Lydia

Lydia didn't go to school on Wednesday or Thursday. When she realised that she held some of the blame in her relationship woes, she started the mourning process all over again.

There was a lot of self pity involved, that wasn't something that she'd deny. But even so, she spent a couple of days pulling herself back together without an audience to watch her fall apart every ten minutes.

On Friday morning she felt a little better. She'd dried herself of tears and given herself a pep talk on keeping her shit together while she carried on with her life.

Without failure, her mother had been supportive and understanding. Spencer was sure to let Lydia know that she could grieve. She could lock herself in her room and eat until she could eat no more. She could cry and scream and let it all out. But she couldn't do it forever and at some stage, she needed to let it all go and live as though it was the best thing that ever happened to her.

Spencer was a thorough believer that the grieving process could be as hysterical as one liked. But she instructed that Lydia had to get it all out in one time frame and not carry it with her for months and months because it would ruin her to the point of no return if she let it consume her.

School wasn't as unbearable as she might have imagined. The tension between her and Riley was there, but they ignored each other with a mutual understanding. There was no reason for the two of them to interact and so it was a little easier to get through the morning.

During her free period before lunch, Lydia sat curled up with her feet under her bum on the library couch while Allison and Sadie worked side by side at the computer on a class assignment that they were paired for.

Of course it was just like them to leave it until the last minute so miraculously they were both deep in focus and Lydia used the spare time to talk with Johnny.

What are you doing 😚

Oh .. as long as you don't follow up with a pic of you tugging your junk.

😂

Wouldn't be the first time that's happened.

Irrelevant. Show me then?

Lydia waited a moment, stifling a yawn as she gazed at the stacked shelves and other students. She liked the library. She wasn't as fond of it as her brother who treated the town library as his second home. But she appreciated the quiet environment that it provided.

Her phone alerted her to a picture text and she opened it, a smile forming on her lips the second that she saw it.

Please tell me that you named him after the demogorgon in stranger things?!

😍

Typically I don't really like sci-fi. But Liam was watching it so I kinda just ended up watching it and it was really good!

That's so cute !

I know.

😂😂

My confidence recently took a huge hit so I'm living by a code. Fake it til I make it.

You always know just what to say 😭🙏🏻

Before Lydia had the chance to wait for his reply, Carter dropped into the couch beside her. He was clad in the white school shirt which clung to his torso, hinting at the defined and chiselled build beneath the fabric. Through the thin material, she could make out the black ink on his chest and arm; she found herself intrigued and wanting a better look. His tie hung loose around his neck and Lydia gave him a small smile as he grinned with those full lips that were hard to miss.

It would have been impossible not to notice the girlish stares coming from behind him. Allison and Sadie didn't seem so immersed in their assignment anymore. Instead the pair were ogling the gorgeous boy who paid them no mind.

"Did you know that this school has an archery team and there are targets out on the back field?" He asked in an almost rhetorical tone.

"Yeah?" Lydia shrugged, sliding her phone into her skirt pocket. "What about it?"

"Are you on the team?"

"No," Lydia answered. "It's a super expensive sport and I prefer soccer."

"Well my interest is peaked. Come for a walk with me."

He didn't ask, he simply stood, wrapping his large hand around her wrist as he pulled her to her feet. She stumbled a little, her feet tingled with pins and needles from being sat on. Carter put an arm around her waist and kept her upright, casting her a concerned look.

"My feet are just a little numb," she chuckled, feeling her cheeks heat up as her friends watched with shameless expressions.

Carter picked up her bag and slung it over his shoulder. Lydia began to shake her feet and let him know that she'd be fine to walk. Not that she knew where on earth they were going. Nonetheless, she gave her friends a brief wave goodbye and followed Carter out of the library.

He didn't utter a word during their walk, he kept his hand in his pocket and whistled a carefree tune as he went. He stopped for a brief pause at his locker, retrieving the leather jacket with a soft hood and replacing it with her bag before he slammed the metal door shut again.

"Where are we going?" Lydia questioned with a quiet voice. The school corridors seemed to magnify noise. Even more so when they were empty.

His devilish grin turned in her direction as he slid his jacket on and flicked up the hood. The scent of leather and cigarettes hit her in full force before the double doors were pushed open and they stepped out into the cold frost breeze.

"Target practice."