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!

Nicholas was suddenly right in front of me as if he had teleported here.

out my name, a bitter smile pulling

his face tightened. The veins on his forehead throbbed under the pale elevator light. It made him look all the more

if to say more, but no sound came. We stood less than three feet apart, staring at each other. I watched

escaped his throat.

could react, he grabbed me tightly. Nicholas's hug was crushing, his arms coiling around me as if he might break me

time to refuse. Even as I found myself in his embrace, it

eyes,

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

space. The glossy walls reflected his lonely silhouette and all the times I had chosen

pushed him away, quickly pressing the button to reopen the doors, and

have some self-respect. Do you need me to arrange for someone to take

gave him a once-over. In his current disheveled state, he wasn't fit to be seen

his response. So, I looked around the area around