65.0

65.0
HARPER

"You just came out of the blues. I don't know what to feel."

"I don't know... you could start by hugging me? Telling me how much you miss me? You're just not bothered." She sighs and blinks her teary eyes. "It's fine. If you don't want me here then I'll leave. I came here to talk to Damien about Nyla."

I watch her without a word. "Skye..."

"It's alright if you don't know how to act. I'll just..." Her words die down when she sees Lyra and Bailey walking out of the dining area. Damien follows close behind. They take in the unfolding drama.

"Are these girls your new friends?" Skye asks.

"I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm just trying to be cautious."

She nods. "Yes. Got it. I'll just go." She turns to leave, and I don't stop her. I don't say a word. I let her go. Once she's out the door, I try not to bail. I try not to show Lyra and Bailey that I'm crying. I just take a few puffs of air in and I exhale. I beckon to Lyra and she walks over and takes Nyla from me.

"Are you okay?" She asks.

I shake my head. "Not exactly."

"Who's that girl?" It's Bailey this time.

"A friend I used to know from... from before I had Nyla," I admit truthfully. Well, not truthfully because Skye was more than just a friend. Am I really using the word 'was'? I don't know how to define our relationship. I didn't think I'd ever see her again.

I have a lot of questions. Like what the fuck is she even doing here? Isn't she supposed to be with Ethan? I thought the two of them would run off into the sunset together. I mean, they did love each other. 

Another question is why her hair is freaking red! There's only one very obvious answer to that one. I mean, she must have done that just to remember me. Trust Skye to be sentimental and go all the way out just for friendship.

"Harper, do you need to sit down? You've been... in your head for long. If she's really that important then why did you let her walk away?" Lyra asks.

"I don't know. Skye is just... she's that friend that you adore and will go to lengths for but when you leave and give them a break... it just feels... I don't know." I mutter, folding my arms across my chest and shutting my eyes. 

Of course, I don't want to be plagued by memories from our past. Good memories no doubt, but... It will be torture to recall that we used to be so close. I don't get why I was mean. Or, why I had the idea to be mean. 

Skye is...

"How close are we talking?" Lyra says as she adjusts Nyla's head a little. 

"Best friends?" I say. 

"What is she doing here?" 

"I don't know." 

"Do you think she's here because you're here? What if she contacts your family and they want to find you? What if they actually find you here and want you to come home?"

My eyes are wide and unblinking as I stare at Bailey. "She would never do that."

"Are you entirely sure? Just think. What are the chances of meeting your best friend here? I don't like the sound of this but just watch out." Bailey continues.

It's Lyra's turn to glare at her. "Bailey, stop." 

"Don't Bailey me. I'm right. You know I'm right." 

"Doesn't give you the right to say that to her. It's her friend. Her best friend."

I raise a hand. "Bailey is right."