♕Harley Anderson♕

The wind that streams through my open window blows my hair back and I bop my head along to the music blaring through the speakers of Audrey's black Beetle.
A fuzzy orange hangs from the review mirror and various CDs of bands are scattered about the centre console.

The fresh air makes me breathe in deeply even though it's still chilly now that we're recovering from a cold winter. I let out a laugh when a car in front of us doesn't turn his indicators on and Audrey flips him off.

"I swear you'd think that people never learnt how to fucking drive." She gripes under her breath and I let out a snort before pulling out my lipgloss from my bag and reapplying a layer to my lips.

"So where exactly is this party?" I ask after closing the lipgloss and putting it away.

"It's one of Caleb's friends." She says and I frown.

"But he isn't going to be there?" I ask with a confused frown and Audrey rolls her eyes.

"So? I might prefer to party with him but I don't need him in order to party."

I let out an amused snort before nodding at her logic. We pull up outside of the house shortly after and Audrey parks the car before tossing me a mischievous smile and climbing out. Various college kids stand around the front yard, sipping on beer and smoking or groping each other and I laugh as Audrey flips off a guy who catcalls her. Inside the house is a lot busier with much more people, more groping and definitely more drinking and smoking. A lot of kids sit on the couches smoking bongs and drinking while a few are dancing on the makeshift dance floor.

Audrey and I head to the kitchen first, getting our kicks of alcohol. Audrey pours herself some beer and I mix my vodka with some Pepsi before we clink our cups together with a laugh and begin our night of fun.

We're on the dance floor after Audrey greets a few people who know her and we're losing ourselves to the beat of the music in no time. Audrey and I dance together to avoid getting groped by a random guy who thinks we're lonely. I let myself enjoy every moment of movement in my body, cherishing the effect that the music and alcohol has on my body and mind. I start laughing at Audrey when she begins twerking and after a few more songs, she's ditching me for a group of girls who beckon her over.

In her absence, a short and blonde boy takes her place in front of me and I immediately roll my eyes before stalking off with no intention of talking to the him whatsoever. I'm pushing my way to the backyard where Audrey is standing with the girls when my name is called out.

I look around for the person before noticing Layla waving me over to the couch where her, a girl and another two boys are sitting together passing around a bong. I smile at the chocolate princess. She's gorgeous- short black hair that's currently in braids, brown skin with a few tattoos and a curvy and absolutely flawless body. It's no wonder she gets a lot of attention. And her smile- it's really something else.

"Hey Layla." I grin as I approach her and she smiles at me, moving up and patting the spot beside her. I plop down, grinning at the others who I recognize.

"You up for shots?" She offers, gesturing to the small table in front of them that's covered in small glasses filled with various concoctions. Layla and I share a few classes and I only ever noticed after she once gave her view on Macbeath- which I could never forget- and then one day just randomly afforded me a joint at a party. I obviously didn't take her up on her offer but she was a fun girl to get drunk with, that much I could admit.

I grin, reaching out for a shot and sniffing the contents.

"Sure."

"Shit, you 'bout to get hammered?" One of the guys- Reegan- asks and I roll my eyes.

"Anything is better than sobriety, right?" I joke and they all laugh before we begin the shots. Some seem to be of vodka and others tequila while others are just a concoction of who knows what. I don't keep count of the amount of shots but I do know that Reegan and the other boy go and fetch more. I'm giggling with Layla over the pathetic choice of music when I'm suddenly yanked up to a standing position, my shot of vodka spilling all over me.

"Hey!" I yell angrily, turning to see Audrey glaring at me. "What was that for?" I slur and she gawks at me before shaking her head. The white shirt I have on is now showing my nude bar effortlessly and I sigh. My ginger friend takes the shot glass out of my hand and places it on the table.

"Ey, whats the matter?" Layla asks, standing up to try and talk to Audrey before swaying a little and sitting back down.

"The matter is that Harley is fucking drunk and her boyfriend is going to have my head because of it." Audrey hisses before dragging me out of the house. I struggle to keep up with her and I almost trip at some point to which Audrey responds by telling me that if I didn't drink so much, I would be able to walk properly.

"Chill, Auds." I roll my eyes and she scowls at me, opening the door to her car and pushing me inside.

"Do not tell me to chill! Cam is going to kill me!"

I roll my eyes. "Oh quit the dramatics." She doesn't say anything else as she proceeds to climb in and we continue driving.

We're pulling up outside of an apartment building shortly after and I frown as she pulls me out of the car and forces me into an elevator.

"I'm pretty sure this isn't my house." I mumble and she rolls her eyes, marching down the hallway and pulling out keys to unlock the door.

"Yeah, cause it isn't."

"Why am I here?" I ask, my head already beginning to pound and she sighs. I think that climbing into bed and passing out sounds perfect right now with how my head is hurting.

"Because if Cameron sees you like this, we're both fucked." Audrey snaps before pushing the door open. I step forward to walk in after her when I slam into her back.

"What-"

"Shit." I hear her curse under her breath and I look over her shoulder to see Danté. Staring right back at me. If I wasn't so drunk, I would definitely be unnerved by his gaze but since I am drunk, I merely smile innocently.

It's silent at first before Danté looks over to Audrey to give her a pointed look. He mutters something to Caleb who seems to be visibly cringing before he walks over to Audrey and I.

"I swear I left her alone for, like, ten minutes." She confesses and I snort before she turns to me with a glare. Danté purses his lips before nodding, not offering anything else to say. However, he does reach for my arm and begin leading me out of the apartment. I restrain myself from saying anything and I can't help but notice his frustration when we're in the elevator.

It pings open a few moments later and I trip over my own feet before grunting. Danté stops to look at me, a deep sigh escaping him as he shakes his head in dismay, before hoisting me up bridal style and walking over to the car.

"Don't puke in the car Harley." He mutters as he puts the seatbelt over me and I fake gag just to tease him however, he finds no humor in it as he scowls and shuts the door. When we're on the road, I rub my fingers to my temples due to the upcoming headache and I see Danté glancing at me constantly until I finally snap.

"What?"

"Are you high?" His voice is terse, angry actually, and I frown, my heart stinging with hurt that he thinks I'd do that. Danté's life was ruined by drugs so why would I ever purposefully bring it back into his life? If that shit destroyed him without him even using it, I can't imagine what it can do to me if I do.

"Of course not. How can you think that? I have too much respect for you to go and do drugs." I hiss and he lets out a breath of a laugh.

"Oh? But not enough respect for yourself not to go and get drunk?" He retorts and I roll my eyes, shaking my head.

"Why do you have to blow this out of proportion? I just had some alcohol." I hiss and Danté snaps his head to face me incredulously as we stop at a red traffic light.

"I'm blowing this out of proportion? You're drunk!" He tells me. "Again!"

I chew on my lip to suppress saying anymore and when we're home, Danté helping me out of my clothes and into pajamas, there's nothing I want more than to hold him and let him know I'm sorry. But I can't .

So I don't.

****

I feel like I'm on the sun, the heat scorching my face and burning my eyes and I roll over just before my head begins to throb as if I'm bashing it against the wall. I groan, covering my head with a pillow before I can't take the headache anymore and I sit up in need of an aspirin. Or two. I rub the heel of my hands to my eyes, trying to get rid of my grogginess. I look at the space beside me, the sheets wrinkled but Danté nowhere in sight but on my bedside table is a glass of water and two aspirins. I smile.

However, my smile is soon wiped off of my face as a newfound nausea hits me like a fucking truck and I'm hurdling to the bathroom. I can hear the shower going on but I still sprint towards the toilet bowl before throwing up the contents of last night. I briefly hear the shower stop before Danté is by my side, a towel wrapped around him, and his hands holding my hair back as I heave. He rubs soothing circles on my back and I rest my sweaty forhead on my arm before taking in a deep breath.

"You okay?" I hear him ask and I nod, finally meeting his gaze. I let my eyes trail up the length of his exposed torso, admiring his abs and all the detail on it- scars, tattoos- and the way the white towel hangs loosely around his hips. If I weren't in this mess right now I would definitely have a lot more to say about it.

"I don't think now is the time to be checking me out, amado." I hear him tease me and I smile- at both his jest and nickname for me. I meet his eyes with a small smirk.

"Well it's not my fault that you're basically naked in front of me." I find the energy to joke back and his lips turn upwards before he straightens and stands up, holding the towel around himself to keep it from falling.
"I'm going to make waffles. That cool?" He asks and I nod, despite the thought of food bring back my nausea. Danté leaves the bathroom then, his sexy back being the last thing I see of him and I flush the toilet before getting up and heading back for the aspirin.

After taking that, I take a long shower, washing away the smell of vodka on me and hopefully the evidence of my hangover. When I enter the kitchen, feeling refreshed and much better, there is already a stack of waffles in the centre of the island and I take a seat before my stomach begins grumbling violently. I reach for a waffle and Danté passes me the honey before he joins me.

"Are you heading to the track tonight?" I ask eventually and he nods his head.

"Yeah, I am. You joining me or are you heading out again?" He replies, tense, but I don't comment on his little dig.

"I'll be there."

He nods and after we finish breakfast, I head back to bed to try sleep off the hangover.

•••
If you enjoyed this chapter, please drop a vote ;)
Sorry for a slight delay in uploading... it's my sister's birthday so I lost track of time. Anyway, what do you think of Harley's new attitude? And how are you feeling about the story so far? I'll see you all next Saturday! :)
Ps- I uploaded chapter 3 as well so that you guys can start getting into the momentum of the story.

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