Beige

Chapter Five

Harry Styles

Walking into the McComb office this morning, I had a smile on my face that I've convinced myself no one can ruin. I tried to arrive at the same time as I did yesterday in order to see if I would run into Lex again, but unfortunately, the drive-thru line took longer than normal.

I walk into the same room as yesterday, ready for another day of Lamby and Chris yelling over what I should wear to the Grammys or on tour, or anywhere that there is a relevance of importance.

I hand everyone their coffee, noticing that I have an iced chai latte with soy milk, and a shot of espresso still left on the tray. Looking around, I notice that the person who it's for is nowhere to be found. Maybe she's just running late.

Shit. What if last night was too much for her?

I mean I've noticed that she has some anxiety, but what if last night was too much?

Fuck Harry, you're so stupid, you should've just invited her to your house for a night in. Why did we even go to a club?

Oh right, Jack, he wanted to be there. But he didn't even look like he was enjoying it. Shit. What if he said something to Emma who said something to Lex. He can be intimidating sometimes.

Ugh. Is this whole thing messed up?

Chris walks in, and shuts the door, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Goodmorning everyone let's pick up on where we left off yesterday, I believe we were choosing an outfit for the Today's show interview?" He walks over to the two pictures of outfits on the wall. One is a black dress shirt with gold sparkled pants, the other is a green velvet suit with a white dress shirt underneath.

"Wait, we don't have the whole team here, we're missing a person," I say loudly so that Chris can hear me from across the room.

He looks around, eyeing everyone in the room, "Oh you mean Lexi. She doesn't work on Tuesdays, it's in her contract," he dismisses the thought almost immediately, and turns back to the wall.

I want to ask him why she doesn't work on Tuesdays, but I know he's too protective of her to reveal her business. He slipped up at the girls' graduation party and told me that Lex is his second daughter and that she's been through a lot of shit that no one should have ever had to go through. Of course, my curiosity got the best of me, and when I went to ask what had happened to her, he said, "that's up to Lexi to tell you, it's not my story to tell." I let it go after that, she'll tell me on her own time. I could never pressure her into anything she's not ready for.

At least, I know she's not totally avoiding me as I thought. Maybe I could text her and ask how she is. That's not too much, right?

Pulling out my phone, I glance up to see Lamby and Chris back at their bickering between another pair of outfits. I roll my eyes as I go to Lex's contact.

To Lex:
Hi! How are you today?

Simple. Just checking in, like a friend would do. I put my phone on the table in front of me and turn my attention back to the bickering.

Now, it's just a waiting game.

Alexis Monpettit

I'm currently sitting in Christy's office, high out of my mind.

Christy defiantly knows I'm high, but she doesn't mind. She knows that it's the only way I can speak my mind sometimes when things are too jumbled and I feel numb. And man, are things jumbled.

I've been high since I came to terms with what I read in that letter, I'm too scared to know what sober thoughts may occur. I chain-smoked all night until my eyes were too heavy to stay open. When I woke up I started smoking again, and again, and maybe a couple more times.