STRIP

36.

Clementine Adams

I still feel foolish for leaving. I should have talked to him first. I just thought I was doing what was best for him.

I thought I was standing in the way of him being with Lydia, if she's even around.

Then I assumed he needed time to think and wasn't even going to leave, but he realized I was gone before I could even go back. I kept trying to convince myself it was best to leave but I couldn't step into the elevator no matter how many times I pressed the button to open the door.

"Quinn?" Harry calls once we've entered the living room and don't see him.

"Bathroom, sorry one second," he yells back.

Harry sits on the couch and pulls me down to sit on his lap with him. He rests his head into my neck as he takes a few deep breaths, neither of us knows what to expect right now.

I don't even know what's going on, I don't know how much Harry even knows other than something about Lydia being taken, which I can't piece together very well. Has she been gone this entire time? Is she okay?

I feel indifferent about Harry saying he wants to try harder to find her. On one hand, she could be in trouble, which hopefully Quinn will explain more or say if she's okay or not, and if she's not, I can't blame Harry for wanting to find her and make sure she is. On the other hand, I don't know what it means. I don't know if he just wants to find her to make sure she's safe or because he still has some feelings for her and cares for her. It's selfish to think this way, but my mind hasn't stopped racing since I heard him call her my Lydia, he explained himself, and I believe him but my thoughts still won't slow down.

I keep a tight hold around Harry's neck, slowly rubbing my fingers to try to relieve some of his stress.

"Sorry, had to clean up," I hear Quinn speak, his footsteps becoming louder. "Uh, mind if I sit," he sounds nervous.

I turn my head around to look at his appearance, only catching a glimpse of the bruising around his eye and seeing no more blood before Harry pulls me back into him.

"Please stay here," he whines holding me tightly to him. "Don't leave me," he whispers.

I really should have never tried leaving. It's in his head now that I'm going to leave him eventually when I really just got in my own head.

"I'm not going anywhere," I quietly tell him pressing my body into his further.

"Quinn, I need you to start from the beginning," Harry speaks up now, lifting his head from my shoulder to look at Quinn.

"I don't think I can take another hit," he makes a small joke but Harry doesn't laugh. "Sorry, uh, just listen to everything I have to say before losing your shit on me again."

"I won't hit you. I just want to know the truth," Harry sighs. I turn my head on his shoulder to be able to see Quinn. He's shaking with nerves right now. I don't blame him. Harry scared me when he was angry and I wasn't even a target of his anger. I also feel extremely safe with him, I know he would never do anything to hurt me but he and Quinn have a much different relationship than he and I do.

"Alright, um, I guess I'll start from the beginning," Quinn mumbles before looking at me, his eyes meeting mine in mercy. Whatever is going on is eating him alive. Even without the obvious wounds to his face, he looks tired like he's spent sleepless nights thinking about this. I almost feel sorry for him having to share whatever this information is. "You already know about my father, so I'll skip that bit, but, uh, when I got into college, freshman year I did great. I loved being away from him and not living in the same house as he did. Everything was fine. Sophomore year, everything kind of hit me, like I was falling down this hole for no reason. I, uh, I obviously started getting into drugs and shit, and um, I, uh," he's constantly stuttering over his words.