[ 42 ] 2014

When she returned home that afternoon, dropped off at her house by Calum, she had plans ready for the rest of the day. Calum had asked her to spend some time with him, Niall, and Andrea at his house, but she needed to see Ashton and tell him herself what she had decided. She also had a proposition to make him that she thought he might agree with. She hurried up the stairs and down the hallway, into her room, and locked the door behind herself, dropping her backpack on her bed after a long day at school. 

"Ashton." She called his name to summon his presence almost as quickly as she entered the room.

He was there within a second, materializing before her very eyes, a small smile on his face. He was happy to see her since it seemed like they didn't see much of each other anymore. "Hello Harley." He greeted her. He hadn't called her doll since he had seen her kissing Calum, and it was probably that he suspected she would end up choosing him.

"I took your advice and chose what was best for me." She informed him with a nervous smile playing on her lips.

"I'm glad you stopped worrying more about other people, and started thinking  a little more about yourself." He told her, the warm smile still on his face.

"Even though I didn't choose you," She started, pausing for a moment to take in his reaction. But he didn't even seem surprised. Though he wanted her to choose him, Ashton knew that the most logical thing would have been for Harley to choose Calum. Calum was alive. "I want you to know that I appreciate everything you ever did for me, and that our relationship was something that I'll never forget. And...I wanted to offer you my help so that I can help you move on. I know we discussed this before, but I heard somewhere that ghosts remain in the place they died because they had unfinished business."

Ashton nodded in agreement. 

Harley continued, "I thought your unfinished business was the murder itself, and the fact that no one ever knew who did it, but now I'm starting to think maybe it was the fact that your body was never found and buried properly. Where did you say they left you after you died that night?" She asked him. She remembered months prior that he had told her where his remains were. They were somewhere in the house--in her room--but she couldn't remember the location anymore.

He gestured with his hazel eyes to the balcony. "Under the floor boards."

"I have to find a subtle way to get my parents to remove those boards." She pondered, thinking out loud. "Then we can find you a real final resting place."

"Do you want me gone so quickly?" He asked her jokingly, though there was an undertone of a serious question in his words.

Harley shook her head quickly, realizing that her words could have easily given off that impression. "That's not it, Ash. If it were up to me, I would want you to stay here forever. But this isn't right. You need to move on." As she thought of a plan, and a viable one came to mind, she finally told him, "I'll talk to my dad tonight and tell him that I want a remodeling of the balcony. He'll probably have a construction crew in here by tomorrow."

-

Later, when everyone was finally home from either school activities or work, Harleen had prepared dinner for the family. She had made a whole tray of sliced beef, bread rolls, and vegtables for them to have, and she carried them in with oven mits on her hands to the dinner table. Billy, Aaron, and Harley were already sat around waiting for her. 

When they saw her enter the dining room--with some difficulty due to her pregnancy--both Billy and Aaron shot up from their seats and raced to her aid. Billy hurried to the kitchen and grabbed some hand towels to protect his hands. When he returned, he took the tray from her hands. "Mum, you shouldn't work so hard in the state you're in." He told her. He then walked to the dinner table and placed the tray on top of a rack so that it wouldn't ruin the table. "You should let Harley or me help you bring the food out." 

Aaron led her to her seat and helped her sit down. "I already told her so many times that we can hire a maid to help her do everything here at home. But she doesn't want to have anyone new in the house."

"I hardly lift a finger around this house." She argued with him, a pout on her lips. "Billy and Harley clean their own rooms, so I never have to worry about that. You're at work most days of the week and don't make a mess in the house, and we don't even have a pet I can look after. The least I can do is make dinner."

"I think dad's right." Billy said, sitting back in his seat.

Harleen looked to her daughter. "Surely Harley will take my side, right dear?"

Harley gave a shake of her head, already reaching for some meat and vegetables before her father and brother could finish them all. She gave a shake of her head, "No, mum. I think dad and Billy are right. I don't think pregnant women should carry heavy trays of food."

"Have some consideration for mum, Harley." Billy started, but stopped himself when her words finally sunk in. "Wait. You're agreeing with us?"

She nodded.

"She's gonna ask dad for something." Billy guessed. Now he was the one reaching for a big serving of meat and vegetables, and just about half of the bread rolls left in the basket. 

Aaron looked to his daughter with a smile. "What do you need, sweetheart?" 

"Well, now that you mention it..." She started casually, but she paused for a moment to shoot her brother a glare. "I was wondering if you would call in some professionals to remodel my balcony some time this week. The railings haven't been changed since they were put there when the house was built, and they're a bit rusty." 

"That's what you want?" Her brother snorted in amusement, "I thought you were going to tell dad that you're back with Calum."

"Back with Calum?" Aaron eyed her.

Harleen let out a gasp. "Darling, you didn't even tell us you were with him and that you broke up, much less that you were back with him. Why would you hide that from us?"

Harley threw her head back in annoyance. "Billy, I'll kill you."

She grabbed a bread roll off her plate and chucked it at him, hitting him square in the face. Billy didn't even flinch as he grabbed the piece of bread that had fallen in front of him in the table and took a bite out of it. Harley grabbed a piece of potato next and prepared to throw it at him when her father grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Harley, stop." He told her in a scolding tone. Aaron hardly ever scolded his daughter, then again he hardly ever had a reason to. Billy blew her a raspberry in amusement. Aaron continued, "Its a good thing your brother told us, or else we'd have never found out."

"I was gonna tell you guys, I swear." She assured her dad, placing her potato back on her plate. 

"When? After your secret wedding and your three secret kids?" Harleen asked.

"Yeah." Harley agreed sarcastically, "We're naming them Aaron, Harleen, and Arthur."

Harleen who had been taking a sip of water nearly choked when she heard the name. 

"Sweetheart, I want to meet him." Her father told her sternly.

Harley sighed. "Dad, you already know Calum."

"I mean like I want you to invite him to dinner so that we can talk about his intentions with you and his plans for the future." Aaron clarified.

"He's my boyfriend, dad." She reminded him. "He hasn't asked for my hand in marriage or anything like that. And this isn't the nineteenth century anymore. Why does he have to come and talk to you about our relationship? Why didn't Cindy have to come here and talk to you about her intentions with Billy and her plans for the future? Hm?"

"Because I met Cindy's parents when she and I started dating." Billy piped in.

"Billy, shut up, for fucks sake." Harley shot him another glare. It seemed like the proper older brother that he was, he was enjoying making things worse for his younger sister. Looking back at her dad again, she added the offended question, "Its because I'm a woman, isn't it, dad?"

"Its because you're my little girl and I have to make sure this boy is good for you. So invite him over." Aaron insisted. "Invite him over for dinner with us, and then we'll talk about your new balcony."

"Fine." She huffed and left the room. 

She sat on the living room couch and got out her phone. Harley unlocked it and opened up a conversation with Calum.

harley: can u come over rn? 

harley: my dad wants to "meet you"

calum: "meet me"?

harley: yep. he knows we're dating

harley: he said he wants u to come over for dinner so u can "talk about ur intentions with me & ur plans for the future"

harley: pls tell him u plan to go to a university

calum: but i dont plan that...

harley: its what he wants to hear, just do it

calum: i'll be right there 

calum: all full of lies about future uni plans just for u babe ;) <3

harley: thanks <3 x

-

Calum arrived about ten minutes later, just as he promised and Harley opened the front door for him. He quickly greeted her with a peck on the lips and she grabbed his hand in hers, leading him into the dining room where her family was waiting. They were almost done with dinner, while Harley's plate sat on the table untouched. There was just enough food left in the tray for one more person, which Harley knew it had been her mother's doing. She had probably saved it for him after finding out he was coming. 

He had dressed up in a neat button down navy blue shirt and tight fitted black skinny jeans, which was as decent as he could go. Harley led him to one of the empty chairs and he sat down as she disappeared into the kitchen to get him a plate for his food and a glass of water.

Meanwhile, an interrogation set off in the dining room.

"So, Calum," Aaron began rather casually, as though he wasn't going to judge him based on his answers. "What are your intentions with my little girl?" 

"Well, sir," Calum coughed awkwardly. He knew exactly what his intentions with Harley were. They were nothing but the best of intentions, but he was afraid that he would say the wrong thing and get on her parents' bad side, especially her father who had gone from nice guy to scary dad in a matter of milliseconds.  "I just want to love your daughter for as long as possible, and make her happy."

Harley soon returned and placed the food on his plate before setting it in front of him. Then she took the seat next to him and linked arms with him. This served to give Calum even more confidence in his responses.

"Good." Aaron nodded. "I'd hate to see my daughter suffer any heartbreak."

Harley flinched at her father's words. The only one who had caused any heart break there was her. Not Calum. Both Ashton and Calum had only loved her unconditionally. 

"I'd hate to see her suffer too, Mr. Quinn." Calum assured Aaron.

"What about your plans for the future?" Aaron wondered, "What do you want to focus on as part of your career?"

Calum pretended to think about it for a moment before replying. "I'm really interested in sports, since I'm captain of the soccer team at school." He even had the chance to brag about his high position on the team. "I'll probably be at the University of Sydney this upcoming fall, they have a highly prestigious health program with the option of a degree than focuses on exercise and sport sciences. That would help me get a career in any sports related field, anywhere from soccer team manager, to sports analyst."

Harley sighed in relief. At least he sounded convincing.

"That's good, son." Aaron smiled. "Its always important to continue learning."

Harleen waited until after husband's interrogation to add a question of her own. "So Calum," She continued when he looked at her, his attention shifted. "Do you plan on getting married, having kids?"

Harley wanted to facepalm herself.

"Mum..." She said in embarrassment through gritted teeth.

"Its just an innocent question." Harleen shrugged.

Calum chuckled, but still offered a response. "Harley and I are too young to think about getting married right now when we haven't even finished high school. But when I do get married, I want it to be with her."

Harley could feel her face redden as her mother grinned and said, "Aw, that's lovely."

"Please excuse my mum, Calum." Harley told him.

He shook his head. "Don't worry. I like your parents. They're just the right balance of strict and not strict."

-

a semi long short semi filler chapter. i have a really bad cold and i think i had a fever earlier because now my body is responding by sweating like a fucking pig when i dont even think its really hot outside or anything. but whatever. 

im gonna ask for a half day.

thank you all loads for reading and tell me what you thought of the chapter.

qotd: TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOuT EXO (if you know who they are)? who's your fave? i recently started liking them (like four days ago), and i completely fell in love with luhan (i know he is no longer in the band. i cry). he is so precious and his voice is so cute. and so im writing a luhan fanfic on here called "REPLACEMENT". if you would all like to check it out, that would be awesome. thank you loads.

btw the woman in the picture is pregnant harleen, portrayed by aracely arambula.

-clary xx