♕Harley Anderson♕

My mind is still dwelling on the moment that Cameron and I shared when I'm walking him back to his car.

I slip my hands into my back pockets. "I've being meaning to ask how the track is? Do you guys know who called the cops up?" I ask Cameron and he nods, turning to face me once we're by his car.

"Yeah. Turns out the sleaze bag was pissed I took his Dodge Charger." He says and my mouth falls agape.

"So he ratted out his own gang?" I ask incredulously and Cameron let's out a laugh.

"Seems like it. But Scorpion has dealt with him and we can all guess that he didn't walk out- he probably crawled."

I nod in response. "And Emery? Aren't the cops going to give him trouble now?"

Cameron shakes his head. "He has a friend who's a cop. He helped him out."

I shake my head with an amused smile. The man knows how to run an illegal business.

I then look up at Cameron who leans against his car. He winces, however, before changing his position. I narrow my eyes at him.
"Is it your wound?" I ask and he looks at me before nodding.

I purse my lips. "Let me see it. Maybe you have an infection." I say, stepping forward and reaching for his shirt. However, he grabs my hand to stop me and my eyes connect with his.

"Harley, I'm fine." He responds sternly and I roll my eyes.

"I think we both know that I'm not going to remove my hands so you can either let me just look at it or we can argue until I piss you off to the point where you give in." I respond back bluntly and he purses his lips before letting go of my hands and I smile smugly, lifting his shirt up slightly to reveal the wound that I stitched closed.

My hands itch to touch his defined abs and his v-line makes me want to stare but I internally scold myself for even thinking such a thing. I gently touch the stitches to which he tenses slightly  at and I remove my hands from his cold skin, dropping his shirt down and taking a step back.

"Its fine." I say.

"I told you." He retorts and I roll my eyes.

"Thank you for coming to help me." I say softly and he smiles at me.

"I'll let you know when it's fixed." He tells me and I nod in response, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Alright."

We lapse back into silence and I look down at my feet. "Thank you for joining us for lunch. It was nice."

His features soften as he looks at me and it stirs a sense of warmth within me. I love the way his features soften for me, like he thinks of me differently to everyone else.

You're not.

An inner voice tells me.

You're just another person.

I frown. Why doesn't it feel that way then?

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Cameron asks and I nod vigorously.

"Yeah."

He nods his head before opening his car door and climbing inside. I watch him reverse his car and only when he's speeding down the road do I let out a breath before running hand over my face.

I pad my way back inside to where my mom is washing the dishes and I lean against the counter, resting my head on the palm of my hand and my mom glances at me over her shoulder.

"So? What did you think?" I ask curiously.

"Of?" She asks with a frown of confusion, looking at me once again. I get up from off the counter and walk go her side, grabbing a dishcloth and drying the dishes.

"Of Cameron obviously."

"Oh. Well, he was an interesting fella." She responds casually and I slow down my movements, my eyes narrowing.

"That's all? He was just 'interesting'?" I ask incredulously and my mom shrugs, rinsing off a plate before passing it to me.

"What do you want me to say honey? I never expected you to bring a home a boy like Cameron."

My mouth falls open again and I find myself standing up straighter. "Firstly," I start "you go on as if we're dating- which we're not."

"You sure your feelings there are just platonic?" She casts me a sideways glance and I scoff, letting out a laugh of disbelief.

"Yes! What makes you think it's not?" I ask incredulously and she simply shrugs, frustrating me even more. However, I ignore her question.

"My real question is, what do you mean 'a guy like Cameron?' " I ask and she lets out a sigh.

"I just don't think he's all that good for you. That's all honey." She says, looking at me.

"Why? Because he has a leather jacket and a tattoo?" I ask incredulously and she scowls at me in annoyance.

"I just don't feel comfortable with him." She says and she returns to washing dishes although I can't seem to do it. How can she be so selfish to insult Cameron like that when she doesn't even know him? How rude could she possibly get?

"I cannot believe you would even think that when you don't even know him." I snap.

"I'm allowed to have an opinion Harley!" My mother retorts and I shake my head.

"Not when you're being so judgmental! Cameron is one of the kindest and most caring people I have ever met and I'd be damned to not defend him when you're busy knocking him like this." I explain, my hands flying in the air in frustration. She puts the dish that was in her hand down and turns to face me.

"What are you two doing that you're so sure of yourself?" She asks and I gawk at her.

"If you're insinuating that we're doing something inappropriate then you are dead wro-"

"I'm not insinuating anything. I'm asking a simple question."

I breathe in deeply and look between the eyes of my mother, not understanding why she's being so difficult. Can't she see what I see?

I lick my lips, looking away. "He's just teaching me a few tricks behind the wheel." I respond softly.

"What?" My mother exclaims. "He's teaching you how to race?" She shakes her head at me in disbelief, washing the dishes again although this time it's a lot more aggressive. I watch her with my mouth open.

"You're not seriously mad that I took the opportunity are you? How could you expect me to pass it up when you know how long I've wanted to learn for?" I ask and she drops the dish.

"People die from racing Harley!" She yells "Why can't you see that?"

"I know that! But I'm not going to stop doing it because of that!"

My mother pinches the bridge of her nose. "I care about you Harley and I would never be able to lose you."

I find my anger sizzle away slightly. "I know that Mom. And trust me when I say I appreciate that but you know I loved racing before you even met me and that's not going to change."

She stares at me before letting out a sigh. "And you're trusting a guy like Cameron to teach you how to do it?"

I throw the dishcloth onto the table in anger. "I know my fair share of what horrible people are like and I can guarantee you that Cameron is not one of them." I snap coldly, rounding my mother and exiting the kitchen.

"Harley!" I hear my mother call out but I ignore her as I walk into my bedroom and close my door, locking it so that she can't barge in. I lean my back against it and close my eyes, letting out a long sigh of frustration before opening my eyes and standing up straight.
I walk over to the side of my bed and slide down onto the floor, leaning my head against it and staring up at the ceiling while my thoughts wonder.

Would my mom have agreed with me if she was here? If she hadn't passed away? Or would she also judge him and say he isn't right? That I shouldn't achieve my dream that I've had since a little girl? I shake my head to myself. She wouldn't have judged him. She never did that- she was one of the most accepting people I've ever met. She even accepted my father- a man who found pleasure in the pain of others.

I understand my mom is concerned about me and I appreciate it with all my heart but the fact that she's expecting me to give something that I love up just because she's scared of it doesn't mean that it's okay. And nothing validates her being so critical over Cameron when she doesn't even know him. He didn't do anything to give her a reason to be so harsh.

But besides that, I should be asking myself why it even bothers me so much. Sure we are friends, if you could even call us that, but I don't know why my mom insulting him made me boil. Perhaps it was because I know there was more to Cameron than he lets on or it's because he's the only person who seems to care about me enough to actually try and control me. But why did it feel like it was me she was insulting? It was like it was me she was hitting in the gut. And what made her think that our relationship wasn't platonic in the first place? I don't understand how she could jump to such a conclusion.

I rest my head in my hands before reaching over for one of notebooks and jotting down words that come to my mind, all the while trying to distract myself from what's running through my mind and my heart.

****

When his familiar car pulls up, my shoulders instantly slump in relief and I don't hesitate to open the door and climb in. When I'm seated in the leather interior, I let out a long breath before casting Cameron a small smile.

"Hey." I greet and he frowns at me, stepping on the gas.

"You okay?" He asks, his eyes narrowed and I nod, pushing a smile onto my face.

"Yeah." I lie although I don't sound very convincing. "I'm great."

He doesn't respond to me and I close my eyes to relish in the peaceful moment when suddenly a loud grumble fills the silence and my eyes spring open, moving towards my stomach. I feel my cheeks heat up and I give Cameron a sheepish smile who looks at me with amusement in his eyes.

"Why are you starving yourself?" He asks, switching his flickers on snd turning. I scoff.

"I'm not starving myself! I was just avoiding the kitchen." I counter, crossing my arms over my chest and looking out the window.

"Why is that?" He asks and I kiss my teeth before looking down at my lap. I can't exactly tell him it's because my mom was been judgmental towards him and I couldn't take it, now can I? That is why I decide to settle with half the truth.

"I told my mom about me learning how to race." I say softly and he glances at me. "Needless to say she wasn't very pleased."

Silence makes a reappearance and I lean my head against my hand.

"I'm sorry Harley but you can't really blame her. She's concerned about you." He says and I let out a groan.

"I know! But she knows how much I want this, Cameron. All I want is her support, not necessarily her approval." I look at him to see his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Don't push her away because she doesn't approve of it but don't let her stop you from doing what you love either. If it makes you happy then that's all that matters." He responds and I find myself speechless at how wise and understanding his words are. I look down at my hands and wring them together.

"If you can get it why can't she?" I mutter.

"Because she doesn't understand the passion. I do. And you can't really be mad that she doesn't get it." He says and I kiss my teeth, his words unfortunately true but still so, so wise.

I wonder if Cameron gets his knowledge from his parents. Were his parents understanding? Did they support his love for cars and encourage him or did they shun him? That makes curiosity bubble up inside of me and I glance at him.

"Do you miss home?" I ask suddenly and he glances at me, his beautiful face scrunched up in confusion.

"Home?"

"Yeah... Colombia." I say and his face hardens while his jaw tenses. I frown at his reaction and when he doesn't answer me, my shoulders slump in disappointment. I swear that every time I try and start up a decent conversation or ask him about his past, he blocks me out.

I sigh and cast my attention to the trees whizzing outside of my window when his voice catches me by surprise.

"No."

I snap my head to him and he glances at me, licking his lips.

"No, I don't miss it."

I frown. How could he not miss the place he grew up in? The place that he has all his memories in?

"You don't miss anything at all?" I ask almost incredulously and he shakes his head slowly; sadly, as if it upsets him that he doesn't miss it. My eyes draw together. "But you grew up there?" I ask, my voice laced with confusion.

He rubs a hand over the slight stubble on his jaw. "Home doesn't always have to be a place Harley. It can be a person, too."

It's like I can't find any words to respond with, like is there nothing that I can possibly say in response that would do his statement any justice because it's just so true that I cannot help but blink in surprise before glancing at him. Is he speaking from experience? Did he make someone his home? I know I did... and they left me. But the thought that someone could have had Cameron's heart makes me rather uncomfortable. Did he love someone enough to open his heart up to them like he doesn't do for anyone else? And did that person make him regret it in the end?

Cyrus was my home. We could go anywhere in the whole universe but as long as he was there, I would feel okay; content. But then he left and I didn't have that luxury anymore. He was what made my house feel like home even when a monster used to lurk in the shadows... even when there was a monster clawing at me every single day.

But then he disappeared and left me homeless...

Cameron clearing his throat catches my attention and I swallow thickly. "I forgot to tell you that Audrey and Caleb asked us to join them for breakfast. I said we would if that's okay?" He asks and I dumbly nod my head, my thoughts still in a haze.

We lapse back into silence and my thoughts seem to stray to Cyrus. I remember all the times he would sneak me out so that we could go watch a race with his friends. Or when he got older and started actually racing and allowed me to sit in the car with him- it was one thing I always looked forward to. After that he would take me for ice cream and I always ordered the same flavour- cookies and cream- and then we would sit in the park until we finished it.

I feel tears spring to my eyes.

I miss him.

Well he obviously doesn't miss you very much.

I scowl at the voice in my head and blink away the tears just as Cameron pulls up outside of a different café although it's not foreign to me. The sign that reads 'The Retro Café' makes me sit up straighter as I'm suddenly reminded of my mom.

"Wh-what are we doing here?" I croak out and Cameron glances at me.

"This is where Audrey and Caleb are."

I gulp, trying to suppress the tremble from my hands. I haven't being here for the same amount of time as the house I grew up in and I have a very good reason as to why that is.

"Why? Is there something wrong?"

I shake my head and push a smile onto my face. "No, of course not. I just don't particularly like their food."

That's a blatant lie- they make the greatest chicken burgers in town and I love their milkshakes- but Cameron doesn't need to know that. He casts me a strange look but doesn't say anything more and instead parks his car so that I can climb out. When the fresh air bites at my nose, I take in a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself and Cameron watches me perceptively as we walk to the entrance of the building.

"Your hands tremble a lot." He comments under his breath and I glance down at my hands before slipping them into my pockets. I don't respond, not knowing what would be the appropriate thing to say to his discovery but very true observation. My hands do shake a lot- it's a side effect of the disorder and my triggers.

And I don't particularly feel like explaining that.

When we step foot into the café, nostalgia hits me full force and I have to take a moment to run a hand over my face in order to compose myself. The same red and yellow theme is present with the room being dim to create a retro atmosphere. Along with that, old music plays from a jukebox in one corner and the waiters still dress in yellow uniforms, their names engraved on the side. They prance around happily, too enthusiastic for a job like this, while customers laugh loudly and unashamed. I glance to a man behind the counter.

Jack is his name. He's a nice man- always gave me free cookies.

I duck my head in case he recognizes me and Cameron grabs at my arm, making me look up to him with wide eyes but a disoriented mind. His russet eyes scan my face and eventually meet my hazel ones, his blazing in confusion, curiosity but mostly concern.

"What's wrong?" He asks lowly and a laughing family catches my attention before I look back at Cameron. "Do you want us to leave?" He makes a move to turn us around when I shake my head.

"I'm fine Cameron. Someone I knew just used to work here and I haven't being here in a while so I'm just a bit shaken, that's all." I explain honestly. His eyes tell me he wants to ask who but he doesn't say anything and for that I am grateful. He simply drags me in the direction in which Caleb and Audrey are at.

My eyes stray to an empty corner booth on their own accord and I remember all the times I sat there and waited for my mom to finish work and all the times she would sit with Cyrus and I there during her break. We always sat there.

"Hey guys!" A chirpy voice interrupts me and I see Audrey smiling up at me. I return the gesture as I slip into the booth before Cameron follows after me.

"This place is great!" Audrey continues. "I really like the atmosphere."

I smile to myself. My mother always said the same thing.

"Anyway, how are you?" Caleb asks and as he starts the conversation I cannot help but glance around at the nostalgic building before a waitress steps into my line of sight with a wide smile on her face.

"Welcome to The Retro Café! What can I get y'all?" She asks, her yellow dress the exact same as my mother's. After all this time they still haven't changed it, I muse to myself.

Everyone scans the menus but I already know what I want- the chicken burger and a vanilla milkshake.

"Mmh..." Audrey hums "I'll have the grilled chicken and a plate of fries please." She says and the waitress writes it down before Caleb and Cameron tell her their orders. When she gets to me, I recite my order like the many times I've done before. When she takes the menus away from us and walks away, they all return their attention back to me and watch me curiously.

I don't say anything though and lean back in my seat, zoning in and out of the conversation, my mind struggling not to focus on the memories that resurface. I look through the window and let out a sigh when I suddenly feel a hand squeeze my knee. I snap my head to Cameron to see him calmly talking to Caleb and Audrey despite his hand resting on my knee in an attempt to comfort me.

And it bothers me to say it does.

I find myself slowly moving closer to him and when he grabs my hand underneath the table and rubs circles soothingly on it, I can't help but let warmth envelope me while I appreciate the moment.

However, my mind keeps asking me- what the hell am I doing?

•••

Hello everyone! Don't forget to tap that star below ;)
I hope you've all had an amazing start to 2019 and are enjoying it so far.
And I hope this chapter had something to do with that ;)
What do you guys think of this chapter? What about Olivia not being too fond of Cam and Harley defending him? And what about Harley's panic at going to this diner? And, lastly, what about Cam comforting her?
Let me know!
lol xo

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