STRIP

22.

Harry Styles

Everything between Clementine and I is going better than I could ever imagine. 

She stayed the entire weekend to help me entertain Iris and her friends but turned out they didn't even bother with us from the minute they got here up until the second they left. I can't believe Iris has friends, friends that enjoy hanging out with her. She's an amazing girl, I've always known that but it takes her so long to open up to people and feel comfortable with them, it's nice seeing people giving her a chance. 

I ordered pizza for them but that was basically the only time they came out of Iris's bedroom that night. I heard them laughing in there until about midnight, Clementine was passed out, arms wrapped tightly around me by that time but those girls were still going wild. The next morning they all left shortly after waking up, needing to finish homework for the day but said they would come over sometime this week to study for the math test they have. Iris was happy all day Sunday, talking about how many rounds of the game clue she had won against them. 

Even at sixteen, I was drinking every single night, I'm proud of that girl for finding the right group of friends who are more interested in movies and board games than getting drunk at such a young age. I also trust Iris enough to know she wouldn't do that, knowing how horribly it messed up my life for so many years. 

Iris couldn't even wipe the smile off her face on Monday morning as I was driving her to school, she was excited to go to school, for the first time, ever I think. All of the girls stopped eating lunch in the cafeteria and now eat lunch with Iris in one of the classrooms because they all have the same teacher, I guess. Iris wasn't actually the first person to tell me about that either, I got an email from her teacher expressing how much happier Iris has seemed since moving in with me considering I had to change her address and explain to her teachers her new living arrangements. She mentioned how the first few days Iris didn't talk much during lunch with the girls but now is often the main one talking or starting conversations. 

I can't help but blame myself for how hard the past two years have been on Iris. She lost both her parents at such a young age on what was supposed to be such an amazing night for her and turned out to be the worst. 

She has been deprived of a strong female role model in her life since my mother passed away but insert my beautiful Clementine, the strongest female role model I could ask for in Iris's life and now she has three friends and is actually happy. My Iris, happy. 

Hell, I'm even happy. I didn't know happiness could feel this good. I'm glad I didn't go searching for happiness though because I think Clementine came at the perfect time. She would have never ended up with me if she met me before I started to fix myself. I was a fucking wreck. 

Which brings me to the club on a Monday morning, I need to sort out this bullshit that happened on Friday night and make sure Jack has checked the cameras. Clementine makes me happy, she makes work tolerable and I want her with me all the time. Granted I know I can't have her with me all the time but she seemed to enjoy coming to work with me and some asshole won't ruin that. He won't ever step foot in this fucking club again. 

My blood boils at the thought of my pretty girl shaking on the ground crying, the beautiful strong woman I know, broken and weak on the floor because someone couldn't keep their hands off of her. I cared more at that moment about making sure Clementine was okay and comforting her but part of me wishes I would have tried to find the dick right away and kicked his ass or called the cops. I'd prefer to kick his ass but being the manager of the club I know calling the cops would have been the better solution. 

I won't feel comfortable having Clementine out of my sight in the club until this guy has been removed, shitty part is, she never even saw him. Not only was it dark but she said he grabbed her from behind and I know multiple men were in that room during the time.