Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! They mean a lot to me. Next chapter will be up on the 13th so, hopefully, i'll see you then!

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Café et fraises

Chapter Five

The return of someone dreadful

The Abbey was empty except for the GSE lads, Libby, Lucy and a couple of old men reading their papers at the back. Lucy moved over to the table with a tray of drinks. Libby was curled up on the bench beside Swill, a low groan coming from her mouth when loud music came over the juke box.

'Turn it off,' she moaned. 'It's not helping my hang over.'

'Serves you right for drinking so much,' said Lucy, sitting down next to her and resting Libby's head on her lap.

'Please, just change the song. Or turn it off. Just shut the Goddamn thing up.' Lucy rolled her eyes, putting her glass on the table and getting up. Libby winced as her head was rocked and scowled, yanking herself upright and looking green.

'Luce,' called Terry. 'Someone was asking for you,' he began.

'One moment,' replied Lucy as she moved over to the jukebox, flicking through the songs. Before she had found a preferable track, there was a yell of 'You bastard!' from Libby. Lucy turned, all colour draining from her when she came face to face with a tall man.

'Adam,' she murmured in shock, flinching away when he stepped closer.

'What the fuck are you doing here?' snapped Libby, wobbling unsteadily on her feet. 'It was fine before you came, go away you stupid kn-'

'Libs!' snapped Lucy. 'Shut up!' Libby scowled, not taking her eyes off Adam as he placed a hand on Lucy's waist.

'I wondered where you were,' he said, in a thoughtful tone. He leaned closer, lips brushing her ear. 'It was stupid of you to run away,' he murmured. 'You know I'd find you; it was just a matter of when.' Bovver moved forward, Pete getting to his feet also.

'Who're you?' asked Bovver bluntly when he approached.

'Oh, sorry; rude of me,' he smiled. 'I'm Adam Simons; Lucy's boyfriend.' Lucy stood there, unable to say anything. Bov's eyes rested on hers and she saw a slight pain there. He cleared his throat.

'Boyfriend?' The hand around her waist tightened slightly.

'Yeah,' she squeaked. 'Sorry, must 'ave… slipped my mind or something.' She looked down, allowing her hair to fall over her face.

'Nice place, this,' said Adam, looking around.

'Lucy!' wailed Libby, and the two friends met each other's eyes. The Dunham sister gave a short shake of her head before looking away again. She was here to be away from him and back with her family and now he was here to ruin it all. Lucy's hands clenched slightly when she remembered the days when she wasn't afraid of anyone, always out there, fighting with the lads. And now… Lucy was weak and Adam knew it. Libby fell quiet, tears in her eyes. They were having fun! It had been great! But now that bastard was back.

'Do you want a drink?' she asked, looking up at him but not meeting his eyes. Adam smiled.

'Yes, I think I will.' He walked over to the table they were sat, choosing a seat beside Libby. She moved to the other side of Swill, nose wrinkled as if she smelt something funny. Adam stared hard at her for a moment.

'So, how'd you meet?' said Pete, trying to start some conversation with this stranger, disliking the look on Lucy's face when she saw him; fear. Adam pulled his gaze from Libs.

'We were at a bar in Lincoln,' he said. 'She was dancing with this little runt,' he jerked a thumb at Libby who merely scowled. 'I guess we just hit it off.' Adam gave a laugh, grinning when Lucy returned with a drink for him, before she sat down. 'Been together about a year now.' He looked sincerely at Pete. 'We were planning on getting married.' A low hiss escaped Libby's mouth and Lucy looked surprised. It was news to her.

'Oh,' said Bovver, before he got to his feet. 'I 'ave work,' he put down his glass and grabbing his jacket.

And Lucy felt a great pain as she watched Bovver walk out the door, leaving her with Adam. She hated it.

--

'How dare you just show up like this!' snarled Libby as soon as they got into Pete's flat. He had lent it them for the night, choosing to kip at Dave's instead. Adam slammed the door shut.

'Ah, give over,' he said, grabbing Lucy's wrist as she made for the bathroom. 'Where the fuck do you think you're going?' he hissed, yanking her towards him.

'Get off her!' shouted Libby, charging forward but Adam just pushed her away.

'I come home after work and you're gone? All your things are just gone?'

'I had to get away,' said Lucy, refusing to look at him. Adam grabbed her shoulders, shaking his head.

'Get away from what? Me? Are you scared?' He shook her harder, chucking her on the sofa when Libby started hitting him.

'Get your hands off her, you disgusting piece of-'

'Fuck off, runt!' he snarled, pushing her away. She staggered back into the coffee table, falling over it and grazing her arm.

'Leave her alone,' snapped Lucy, getting to her feet. 'You came for me, all right. Just leave her alone.' Libby scrambled to her feet, clutching her arm to her chest. 'Libby, get out,' she murmured.

'What?'

'Just get out!' Lucy shouted. Wiping the tear from her eye, Libby left the flat, running as fast as she could down the stairs and out the block of apartments. Libby didn't stop running until she was hammering on Swill's front door. She remembered vaguely where it was because he had wanted to pick up some money on the way to the Abbey the first day she had been here.

'All right, I'm coming,' she heard him shout. The door was swung open and Swill looked mildly surprised to see her there. Libby barged in, tears rolling down her cheeks.

'He's going to hurt her!' she screamed, running her hands through her hand and moving about, not really knowing what she was looking for; a knife, a bat, anything to stop that bastard hurting her.

'Libby?' she looked up, noticing Dave and Pete sat on the sofa.

'You're bleeding,' frowned Dave, getting to his feet as she sunk to her knees, leaning forward so her face was pressed into the carpet. 'Darlin' what happened?'

'He's gunna hurt her,' she sobbed. She felt fingers on her wrist, as Swill touched the grazed skin softly.

'He hurt you,' he murmured, as Pete got to his feet.

'We 'ave to get over there,' Pete said, moving towards the front door. Libby sat up, wiping her eyes.

'Stay 'ere, alright?' said Swill. Libby nodded, as he got to his feet.

'We'll be straight back, okay,' said Dave, before they left, leaving the house in silence. Libby put her face in her hands as she sobbed again.

--

Pete slammed his way into the flat, grabbing Adam and throwing him against the wall, as Lucy stepped back with a gasp.

'Pete, stop it!' she moaned, as her brother slammed a fist into Adam's face.

'Fucking 'urting my sister, are you?' Pete snarled, as Adam managed to get to his feet.

'Pete, stop it!' Lucy pushed in-between them, shoving her hands against Pete's chest.

'If you dare touch me again,' snapped Adam. 'I'll fucking kill her. Do you understand me?'

'Pete, leave it, I'm fine!' she said. 'Just leave us alone!'

'Leave you alone? He was hurting you!'

'Pete, fucking listen to me!' she said, eyes narrowed. 'I'm fine. Leave us alone, you ruin everything! I love this man,' she hissed. 'And I'm not having you mess it up as usual!' Pete stood there, staring hard at his sister.

'What bout Libby? He hurt Libby; she's your best friend!'

'She deserved it,' snapped Adam.

'It was an accident,' said Lucy, looking at the floor. 'I'd like you to leave now,' she said in a quiet voice. Pete rubbed his jaw, eyes meeting Adam's smug gaze.

'If you fuckin' touch 'er…' he threatened. Adam just cocked his head to one side without a word.

'Come on, son,' muttered Dave, as Swill glared, eyes narrowed.

'Stay away from Libby,' he spat, backing off when Dave put a hand on his shoulder. Pete took one last look at Lucy, feeling powerless in her demand and the dickhead's threat of killing her. Shutting the door, he closed his eyes for a moment.

'Lucy's a tough girl,' Dave said. 'She won't let him hurt her.' Pete nodded, feeling like he was doing the worst thing by walking away.

'Don't tell Bov,' he said. 'He doesn't need to deal with this shit now.'

'Alright,' nodded Dave, glancing at Swill who still looked thunderous. When they got back, Dave and Pete only stayed a moment to check if Libby was alright. She had calmed down slightly, a couple of plasters on her arm. When they left, the two sat on the sofa, Libby staring into her coffee.

'I hate him,' she seethed, shutting her eyes. 'He's awful.'

'Who exactly is he?' muttered Swill, resting his head on the back of the sofa.

'Lucy's boyfriend, but he's horrible. Always controlling and always cheating on her and always hurting her! That's why she left; to get away.'

'I won't let that bastard 'urt you again,' he said, a serious look on his face as he looked at Libby.

'I know,' she sighed, putting her coffee on the table, sitting back and shutting her eyes.

--

Lucy sat on the sofa, rubbing her eyes. 'Why are you here, Adam?' she asked in a quiet voice.

'You just fucking disappeared and expected me not to find you?'

'How did you?' she asked, looking up.

'I know people; you should know that by now.' Lucy looked down.

'It's over between us, Adam,' she said, voice barely audible.

'No, it's over when I say it is, sweetheart.' He moved over to her, pulling her up by her hand and placing a kiss on her lips. 'We're going to bed. I'll give you a day to say goodbye to all your friends and then we're going.' He paused for a moment, a smile lingering on his lips. 'The runt stays here.'

'Don't call 'er that,' Lucy muttered, glaring up at Adam, who said nothing but gave a twisted smile.

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