Between the Thorns
Chapter 24
Jean lowered the chair and pulled the cape off the man whose hair she just finished cutting. With all the drama and excitement in the last few days, she hadn't exactly made getting to work a priority. Now that she was back, her small salon and the hallway outside were crowded with people waiting for a haircut. There were even more people than she expected. And after the first few seemed more interested in asking her questions about her personal life than they were in whatever she was doing to their hair, Jean started to wonder what sort of gossip was circulating. Or just how invested these people were in her life. Either way, Jean was just grateful that Daryl took her daughters to the garage with him. Because not only did she need the extra seats to accommodate people, but she didn't really want Lily and Rose to hear what some of them were saying and asking her.
Jean glanced towards the door. She had it propped open and she could hear a small commotion from out in the hall. Jean sighed. She already wrote people's names down on a pad of paper. In order. So there was no point for any of them to start jostling for a position in line. But that didn't mean they weren't doing it. Line cutting was a common practice and a frequent source of conflict in the Sanctuary. Which is exactly why she wrote these nosy assholes names down in order so they would be less likely to start up with their bullshit.
"Move!"
Jean leaned her broom against her styling chair and headed for the door, ready to give whoever was causing problems a piece of her mind. Instead she saw the small crowd parting to allow Simon through.
"Are you okay?," he asked, his face full of concern as he elbowed the last few men out of his way. Jean stared at him in confusion.
"I'm fine," she said. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"
Simon wrapped his arm around her, pulling Jean against his chest. She stiffened a little but allowed the brief contact. She wasn't eager to be touched by him, but she could tell from his facial expression that Simon's concern for her was genuine.
"I don't want you to worry," he assured her. "I'll talk to Negan and find a way to fix this." Simon suspected that Negan had some ulterior motive when he sent him to Hilltop on a job that would keep him for a few days. He just didn't think the man would so far as to force Jean into a marriage with that fucking hostage. Simon couldn't figure out why Negan was so fixated on the man in the first place. It's not like they were short on soldiers. And Simon was under the impression that he and the big man had an understanding in regards to Jean. She was supposed to be his.
"Fix what?," Jean asked, her eyebrows knitting together as she stared up at him. "What are you talking about?"
"That fucking animal Negan married you off to," Simon said. "You don't have to stay with him. I'll take care of it." Jean shook her head.
"You don't need to do that," she said. "I'm fine." Simon looked at her like she had gone totally insane.
"That fucker killed John," Simon said, "...you want to stay with him?" Jean felt the tears welling up in her eyes. But she quickly blinked them away and squared up her shoulders. Then she nodded her head. She would have preferred to be left alone to live her life and take care of her daughters. But that clearly wasn't going to happen. So if her choice was between Daryl and the rest of the pigs in this place, it was an easy decision. She chose him and she would do it again if given a chance.
"I made my choice," Jean said. She cringed when Simon closed the distance between them. He grabbed her arms, squeezing in with his fingers. It hurt. But she didn't try to yank away. He would only grab her harder and leave worse bruises than the ones he was already leaving. "You're hurting my arms," Jean said, her voice barely above a whisper. Simon squeezed harder, making her whimper. A few of the men that were sitting in Jean's waiting chairs rose to their feet. They were only points workers. Much lower in rank than Simon. But there were three of them and one of him. And if it came to a fight, he would be in just as much trouble as them. Not because he was grabbing Jean, but because he was questioning Negan's decisions in front of them.
"Let her go," the larger of the three men ordered. Simon glanced around him at the tense standoff that was developing. Just as suddenly as he grabbed her, Simon released his grip on Jean. She stumbled back, catching herself on the counter with her hand. Simon spun on his heel, slamming his shoulder into the man that spoke to him on his way out.
"Y'alright?," the man asked. Jean nodded as she rubbed at her arms. After the way Simon just grabbed her, she was more certain than ever that she made the right choice when she turned him down. Jean shuddered, thinking about how much worse that might have been if they were alone in his apartment when he got angry with her. She shivered, gooseflesh prickling up on her arms despite the heat of the room. Jean allowed herself one more second to pull herself together. Then she took a deep breath and called out the next name on her list, gesturing for the man to take a seat while she finished sweeping up around him.