♕Harley Anderson♕

"So how are things going with Cameron?" Audreys asks, waggling her eyebrows suggestively from where she's sat on my bed, paging through a book of buildings.

I smile to myself, painting another coat of white nail polish over my pinkie finger. "Its going great." I respond and she giggles at me.

The day Cameron had asked me out on a date, Audrey had being with me. I couldn't hide my excitement from her so I confessed that there was something going on between Cameron and I. Audrey was so excited and kept telling me how she thinks we're perfect for each other. It makes me so happy that Audrey is supportive of my relationship with Cameron.

"I have never shipped a couple so hard in my life." She comments and I laugh before closing the bottle of nail polish.

"How are things with Caleb?" I ask, knowing that she was worried about sleeping with him the other day.

She nods her head. "Good. I can't believe I was stressing for something so stupid."

I shake my head. "It wasn't stupid." I tell her and she sighs.

"Maybe. But I know he loves me and we're together for more than just sex."

I smile at her. "I'm really happy for you."

She looks up to me with a grin. "How about we go out tonight and celebrate your 'no longer single' title?"

I laugh, standing up from my desk chair with a laugh. "I can't tonight. Cameron said he's taking me out for dinner."

She smirks. "Mmh... I wonder what dinner he could be referring to."

I gawk at her before rolling my eyes. "Audrey!"

She cackles, throwing her head back. "I'm just kidding. Maybe we can go out another time?"

I nod my head. "Definitely." I check the time on my phone before reaching out for my handbag on my bed. "My shift starts in ten. I'll see you later." I tell her and she gives me a wave before I walk out my room and building and into my car.

Joe's Coffee Shop is unusually busy when I enter and I look around with a frown before settling on Allison who looks like death warmed up. I round the counter and grab my apron off of the rack.

"Why is it so busy?" I ask her and  she sighs, handing a customer his coffee.

"I have no idea."

I let out a sigh before grabbing my small notepad and pen and heading for table number eleven.
I serve a family of four and write down their long order before handing it to Allison who recites it to the chef. It goes on like this for the rest of my shift- me running around like a headless chicken to try and get to all the customers before they start complaining and making life difficult.

By the time my shift has come to an end, I'm exhausted from going back and forth and in dire need of a break. The shop is a lot quieter now, rush hour having come to an end. I'm busy wiping a table down when I feel a familiar presence looming behind me. I turn to Frank with a smile.

"Hey Officer Frank." I greet and he smiles at me.

"Hey Harley. How're you today?"

I let out a chuckle. "Tired but definitely good. How about you? How was work?"

He chuckles, shrugging, before slipping into the table I've just wiped down. "I'm alright and work was fine- nothing interesting,"

I nod with a smile. "Do you want the usual?" I ask and he purses his lips.

"I think I'll try the cherry pie today."

"Good choice." I say "It's delicious."

He chuckles at my remark and I gaze at the clock behind me on the wall.

"Your shift about to end?" He asks and I nod.

"Yep. I need to head home and get ready."

He raises a brow at me. "Going on a date?"

I laugh before nodding with a light blush. "Something like that."

"I take it that your relationship with Cameron is going well?" He asks and I cock my head to the side with a frown, not sure how he knows I'm even dating Cameron. Sensing my confusion, Frank laughs. "He told me the other day when he stopped by my office."

I give him a sheepish smile. "Oh."
He chuckles at my reaction and I join him. "I'm leaving now but enjoy the rest of your day Frank." I say and he beams brightly at me.

"You too Harley. Enjoy your date with Cameron."

I smile gratefully at him before walking to give Allison his order. Then I hang my apron on the rack and I'm out of there in record time, feeling excited towards going out with Cameron tonight.

****

I'm digging through my cupboard to try and find something to wear when I realise that I should've gone to the mall and gotten something decent to wear tonight. Sure, I have enough clothes to choose from but I wanted something a little different for this evening.

I eventually pull out a pair of white jeans and a pretty button down shirt and I decide to pair that with a pair of wedges that I got a few months ago. I slip the shirt on so that I can start on my hair and makeup when I hear a knock on the door. I frown to myself, knowing that it's still too early for Cameron to be here, and head for the door.

When I peep through it, I see nobody standing in the hallway except for a little brown box on the floor. I gingerly reach out for it, feeling a little unsure of what could be inside, before picking it up. In an untidy scrawl are the words:

Can't wait to see you tonight.
-Cameron.

A smile worms its way onto my face and I close the door before heading back to my room. I place the parcel on my bed and try not to swoon at how adorable Cameron can be sometimes before I open the box. Inside is a plain, but extremely pretty, black dress that will hug my figure tightly. The material is soft in my hands and I instantly grin at knowing I have something to wear now.

I peel my clothing off and slip the dress on. As it expected, it hugs my figure tightly and the sleeves scrunch around my shoulders slightly before cutting into a v-neck that isn't too low. I pull my hair back and smile at myself in the reflection. Even though it isn't a dress I would go out of my way to buy, it definitely is gorgeous.

I twirl around in the mirror, making sure I look okay in it before I think about what I'm going to do to my hair. I don't really feel like leaving it down so perhaps I'll pin it up. I reach for my brush on my desk when I suddenly feel my body burning. It's like it works it's way up from my legs to my neck and I feel my skin itching uncontrollably but at the same time burning as if I poured cleaning chemicals all over me. I scratch at my arm and hiss in pain when I feel like I'm ripping my skin off. I pinch the dress between my two fingers to try and relieve the odd sensation and my hair falls into my face. I push it back but hiss when my face begins to sting as well. I look at my face in the mirror, trying to see if I can see anything. However, soon enough my eyes are burning too and I can no longer keep them open.

The panic begins to set in.

I blindly try and feel around for my way to the bathroom, hitting into my desk and stubbing my toes on the wall. I can't think straight- I feel like I'm burning, being cooked alive. I feel my legs giving way under me and I start to cry.

I don't know what's going on. Why I feel so horrible.

I try to peel the dress off from where I'm lying limply on the floor but I cannot feel my fingers, all I feel is pain. I cry out, hoping someone will hear me, when I hear my front door open and close. I stop moving for just a second, hoping that it's not someone I don't want it be. However, when I hear Cameron call out my name, I cry out again.

"Cameron!"

I hear his footsteps against the floor before he leans down to me. My eyes stay closed no matter how hard I try to open them.

"What's wrong?" He asks, picking me up.

"My skin," I hiss "It's burning."

"Burning?" He repeats and I can hear the panic in his voice.

"I think it's the dress." I mumble and I'm hoisted into the air. I don't know where he's taking me but soon enough I hear the bath tap switch on.

I feel my arm sting again and I cry. "It hurts Cameron."

I feel myself being set in cold water, the sensation numbing the pain where my skin is exposed. Cameron puts some water on my face and I feel it cool slightly and he does it again so that my eyes can peel open into thin slits. He rests one hand behind my neck to support me before the other rips the dress off, the cool water numbing the burning sensation around my torso where the dress once was.

"I'm going to dunk you. Hold your breath." He instructs hastily and I do as I'm told before he pushes me under and brings me back up. He does it again, rubbing his hands on my body to wipe off whatever burnt me. When the burning subsides, I just feel numb and I take in a deep breath.

I can feel the weight of his gaze on me and his heavy breathing and I peel my eyes open to look at Cameron who is watching me silently. I gulp before closing my eyes again in relief.

It's kind of embarrassing that Cameron is seeing me this naked in this state. If he was ever to undress me, well, I wanted it to be for a different reason and under different circumstances.

"You okay?" I hear him whisper and I nod.

"Yeah. I'm just sore."

The feeling of my skin being on fire is gone but now my skin is sore- like I have carpet burns. I don't move and rather just let the cold water refresh my skin.

"Do you need me to help you out?" He asks and I nod. He grips me by my arms and lifts me up before helping me climb out of the tub. He hands me a towel that was hanging on the rack before I wipe myself down.

"I'll be in the kitchen." He tells me and I nod before he leaves the room.

I don't understand why the hell the dress made me feel like I was on fire.

My skin is redder than usual and I walk into my room, exchanging the undergarments I have on for a dry pair. Then I slip a baggy shirt on so that it won't aggravate my skin and tie my now soaking hair up into a bun before hanging up the towel. When I enter the kitchen Cameron stands up from where he's against the counter and walks towards me. His brown eyes rake over my body in concern.

"What happened?" He asks and I shake my head, not even knowing myself.

"I was fine until I tried the dress you got me on. It was like my skin was on fire." I explain uneasily and when I take in Cameron's expression, my insides twist uncomfortably. He eyes me in confusion, his eyebrows scrunched together.

"I didn't buy you the dress." He says and I frown.

"It was in the parcel you dropped at my door."

He shakes his head. "I didn't drop any parcel."

We both stare at each other in confusion, not understanding what is going on. Has Cameron miraculously forgotten that he sent me a gift? Less than an hour ago? Or is he telling me the truth about not sending me the parcel?

I silently turn on my heel and head into my room, Cameron following after me and I gesture to the brown box that the dress came in, too afraid to even touch it. He glances at me in question before he picks it up and looks at it, reading over the note that supposedly came from him.

He shakes his head, looking at me strangely. "I didn't send this."

I gulp, scratching the back of my neck before wincing.

"Then who the hell did?"

Cameron chews on his lip in thought. "I have no idea but I definitely know that it's someone who knows more about us than they should."

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