The Unbreakable Lily Rain

Chapter Nine

When I woke up, I was laying in the infirmary. A dull throb coursed through me from head to toe, and I looked sideways. Standing next to me was Jordan, dressed in a loose black t-shirt and sweats.

“What happened?” I mumbled, my voice coming out strained and gravelly.

A high pitched voice sounded from my other side, and I turned the other way. Jo, Tessa, and Vivian all stood by my bedside watching intently. “Jordan didn’t see it happen, since he was already here, but I did.” Tessa’s voice shook and I could see her eyes were cloudy with tears. “Greene kept commanding you to do things, but every time you would slip or slow down, he would kick you.”

Jo hugged her as she trembled, trying to hold herself together. “I wanted to help, but just as I was about to tell him to stop, you fell and-” Tessa hiccupped, before getting the rest of her words out “-you didn’t get up.” She finished brokenly.

For a while, none of us had anything to say. I didn’t remember the details of last night, but something told me I didn’t want to. Instead I turned back to Jordan. He looked okay to me.

At least he was alive.    

“Listen,” he started looking me in the eye and grabbing my arm lightly, “I don’t know what would have happened to me if you didn’t step in. You were brave.”

I gave him a lopsided smile. “It’s alright. We’re in the same company right? We’re supposed to look out for each other.”

Jordan’s expression was grim and he lowered his gaze to the ground. “But none of us guys have been doing that for you three, now have we?”

I could think of nothing else to say to him.

“Thank you, Lily.” Jordan said, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze. “Friends?” He asked, though I could hear the concern in his voice.

“Friends.” I agreed, my face lighting up as my headache temporarily faded.

I could see the anticipation fade from him as he relaxed. He hadn’t expected me to say yes.