Seeing as the next chapter is prettifully short (not even two pages) i will post this and Chapter seven at the same time to give you something to read.
I recommend listening to The New Kids on the Block - Single because it has Donnie Walberg in it and he is fit.
SIMPLE AS.

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Café et fraises

Chapter Six

Not as cocky now

Libby stared across the room at Adam and Adam stared back. Neither of them smiled. Neither of them spoke. The only movement was their blinking.

'Will you two give over?' hissed Lucy, dumping her cereal bowl on the coffee table. Adam drew his gaze off Libby slowly.

'Have you said your goodbyes yet?' he asked, rising an eyebrow.

'Goodbyes?' Libby frowned, also staring at Lucy. 'What's he talking about?'

'Lucy has decided she wants to come home with me.'

'Bollocks!'

'Libs,' sighed Lucy. 'I think I do-'

'Don't let him brainwash you!' the black haired girl replied, getting to her feet. 'You want to stay here! I know you do!' she turned to Adam. 'You're such a fucking prick. I hate you. Lucy hates you!'

'Get fucked, Libby,' Adam sighed, staring at her as you would stare at road kill.

'No, you get fucked Adam. You aren't the big fucking man you think you are. You're a no body.'

'Libby, please,' sighed Lucy, rubbing her temples at the building headache. She didn't need this.

'Don't 'Libby' me!' she retorted, putting her angry glare on Lucy. 'How can you sit there and let him control you!' Glaring at Adam, she stepped forward. 'I wish you would just drop dead Adam Simons.'

'Libby, shut up!' Lucy snapped. She stepped back, staring at the blonde.

'You know what? Fine. Let him beat you up just so he can feel like the big man.' She knocked the cereal bowl off the coffee table before she walked out, slamming the flat door shut after her. Adam smirked.

'Told you she was good for nothing,' he said. Lucy shook her head as she got on her knees to clean up the mess. 'I'm talking to you.'

'I heard,' she replied, picking up the bowl and moving into the kitchen. She washed the bowl and her hands before sighing. 'Can't you just leave her alone?'

'Have you said your goodbyes?' he asked, changing the subject abruptly.

'No,' she mumbled.

'You need to do it now,' he said, getting to his feet. 'I'm going to the Co-op to get some snacks for the journey home. When I get back I want you to have said goodbye because you won't have another chance.'

So, Lucy made her way to the Abbey with a heavy heart.

'Hey, Luce,' smiled Dave when she approached the table but his smile faded when he noticed the look on her face. 'What's up, darlin'?'

'I'm going back home with Adam,' she replied in a dull voice.

'But you only just got 'ere,' frowned Pete.

'I know, but I think it'll be best if I leave.'

'What about, Libby?' asked Swill, glancing at the dark haired girl who had turned in her seat so her whole back was to Lucy. 'Libs?'

'Its fine,' said Lucy with a weak smile. 'She doesn't agree with what I what.'

'Because it's stupid,' Libby snapped, still not turning around.

'Where's Adam?' asked Pete.

'He went to the Co-op,' she replied, slumping down in the chair beside Ned. 'Getting things for the journey.'

'When are you going?' Bovver asked. His face was masked to hide all emotion.

'When he gets back,' she said. 'About twenty minutes?' Bovver nodded, getting to his feet. Lucy frowned after him as he walked out the Abbey, getting to her feet to go after him; to stop him doing whatever he was going to do. Pete grabbed her hand.

'No,' he said, shaking his head. 'Stay 'ere.' She sat back down, a nervous expression on her face.

--

Bovver could see Adam up ahead, a Co-op bag in his hand. He remembered one of Lucy's old boyfriends; Paul Jackmann, he was called and they had dated in year 10, until Bov had sorted him out.

'Oi, Jackmann,' yelled Bovver, standing on the pavement, opposite the blacked haired teenage. Paul looked up, a slight smirk on his face as he noticed Bov.

'Alright?' he asked. Bov didn't answer. Paul paused for a moment, before walking off towards his house. Bov slipped from the curb, moving down the road after him. Paul took a short cut down an alleyway, scuffing his trainers on the dirty floor. Bovver was on him in an instant, slamming the boy into the wall. He stumbled as he was pushed, hitting the floor, his knees being grazed on the ground. Bov grabbed him and yanked him to his feet. He slammed Paul against the wall, one hand wrapped around his throat.

The other hand was drawn back in a fist. He slammed it forward, Adam's head cracking against the wall.

Paul gave a groan, bringing his arms up to block the next punch Bovver threw at him. He kicked his leg up, knocking his foot into Bov's shin.

Bovver grunted at the sharp pain in his leg, throwing Adam to the floor. The man rolled onto his back, hand coming up to touch his bleeding nose. 'Big man, huh?' he roared with laughter.

Paul knocked his head back as he laughed, giving just enough time for Bovver to launch himself at the younger boy, nutting his head against Paul's. Paul struggled underneath him, arms covering his head as Bovver rained blows down on him.

Adam tried to knee him again but missed, Bov's own knee coming down to get him sharply in the groin. Adam hissed in pain, curling automatically.

'Stop!' whimpered Paul.

'If you come near Lucy again,' Bov spat, eyes blazing. 'I'll kill you myself.' Adam looked up at him and there were tears in his eyes. 'Now, go back to whatever pit you fucking came from and stay there.'

Paul nodded, sobbing quietly as Bovver got to his feet, wiping dirt from his trousers. Then, he turned away, lighting a fag and walking back towards the main road.

Bovver exhaled the smoke, hands still shaking in anger.

--

'What happened to your knuckles?' Lucy asked, a couple of minutes after Bovver had returned to the Abbey. Bov redrew his hand under the table.

'Adam's not coming back,' he said simply. Pete frowned at him, glancing at Lucy, then back at his best friend.

'Bov, what didja do?' he asked.

'Does it matter?' the younger man snapped. 'Where's Libby?'

'She went 'ome,' replied Swill, a grumpy look on his face. 'You've really pissed 'er off, Luce.'

'Fuck off,' Lucy snapped, turning to glare at the other man. 'You don't know 'alf of what's gone on. You just wanna get laid.'

'No I fucking don't!' Swill flushed. 'I just don't wanna see 'er hurt.'

'Great, don't care about the person you've known for years then; just as long as she has big tits.'

'Oi,' snapped Pete. 'Stop it, both of you. We 'ave other things to think about.' He turned back to Bovver. 'What did you do?'

'I just fucking gave him a few punches – sorted him out.'

'So, he's not dying somewhere?' Lucy asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

'No,' he grumbled in reply. It fell quiet for a moment.

'So, you're going to stay?' asked Dave, a grin on his face which Lucy returned.

'Yes. You lot won't be able to get rid of me now.'

--

Lucy let herself into Pete's flat, finding Libby curled up on the sofa, a mug of chocolate in her hands, eyes on the screen. She was watching Band of Brothers; by the looks of it, it was Part four, Replacements. Lucy shook her head about the fact that she could tell what episode it was just by looking at it.

'Adam…. Bov beat him up. He's gone.'

'That's nice,' she replied curtly, taking a long, slurping sip of hot chocolate, her eyes never leaving the screen. Lucy sighed, rubbing her eyes wearily.

'Look, Libs,' she began.

'No, you look,' snapped Libby, shifting to stare at her. 'I stuck up for you back there. I wasn't willing to let him walk all over us. I tried to help and you threw it back in my face! I can't believe you'd choose getting beaten up over your best friend.'

'It wasn't like that,' replied Lucy. 'I didn't want you to get hurt.'

'I can look after myself, Luce. When was the last time you hit back at Adam? Two years ago at the Halloween Party? That was it; now you just cower and hope he leaves you alone.' Lucy moved towards the fuming woman and sat down, pulling her into a hug.

'I'm sorry. I really am; I shouldn't 'ave pushed you away like that.' Libby sighed, but gave a small nod.

'He's really gone?'

'Yeah,' she replied. 'Bovver went after him. He won't be coming back now.' Libby gave a sniff and another nod, wrapping her arms tight around the blonde's waist. The two women curled up together on the sofa, both deep in their thoughts. Adam was gone and there was no way Bovver would ever let him come back.

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