Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(80)

We all sat there, quiet, for about ten minutes. Claire stuck her head outside to see if she should come sit with us. I could tell Flem was right behind her asking her questions because she was slightly moving her mouth and muttering. I shook my head. If Lump hadn’t talked yet, more people would make the whole process only take longer.

Claire backed away, pushing the hidden Flem as she did so. I could hear them arguing, but then it quieted down again.

Another ten minutes of nothing but crickets chirping. It was actually kind of peaceful. It would be a wonderful spot to lay on a blanket and look at the stars with William.

Focus.

I was just about to suggest that Jane and I leave when then the unthinkable happened: Lump started to sob. I looked over at her in awe. Jane was looking at her as if she had just seen a ghost. In all my years as Lump’s friend, which must be going on ten years by now, I had never, never, seen her cry.

And now she was sobbing. Her body racking, her face screwed up, her hands at her sides; sobbing.

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t. I didn’t know what to do. Oh God, I was panicking.

This must be what guys felt like.

Jane hugged her, with more woman instinct than I had. When she didn’t get thrown off I followed suit.

“He—he...he scared me!” Lump cried and hiccupped at the same time. “He is so big and, and...and angry!” Her body heaved and snot and tears dripped from her face.

Jane produced tissues from her bra. God bless tiny boobed women!

Lump caught her snot, but didn’t give a damn about the tears. Her body still shook.

“I thought he was going to hit me! He is so—so...” She shuddered with sobs. “BIG! And stro—strong.”

More sobs. More snot. A few hiccups.

“Lump,” I tried to console, “you could have averted his punch if he tried. You could have gotten away. He wouldn’t have been able to hurt you.”

She cried harder. “I don’t know. He is fast. He was so, so...angry. So mad.” She gasped for breath. “I didn’t know if he would hit me. He is faster. I didn’t know what would happen. I have never been so scared!” She was uncontrollably crying now. Deep, racking sobs that shook the whole bench, and Jane and I with it.

“But Lump,” Jane tried, “you have had guys try to hit you before. You had two guys try to kidnap you once, remember? They tried to get you in a car? You put them both in the hospital.”

She shook her head. “No! They were idiots! Adam could really hurt me. He co—could overcome me. I don’t, don--” She gasped for breath, wiped at some snot. Jane produced more tissue.

“I don’t think I would have made it long. Not against--” She started crying louder and harder. “He is so strong and angry. So full of ra—rage.”

My turn again, desperately trying to talk rationale to get her calmed down. “You have had your crazy, giant brother try to beat you up. Kill you probably. And he knew more martial arts and fighting and stuff than you did. You fought him off.”

“I kne--knew him. He was trained, had rules. I knew--” Sob, wheeze, snot wipe, swallow. “...knew what he might do. Adam is so...wi--wild!” Racking sob. She shook her head. “He hates me.”

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t think Adam would ever hit anyone, but if he scared Lump this bad, maybe there was something dark in him I didn’t see. If Lump knew something about people, it was how to tap into their dark side and see if the demons lurking there were dangerous.

I looked at Jane. She shrugged back. We hugged tighter and stroked her hair and back. Lump was still crying, but I thought it wasn’t as bad as before. I wanted to rock her, but with three people on a bench, that might not be doable.

I heard quarreling by the door. It was a man and Flem and Claire. They were probably listening to the whole thing and now trying to bar William, or maybe even Adam, from coming out. I then distinctly heard William tell someone to get out of the way. He sounded mad and forceful. He only got like that when it really mattered. Or when I got lost in the ghetto.

Would this be boys against girls? I knew for a fact William would not hurt me, and I was pretty sure Adam was harmless, too, but Lump was in crazy-ville and there was no telling what she would do. I would have to be the road-block on this one. No one would hurt little ol’ me—not even Lump. Still, I wasn’t looking forward to it.

Sure enough, William barged through the door, Adam directly behind him.

“Fuck!” I heard Jane mutter. Lump looked up and saw what was happening.

“Jane, take Lump elsewhere. Get her cleaned up. I’ll head them off.” I stood.

“Got it,” Jane responded.

“I’m fine.” Lump was deathly calm again. I now knew this was probably terrified calm, but not surrendering. Strong woman. She would have probably killed Dusty had our roles been switched.

She did not move, even when Jane and I were trying to lift her up.

William slowed down until he was beside Adam, who was purposely striding out to us. He had a look of determination on his face. When he got close enough to see faces through the dark, he looked at Lump’s face and stopped dead. Disbelieve overcame determination

She stood, squared her shoulders and jaw, and lifted her head. Her body no longer quivered. She looked like a woman accepting her fate. Like she would fight against terrible odds.