♕Harley Anderson♕

I look around for the hundredth time, trying to spot him but come up empty once more.

Where the hell is he?

My race is to start in a few minutes and there's no sign of Cameron anywhere. After Emery had pulled me to the side, to wish me luck and let me know that I'm always welcome, and I returned, Cameron has being missing. Caleb nor Audrey know where he is and I'm beginning to grow antsy.

I want him to give me a good luck kiss and tell me I'm going to be okay one last time yet he isn't even here. Has he gone off to deal with some track issues despite my first ever race about to take place? I can't help but start thinking irrationally and illogically.

"Are you sure he didn't mention where he was going?" I ask Audrey again, desperate to see him one more time.

She shakes her head sympatheticlly. "Yeah, I'm sure."

I kiss my teeth.

"He probably had to deal with something but he'll be here. Don't stress Harley." Audrey tries her hardest to reassure me and I nod despite not feeling too convinced. I check my watch and see that it is indeed time for my race.

I run a hand through my hair. "I should get going."

Audrey embraces me in a tight hug. "You're going to do great!" I give her a smile, my nerves and anxiety making it hard. Caleb wraps an arm around me.

"Good luck Harley."

I give him a thankful smile before they both begin walking to the lanes. I climb into my new car, the scent of Cameron still hanging heavily in the air, and pull out of the lot and onto the lanes. I watch as people move out of the way, glancing at me carefully as if to try see who I am. I stop the car in the lane, watching as a crowd forms around me.

My mind is buzzing with nerves and my anxiety seems to make my breathing ragged. Me feeling angry and disappointed that Cameron hasn't being here just adds to the overwhelming sense of unease. And then there's the thought that if I don't lose and end up failing my mom, I can end up dead from losing control of the car. I chew on my lip and close my eyes to will the tears away.

I can't back out. Not now. I have to do this.

I gulp, taking in a shaky breath as I wait for my opponent.

Even though I've had a lot of practice over the last few days with Cameron, it doesn't mean that this race is going to go that well. I could end up with a really good opponent or even a dirty one at that, and I have to manage my anxiety unless I want to end up driving into a tree.

When I hear a car come up beside me, I watch as people stop to stare in admiration. I frown as a familiar Mustang- one exactly like Cameron's- stops beside me. I can't make out who it is through the tinted windows and I roll my window down. I want to see who my opponent is.

When I do however, my heart drops and my veins run cold.

"Cameron?" I mumble through my window and his brown eyes turn to me. They're masked over with a hidden emotion and I frown, feeling the weight of this realisation dawn upon me.

I'm racing against Cameron- my boyfriend, the unbeaten champion.

I feel anger course though my veins. What is he thinking? I don't want to race him- I don't want to have to go against the boy who has my heart.

"Good luck hermosa." He says and I shake my head, the girl who holds the flag stepping between our cars.

"Why am I racing you?" I ask desperately but he doesn't answer. I look back at the girl who is smirking at the cheering crowd.

"Trust me." Is all he says before she drops the flag and I pull off.

I don't hesitate to pick up speed, knowing full well what Cameron's strategies are. He doesn't go easy on me and his car goes ahead, making me hiss out in desperation. I feel betrayal pull at my heart strings but make a point not to focus on it.

We round the curve with him still in front if me before I begin catching up, both of our cars driving side by side at a deadly speed. I glance at him through my window but can't see him.

When we turn again, I pick up speed immediately and take the lead. Having to race against him makes me feel so uncomfortable, so bad. I want to race with him, not against him. Cameron doesn't seem to make much of a move to try and take the lead and I frown just before he ends up overtaking me again. We're approaching the finish line and my heart begins to beat erratically.

I need to win this.

But I don't want Cameran to lose either.

Our cars are at the same level soon enough, neither of us in the lead when suddenly Cameron's car abruptly turns away from mine and spins off onto the gravel.

"Shit." I hiss under my breath, seeing him regain control and take the road again however, by then it's too late. I've already passed the finish line.

When my car comes to a halt, I cannot remove my hands from the steering wheel as I try and process what happened. The loud cheers coming from the people is background noise as I realize that I won. I beat Cameron.

Then it hits me full force- like a ton of bricks falling down on me.

I beat Cameron. I beat the champion of the track. I've taken the title away from him.

When I finally found the courage to climb out of my car, I don't feel excited from the cheers or laughter. I feel angry, confused, betrayed, guilty but mostly... numb. I feel like I can't get enough air in. When Cameron stops his car, I stare at him as he climbs out. People give him dirty looks, snickering about him and when my eyes meet his, I can't help but look away.

Another man comes up to us and shouts out the winner. "Our winner- Harley!" The crowd cheers "And our loser- Cameron!"

I don't hesitate to turn on my heel and push my way through the crowd, needing to get fresh air before I have a breakdown. I feel a hand seize my arm and immediately know who it is which is why I turn around and pull my arm out of his grip. I scowl at Cameron who watches me with a frown, seemingly confused.

"What the hell was that?" I snap and he recoils from me.

"You won."

I shake my head. "Why did you go against me?"

He cocks his head to the side. "I knew you needed to win and this was the only way to ensure that."

I frown this time. "What do you mean I needed to win?"

This time, Cameron's face hardens and I see hurt and anger flash through his eyes. "I know why you decided to race tonight. I know about your mom."

I fall silent. How does he know? I didn't tell him.

"Why didn't you tell me? I would've helped you." He presses and I groan.

"That's it Cameron! I needed to help my mom myself. I didn't want anyone else to do it."

He scowls at me. "You should have told me!"

"And you should never have raced me." I retort. The both of us stare each other down before it dawns on me. I chew on my lip, looking up to his eyes. "You let me win didn't you? You lost control on purpose."

Cameron never loses control of his car. He knows exactly how to stay in control and stay calm even when he isn't so it's obvious he let me win. He did it on purpose. I didn't win out of my own ability.

"I knew you couldn't lose."

"So you let me win out of pity?" I yell incredulously. "I wanted to win this race because I had the ability to do it, not because you let me win. And now?" I say, my body trembling "I took your title."

"I don't care about a title."

"Bullshit." I yell angrily. "You worked hard for it and you gave it up to me when I didn't want to take it from you." I feel my voice crack slightly. I don't want to always be reminded that I took Cameron's success from racing away. I don't want to know I took it away even though I didn't deserve it.

"You're not the only one who has the right to be mad Harley." He responds tightly and I scoff. "You lied to me! Actually, you manipulated me into thinking you were racing because you wanted to face your fears when you were actually doing it 'cause you needed the money. You didn't trust me!" He shakes his head, his eyebrows furrowed deeply as his face contorts in pain.

I shake my head, feeling anger bubble up inside of me. "At least you didn't win a race out of pity!"

"I do not pity you! I cared enough to make sure you couldn't lose." He retorts, running a hand through his hair.

"If I didn't deserve it- I didn't deserve it Cameron! You've given up all your hard work for me when I didn't even want you to."

He scowls. "At least this way you have the money and you got the reputation. You beat me Harley. People will never forget that."

I let out a humourless laugh, taking a step back. My heart aches at the truth. "I'm going to go get that money and I'm going home with Audrey. Leave me alone." I say, my eyes beginning to water. I turn around and make a move to walk away when Cameron reaches for my wrist. I shrug him off like he's burnt me.

"Harley-"

"Don't Cameron. Just... don't." I hiss and his face falls before I turn my back on him and walk away, a stray tear slipping out of my eye despite how many people congratulate me along my way to the betting room.

****

The envelope feels heavy in my hands and I stare down at it, feeling the weight on my chest crush me a little bit more.

I walk out of my old room and enter the living room of my mom's house where she's sitting looking through her mail. I pull a chair back at the table and take a seat before she looks up at me. When she takes notice of my sullen expression, she frowns.

"What's wrong sweetheart? Since you walked in ten minutes ago you've seemed deep in thought."

I smile at her and pull the envelope out of the pocket of my bomber jacket. I put it in front of her and she glances down at it before opening it up.

"It's exactly how much you need."

When she peeks inside, she looks up to me with wide eyes. "Harley... where did you get this money?"

I shake my head. "It doesn't matter. I didn't rob a bank."

She shakes her head at me. "I... I don't understand." Her voice wavers and I see her eyes beginning to water.

"Cameron also helped." I feel the need to tell her. If he hadn't given me the money to bet, I would never have being able to race and if he didn't... let me win, I probably wouldn't have being able to get the money either.

Her eyes widen and she sniffles. "I don't want you running around worrying about me."

I smile softly. "I love you and I would never leave you alone if I can help. But please, mom, start looking for a better paying job. You deserve a better life." I tell her and she nods, the tears in her eyes finally falling and I stand up, going to her side and letting her lean into me.

I hope that Mia's father isn't living in the lap of luxury while Olivia sits here and tries to support herself and his daughter. She doesn't deserve this.

As she cries softly into my shirt, I can't help but feel a few tears of my own fall from the relief that the house is saved and that Cameron cares about me enough to do what he did.

And I don't know what to make of that.

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