Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

As the elevator doors opened, a lone figure in black sat motionless in the middle of the open space. Nicholas had his arms wrapped around his knees, his head buried deep.

If it were anyone else, I might have assumed they were crying. But Nicholas wasn't the kind of man to shed tears over a fight.

Pete was nowhere to be seen. For a moment, I hesitated. Should I step out?

The elevator doors began to close after being unable to detect a need to stay open. Everything before me was compressed by the closing doors.

I stood frozen, watching Nicholas through the narrowing gap until the doors sealed shut, leaving him outside my view.

I exhaled deeply, my thoughts in turmoil. Should I go check? After all, this was my place. But where was the other person from the fight?

My heart tightened at the thought. What if Pete was beaten up so badly that he had been tossed aside somewhere, out of sight?

I shook my head, snapping back to why I was even here. I reached out and furiously pressed the button to open the elevator doors again. What a day!

front of me as if

called out my name, a bitter smile pulling at

the cut at the corner of his mouth, and the bruises on his face tightened. The veins on his forehead throbbed under the

stood less than three feet apart, staring at each other. I watched him gulp as if he

whisper escaped his throat. "Let me hold

I could react, he grabbed me tightly. Nicholas's hug was crushing, his arms coiling around me

moment happened so quickly that I didn't even have time to

my eyes, my mind

his dark eyes and tear-dampened lashes. I couldn't help but feel disoriented, as if time had somehow

walls reflected

him away, quickly pressing the button to

need me to arrange for someone

his current disheveled state, he wasn't fit

looked around the area around us. "Where is