SEEKING 7 | boys of tommen

w e d n e s d a y

Seven weeks had passed since we last argued, and now we were better than ever. It was Wednesday, and the final day of dress fittings before the winter ball on Friday night. The atmosphere at school was festive, with everyone in the common room buzzing about Christmas plans and the upcoming event.

As I stepped inside, I immediately caught sight of Gibsie, lounging on the sofa with Shannon, Johnny, and a few others. The moment he spotted me, he jumped up dramatically. "Heads up, Aurora! These two inconsiderate bastards are jetting off to Paris without us." Huffing out an exaggerated breath, he swiped Shannon's mouse ears and perched them on top of his head, giving me a mischievous grin. "See this? Take a good look, baby, because unfortunately, this is the closest you're going to get to Mickey this Christmas. Unlike mister limitless cash flow over there"—he jabbed a thumb at Johnny—"your stud muffin can only afford to take you to see Santa."

"Aww!" I cooed, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing a playful kiss to his cheek. "You're taking me to see Santa?"

"Ho, ho, ho, Princess," he replied with a wink, pulling me closer. "And if you're really good, maybe we can..."

Before he could finish, a furious scream cut through the room. "Oh my God!" Lizzie stood up, face twisted with anger, and hurled the glass she'd been holding against the wall. It shattered into pieces, silencing the entire room.

What the hell?

"Gibs," Johnny warned softly, offering him a look when he opened his mouth to respond. "Not worth it, lad."

"I know that," Gibsie ground out, his voice low and tense. "But she's the one who won't make peace."

"Peace?" Lizzie's voice was thick with emotion as she choked out the word, glaring at him. "You honestly expect me to make peace with the brother of my sister's rapist? The same brother with blood on his hands?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "You supported him. You backed him up when I was supposed to be your friend. I would rather slit my wrists than ever make peace with you!"

"I didn't back him up!" Gibsie roared, his control slipping. "Believe me, there's no one on this planet who despises that bastard more than me."

"Keep telling yourself that, Thor," she sneered. "See if it helps you sleep at night."

"I'm not listening to this," he muttered, his body trembling with suppressed rage.

"You're not listening because you're guilty," Lizzie spat back, her voice laced with venom. "And deep down, you know it."

"Fuck you, Liz."

"Fuck you right back!" she shot back, eyes blazing. "I don't care if there wasn't enough evidence for a case. I know the truth. I read the letter. So don't you stand here and lie to my face."

Whoa.

Johnny, who had been watching silently until now, snapped. "Hey!" he barked. "Don't fucking go there."

"Oh, that's right, Captain Fantastic," Lizzie mocked, her voice breaking. "Protect your lapdog."

"Johnny, wait," Shannon pleaded, tugging at his arm. "She's hurting so bad right now."

Johnny shook his head, his voice cold. "Shan, I love you, but I'm not her audience for this."

"You need to stop talking," Johnny warned Lizzie, stepping protectively in front of Gibsie. "Back off."

"She started it!" I interjected before Lizzie could twist things further. "She threw the cup. She brought this up."

"Why are you always siding with him?" Lizzie screamed, her voice raw with frustration.

"Because he's my boyfriend!" I shouted back, feeling my own frustration rise. "And I'm not going to stand by while you treat him like this! Like shit!"

"You know what happened!"

"I know it had nothing to do with Gibsie!"

"My sister is dead!"Lizzie's voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. "She's dead because of his brother!"

"So is Gibsie's sister!" I shot back, fury bubbling in my chest. "We all have losses, but you don't see me going after people 24/7!"

"Yeah, well, here's the difference, Aurora. I didn't drown his sister. But his brother sure as hell drowned mine."

"Guys, can we not?" Shannon's voice came out small, but it was too late. The pot had boiled over.

"I'll never be okay with you going out with him!" Lizzie cried, her voice breaking.

"And I don't need your permission!" I snapped. "We're not friends, Lizzie!"

Looking like a wounded animal, Lizzie shook her head and bolted for the door. "You can all go to hell."

"What the..." Hughie muttered, stepping into the scene, his eyes locking on Lizzie. "What happened?"

"Ask the rapist-protector," Lizzie spat.

Hughie turned to Gibsie, his expression confused. "Gibs?"

But Gibsie remained calm, his voice eerily steady as he replied, "You know what, Liz? One day, you're going to have to make peace with the fact that the only person responsible for your sister's death...is your sister."

The second those words left his mouth, Lizzie snapped. She lunged at him, a scream ripping from her throat, but Hughie was quicker. He intercepted her, wrapping his arms around her waist before she could reach Gibsie.

"Let me go!" she screamed, thrashing against him, her fists pounding against his chest. "I don't need you to save me!"

Hughie didn't let go. He held her close, his face grim as he absorbed her blows, whispering something into her ear as her rage slowly turned into sobs. Her hands, which had been hitting him moments before, curled into his shirt, her body trembling against his.

Johnny, still standing between Lizzie and Gibsie, gave Hughie a look. "Get her out of here, Hughie," he said quietly. "Now."

Hughie nodded, catching a set of keys someone tossed his way. Shielding Lizzie from the stares of the others, he guided her toward the door, his arm wrapped securely around her. Johnny, keeping a firm hand on Gibsie's shoulder, led his best friend in the opposite direction, away from the chaos that had just unfolded.

In the stunned silence that followed, Pierce, who had been lingering near the door, spoke up. "She needs help," he muttered. "That girl is seriously unwell."

"Don't say it like that," Patrick snapped back, his voice sharp. "Jesus."

"Hurt people hurt people," Shannon whispered, her eyes sad. "I'm not excusing it, but please...don't vilify her for not coping in the healthiest way."

"We all have trauma," I said softly, shaking my head. "But we don't all lash out at others because of it, like us for example Shan, you don't see us hurting every Tom,Dick and Harry."

Shannon sighed. "I know. But for Lizzie...she's still living in that moment. The day her sister died. For her, time hasn't passed."

Patrick nodded, adding, "She's stuck, and she's not moving forward."

Shannon looked at us, her eyes full of understanding and sadness. "Time can't heal when it doesn't pass by."