It was like a dam broke. Horrible, gut-wrenching sounds left Lola’s lips. She couldn’t keep them in, she couldn’t stop. Her body was wracked with them, with the need to release all her pain. Dr. Jones rocked her as she cried, stroking her hair and murmuring into her ear.
After a time, Dr. Jones jerked to a stop and said, “Oh, shit, we need to get you stitched up.”
Lola laughed and sobbed as the same time. She’d never heard Sebastian’s mom swear.
“Come on, honey.” She patted her hand and handed over a tissue. “Let’s go perform some minor surgery. You want Sebastian with you? Of course you do. Come on.”
8
“Your mom stopped by, signed papers, and left,” Dr. Jones told her, gaze intent on Lola’s face.
Pain stabbed her chest and Lola looked away from Dr. Jones’s probing gaze. “Must have…had stuff to do.”
“Something more important than being with her daughter when she’s hurt?”
Lola was saved from answering when Sebastian walked into the room.
He took one look at Lola’s face and rushed over. “What happened? Are you okay?” His eyes searched her face. She was sure she looked quite fetching with her puffy eyes and red nose.
“She’s fine. Sit down on the other side of the table, on her other side, Sebastian.” Dr. Jones gave her arm a light squeeze. “This will sting a bit. Hold still. Deep breaths.”
A hand enclosed hers and held it tight. Sebastian’s.
“Debbie, is everything ready?” The nurse said it was.
Her chin was swabbed with a cold gauze pad that smelled like alcohol. “Okay, Lola, here we go.” Lola closed her eyes as the needle came nearer, a sharp sting and pressure letting her know the injection was taking place.
It took a few minutes for the area to numb up, a few more for the six stitches to be placed.
“How you doing?” Sebastian asked once it was done.
Sebastian still held her hand and Lola squeezed it in silent thanks. “I’m fine.”
“You looked terrible when I first came in. You don’t look much better now.”
Lola laughed weakly. “Thanks.”
His mother came up behind him. “Okay, Sebastian, time to leave again.”
He didn’t move, kept his eyes on Lola. “I’m not leaving Lola.”
“Yes, you are. Lola and I have some things to discuss. She’ll be out shortly.”
Sebastian released her hand. “I’ll be waiting out front, in the waiting area.”
Lola nodded and sat up. She looked around the white room with its many counters, cupboards, and unusual instruments. Anywhere but at Dr. Jones.
She couldn’t tell her and Lola knew that’s what Dr. Jones wanted to talk about. She didn’t even really know why. She wanted to tell her, she really did. But Lola couldn’t.
Dr. Jones swiveled around in the chair and looked at her. Those eyes knew. Dr. Jones’ lips pressed into a line and she clasped her hands together. “You have bruises on your arms, neck, cheek, and a fading one above your eye. How did you get them?”
She looked at her shirt and fingered the thin material. Why couldn’t she tell her?
Sebastian’s mother let out a sigh. “I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what’s going on. So? Lola? What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Why did she say that? Take it back, Lola, and tell the truth. Her lips wouldn’t move, no words would form. It was like her brain shut off.
“Nothing?” Disbelief and disappointment rang clearly in that one word.
She jumped down from the table. “I have to go. I have to work.”
Dr. Jones Jones stared at her, incomprehension clouding her features. “Why?”
She purposely misinterpreted her question. “Because I’m on the schedule.” Lola walked to the door, opened it, and turned back to look at Sebastian’s mother. “Thank you. For everything.”
***
Sebastian walked her across the street to her house. Lola’s eyes kept going to the door; she wondered what Bob was doing at that very moment. If he was waiting for her. If he would come out and yell at her. Sebastian needed to leave.
“Thanks for everything,” Lola told him and inched toward the door.
“It’s the least I could do. After all, it was my girlfriend that attacked you.” He tried to smile, but failed. “What time you need to leave by?”
“I don’t need a ride, Sebastian. I’m fine. Really.” Fear of what Bob would do or say if he found out she’d gotten a ride from Sebastian caused her to sound harsher than she meant to.
Sebastian blinked and fell back a step. “Right.” He looked away. When his eyes met hers, they were gray pools of pain. “Can we start over? I don’t know what happened. I don’t even care. I’ve been miserable this past year. At first I was mad, but now…it just sucks. I miss my best friend.”