♕Harley Anderson♕

I stir in my sleep, feeling unusually comfortable and warm. I snuggle closer to my warmth and relish in the feeling before my eyes slowly peel open. That's when I remember where I am and I look to my side to see Cameron sleeping on his side, his arms holding me close while I steal his warmth.

The TV is still on, quietly playing Need for Speed while Cameron sleeps soundlessly, his hair flopping into his face. The last thing I remember is sitting on the couch with him, a bowl of popcorn between us before my eyes slowly closed to my sleepiness.

And now I end up here?

I slowly sit up, letting out a frustrated sigh to myself, before I check the time on the TV. My eyes widen when I see it reads eleven at night and begrudgingly pull away from Cameron. He stirs in his sleep and I watch him silently. With him being asleep, I can observe his features shamelessly; the way he has a slight bit of freckles over his nose, how his soft and rosy lips part as he sleeps, the way his thick lashes touch his cheeks and the way his defined jaw twitches as he clenches his teeth subconsciously.

I look away in embarrassment.

Have I gotten so low that I now stare at hot guys in their sleep?

I slip on my shoes quietly and glance at him once more before chewing on my lip and looking away. Why doesn't it bother me that I can be so close to him without feeling uncomfortable? I've never liked people invading my personal bubble but when it comes to Cameron it's almost like I want him to. I love the way I feel so secure in his arms and the scent of him that invades my senses.

I frown to myself.

I can't feel anything towards him- he's just a friend whose doing me a favour and teaching me to race. Besides, why would he go for a girl like me? Someone who has so much baggage when he can go for a much more beautiful girl who can offer him more than I ever will. More than I can.

I feel my heart ache a little.

I stand up and reach for my phone when he moves on the couch and his eyes peel open. They're laced with sleep and I smile down at him. "Sorry to wake you. I'm just heading home." I say softly and he frowns, sitting up on his elbows.

"What time is it?" He croaks, his voice raspy.

"Eleven. I should have being home a while ago." I mumble and he shakes his head.

"Just stay the night. I don't mind. And you already have my clothes on anyway." He tries to persuade me and I shake my head.

"I can't keep overstaying." I respond and I make a move to grab my car keys on the table in the center when he grips my hand. I look up to him.

"We both know that if I didn't want you to stay, I wouldn't have asked."

I stare at him, chewing on my lip in thought. Maybe it's a bad idea- getting close to Cameron when I already feel this way- but I would much rather be with him than in my own room and I feel that goes to show more than I want.

I let out a sigh. "Okay,"

He smiles happily at me. "Do you want tea?"

"That'd be nice thank you." I smile and he nods, standing up before entering the kitchen to make some. He pulls out two mugs and teabags and I watch him do so from where I take a seat on the kitchen island. A few minutes later and I'm sipping my tea while he does the same from where he's sat in front of me on a barstool.

I look around his house and take note of the light. "Thank you for leaving the light on for me." I say softly. The fact that he left the light on so that I could sleep peacefully warms my heart. He smiles softly.

"You don't need to thank me for that."

I nod. "I do. You could have just shrugged off my disorder like it didn't affect me. But you didn't- so thank you for that." I add and he watches me intently.

"I would never have shrugged something like that off." He murmurs and I smile into my mug as I take a sip. "Can I ask you something?" He asks carefully and I begin to feel slightly worried.

"Yes?" I respond unsurely.

"Are you on treatment for it?"

I place the mug between my legs and look down. I should have expected him to ask questions however, it still makes me feel vulnerable that I'm opening up to him like this.

"The only thing that can help me is antidepressants and I don't want a tablet controlling my emotions you know? I don't want to be numb to everything- even happiness- day in and day out. So no, I'm not on treatment. I take herbal tablets to help ease my nerves when I'm having a rough time and I sometimes pop a sleeping pill but other than that, I just use all of the techniques that I learnt in therapy." I explain and he nods.

"You went to therapy?"

I swallow thickly. "Yeah." However, I don't delve deeper into the many other reasons why I attended therapy. I didn't want to go anyway but Olivia persuaded me to and, in the end, it was totally worth it. Sure, it didn't take  away the anxiety but it definitely helped me with coping with it.

I don't want Cameron to see me as a kicked puppy or someone who needs help or fixing. I want him to see that I'm fixing myself, by myself and for myself alone.

"You're the kind of girl little girls look up to." He comments softly, his eyes looking up to mine with a twinkle, and I look up to him with a weak smile.

"I'm not."

He nods. "You are. Even if you don't believe it."

His words warm my heart and I avert my gaze to his hands. However, it's then that I notice the cuts and bruises on his hands. I place my mug down on the counter.

"What happened to your hands?" I ask and he glances at them casually before shrugging.

"Boxing," is his simple reply and I frown.

"You don't use gloves?" I ask almost incredulously.

"Sometimes,"

I frown at his clipped tone, reaching for his hands. He freezes at first before relaxing and I pull one of his hands towards me, examining the red and raw cuts on them. I frown to myself. Boxing would have grazed his knuckles, not cut them, which makes me think he isn't being honest with me.

"It looks like something sharp cut you." I comment aloud and he pulls his hands back suddenly, resting it in his lap.

"I'm fine," he simply states, looking out the window and I sigh softly. "Do you want to finish the movie?" He asks suddenly and I nod before we make our way back to the couches.

I know it wasn't boxing that cut him up like that but I also know what it feels like when you don't want to tell someone something and they keep asking. So, I simply act as if I believe his words.

****

I try and close my door soundlessly when I enter my apartment, tip toeing across the floor in an attempt not to alert Audrey that I'm home. However, before I can walk any further into my room, she pops her head out of hers. She raises a brow at me, looking at my appearance up an down.

"Am I witnessing a walk of shame?"

I gawk at her but feel my cheeks heat up considerably. "Of course not."

She eyes Cameron's clothes on me again before meeting my eyes. "You sure?"

I roll my eyes and push passed her into my room. She trails after me, watching me throw my clothes that were covered in flour and whatnot on the bed.

"Are you starting a collection of Cameron's t-shirts or what?" She asks and I roll my eyes, despite knowing her words are true- I have way too many of Cameron's shirts.

"I messed flour on my clothing."

"Mmh hmm." She hums. "Did you guys remember that you can't make love without a glove?"

I gasp, turning around to face her with an annoyed look. She laughs at my reaction.

"Can you please stop insinuating things? It's annoying." I grumble and she giggles.

"I'm only asking because you're my best friend and I care about you," she explains and I pause from packing my clothing. I turn around to face her, my previous annoyance evaporating into thin air.

"You consider me your best friend?" I ask softly and she cocks her head to the side.

"Obviously," she responds with an eye roll and I smile at her, appreciating the existence of the fiery ginger in front of me.

I've never had a best friend. I isolated myself at school when I was younger and the few friends that I did have were only school friends- we never saw each other out side of school. I never even thought about friends- I couldn't when I was someone else's punching bag and I was trying to avoid a daily beating. However, it would have being nice to have a shoulder to cry on back then. But now that I have someone who even considers me a friend, I realize how much I need Audrey in my life.

"What's wrong? You've gone very quiet." She says, eyeing me in concern. I look up at her, shaking my head.

"I'm just thinking about how much I appreciate your annoying soul." I smile and she giggles.

"You up for a movie?"

"I actually need to go to the store." I respond and she nods.

"I'll come with then,"

I pull out a pair of jeans and a shirt. "Okay. Just let me get change,"

Audrey leaves my room and I peel Cameron's clothes off, making a mental note to return them. I pull on my other clothes and throw my hair up into a messy bun before pulling on sneakers and leaving my room. Soon enough, Audrey and I are both at the grocery store, pushing the trolley down the junk food aisle while I roll my eyes at Audrey's indecisiveness.

"What's better though- sour worms or gummy bears?"

I roll my eyes. "Does it matter? Just take one."

She gasps. "Of course it matters!"

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Please just take one. We've being in this aisle for the last five minutes."

"Oh stop being cranky." She scorns and I roll my eyes. I glance around the shelves, having a craving for butter popcorn. I look through the shelf that has the popcorn when something black catches my eye. I glance at it to see the same hooded figure watching me. My hand slowly drops back to my side and I gulp, feeling fear leave goosebumps on my skin. I narrow my eyes at it before it turns on its heel and walks away. I frown, stepping forward in an attempt to follow it.

The figure walks down the vegetable aisle hastily and I narrow my eyes, jogging after it to try keep up. Whoever is playing this sick game isn't okay and I need to tell them to back the fuck off. I turn left again and am convinced I have it when I bump into someone, their items falling to the floor.

"Fuck." They hiss and bend down to pick it up before standing up again. My blood runs cold. He narrows his eyes at me, his lips twitching up in amusement. "Harley."

"Of course it would be you." I scowl at Ryan. " Are you stalking me?" I ask incredulously and he raises a brow.

"Firstly, thank you for apologizing for dropping my things and secondly, why the fuck would I stalk you? Cameron's made it clear you're all his." He scowls, looking me up and down. "And that he doesn't share."

I roll my eyes. "Bullshit. First you lay a hand on me and now you're following me? Lay off." I hiss, feeling anger bubble up inside of me that he would scare me like that.

He narrows his eyes at me, taking a threatening step forward. "I think you better start learning your lane." He warns, moving closer and I gulp as I remember that he isn't afraid to lay a hand on me. He won't hesitate to hurt me.

I take a step back.

"I-"

"Fuck off Maxwell. Nobody gives a shit about you or your ego." A voice pitches in and both Ryan and I look to see Audrey standing beside me. Ryan steps backwards and lets out a breath of a laugh.

"Fantastic, you're here too." He says sarcastically and Audrey rolls her eyes. "You have a big mouth Audrey. You should put it to better use."

She scowls. "Fuck off." She then turns to me. "C'mon Harley. Let's get out of here before we die from an overload of testosterone."

I give him one last glance before following Audrey down the aisle. However, I don't miss the wink he sends me and my body goes rigid.

If he's telling me the truth- that he isn't the one following me- then who the hell is?

•••

Don't forget to vote and comment!
Sorry for this update being a day late... I totally forgot to update yesterday.
Anyway... any theories on who is messing with Harley? I'd love to hear them!
Thank you all for reading! I'll see you next Saturday.

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