but I didn't care. It was my tradition. The only tradition I still had.

"I'm ready now," I said.