Damaged » h. styles au

Chapter 84 - Scarlett

“What’s your real name?” Zach asked instead of replying, just then opening his eyes to look back at me, pulling his own legs up to mimic my position.

“Scarlett,” I said nonchalantly, glancing away because even though I had gotten used to hearing that one instead of ‘Kirsten’ always, it was still uncomfortable admitting it out loud to anyone else besides Harry. I was still Kirsten to the world. Many of them would never get to know my real identity at all, to be fair.

Zach nodded carefully, seeming to notice my discomfort and staying in silence for a while, taking it in; letting me feel safe to talk again. He didn’t press it any further.

“She was okay,” he finally choked out, voice low, nearly inaudible. I wondered if that was some sort of taboo he and Tyler had established long ago, or something. “Was fun, sociable, caring. Had always been a great friend of mine, honestly. Three years older than Tyler. Her hair was short, the same color as yours, same thing with the eyes. Deep blue and everything. Guess that’s why he went after you.”

I sipped the tea again, looking at him with my eyebrows arched so he could keep going.

“She used to go with Tyler everywhere when she wasn’t studying. At a certain point she just left uni to be with him. More than anyone she cared about what he had gone through, and they loved each other so much is was disgusting to watch. No offense, but I never saw him looking at a woman that way again.”

I waved a hand in the air, swallowing another gulp of the warm liquid before saying, “No offense taken. Now go on.”

“Basically, they moved in together since Ty was ridiculously young, and they became one of those couples you’re sure are made for each other, y’know? I don’t have any doubts that if things hadn’t gone the way they did, one or two more years and Ty would be proposing.”

“Deep sh–t,” I tried to laugh, not helping the inhuman sound that came out instead. I was not jealous of the real Kirsten. I knew Tyler loved her, had always known. But it was quite embarrassing thinking of the fact that we’d been together for eight years and he hadn’t mentioned anything more serious than merely sleeping together.

“He loved her. And he was so different back then than what he’s now. Because of his parents, he’d always been sort of aggressive, but things got a lot worse when she died. He turned his anger to himself and until you came around, he was sort of aggressive to his closest friends, too. It was pure hell,” he sighed once more, staring at the far wall. “I was kind of surprised when you showed up, though,” he admitted then, looking at me fondly. “I knew your name couldn’t be Kirsten because that would be too much of a coincidence, but I couldn’t see a reason why you would let him call you that, so I just let it slip without further interrogatory. Still don’t understand, if I’m honest.”

I chuckled at him, shaking my head in dismissal. I wouldn’t tell him now. Not close enough to him to feel comfortable yet.

“He did a hell of a terrible job, if he was trying to substitute her, you know?” I said instead, choosing to go for a safer topic. “I mean, my hair is long, I’m six years younger than him, and I’m far from sociable and fun.”

“Still think there’s something to do with the eyes,” he commented amusedly, too, letting go of my dramatic change of subjects and settling into casual conversation. Bless Zach. “You came here just to ask about Kirsten?” he questioned after a quick pause, tilting his head to the side as he chugged the rest of his tea.

“Actually, I came here to ask you a favor.”

He hummed something with his lips still pressed to the rim of the mug as if to say ‘go ahead’, and so I stood up, settling my own on the coffee table and looking at him with pleading eyes.