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!

me as if he had teleported here. He blocked the

a bitter smile pulling

face tightened. The veins on his forehead throbbed

to say more, but no sound came. We stood less than three feet

a long pause, a hoarse whisper escaped his throat. "Let me hold you...

crushing, his arms coiling around me as if he

moment happened so quickly that I didn't even have time to refuse. Even as I found myself in his embrace, it felt

closed my eyes,

I couldn't

the tight space. The glossy walls reflected his lonely silhouette and all

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

please have some self-respect. Do you need me to arrange

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

get his response. So, I looked around the area around