[ 48 ] 2014

Since Calum and Harley were unconscious on the ground, everyone cleaned up the mess that had was the house as a result of their plan. Niall and Andrea got Calum to his bedroom and left him in his bed. They knew Calum would be safe now, with Claire gone, and they let the others know they would be keeping an eye on Calum.

The two were going to return home. But they would be checking in with him in the morning. 

Ashton scooped Harley up in his arms easily, his hazel eyes full of worry for her. Dempsey noticed this and dropped her hand on his shoulder heavily, trying to reassure him. "Don't worry about her. She'll be fine. Think of it as her being asleep, and she'll wake up in the morning."

But Ashton bit his lip. "Each time she does this, I always fear the worst. I lost everyone I have ever loved...I can't lose her too."

He knew there was a very real possibility of that happening if she were to realize she loved Calum more than she did him. Ashton didn't know if he could bare losing another person he loved. His parents and siblings had been taken from him, his girlfriend and best friend betrayed him. Ashton loved Harley and didn't want her to leave him.

Paúl walked over to where Dempsey stood, talking with Ashton. Gesturing to the unconscious young woman in his arms, he said, "Dempsey and I can take her home. We had to call her parents to let them know she would be celebrating the New Year with us. But they wanted her home before two." Sliding his arms beneath Harley's frame, he lifted her up in his arms just as easily as Ashton had. Dempsey and Michael followed Paúl out the front door while Ashton vanished into thin air. 

Niall and Andrea soon followed after making sure everything was in order at Calum's house.

It was going to be a long, but peaceful night for the group of teens.

-

It was the late morning of the new year when Harley woke up. Her head was throbbing and though she had been sleeping for several hours, she still felt tired. Her blue eyes scanned her surroundings and she was confused to find she was back in her bedroom. Had she not been left with a painful reminder, a killer headache from the blow Claire gave her across the head, she would have believed it was all a dream.

Ashton was sitting at her desk chair by the doors that led out to the balcony, his face brightened with a smile when he saw her awake. But more than happiness, there was relief in his hazel eyes. "Goodmorning, doll." He greeted her.

"Goodmorning, Ashton." She stretched her arms up over her head and let out a yawn. "My head is killing me."

"Well," The teenaged apparition crinkled up his nose, "Claire did hit you with a small statue."

"Hm." Harley sighed, remembering the events that had taken place on new year's eve. "What day is it today?" She wondered, her blue eyes finding his hazel ones with curiosity.

He replied promptly. "The first of January of two thousand fourteen. Happy New Year, doll."

"Happy New Year, Ashton." She grinned at him. And remembering she had a present for him, she brought herself to a sitting position on her bed. "Oh!" She reached behind herself to lift up her pillow. Underneath was a book, more of a photo album which she had gotten for him.

She hid it behind herself and the smile seemed to get bigger on her face as she spoke. "I didn't get to give you anything for Christmas because you were off plotting with Claire, or pretending to plot with her." She corrected herself. "But I thought you might like this present. So I went down into the bomb shelter because I remembered you said your mum left a bunch of boxes with pictures in them." Bringing the photo album into his view, she offered it to him.

Ashton couldn't believe it, his eyes were wide with surprise. 

For years after his death, he had gone unnoticed by people. His only company were the memories he had of his family when they were alive. And along came Harley Quinn and made him fall madly in love with her.

This gesture convinced him that he needed to make his move. Calum was in love with Harley as well and seemed to be making better progress.

He cut the distance between the computer desk and her bed with a few long strides. Instead of taking the photo album in his hands, as she had expected, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a tight embrace. His face nuzzled into her black and blue dyed hair as he sat on the cushioned mattress with her. "Thank you so much for this, doll. You didn't have to go through all that trouble for me."

They pulled away after a few moments and she nodded her head. "I wanted you to have something nice for Christmas. You've been through so much, and still you're such a nice guy. And you still manage to put a smile on your face. You're brave, Ashton. I wish more people out there were like you." 

Her hand went to cup his face. And slowly, Harley leaned forward until their lips were connected in a sweet kiss. Ashton froze at first, surprised, but quickly recovered and his lips were moving against hers withing seconds. 

As their kiss began to get heated, Harley heard a noise on her balcony and the door opened to reveal Calum. 

"Hey Harley, I thought we could go out today and have some real fun since Claire's gone--"

He stopped mid sentence as his dark brown eyes saw the scene before him. Instantly, his eyes were full of anger. And there was also something else in his eyes, there was hurt. "What the fuck are you doing?!" He yelled. Ashton and Harley both looked at Calum, startled. Neither of them knew who he was talking to.

Harley got up from her bed. "Calum--"

She took a step towards Calum, but he raised his arms up to stop her. "Don't Harley."

There will come a day when you have to choose one of us and let the other one down. His words from when they were at the abandoned factories echoed in her mind.

"You chose him." He said in a voice barely above a whisper. His hand balled up into a fist as he laughed bitterly, lifting his gaze to look right at Ashton. "If you weren't already dead, I would fucking kill you." His words were so dark and menacing that they sent a shiver down Harley's spine.

Now there were tears pooling up in Harley's eyes. "I'm sorry, Calum."

But he turned around and headed back towards the balcony. He climbed over the railing and grabbed onto one of the vines to make his way down the side wall of the house. 

"Where are you going?" She called, her voice shaky.

"Home." He replied, and was out of sight within moments.

Harley 's day had gone from good to bad in a matter of seconds. And it had all been because she had chosen Ashton. She didn't regret her decision, she really liked Ashton, but at the same time her heart hurt for Calum. Harley didn't want to admit it to herself, and Ashton knew it well, that Harley loved Calum too.

-

Harley stayed in her bedroom most of the day. 

After calling Calum and sending about a hundred text messages that he didn't answer, she tried to calm down a bit. She and Ashton looked through the photo album together, and Harley gave him small explanations as to why each picture made it into the book. And in turn, Ashton had many stories to tell her for each picture.

But Calum was in the back of her mind the entire time. 

Ashton and Harley were cuddling in her bed when she got a text. Her hand reached for her cellphone on the nightstand hurriedly, hoping it was Calum. But it was Dempsey. She was inviting them to a New Year's party they were throwing at her house, just their group of friends. They wanted to celebrate the fact that they had no worries, at least for the time being. Claire was gone and would cause no more problems in their lives.

Harley wasn't in the mood for parties, she was perfectly comfortable in her room, spending time with Ashton. But she wanted an excuse to message Calum again, and she agreed to attend her friend's party.

harley: dempsey and the others are having a party at her house. wanna go?

calum: i cant. 

calum: uncle cole is visiting from brisbane.

calum: and i dont want to see you at that party with him.

harley: calum i still care about you, and i want to be friends. 

calum: i cant be your friend.

calum: you know how i feel about you. i always say it. 

calum: and he makes a move on you once and you let him. 

harley: i met ashton before you. i liked him from the beginning. but i never had a chance to tell him because of everything that was happening.

calum: dont say that.

calum: i know you like me too. but just be sure that you made the right choice because you're going to miss me when im gone.

calum: bye harley.

-

She didn't get anymore messages for him all weekend. On Sunday afternoon, she tried texting him again. Harley wanted to say goodbye to Calum because her parents were planning to send her to Perth for the rest of her vacation time. Harleen and Aaron had noticed how upset she had been looking the last few days and wanted to send her away for a few days to help her relax.

Her brother Billy had gone off to the United States with Cindy. And Harley figured their real reason was that they wanted to have the house to themselves.

Calum didn't answer Harley's messages, and she assumed he was still mad at her.

Harley Quinn didn't imagine that there would be more problems to come. Though it shouldn't have been a surprise for her. Life for the Quinns had changed entirely since they had moved to Sydney.

-

another update because im feeling inspired. there are now about four chapters before this book finally ends. and im feeling nostalgic. haha. i want to thank you all loads for reading and supporting me. it has meant so much because i never thought people would actually take an interest in reading something written from me.

so thank you all. 

no question of the day because im really sleepy and i have work really early tomorrow morning. so i should be going to sleep. 

i love you all loads!

just comment anything in the comment section. tell me about your day. tell me a joke. a funny story. anything ^.^ i love reading your comments. 

-clary xx