Silver Bound Girl

Chapter 21

            Her eyes flickering between the group in front of them and Rune, Willow edged over until she stood right beside her friend. She touched his arm lightly, gaze going to the five strangers briefly before returning to him. “Is everything alright?”

            Rune met her eyes and nodded before his attention slid back the people between them and the bonfire. “It’s fine.”

            The boy who’d kicked sand all over them, swayed as he looked at Willow. “I didn’t think anyone would hang out with a frigging psycho,” he slurred. “You do know he hears voices, right?”

            Willow snorted. “Have you always been this petty and stupid? Or do you just spread nasty rumours because it’s the only way you can feel good about yourself?”

            “Shouldn’t be surprised that Rune’s girlfriend’s just as much of a stuck-up bitch as he is. You should both go to hell!”

            “We’re not dating,” Willow and Rune said, almost in unison, before the latter jerked his chin up. “And I’ll ask you to apologize for calling her a bitch, Lance. You crossed a line.”

            Lance made a single fingered gesture in Rune’s direction. “You’re not the boss of me,” he said, before stumbling forward slightly so that he was almost doubled over. He straightened slowly, his head lolling a bit.

            Willow turned to look at Rune, about to tell him they should go sit somewhere else, when she felt a hand on her. She yelped and jerked around to stare as she felt the snap of metal against her skin. Lance stood in front of her, his arm outstretched, firelight flashing orange off the silver cross and chain he held clenched in a fist. “You’re dating a Jesus-freak? How the hell did you do that?”

            “Oi!” came the cry from the crowd behind Lance, but he only ignored it.

            Hand going to the spot on her chest where the pendant normally rested, Willow could only feel her skin. She could feel her face draining of colour, her hand dropping to her bracelet, to reassure herself that she was still safe. Her attention was diverted by movement beside her.

            Rune moved closer, both hands balled up, his eyes murderous as he look at Lance. “Give it back,” he hissed.

            “Make me,” Lance said, before spreading his arms wide, almost pitching forward as he did so. “I’ll even let you have the first shot for free.”

            Willow took a step forward before either of the boys could move. She twisted her body, putting the full force of the movement and her body weight into the fist she sank into Lance’s stomach. He doubled over, his breath wheezing from his lungs as he gasped.

She reached over and yanked the chain out of his loosening grip before stepping back. “Thanks for letting me have the first punch. I’ll warn you now though, if you touch me again, the next strike’s going to your head, in the hope of opening your thick skull.”

Two of the boys standing behind him hurried forward, each grabbing one of Lance’s arms and hauling him upwards while their other two friends slunk off into the crowds. All three of them glared at Willow, who returned them with one of her own. Rune gaped at the whole scene in front of him. Until the boy moved closer.

Willow glanced at him, noticing the way he was covering his mouth, like he was hiding a smile.  A moment later, he raised his eyebrows at the three in front of them. “She’s been learning MMA for several years. I’d suggest not provoking her further. We can call it quits, with no major damage to any of us, alright?”

The two supporting Lance exchanged a look before turning and hauling the swaying boy away. Willow and Rune could hear Lance muttering to let him go back, but his friends ignored him, getting swallowed by the crowds in seconds.

Rune looked at Willow once they’d disappeared. “Nice punch.”

She rolled her eyes. “He was absolutely hammered. A five year old could have taken him out. Who was he anyway?”

He shrugged. “One of my old classmates from PECI. He didn’t like me much.”

“Really? I had no idea,” Willow replied sarcastically.

            “So you’re not fighting anymore? Well, boo,” said a female voice from beside them.

            Willow turned and then made a face. “Carol, what are you doing over here?”

            Her cousin grinned and leaned against Nathan’s shoulder, one of the two boys standing to either side of her. “We saw the commotion from up there,” she said, waving a hand towards the tree covered top of the nearest dune. “And we recognized the stance, so we knew it had to be you. We thought we’d come lend you a hand if you needed it.”

            She snorted. “Bullshit. You just wanted to join in the fight.”

            Carol’s grin turned into a smirk. “There’s that too. It’s not like you’d really need any help, but us Byrons, we have to stick together, right?”

            Willow rolled her eyes again, trying to ignore the sniggering coming from Rune. “Yes, yes. I’m fine, so you guys can go away. I’m sure the three of you can find trouble to get into that’ll keep you away from me.”

            Francis laughed. “If Ed could only hear you.”

            “Shoo,” Willow said, flapping her hands at her cousins.

            They left, chuckling as they strolled off towards the emptier of the flat sand stretches. When they were gone Willow looked at Rune. He was grinning. “You really can’t spit here without hitting one of your family, eh?”

            Willow made a face. “Told you.”