[ 23 ] 2013 

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"I fucking missed you."

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Calum led a complaining Harley Quinn towards his car. He needed to help her snap out of the trance she was in. Halfway there, she stopped abruptly and brought her hands up to her throat. Calum glanced at her, wondering why she had stopped and saw her trying to take breaths, but she looked like she was having difficulty doing so. "What's wrong?" He asked, rushing to her side.

Her blue eyes widened as the lack of air began to burn her lungs. Lightheaded, she stumbled forward and Calum caught her in his arms. He picked her up in his arms and hurried the rest of the way to his car that wasn't too far off. Before he was able to reach it, he felt her fall unconscious, going completely limp in his arms. He didn't understand what was happening to her, but he figured it had to do with Jack. They spent so much time together and he pieced together the fact that maybe being away from him made her ill.

He opened the passenger side door and placed her on the seat, buckling the seat belt on her and going around quickly to get in the car. Starting the engine, he sped off in the direction of the Quinns home. 

Since Luke's house wasn't too far from Harley's, he was able to get there in ten minutes. He got Harley out of the car and rushed to the front door. It was late at night and he saw no lights on inside, her parents must have been sleeping. Calum found it easier to get into the house without them noticing that way. He didn't want them to worry about Harley.

Calum walked through the house in the dark and climbed the stairs with a bit of a struggle. He eventually reached her room and pushed the door open. Cutting the distance between the door and the bed with a few strides, he placed her on it and went to shut the door.

When he turned to watch over her, he saw her sitting up in her bed. Her gaze was lost and she seemed disoriented. "When did I get home?" She asked, more to herself as she hadn't realized Calum was there yet. Her eyes scanned every inch of her surroundings until they fell upon the dark figure standing at the foot of her bed. With fear evident in her eyes, Calum was sure what was coming next. Putting a stop to it, he rushed forward and clamped a hand over her mouth, coming into the dim amount of light that was coming from the window. She let out a muffled scream which he had been able to stifle.

"Its Calum." He hissed. "Stop screaming."

She grabbed at his hand, trying to push it away. But he was stronger than her. 

"Will you be quiet so I can take my hand off your mouth?" He asked her in a whisper.

She nodded her head and he did as he had told her. "Why do you keep bothering me?" Were the first words that left her mouth. "I don't want to be with you. I want to be with Jack." She said.

"Forget Jack!" Calum growled. "I've been busting my fucking ass to help you and all you can think about is him?"

"I love him." She said in a small voice.

"You don't!" He shouted, his anger escalating. But it wasn't at her. Her rejection only served to hate Jack more and more. "You know what? I need to have a talk with you. The real you." He grabbed both of her hands forcefully in his and closed his eyes, concentrating all his energy on the dark hallway. 

Within a few seconds, they were both there.

"Calum!" She called, throwing her arms around him.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck and held her tight, inhaling her scent. She had that pure scent he remembered. This was the real Harley, not the girl who spent all her time with Jack Quimby. Her soul looked just as he remembered her; the jean shorts, the black combat boots, the black leather jacket, the blue hair...not the blonde haired girl in a cheerleading uniform that he saw at the party. Even the sound of her voice was different. 

Not wanting to let go, he found his words muffled by the skin on her neck. "I fucking missed you."

"I'm still me." She said sadly.

"That't not true." He shook his head. "You're gone. All you have time for is Jack."

Harley sighed. "I can't help it. Its like I'm trapped in my brain."

"I'm doing everything I can to help you." He swore. He knew, by what his grandmother had said, that he wasn't supposed to be holding her that way, they were related by blood. But he ignored the truth as long as he possibly could. "And," He added with less enthusiasm. "Mirror Boy is helping too."

He felt her chest rumble lightly as she let out a giggle. "How is Ashton?"

When they finally pulled away after what seemed like shorter time than it had actually been, he was able to look into her eyes to see the real Harley. Calum shrugged in response to her question. "More annoying than ever. He actually believes he and I are friends."

"I'm glad you boys are starting to get on." She smiled.

"But we're not." Calum pointed out.

"Ashton's making an effort." She said, "You should try too. He's a really nice guy-"

He stopped her, putting his index finger to her lips. "Its not going to happen, Harley. So save your breath." The raven haired boy looked for the clock on the wall that counted backwards each time someone found themselves in that hallway. There were only thirty seconds left. "We should be getting back." He said, gesturing to the time on the clock. 

She nodded slowly. 

Calum leaned in slowly and she closed her eyes, feeling her heart flutter. He pressed his lips against her forehead, vowing he would do anything to have her back to normal. Even if they were blood related, he needed to help her. 

He took his hands in hers and took her back to reality, where she was back to being the girl who was in love with Jack. But this time...somewhere deep in her ocean blue eyes was a small glint of recognition for one second. And for that one second, he could see that she was counting on him and she trusted him to help her.

Harley had faith in him.

He went over to her balcony and climbed down the vines that clung to the side of the house. He walked down to his car, which was parked in the driveway and got in. Calum went home that night with a determination to get her back.

It was like she was lost in the vast maze that was her brain, and all he needed to do was to figure out the quickest path to find her.

-

finally!

an update. i always apologize and i always let you all down. i'm just super busy with school, so i hope you all understand. i know i have posted on my football fanfics, but a lot of those are pre-written bc i used to wrist football fanfics on another website like four years ago. haha. anyway, this one has no pre-written chapters. so its fresh out of my brain when i post it on here.

anyway, just to refresh some memories, calum doesnt know they arent related yet ^.^

and i will try harder to post another update sooner...

so thank you for reading. and quick question of the day when i get back.

-clary xx