♕Harley Anderson♕

I was expecting Oregon to feel like home when we returned. I was expecting it to feel like we were returning back to where we belonged, like it would feel like a familiar embrace. But it doesn't. Nowhere aside from Danté's side feels like home at this point.

The last time I was here, I was a different person. I was a girl haunted by her father's violence and her brother's disappearance. Now I'm a woman who has bigger things to face, to move on from.

Danté drives quietly beside me, taking the familiar roads back home. To our house. I almost cry when I see the house come into view. The house that Danté and I both bought together, the house we first had sex in, the house we fought and argued in, the house where I wept so many nights in. Here it stands before me, nothing different to the last time I saw it almost a year ago.

"Nothing's changed." I murmur. But everything has; me, Danté...

"Mason made sure to keep everything the same."  Danté replies, squeezing my thigh quickly. "Come on." He says as he climbs out of the car. The front door opens then and Mason walks out, arms open wide as he walks to Danté with a grin bright enough to light up the whole of Portland. He embraces the love of my life in a tight hug and I climb out the car, the cooler air of Oregon a relief to the humid air of California.

Mason pulls back, patting Danté on the back while they both laugh. The smile on Danté's face reminds me that Lina's death has not sucked the happiness out of him. When Mason turns to me, he offers a charming smile. "Harley Anderson, how nice to see you again."

I roll my eyes playfully, wrapping my arms around him. Mason hugs me while chuckling in my ear, lifting my feet off the ground. Placing me back down, I take the time to observe him. He doesn't look different either, aside from a little more stubble lining his jaw.

"What's wrong? Have I put on weight?" He asks and I shake my head with a laugh.

"No, not at all. You look exactly the same." I remark and he winks.

"I take that as a good thing."

"Quit flirting with my girlfriend and invite us into the house." Danté calls out, shutting the trunk of the car after retrieving our bags. Mason raises an eyebrow.

"Invite you into your own home?"

Danté chuckles and we all begin our walk
to the house. Entering it brings about some major nostalgia and I notice that it's just how we left it. No ornaments are missing, no fridge magnets are on the fridge. Picture frames of various memories still stay plastered to the wall and I smile, looking around.

"You guys are here," A familiar voice says and I look to see Samantha walking out of the passage. Her blonde hair has been dyed pink and is so long, brushing her waist ever so slightly, and my mouth drops before I put my arm around her and pull her into a hug.

"You look so good with pink hair." I exclaim in her ear and she pulls back, smiling at me with her angelic features.

"You look good with longer hair." She replies and I pick up a strand of my hair that's now below my braline.

"You think? I was considering growing it out again."

"I support that decision." She giggles and I laugh along with her before she greets Danté. When pleasantries are finished been exchanged, Danté takes our bags to our bedroom while Samantha returns to the stove where she continues to cook something heavenly. Entering our bedroom is like walking down memory lane. The covers on the bed are the same ones we left on and even the room still smells like us. Danté drops our bags on the floor at the same time that I drop onto the bed. I hear Danté chuckle and I peek an eye open to look at him before pulling myself into a seating position.

"I can't believe we have to leave again tomorrow. And then for good." I mumble and Danté sighs, taking a seat beside me.

"I know it's a lot of change but we need it. We're not safe here... if one of Jack's members bump into us..."

"We're dead." I finish off for him. "I know." I look around the familiar room. "I understand why we have to leave. Besides, it's too late to back out now. Mason has already bought the house, we've already booked the tickets and got new names. We can only look forward from now on."

Danté rests his elbows on his knees and nods. "Only forward from now on."

I reach out for Danté's hand and give it a squeeze, causing him to turn to look at me. "Only forward," I repeat. And it's a promise. A promise that there's no more looking back, no more regret. We're looking forward for now on and letting go of our pasts. After everything we've gone through, we owe it to ourselves.

****

After a nice hot shower and getting changed into more comfortable clothes, I go back to the kitchen. Mason and Danté are sharing a beer in the garden while Samantha stirs something in a pot.

"That smells really good." I comment as I walk around the counter to her side. She laughs, looking over at me before she puts some garlic cloves into the pot.

"Thank you. It's a family recipe for Babotie that my mom gave me."

"For what?"

Samantha laughs at my confused expression. "Babotie. It's a South African dish that my mom made a lot when I was younger. It's like casserole nearly, just a lot more flavoursome and delicious."

Nodding my head, I watch as she makes the dish. "Was your mom from there?"

Samantha shakes her head. "No, she was from Texas. But she went on holiday there and fell in love with their culture. I've been there twice. It's very beautiful."

Perhaps it would be a place Danté and I could visit one day. Maybe even Mason and Sam could come with and Samantha could show us all the places she saw and liked. It would be so nice.
The sound of another car outside grabs my attention and gingerly I walk to the window. With the gang having made me increasingly more skeptical over everything, I pull back the curtains and peek outside. However, I'm pleasantly surprised when I see a mop of ginger hair climbing out of the car. Without much thought, I'm pulling the front door open and sprinting outside. I throw myself at Audrey, her catching me after stumbling back a little.

"Harley," she breathes out before wrapping her arms around me. I was never one to show much emotion around Audrey but today I don't try conceal it. Today I cry. I cry into her hair as I hold onto her tightly.

"I've missed you so much." I sob and she pulls back to look at me, her eyes glossy as she laughs.

"No, don't cry." She whines with a smile. "My hormones are everywhere and I don't know if I'll be able to stop if I start."

I laugh, my eyes moving down to her stomach and I look back up to see her smiling at me.

"How far along are you?" I ask, looking back down at the small baby bump.

"Three months. Well, almost." She giggles and I bite on my lip to try and conceal my smile. Audrey reaches out for my hand, placing it on her stomach and I let out a laugh of disbelief when I feel the baby kick.

"Do you know the gender yet?"

"No," Audrey replies, glancing at Caleb. "We want it to be a surprise. We'll find out soon enough."

I almost break down into sobs when I think about how I won't be here when she gives birth. I won't get to witness such a beautiful moment in Audrey's life.

I'm distracted when Danté comes down the steps, embracing Caleb in a bone crushing hug. The smile on Danté's face is so wide that I can't help but let a tear slip out of my eye. There's so much hope around me. Hope for a better future, for a better me.

When Danté lets go of Caleb, he hugs Audrey before looking at her baby bump. "You know the pull-out method isn't full proof right?" He jokes, referencing the conversation we had at the diner the last day we were here in Oregon. Audrey scoffs, playfully hitting Danté on the shoulder before giving him a hug at the same time I greet Caleb. Both Audrey and Caleb offer such familiar embraces and it offers me comfort I cannot explain.

"Are you all going to stand outside or are you actually going to come in?" Mason shouts from the doorway and we all chuckle before Danté and Caleb enter the house.

"We'll catch up." Audrey calls out before looking back at me. "Because we have some talking to do." She smiles.

****

"So you guys are really leaving for good huh?" Audrey asks, swinging her legs back and forth subconsciously as she sits on the hood of Caleb's car. Today is a beautiful day... the sun is out and providing warmth that isn't overbearing, the sky is nice and blue.

I hold onto my ankles as I cross my legs and sit beside Audrey. Her familiar warmth wafts up my nose .

"Yeah. I guess we are." I reply before looking at my best friend. "Please believe me when I say I don't want to go. But I have to, it's what's best." Audrey looks away, chewing on her lip.

"I know that we don't know the full story but why are you always running Harley? You can't keep doing that. Sooner or later you have to face what's chasing you."

I purse my lips and look away. Audrey has been left in the dark with this whole situation and yet she has still been patient and supported us. The last thing I can do is finally be honest right? It's already over anyway.

Staring at the road in front of us, I gulp. "I killed someone." I confess and the fact that I've said it out loud, so plainly, makes it way too real. Audrey has always seen me as gentle and innocent and now she'll see that I'm not. I'm broken, jagged, rough around the edges. And it's okay. It's not my duty to live up to the expectations other people have set for me. I am who I am and I did what I did. I can't change that. "Cameron was in trouble before he came to America. A cop got hold of the information and tried to kill Cameron... so I shot him. And he died. And I guess a part of me did too. I committed murder Audrey." I turn to face my best friend. Her eyes are wide, her mouth slightly parted in shock but she says nothing. Looking away, I say: "I hated myself. I still hate myself for what I did but if I hadn't done it, Cameron wouldn't be here. And I love him. I need him. The gang in California got footage of it and used it as blackmail. We found a way to the opposing gang that felt more like a family than anything and we helped them kill the guy that blackmailed us. His gang will never stop looking for us.

"We're convicts. Not because we want to be but because those were the choices we were faced with. We need to leave."

Looking back at the ginger beside me, I see her eyebrows draw together before she swallows hard, licking her lips. "Fuck. Fuck, Harley." When she throws her arms around me, I'm surprised she isn't scared of me, or freaking out. She's offering me comfort. "I wish I had known. You don't deserve this." She whispers and I pull back, surprised.

"How are you not freaking out?"

Despite the seriousness of the conversation, she manages to laugh. "You're expecting me to believe you're a heartless murderer? Jeez, you're the sweetest person I know." She laughs with a shrug. "I see it as... the thing that broke you so that you could figure out who you really are. It would be so easy for me to tell you that I think you should confess but I believe you. I believe that there was no other choice other than to... kill him. So I support you and Cam leaving."

I sniffle, wiping at my eyes. "Do... Do you think I'm a horrible person? A monster?" I cry, blinking to try and keep my vision clear. Audrey turns to face me, placing a hand in my shoulder.

"No, no, fuck no." She shakes her head, a gentle look on her face. "How can I call you that when you're mourning for the man you killed?" She asks. "Murderers don't mourn their victims."

I cry. I cry because she doesn't hate me, my best friend doesn't hate me for killing someone. She doesn't hold disgust or fear because I did something so horrifying.

She wraps her arm around me and pulls me close. "You're my best friend Harley. I can't say I'm not unnerved, because I am. I'm shocked and a little nauseous... but I don't think any less of you."

I rest my head on her shoulder, knowing how much I'm going to miss her. Things were so different when we first met and now I'm leaving. I never had a best friend in high school and then I met Audrey and, honestly, she's the best friend I could have ever asked for. After Cyrus left, I've focused so much on everyone who hurt me instead of on those who held me close and never let me go.

"I love you Auds." I mumble, sniffling. She leans her head against mine.

"I love you too Harley."

"I'm going to die." I reply and she pulls back and looks at me with a frown of confusion.

"What?"

"Cameron and I are going to Spain with new identities. The gang back in California is taking care of everything here... we're faking our deaths." I tell her. Soon, Harley Anderson will well and truly be dead. She will be gone. And honestly, I'm ready. I will always be Harley Anderson but I'm ready for the new chapter, for the new adventures. I'm ready.

Audrey cocks her head to the side, tears brimming her eyes. "Will.. will I ever see you again?" She asks and I laugh, nodding through more tears.

"Of course. We'll be in contact, just not from Harley Anderson." I reply and she nods, crying along with me.

"Okay." She nods. "Okay."

"I've never had a best friend so thank you for been the best one I could have ever asked for." I breathe out, tucking some hair behind my ear. Audrey smiles at me, hugging me tightly.

"Oh stop been sappy. I can't stand it." She jokes and we both laugh, enjoying one of the last moments we'll ever share together for a long time. All good things come to an end, and this chapter of my life is one of them.

"I need you to do something for me though." I say and Audrey nods.

"Anything."

"Send me lots of pictures of the baby?"

She laughs and nods.

"And I need to you to give Olivia something for me."

Audrey frowns, pursing her lips into a thin line. "You're not saying goodbye are you?"

I offer a sad smile before shaking my head. "I can't. She won't understand. And if I tell her... she'll want me to confess. I know that."

Audrey lets out a breath. "Okay. I'll do that." She says but continues before I can thank her. "But on one condition."

"Which is?"

"You are going to race one last time tonight."

I break into a grin.

"Deal."

****

It's strange walking onto the track after so long of not seeing it. In a way, it feels like coming home. This was the place that really pulled Danté and I together... this was the place that made me want to find myself through racing. But it's also the thing that dragged me into something so much bigger. I'll always be a racer at heart, but I don't know if I'll be that outwardly. There's a life for me outside all of this.

A few people stare at Danté and I as we walk through the crowds of people. Danté will always be remembered as the unbeaten champion for such a long time and then I as the girl who took the title from him. We may not know these people but they definitely know us.

"We'll wait here." Caleb tells us, leaning against his car and throwing an arm over Audrey who snuggles into his side.

"Yeah, us too." Samantha says, pinching Mason's cheek before he flicks her hand away playfully. I laugh.

"Okay, we'll be a few minutes." I reply before Danté grabs my hand and leads us inside the bar. Walking in brings about a bunch of memories and even more so for Danté. The last time I was here, I was conning people to get cash and causing Emery issues.

"Ah, Cameron!" The barman shouts out when he sees us, a big smile making its way onto his face.

"Hey Pete." Danté greets before pushing his way to the betting room, me in tow. When we enter, there's another racer at the desk, already talking to Clark. However, when the other racer is done placing his bet, Clark's eyes widen in surprise before he's standing up.

"Cameron... it's been a long time." He sticks his hand out. Danté smiles, taking the man's hand and giving it a firm shake.

"Indeed Clark. How are you?" He asks. Clark smiles.

"I'm well. Although things haven't quite been as exciting without you." Clark turns to me then. "Harley, hello."

"Hey," I smile, hugging the man briefly.

"So are you racing tonight?" He asks and Danté nods.

"We both are."

"Oh yeah?" Clark asks, going back to his desk and taking his seat again. "Well do you have anyone you want to go up against specifically? At the moment, Mason is the unbeaten champion."

Danté and I look at each other with a smile before we turn back to Clark who is rummaging through a pile of papers.

"Actually we'd like to race each other." I reply and Clark pauses, looking up to us with a frown but a smile nonetheless.

"Alright." He says before he begins scribbling something down on the paper. "What are you betting?"

"Car." Danté replies. My head snaps to him in response. We discussed racing each other but not whether we'd be betting on money or car... I could win his Mustang. He smiles at me, kissing the top of my head. "You've loved the car from the very start."

"Alright, you're on at 9." Clark says before taking the paperwork from Danté who pulls it out of his pocket.

"Do you know where Emery is, actually?" Dante asks and Clark briefly looks up at him before he continues to organize everything.

"In his office, I presume."

"Do you mind ringing him up so I can go see him?"

"Sure." Clark says before picking up the telephone on his desk and dialing a number. Holding the phone to his ear with his shoulder and cheek, he finishes off the necessary paperwork to validate the race. "Cameron and Harley are here and want to come up... no, I'm not joking... okay." Clark puts the phone down, smiling at us. "You can go up. And with regards to your race... may the best one win." He teases and we all chuckle before leaving the room for the next racer to go place a bet.

Danté leads me by the hand to Emery's office, somewhere I've only ever been once before and even then it was rather quick. The ring in my ears is enough to block out the noise of the bar and slowly the sound diminishes until we're standing in front of the office door. Danté knocks twice before we hear Emery grant us access. After pushing the door open, we enter to see Emery with a wide smile.

"Cameron," he beams, hands outstretched as he rounds his desk. Danté embraces him in a hug much like how a father would embrace a son. It's tight and full of respect and adoration. Emery is still clad in a suit and he seems to be balder than the last time I saw him and yet, he looks just as enthusiastic and lively as the last time.  Pulling back, he places one hand on Danté's shoulder and the other on his arm. "How are you?"

Danté bows his head as he formulates a response, "I'm alright Emery. How are you?"

"I'm holding up," Emery chuckles before stepping back from Danté. It's then that his focus moves to me. The last time I saw Emery, I was causing issues for him by conning people placing bets at his track. I can't even count how many times he had to intervene to help me out... he never lost his patience with me and he never made me feel like a horrible person. Still, I feel terrible for how I acted.

"Harley," he cocks his head to the side before wrapping his arms around me. "I'm so glad to see you."

I can imagine that Emery would be a wonderful father... he has that paternal vibe. I rest my head on his shoulder, welcoming his embrace.

"I'm really glad to see you too, Emery." Comes my reply, it's soft and filled with both happiness and guilt. When the man before me pulls away, he takes one look at my face and glossy eyes before placing a hand on my cheek.

"You look well."

"I am." I nod and he frowns slightly.

"Then why the long face dear?"

"I'm just happy to see you." I laugh. "And I wanted to apologize for how I acted before I left... You didn't deserve the trouble I caused."

Emery shakes his head. "Truthfully, I could use you causing a little trouble here. It's awfully quiet and boring without you."

Breaking out into a chuckle along with me, Emery pulls away to look back at Danté who is watching us with a soft smile.

"So what do I owe the pleasure to you two?" He asks. Danté slips his hands into his pockets.

"We came to say a final goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Emery looks between the two of us.

"We're leaving the country."

Emery looks down at the floor. "I see..."

"You've done a lot for me Emery and I felt like you deserved an explanation as to why you won't see us around any longer. Mason is going to be selling my cars, too."

"Are you on the run?" Emery asks and Danté offers a sad smile before nodding.

"Unfortunately."

"I understand..." he looks back at me. "But I hope this will be the last time you have to leave somewhere. First you left the state and now the country? You don't have much elsewhere to go."

"This will be the last time." I reply. "Everything's changing to make sure that this is a success."

Emery nods his head, probably understanding what we're saying. Emery is not a man oblivious to the life of illegal activities so I have no doubt that he can put two and two together as to why exactly we're on the run. But still, Emery gives us both a wide smile.

"Well then, I wish you both luck. Please call me every now and then. And," he says, walking to his draws and pulling out a folder. He flips through it, pulling out a photo and handing it to Danté, "have this."
I walk over to Danté's side, seeing that it's a picture of the three of us that was taken one evening. Emery has one arm wrapped around Danté and the other around me as we smile at the camera... it was taken before I killed Frank.

"Thank you Emery." Danté says, voice thick with emotion and I look up to see Emery watching the photo with a smile.

"I'm going to miss you." I say and Emery gives me a loving smile before opening his arms. I walk into his embrace and he hugs me tight.

"No tears tonight alright? You two have one last great race. I'll see you soon." Emery looks between Danté and I and I nod.

I'll never forget Emery. Ever.

****

It's funny when Danté and I walk to the lanes to begin our race. Our friends trail behind us but Danté keeps his arm around me as we walk along the tarred road.

"So should I be afraid of you going easy on me?" I ask, looking up to Danté. He smiles and shakes his head. With everything going on, he hasn't shaved and the stubble coating his jaw makes him look older, wiser.

"No, today I'm going to treat you like any other opponent."

"Oh?" Laughing, I take hold of his hand. "I can't promise I'll go easy on you either."

"Oh, I don't expect you to." Danté replies before leaning into my ear. "You know I like it rough."

I elbow him in the ribs with an eye roll, jogging up to my car.

"Good luck Harley! Kick his ass!" Audrey calls out, Samantha cheering her on and I laugh before opening my car door. I look across to Danté who already has one foot in his car. We don't say anything but his look says enough:

I love you.

And I smile even wider, climbing into my car and following him to the lanes. I take my place beside his car, nervously gripping the steering wheel. The last time I raced Danté, it was because I was trying to get money for Olivia's rent. That feels like almost a lifetime ago.

I try and absorb all of it- the excitement and cheering of the crowd, the buzz of the engine beneath my feet, the thump of my heart, the way my nerves twitch with anticipation. This will be my last race as Harley Anderson. And I'm going to make it worth it.

"Today, we have them betting car!" The man who announces the racers' bets says and the crowd screams. "Let the best racer win! And the other walk home!"

I laugh at his words, glancing through the window at Danté to see him already watching me. Winking, I turn my attention back to the road in front of me.

A girl steps between our cars, lifting up a flag. I rev my engine, preparing to kick Danté's ass and when she drops the flag I step on the gas. The car is propelled forward, and I grin when I see Danté is behind me. I control the car as we drive along the bend. Everything outside blurs around me and I revel in the feeling, taken by surprise when Danté is suddenly beside me. Seeing the bend coming up, I slow down slightly which gives Danté the opportunity to overtake me. Grunting out curse words, I trail behind him, stepping on the gas to try and catch up with him. However, Im forced to slow back down again with another approaching bend. Sighing, I overtake Danté quickly when we're back on the straight road and I laugh when he beeps his horn at me. The finish line is in the distance and while we both struggle to outdo the other with speed, I still slow down with the last sharp curve in the road. I regain speed soon after but I don't push it and instead make sure Danté remains ahead, making sure he'll be first.

As we cross the finish line, it's a close win and when I bring the car to a stop, my hands are still shaking. I was hoping that when I came back here I would be racing again... and I am. And I'm so proud of that. Pushing my door open, I walk into everyone cheering Danté on. He stands in the middle where the man just announced his victory. Walking to him, he has a wide grin on his face. That is, until he sees me and he gives me a deadpan look. But I ignore it, going up on my tippytoes, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him.

"Congratulations," I smile when I pull back and he squeezes my hips.

"You let me win."

"This was yours Danté," I whisper, looking around at this place he spent so much time at. "The fame and title at this track... and you gave it to me because you love me. You deserved to win one last time at this track."

He looks at me with a thoughtful expression and I know I'm right.

"I love you Harley Anderson." He says, looking me in my eyes and I save this moment to memory.

"I love you too Danté Barbosa." I whisper.

****

The airport of Oregon is pretty busy for such a time of year. People are coming and going, either leaving the state or just entering it. It's easy to tell who isn't from here by the way they look around the place with either wide eyes or bored expressions. Oregon's airport is rather dull to most. But still, any airport is filled with energy from the excitement of traveling.

I cart my bag around behind me, knowing full well this might be the last time I ever step foot here. Jack's gang was destroyed but that doesn't mean they won't relocate somewhere else and hunt us down.... his killers. Because I highly doubt Cyrus confessed to his deed.

Now that I know I may never see it again, the airport looks more marvelous than ever before. The ceilings are high and the windows wide. The floor is shiny with polish and my shoes make that weird squeaking noise when I make contact with it. But my heart aches a little too. I grew up here. Oregon has been my home for as long as I can remember and it's been both a place of extreme heartache and immense happiness for me.

But it's time to leave. This chapter of my life is over and now it's time to begin a new one.

It must be obvious that I'm nervous because Danté stops from walking to our terminal and turns to look at me. He doesn't say much when I offer him a nervous smile but he does extend his hand out for me, providing me with some kind of support.

We said our goodbyes to everyone back at the house so as to make this part easier. I didn't want that dramatic moment when I turn back around to give my best friend one last watery smile. I need to board this plane with peace and acceptance. But still, the thought alone of the ginger makes my eyes water. And the thought of Olivia and Mia makes a tear slip out my eye. I wipe it away hastily.

Stepping out into the air, I breathe it in one final time. The sun beats down on my face and I listen to the sound of the aeroplane's engine whirring.

If anyone had told me this was how my life was going to go, I would have laughed. A girl who is abused by her father, left by her mom, abandoned by her brother is saved by a boy who knows love like no other. But still, she goes on to become a criminal before faking her death to leave the country.

It's insane.

Things have hurt me and I'm pretty cracked all over. My armor is not clean and undamaged but it's mine. And I'll wear it proudly. Everything I've been through has helped me form this person I am today and she's not perfect... but she's strong and kind and hopeful. It's a long road ahead of me... of us. A long road of new beginnings and healing. It won't be easy. It won't be quick. But it won't be impossible either.

I pause, my feet skidding to a halt on the tarmac as I stare up at the big machine. Danté stops beside me, looking at it too. We're both thinking of all the people we love and are leaving behind, what might happen now and how to even begin. But we won't forget them. They've left a mark on us.

"Are you ready?" I breathe out, pulling my eyes away to look up at Danté. He lets out a shaky breath before nodding.

"I am. Are you?"

I mill it over a second before bowing my head. "I think so."

"It's not going to be easy."

"I know."

"But I'm here." Danté squeezes my hand and I smile. This man before me... I love him. I love him more than anything and I'm suddenly excited to go on this new adventure with him. So, pulling together all the courage I need, I lift my chin up and stare him dead in the eye before saying:

"Then let's board this plane Matías Almonté." I reply, the name rolling off my tongue smoothly. Danté grins at the use of his new name, his new identity, before he leans in for a soft kiss after cupping my cheek gently. Pulling away, he murmurs against my lips:

"After you, Rosalyn Marshall."

A giggle escapes me.

Anything and everything looks
different when you look at it from another perspective than what you usually do. Sometimes it may seem better and other times worse. And most of the time it's way too far out of our comfort zone to try and see things differently so we simply stick to what we know. However, if we just went a little more out there we could find something so incredibly amazing than what we currently know.

And the man standing beside me, along with many others, has taught me that. So, with the love of my life's hand in mine, I begin taking my steps towards my new life.

THE END

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