STRIP

53.

Harry Styles

I feel like my eyes are mistaking me as I look in front of me, blinking multiple times at the woman standing in the same amount of shock as I am. We both keep our eye contact as this was the last thing either of us was expecting tonight. 

I've seen Clementine look up at me multiple times now within the minute we've been standing in front of the door. She doesn't know how to react to me speaking Lydia's name, she wasn't expecting this either. 

Lydia hasn't responded to my question, looking for confirmation that it's her, even though I know for a fact she is the one standing in front of me right now. I haven't seen her in nearly two years. It feels like I forgot what she looked like and now every memory of her floods back into my mind, she stands almost as tall as I do, probably only an inch or two shorter, her hair is a dirty blondish, almost golden looking color but maybe it's been dyed to look that way, I remember it being lighter than it is now. She looks like she's lost weight, she looks almost pale, unhealthy even. 

I remember vividly her complaining about her weight, saying she wished she weighed just ten pounds lighter, she looks maybe thirty pounds lighter right now. I always told her she was a very healthy weight, she was a runner, mainly muscle, now her arms look frail, my fingers would easily fit around the largest part of her arms. 

Not only was she the last person I expected to see, but this was also the last location I expected to see her in. I would have never imagined I'd walk in, arm wrapped around Clementine as walking into expecting to do boring paperwork and coming face-to-face with the woman that was taken from my life two years ago. 

I feel like I should speak up again, maybe she didn't hear me, maybe she replied already and I didn't hear her. Maybe I need to say something to Clementine at this point but my mouth feels too dry to even open, afraid if any more air comes in through my mouth my tongue could shrivel up. 

"Yeah, it's me," Lydia finally speaks up, the man she's standing with I've only seen around here a few times. He's been coming here for a little over a year but has only come in randomly, maybe once a month at most. 

"I can go up to your office, maybe?" Clementine whispers next to me. I can't imagine how she feels right now. 

We were both full of life walking in today, coming off a high from an amazing vacation together, ready for an amazing night together. I looked forward to just sitting in my office with her because even if the work was boring she'd make it enjoyable. She'd find some way to make me tolerate being here, even if it was as simple as sitting across from me while I was typing, resting her head in her hands as she stared at me, pointing out random facts about my face as she studied me. 

"No, don't leave," I state, thinking about how I want to approach this situation. I don't even know if Lydia wants to talk to me. I have a fuck load of questions for her, my main question being what she's doing here. I however don't want Clementine to leave my side, being out of my sight even if it was for a five-minute conversation. I also know if I do talk to Lydia, it's something I should do on my own. "I, uh, I need to find Quinn," I decide. 

"I can go find him-" Clementine starts. 

"No, no, I don't, I, don't do that, I don't want you just walking around, please, just let me think," I interrupt her, pulling her closer to me as I stare at Lydia again. The man next to her has his arm placed around her hip, the same way mine is against Clementines. His hold looks more like a hold of force rather than comfort and love. 

I shouldn't feel this way, I shouldn't be disturbed seeing that, but it doesn't feel right. I can't wrap it around my head yet but I know I'm not jealous of him, I just feel uncomfortable about the whole situation.