[ 6 ] 2014 

-

"The only person at St. Genevieve's who actually liked him was you."

-

"This house belongs to Cole Hood." 

Harley shook her head at the information they had given her. "That's not right." She said, "Calum Hood owns this house." 

"Like I just told you, ma'am," The security guard began, starting to sound impatient with her. He thought she was a stubborn young woman who could not accept the truth. There was no one named Calum in that house, as far as he knew. "We were hired by a man named Cole Hood. If you are looking for someone else, maybe you have the wrong house."

She remained silent for a moment. She knew perfectly well that the house was Calum's property. It had been given to him as an inheritance from his grandfather, along with other things she probably didn't know about. But one thing she was certain of was that Calum's uncle wanted the house, and she thought he would be capable of anything to have it. That was the extent of greed sometimes. 

"Can I see Mr. Hood?" Harley asked after a short pause in which she had been momentarily immersed in her thoughts. Her suspicion also continued to grow.

If she could see his uncle in person, and talk to him, then maybe he could let her know where Calum was. Or if he had something to do with him disappearing, she thought that by talking to him, she would know he was involved.

The guard asked her to wait a moment and he grabbed a phone off his desk. He dialed a number and waited for someone to pick up on the other line. When someone finally answered, he said into the phone, "Mr. Hood, there is a young woman here that wants to see you." There was a pause as he listened to the response, then he continued, "Her name is..." He looked at her, awaiting an answer.

"Harley Quinn."

"Harley Quinn." He repeated into the phone. "She says she's looking for someone named Calum."

There was another pause while Cole spoke.

"Oh, your nephew?" The guard raised an eyebrow. "Yes, sir. I'll let her know." He said into the phone very respectfully and when the call ended, he looked up at Harley Quinn from his seat behind the desk in the security booth. She thought she was going to get to see his uncle and that she would get some answers as to where Calum was. But she was disappointed by the guard's words. "Mr. Hood cannot see you now because he is very busy. But he asked me to tell you that his nephew left the country."

"Left the country?" She repeated in shock. If she didn't think Calum would leave to another town without saying goodbye, it was even less likely to her that he would leave the country.

The guard nodded his head, confirming what she heard. "Mr. Hood said he saw his nephew was very upset about something, and he decided to leave because he needed to get away from something that was hurting him."

Harley bit down on her lip to try to hold back a stream of tears that threatened to escape. 

She felt guilty for Calum's disappearance.

-

Harley went to the American style burger place called Iggy's when she returned home and changed into her cheerleading uniform. From the moment she arrived, she already wanted to leave. The populars were the ones crowding the place, they were everywhere, and they were making a lot of noise. Harley found her brother Billy with Cindy and went to sit at their table.

"I'm so glad you made it, Harley." Cindy smiled brightly at Harley. The two of them were sitting at a booth near the back together, and there was one empty seat left. Luke sat across from them, typing away on his cellphone with a bored expression that changed when he saw Harley Quinn.

He stuffed his cellphone into his red and black letterman jacket and grinned. "Hey Harley."

She sat beside him and crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't even talk to me, Luke. After what you did to Hazel, with Phoenix."

"Don't be that way, Harley-" Billy began, defending his friend. He didn't yet know that Luke had been the one to make up the lie that he was dating Phoenix behind Cindy's back. Since he considered Luke to be his best friend, he was thrilled at the idea of Luke and Harley possibly dating. But that was the last thing Harley wanted. She wasn't interested in Luke Hemmings.

"Luke," Cindy shot her brother a look, her eyes darkened as she threatened her brother in the most threatening way, despite the fact that her voice was one of the sweetest Harley had ever heard. "Do not bother Harley. She is my best friend and you know I hate it when you try to date my best friends." Harley doubted Cindy hated that. She probably didn't want another incident like Kylie's to happen again though, especially with the way that Luke treated girls.

"Do you want something to eat?" Cindy offered, her bright smile and bubbly personality was back.

Harley gave a shrug of her shoulders. "I guess."

The last time she had been at Iggy's was precisely with Calum, and she once again remembered how much she missed him.

Cindy slid out of the booth and Billy followed behind her. Harley almost wanted to beg for them not to leave her alone with Luke, but she thought maybe he wouldn't be his usual self and would leave her alone. 

"Harley Quinn," He said her name from beside her with an amused smirk. It was Luke's favorite game to play; to pursue a girl when she most resisted him. Harley was strongly considering getting a restraining order placed against him. Luke Hemmings was trouble. "Where is your little pet, Calum? I heard he dropped out of school because you broke his fragile little heart. You know, I honestly hope he never comes back. The only person at St. Genevieve's who actually liked him was you." He added mockingly.

She turned her head to look at him, her blue eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Fuck you, Luke."

"Fuck me then." He said, licking his lips with a cynical smile.

Harley let out a frustrated sigh and slipped out of the booth. "I'm leaving."

"Why?" He called after her, as a chuckle escaped his lips. "I was only joking, Harley. Don't you have a sense of humor?"

"You're a jerk, Luke." She told him, not looking back at him.

She found the front of the restaurant with a few strides and she saw Cindy and Billy there, waiting for Harley's food. When Cindy saw Harley, she frowned. "Leaving already?"

Harley nodded. "I don't fit in this scene, Cindy."

"Don't go yet. We're having so much fun." Cindy pleaded, reaching for Harley's hand and taking it in hers.

Billy said from behind Cindy, leaning in close to her ear, "Let her go, Cindy. My sister has a jet black heart. She doesn't like anything that has to do with fun." He rested his chin on Cindy's shoulder as he stuck his tongue out at his younger sister.

Harley rolled her eyes at him playfully, "Shut up, Billy."

"Well," Cindy grabbed a white bag with a box of food in it and offered it to Harley with a warm smile. "Take the food so you can eat it at home."

Harley took the bag from her and leaned in to pull her in for a short, and awkward hug. She wasn't much the type to hug people, but Cindy was just so sweet that she felt like she had to do it. Then she waved goodbye to her brother and pushed past him on the way out the door. 

Outside the restaurant, she called Niall and Andrea for a ride. Their car was parked in the lot behind the burger place and they were in the crowd of teenagers inside, but it was all such a big commotion that she didn't see them. Instead, she waited for them on the front sidewalk and had an offering for Niall in exchange for a favor.

Since she wasn't very hungry, she would ask them to take her to the old factory-turned-warehouse where Calum's things were being kept. She figured that if a security guard was protecting the area then it meant the building concealed something important that someone didn't want them to find.

When Niall and Andrea made it outside, Harley saw Niall holding a cheeseburger in his hand that he was eating happily. 

Harley raised the bag containing a box full of warm food and shrugged her shoulders innocently. "I got you some food, but it looks like you already ate."

"I have room for more." He assured her, shaking his head.

"She wants something." Andrea eyed her suspiciously. "Spill it, Quinn."

Now that they knew she was going to make them a deal, she sighed, "I need you to take me to the old warehouse outside of town. There's something there that someone is trying to hide."

Andrea threw her head back in frustration. "Calum is gone, love. Accept it-"

"I'll do it for the food." Niall responded, taking the bag from Harley.

-

A half hour drive later they found themselves back at the old warehouse in the abandoned furniture district. Andrea was at the wheel while Niall ate his food while sitting at the front passenger seat. Night was falling in Sydney and this time Harley planned to get the guard out of the way before attempting to break in.

They parked the car at another building nearby and walked the short distance to the other warehouse. Niall and Andrea would then pretend to try breaking into the building, then Harley would mind control him into sleeping.

Niall and Andrea went first. They emerged from behind the rusted iron gates and walked right up to the front door, trying to be seen. Harley hid by the side of the stairs to conceal herself from view. The guard who was patrolling caught them and rushed to stop them. "Hey! Stop that!" He called.

The moment he was close enough to them, Harley walked out and used all her concentration. "Stop." She commanded, looking her in the eyes. The blue in her eyes seemed to become brighter and more vibrant in her concentration, almost like a neon blue. The guard immediately stopped and his expression went blank. "I need you to get out of here and sleep for a few hours." She explained to him slowly and carefully. 

"I will get out of here and sleep." The guard nodded.

"Go." She said, and he was triggered like a robot. He left them there and Harley jogged up the steps to get to Niall and Andrea.

Once again focusing all her energy in one place, she directed it to her hand and held it out a few inches from the chain and the padlock on the doors. The chain rattled slowly at first and then more violently, but did not budge. 

"Maybe if Niall and I help." Andrea suggested, and the two joined her action.

This time it was a stronger pull coming from their hands and the chain broke off, falling to the ground at their feet. Niall pulled the double doors open and Harley ran inside, her eyes taking a couple of seconds to adjust to the darkness. But she could quickly make out the dark silhouette of something she recognized and her lips parted to let out an almost quiet gasp.

She could hear Niall and Andrea's foot steps echoing behind her own as she got closer to the dark shape of a black sports car.

It was Calum's car.

-

dun dun dunnnn. i thought this chapter was starting to get suspenseful, and i worked really hard to make it more interesting. i feel as though lately my chapters have been terrible, maybe its just the negativity of my slight depression. 

tomorrow i have a music retreat so i'll be staying late at the university. but i wanted to have an update for you all before then because you have all just been amazing. there have only been about seven updates and this book already has seven thousand reads. that makes me very happy because it is keeping me very motivated. 

my current goal for this is to post an update atleast once a week. so im hoping to stick to that.

so question of the day: do you have any pets? i have various. i have three dogs: lucky, cookie, and nemo. two bunnies: blue, and pelotita. chickens: chicharito, tecatito, gaby, bastian, luke, bully, karla, pompuda, juana, paul (and his nameless crew). and quails: survivor (and his nameless bitches). so tell me about your pets. i just love animals. especially dogs and bunnies because they love you unconditionally, kind of like god does. that's probably why they all go to heaven.

thank you all for reading. i love youu.

have a blessed night, dream of angels and 5sos. maybe angels and 5sos are synonymous to each other.

-clary xx