Here Comes Goodbye.

Part 1, Lydia.

"ALLISON!!!" Lydia sat straight up as she woke in a cold sweat, the nightmare that haunted her sleep forcing her awake. Only it wasn't just a nightmare. It actually happened. It's reality. Her best friend was dead, and it was her fault. She killed her best friend. Allison died saving her, and that's something that will haunt Lydia for the rest of her life.

She rubbed at her burning eyes as they started to fill with more tears. Nothing seemed to be able to stop them the last few days. Sleep only replayed the nightmare. Trying to think of only the good memories with Allison only brought bittersweet tears. Not even distractions helped ease the heartache or guilt. There was no escaping it. There's only pain, grief and a dark void in her heart that only her friendship with Allison could fill. No in-between.

Bzzz bzzz bzzz bzzz – The sound coming from her nightstand pulled Lydia from her inconsolable thoughts, if only for a minute. As soon as she saw the caller-id on her phone, her heart sank further – Chris Argent. She had been ignoring dozens of messages and calls since that night, unable to face them just yet. Maybe ignoring her friends was a bit selfish seeing as how they, too, were grieving the loss of a friend, but she just couldn't bring herself to respond. The guilt was already there. She didn't need to be reminded that she took Allison away from them as well.

However, this call she couldn't ignore because whatever selfish reasons Lydia may have, Chris is the one that lost his daughter. He had more reason to grieve than anybody. So, she turned on the lamp before grabbing her phone and answering the call.

"Hello?" The sound of her broken voice enticed her to clear her throat.

She heard a sigh come through the speaker before his voice followed, "Lydia?" The sound sent shivers down her spine. It was shaken and cracked, the sound of a broken and grief-stricken father.

"Hi, Mr. Argent." She greeted, trying not to let her own emotion break through.

"I, uh, I'm sorry to bother you," Chris started. "I could just really use your help with something."

Lydia swallowed hard, not sure she could handle whatever Argent was about to ask of her. "Sure. Anything you need."

Argent sighed again, "I know this might be a lot to ask, and that it will probably be emotionally difficult, but not only are you a young lady, but you were also Allison's best friend." There come the tears again. "I just... I don't know what she would want to wear."

"Say no more. I'll get right on it." Her voice was thick with emotion as she fought back the tears, needing to be strong for him. She had no doubt he was feeling the same.

He grew silent, but she heard him sniffle just before speaking again. "Thank you, Lydia."

"Of course." With that, they said their goodbyes and ended the call. Lydia put her head in her hands as a sob finally burst through.

—

Chris and Lydia stood outside Allison's bedroom door, readying themselves to go in. Neither could bring themselves to twist the knob and push the door open. Lydia was sure that Chris hadn't stepped foot into Allison's room the last few days. It was clear on his sunken face. No matter how much he tried to "compartmentalize" his emotions, Lydia could tell he probably hadn't eaten or slept much. She couldn't blame him, either. He'd lost so much the last few years. His sister, his wife, and now his only child. Lydia didn't know how he did it. He was strong, that much she knew.

"Um, I can handle this if you have other things you need to take care of." She offered, trying to compartmentalize her own emotions to be there for the father of her best friend.

He looked down at her, eyes glazed with tears as he nodded, "thank you." Lydia nodded as he squeezed her shoulder when he walked by. He was halfway down the hall when he stopped and looked back. "Lydia?" She turned to look back at him. "Don't blame yourself, okay? It's not your fault." His words instantly brought tears to Lydia's eyes, but she held them at bay. "Whether it was one of her best friends, me, or a stranger..." Chris's jaw clenched as he looked away, obviously fighting his own emotions. "She would have done the same thing. It's who she was."