♕Harley Anderson♕

I find myself feeling slightly nervous as I drive to my house. When my mom had called me to come over, it was obvious that she sounded down. I didn't question it though and rather agreed to drop a visit. However, now that I'm also here, I think it would be best to tell her that I'm dating Cameron.

I know that she won't approve or be very pleased about it but I'm not telling her to ask her for permission, I'm telling her because she has the right to know and I wouldn't feel right not telling her about something so important and big in my life.

That's why, as I step into my house, I take in a brave breath in an attempt to prepare myself for telling her the news today.

"Harley!" Mia gushes, tackling me into an embrace as soon as the door is closed behind me. I laugh and return the gesture, patting down her untamable hair.

"How are you Mia?"

She giggles. "I'm fine. C'mon. Mommy is in the lounge watching 'How I Met Your Mother'."

I chuckle as I enter the lounge to see my mom curled up on the couch under a blanket, the remote in her hand as she chuckles at the TV. When she notices my presence, she smiles. However, it doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Hello honey." She greets and I smile, moving to hug her. When she wraps her arms around my neck, my skin throbs slightly due to it still being sensitive from the suspicious dress that burnt my skin with acid yesterday. Gosh, I'm still so confused about that. However, I don't think now is the time to be worrying about that- I'm here to spend time with my mom.

"Hey mom, how are you?" I ask, my eyes taking in her appearance. She looks stressed- her hair is in a fuss and her eyes have dark blue bags underneath them, alluding to the idea that she hasn't slept in days. I frown.

"I'm alright." She reassures me but I don't believe her words. "You want to help me make the chicken pasta?" My mom asks and I nod, following her into the kitchen.

I take the things out of the fridge and she gets all the necessary ingredients before we start cooking in silence. "How are things?" She asks and I glance at her while she makes the sauce. I contemplate telling her now.

"Good..." I say.

"And how are things going with Cameron?" She asks curiously, chopping up l pieces of chicken.

I shrug, chewing on my lip in thought. "Great." I feel her cast me a sideways glance before she laughs.

"Sweetheart, why do I feel like you want to tell me something but are too scared?"

I sigh, stopping from mixing the sauce before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I really want my mom to approve of my relationship with Cameron however, just because she doesn't doesn't mean I'm going to stop seeing him. I feel strongly towards Cameron and I'm not going to pretend like I don't

"I know you don't approve, but I really like him mom. And I'm happy we're together." I confess, feeling relieved to finally get that off my chest.

My mom looks at me for a second too long before looking away and continuing to cut up the chicken. "If he makes you happy, then I'll support you Harley. I love you and just don't want some boy to break your heart."

Her response surprises me and I cock my head to the side, appreciating the fact that she isn't knocking Cameron down. "Thank you." I say softly and she smiles at me before we lapse into silence.

"When did you two get together?" She asks.

"A few days ago." I respond and she nods her head in understanding. "Mom." I say and she hums in acknowledgment.
"What's wrong?" I ask and she looks up to me with a frown.

"Why would there be something wrong?" She asks, tossing the chicken pieces into a pan.

"You look down." I observe and she shakes her head, setting the temperature of the plate on the stove. I rinse my hands as my mom wipes hers on a cloth.

"I'm just a little stressed." She tells me and I dry my handsp, leaning against the counter with my arms across my chest soon after, and watch my mother.

"Stressed about?" I press. Sure my mom can get a little worked up from work and all but she genuinely isn't a stressed person, therefore the fact that she's saying she is is making me concerned.

"You don't have to worry about it." She replies in a clipped tone and I narrow my eyes at her.

"Mom. Please tell me what's wrong."

She sighs, running a hand through her hair before leaning both of her hands against the counter. She shakes her head to herself. "I haven't being able to pay for the house for the last few months." She confesses and my eyes widen.

"What?"

"We've being having issues at the school- too many kids are deregistering so they dropped my salary. I haven't being able to cover all of my expenses."

I gulp, not knowing how to take the news. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You have your own stuff to worry about without having to worry about Mia and I."

"You know that's not how I see it." I scorn and she sighs, closing her eyes briefly and I kiss my teeth. "What now?"

She opens them again and wipes the countertop down. "They want to evict us."

I gawk at her, my heart dropping.

"How much do you owe?" I press further and she pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Thirty thousand."

My heart drops. How is my mom supposed to find the money to pay that off? Thirty thousand is a lot of money and she can't just get that at the snap of a finger. I watch as she sighs deeply, wishing I had a way to fix this. My mom deserves so much more than this- she deserves to be happy without the stress of losing her house.

"I'm sorry mom." Is all I manage to say and she gives me a weak smile.

"Thank you Harley. But can we please just enjoy the evening and forget about what I've told you?" She asks hopefully "I miss having you at home and I don't want this weighing our time together down."

I push a smile onto my face and nod. "Of course mom."

However, I know that it's a lie- I can't forget about what she's just told me.

****

When I step into my apartment, I immediately head for the couch and fall onto it, my body limp as my hair is sprawled out around me. I hear a chuckle from beside me.

"You okay?" Audrey asks and I shake my head, pushing myself up before pulling my hair behind me.

Even if my mom had told me that she wasn't able to pay for the house earlier on, before it hit thirty thousand, I still wouldn't have being able to help because I don't earn that kind of money. My mom has to look after Mia who still has such a long way to go while having to pay for my college tuition and I'm not even her daughter, for crying out loud! She's paying for my college when she can't even pay her damn bills and I can't even lend a helping hand. All I can give her is about a thousand. What will that do?

"What's wrong?" Audreys asks me and I sigh. I'm not really one to be open with people, tell them what I'm worried about but over time I've begin to feel a lot closer to Audrey. That means I can trust her right?

"It's my mom." I mutter and she turns down the volume on her phone.

"What about her?"

"She's going to lose the house."

Audrey's eyebrows raise in surprise. "Oh shit. I'm sorry." She apologizes and I shake my head.

"I just wish life was fair you know? That we all got what we deserve because my mom definitely deserves so much more than this." I mumble, feeling my heart ache and Audrey nods with a sad smile.

"Me too Harley. Life is just a rat's race."

I let out a sigh, agreeing with her. I just wish I could help my mom out of this situation- even if it means only giving half of the thirty grand. That house has being my safe haven since my father got arrested and now they want to take it away? My heart will completely break. And Mia... she's still so small and has to stress about this. I sigh. I wish there was a way I could get the money quickly without doing something bad like stealing from a bank.

Life truly is like a rat's race.

I freeze.

My head snaps up to Audrey and I gasp. "Audrey! You're an absolute genius!"

"What?" She asks and I smack my hand against my forehead in complete shock that I hadn't thought of it.

"I'm going to ask Cameran to set up a race for me at the track."

She smiles at me before clapping her hands in excitement. "Are you sure you're ready to race?" She inquires hesitantly and I purse my lips. I don't know yet, to be honest. The fact that I have to do it at night is what scares me the most- not the racing itself. However, if I have to do this to get the money then I'll try and put my fear aside. Olivia has sacrificed so much for me by acting as my legal guardian, as my mom, it would be selfish of me not to return the favor if I had the power to do so.

I shrug. "I have to. I could get the money I need if I win."

Audrey nods before squealing. "I'm so happy to finally see you race! I've being dying to see how amazing you are it."

I laugh. "I'm not as great as Cameron, Auds." I remind her and she rolls her eyes just as her phone starts blaring 'Centuries' by Fallout Boys. She gives me a sheepish smile before answering her device. While she heads to her room, I think over my idea to help my mom out. It's definitely a good way go get the solid thirty thousand however, that's only if I win. If I don't, well...

I know that I need to make sure I can hand the money into Clark before that to ensure that I don't cheat the system so I actually have to have thirty thousand to begin with. And I don't have that money.

Although I know Cameron does.

I'm not going to be selfish and ask him for thirty grand to give to my mom- I want to get that money on my own, by myself. I want to be the one to do something for my mom, not anyone else and I definitely don't need to burden Cameron with the responsibility. Hopefully he'll be okay to lend me thirty grand just for me to lay on the table and- hopefully- I'll win and be able to give it back to him. If I don't win, I'll have to come up with a way to pay him back.

Since I know Cameron will want to give me the money instead of forcing myself to race, I think it's best if I don't tell him the real reason and let him think it's just because I want to race- which is partially true. I need him to understand that I need to do this myself. Having to ask him for thirty grand just to bet on is already something I don't want to do but am going to because I know I don't have another option.

I'll make sure to speak to him tomorrow. Cameron believes I can race so I know he'll support me even if he's a bit hesitant at first. However, what I really need to worry about is the fact that I'm going to be racing at night.

And I've never done it before.

•••

What do you think is going to happen?

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