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It took exactly three minutes before Miss Grant fell to her knees talking Miss Raven with her resulting in Miss Raven signalling that we should leave, which we did. We went to the kitchen and the moment we both sat down, a heart shattering scream was heard.

I felt my heart clench at the sound of her crying. I never in my life thought I'd be this heartbroken over someone else's heartbreak but I felt it, I hated feeling it, I hated not knowing what to do, I hated not knowing how to make her smile. I don't know when we held hands but by the time I noticed, I began tightening my hold looking for comfort.

"What do you think is wrong with her Vanni?" Eddie asked making me shrug

"I wish I knew, fuck" I said running my free hand through my hair with a sigh as he rubbed the back of my hand.

We sat in silence, listening to the woman we've grown to love crying her heart out in her friend's arms. I wished I could comfort her, I wish we could comfort her. Show her that she can relay on us, depend on us, talk to us, trust us, I want all of this and more. It feels as though Eddie and I are taking great steps forward in our relationship, while our relationship with her is taking a few steps backwards every passing moment.

"Whiskey?" Miss Raven asked as she walked into the kitchen. Miss Grant had stopped crying a few minutes ago but we decided to remain in the kitchen until she was ready to see us.

"We don't drink on the job" I said making her nod and pour herself a glass

"It's not my story to tell so don't ask" she said with a sigh after throwing the whole glass down her throat
"Give her time"

"We understand" I said making her nod and pour another glass

"She's on the coach, I know she hates it when people hover, so I'll be in my office" she said then walked away with the bottle in her hand. Slowly, we made our way to the living room and true to her word, Miss Grant was on the couch asleep.

"What should we do?" I asked him because all I want to do is pick her up and hold her

"Be there for her even when she doesn't want us to be, she may push us away, but we remain there for her even if it's at a distance" he said making me nod, grateful that at least one of us was being reasonable and responsible.
"Come on"

"What?" I asked watching him walk toward her before lifting her head and placing it on his lap

"Let's be here with her until she tells us otherwise" he said smiling at me making me smile back before sitting down with her legs on my lap. I saw her eyes open the moment Eddie moved her head but she didn't saying anything, so we didn't say anything either. We sat there in silence with both Eddie massaging her scalp while I massaged her feet

"I was bullied all throughout my schooling years" Eddie said breaking our silence but shocking the shit out of both of us

"You?" I asked making him chuckle

"Believe it or not, but I was a shy fat kid back then" he said with a smile on his face while my jaw continued hanging
"I only started defending myself during the last half of my matric year. It was pointless and probably stupid to only start defending myself then, but I did it anyway"

"Can I see pictures?" Obsidian asked making Eddie smile down at her

"I'm sure if you asked my father he'd be more than willing to embarrass me" he said making her smile and close her eyes again