[ 17 ] 2014

-

"This is not going to work. Bobby and I don't fit next to Joy, and I can't have him sitting next to a slut. She might touch him or something." 

-

The two days went by in a flash. After Harley was once again spotted by Ashton, she had decided to play it safe and stick around the hotel more. She had already been invited to the bowling alley and then dinner with Bobby and his friends. Besides, she and Calum had a full proof plan to keep Ashton from dying that night on the ides of March.

As the fifteenth came around, Harley and Calum got some last minute details ready. Harley would keep everyone busy at the bowling alley and the diner, so that Ashton would not make it home that night, or at least make it home long after the criminals had gotten tired of waiting for him. Calum was the back up, keeping a watchful eye on the house and making sure to stop Ashton if he were to make it back when his grandfather was still there waiting for him. Once they had succeeded, it was their plan to meet back at the hotel so that they could travel back to the present time.

Harley was to meet them at the Gables Bowling Alley, and Calum dropped her off in a car they rented from the hotel. "I love you." He gave her a soft peck on the lips, and he reminded her of their agreement. "I'll meet you back at the hotel when this is all over."

She nodded her head slowly. "Yeah. And you take care. I know he was your grandfather, but he is very dangerous."

He also nodded and she stepped out of the car. She saw Calum drive off and in the next minute she was about to walk into the bowling alley when a Vista Cruiser car pulled into the parking lot of the bowling alley. At the wheel was Bobby, and the car was packed with six other teenagers Harley recognized, either because she had met them before already, or because they looked like other people she knew in the present. Next to Bobby was Harley's grandmother Hayley, and Harley was once again amazed at the fact that they had been dating. Had the two gotten married in the end, Arthur and Harleen might have been siblings. Harley shuddered at the thought. 

Next to Hayley was Joy, class president of their year in high school. In the back were Ashton, Claire, and Lucas. She knew that he was Luke's grandfather because they were identical. Except this one had a more shy and calm demeanor to him. They all piled out of the car and the only two who greeted her with bright smiles were Claire and Bobby. "I was just gonna ask Bobby if you were coming." Claire grinned, and observing that Harley was alone, she made a comment. "Its kinda a bummer you didn't bring anyone with you tonight. You're kinda gonna be the little awkward wheel." The heiress crinkled up her nose.

But Harley didn't care about Claire's petty comments. She also could not get over the fact that by the next morning, Ashton would be dead if they didn't achieve their goal. And in about six more years, Hayley would have moved to Perth, Claire and Bobby would be having a fling, and she would get pregnant with Arthur. All six of them at that moment though, were unsuspecting. Only Harley knew all of that because she was from the future where all of it had already happened. She wondered too though, how much her own life would change by her saving Ashton. Would he and Claire continue together? Would Bobby marry Hayley? Would Anne-Sophie end up dying? She didn't think it through when she decided to save Ashton's life. But no matter the consequences, she couldn't just leave the past as it was.

"My boyfriend dropped me off. But he still kinda has jetlag. So he decided to go back to the hotel." Harley explained with a small shrug of her shoulders. The entire time she could feel the burn of Ashton's eyes on her, as well as Hayley's stare at the fact that Bobby seemed to know a strange new girl who was so pretty, and who looked so much like Claire. She thought that since Claire was so familiar with her that they were probably related, and anyone related to Claire Feeney could only be bad news.

Hayley tugged on Bobby's arm and he leaned down a bit to get at a level with her, since she was at least a head shorter than her boyfriend. The brunette eyed Harley with suspicion as she asked her boyfriend a question. "Robert, who is that?" Robert, she had called him by his full name. He knew that wasn't a good sign. But he hadn't mentioned anything about the strange new girl he found sleeping at the park, precisely for that reason. He knew Hayley and knew that she meant well, but sometimes she had a hard time controlling her temper and her jealousy.

He whispered back a short explanation. "A friend of Claire's. I'll explain everything later." 

He didn't want to get into specifics at the moment, and he definitely didn't want an argument to break out in front of all their friends. That seemed to satisfy Hayley for the moment and they all decided to head inside. 

Ashton continued to watch her from a distance, but never talked to her. Only when she was introduced to everyone, he acted like it was the first time he was ever seeing her. The group rented a bowling lane for two hours and then rented their shoes, heading to their lane to play a game. 

-

It was well into nine at night when they finished and the group decided they were hungry. Claire had suggested going to Iggy's Diner, which was a trendy new place that had opened recently. It was an American food joint like the ones they saw in the movies. To them it was a novelty place, as there weren't many places like that in Sydney at the time. They parked in the dirt lot and Joy and Lucas stayed back for a moment. She was going to help him remove his retainers before eating and place them in a box he had for them, leaving it behind in the car. The rest of them went on ahead. 

Already, Claire and Hayley had started arguing. Hayley had gotten gum in her hair and she pointed her finger accusingly at Claire. Claire denied it, trying to act innocent. But Harley knew that it had to have been Claire. No one else in the car had any problems with the brunette. In an effort to appease both of them, Bobby had offered to snip the piece of gum out without ruining the rest of her hair. But Hayley just wanted to throw a punch at the heiress for even doing it in the first place. 

With all of their arguing, Joy and Lucas soon caught up to them and they all decided to sit in one of the booths. It seated six people, but since the girls were petite, it could easily seat seven. In their hands were menus and they were trying to decide what they wanted to eat. Ashton and Claire had sat across from Joy and Lucas, leaving two more spaces available for the last three people. One spot was next to Claire, and the other was next to Joy, across the table. Since Ashton was more broad than Lucas, the spot next to Joy could easily fit the two remaining girls. 

Claire grinned, ready to say something that would likely trigger Hayley. "Sit over here with us, Bobby." She patted the spot next to her.

Hayley narrowed her eyes at the blonde and crossed her arms over her chest. "This is not going to work. Bobby and I don't fit next to Joy, and I can't have him sitting next to a slut. She might touch him or something." 

Harley's blue eyes widened at her grandmother's words. She was thinking the exact same thing, but she was surprised Hayley had the courage to say it in front of all their friends. Now she knew where she got her loud mouth from. 

"Hayley..." Bobby said through gritted teeth. The last thing he wanted was to get in trouble with his boss' daughter. Especially not when he needed money to pay for the Marine Academy. 

"Maybe he wants me to touch him." Claire argued innocently.

"Kitten, behave, please." Ashton pleaded with both his eyes and his words as he nudged her gently. He thought Claire was only joking, since she was always trying to mess with Hayley. But he always did feel like her jokes were bad taste. 

"We're going to sit at the counter." Hayley informed the others, and grabbed Bobby's hand in hers, pulling him towards the stools that were in front of the counter. The boy with brunette hair and brown eyes gave an apologetic look towards their group of friends, but followed her anyway. He was always trying to be the peacekeeper and it was difficult when two of the girls in the group were always at it like cats and dogs. The two of them sat there, leaving the five at the booth, only a few feet away.

Harley looked towards them before she finally spoke up. "I think I'll go sit with them." 

Bobby was the only one she really knew well after all. She slid out of the booth and got on her feet. Joy followed after her, as did Lucas. "We should just all go sit at the counter then." She said cheerfully. Lucas nodded, and both of them waited for Ashton and Claire to do the same.

Claire rolled her eyes in annoyance and followed them, with Ashton coming along.

There were seven free stools at the counter. Hayley sat at the first one, followed by Bobby. Claire was about to sit down on the third seat when Hayley stopped her, pointing at her accusingly with an index finger. "Don't you even dare sit next to my boyfriend." She warned. Claire shrugged her shoulders anyway, smirking at Hayley. Ashton sat next to her, then Joy, Lucas, and finally Harley. She once again felt out of place sitting so far from Bobby. But she didn't want her grandmother Hayley getting the wrong idea, thinking that she wanted to sit with him because she liked him or something. 

Trying to lighten the mood, Joy showed Ashton her hand. On it was an impressive ring. "Lucas and I are engaged." She smiled wide.

"Congratulations!" Ashton told them with a grin. "Isn't it great, kitten?" He turned as he asked Claire. 

But she was unimpressed. "Yep." She replied, lacking enthusiasm.

"That's great." Hayley told them with a warm smile. She actually liked Joy and Lucas. "Hopefully Bobby and I will be next." She eyed her boyfriend suggestively.

Bobby gave a nod of his head, "When I have something to offer you, we'll get married."

"We don't need money to be happy." Hayley said.

Claire snorted at that. "Clearly you've never had money."

Harley felt her skin crawl. How could Claire be such a horrible person? All she cared about was herself, and getting money. 

"I've had all I needed." Hayley argued.

"Will you be one of my bridesmaids--Claire and Hayley?" Joy asked them. Clearly, she did not know Harley well enough to ask her to be one as well. They had just met that night, which was understandable. joy had known Claire since they were in pre-school and they had been friends all through primary school. Once they entered their teen years, Claire only started to hang out with Conrad Hood. Joy wanted to rekindle the friendship they once had. In Hayley's case, she grew to like her because she was a nice girl. The only person she seemed to be mean to was Claire. They both hated each other.

Nodding, Hayley replied, "I'd be honored."

Laughing in amusement, Claire's reply was, "I'll have to think about it Mary Joy." She said honestly. "There are so many negatives. I mean, for one, your boyfriend is a loser. The only appealing thing about him is his money. And second, if all your bridesmaids are going to be peasants, I don't want to be a part of this circus."

Lucas and Joy sat there, mouth agape at her words. But Hayley didn't bite her tongue. She shot up from her seat and said angrily, "What is your problem? You can't treat people like that."

Harley only sat there and watched the argument unfold in front of her. 

"I'll treat them however I want." Claire said, nose in the air proudly.

Reaching across the counter, past Bobby, Hayley grabbed a fistful of Claire's dress. She was close to bringing her fist to Claire's face when Bobby got up from his chair and pulled his girlfriend back. "Leave me alone, Bobby!" Hayley shouted, struggling in his hold. All eyes in the restaurant were on her now and they had all fallen silent except for the shouting teenager. "We've all allowed her to say these things about people because she has money. Well, I don't care anymore. She can have all the money in the world and that's still not going to save her from getting what she deserves."

"Calm down, Hayley!" Bobby had his arms around her waist, with her arms pinned down at her sides. Looking to Ashton and Claire, he said to them, "I'd better take her home. Then I'll return the car and have one of the drivers pick you up."

Ashton nodded and Claire smirked as Hayley was being dragged out of the restaurant. 

When they were gone, Claire sighed. "Finally, she's gone."

Joy frowned. "We should go too. Lucas and I will walk home, we'll see you later."

With that, Joy and Lucas left the restaurant, leaving Ashton and Claire alone with Harley at the front counter. Ashton looked down at his hands, embarrassed. And there was an acute feeling of annoyance at Claire because she was always pushing his friends away. He couldn't have a good time with them when she was around. The only one of them she really seemed to like was Bobby.

Harley decided to stick around as soon as possible, and stall if she had to. It was only ten thirty. She wanted to keep him from returning home as long as possible.

-

quick update because its been a while. 

also i hope you all enjoy. so guys i've been texting with my crush all day every day for about two months already. i feel like we really have a connection and we're close, and then he does stupid shit.

like today he didn't reply to my text for SIX HOURS. and i know he saw it because he was online on instagram. so that means he was on his phone. so he replied to me about two hours ago and i just left him on read. he needs to understand that i wont be there at his beck and call like i used to. 

if he wont talk to me, then we wont talk. but he cant expect me to be there whenever he feels he needs someone to talk to.

-clary