Harlie was still in a daze until she heard her phone crash against the table. Happy. He was really here. She dropped the fries in her hand and pushed away from the table. As he moved toward her, it still felt like a dream. She expected to wake up in Charming, but this was reality. She was in Tacoma with her new found family.
"Hey, babe." What was she supposed to say? She was happy, but at the same time incredibly pissed. He had guts, but she already knew that.
"Hi." Harlie looked up at him, running a hand through her now dark red hair. She never liked blonde hair anyway, she needed a change.
"You dyed your hair.." His fingers played with a few loose strands. It looked hot. He'd always had a secret thing for redheads. The color went so well with her emerald green eyes. She was beautiful.
"Uh, yeah.. Aimee did it for me. Early birthday present." She gave him a small smile, glancing up at him.
"So.." Happy leaned back against the table, looking awkwardly down at his worn boots.
"I'll be inside if you need me, baby.." Aimee gave Harlie a serious look accompanied by a kiss on the cheek before joining Glenn inside.
"They miss you back home.." He habitually lit another cigarette.
"Yeah. I miss them too." She slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.
"I.." Happy dragged his gaze from the ground. "I missed you too."
"Really?" Harlie glanced up at him. "And what's my dad got to say about that?"
"I realized I'm more worried about your mom.." Happy chuckled quietly, flicking the ashes to the ground.
"You should be worried about both of them. Trust me, I know my dad." Harlie took a sip of her half-empty coke.
A few minutes of uncomfortable silence passed between them. "You staying for the party?" Happy asked.
"Yeah. Glenn offered me a job as a bartender. One hundred bucks a party." Harlie smirked.
"Damn, kid.. You're really raking it in." Happy laughed, sliding an arm around her shoulder. His look got serious again. "I really missed you, Harlie.."
"I miss you too, Hap." She leaned her head on her shoulder. It was different this time. It didn't give her the safe, comfortable feeling she was used to. He felt distant; like he was keeping something from her.. Or he didn't want to be here.
Kozik watched the whole scene play out in front of him, jealousy kicking it. It really was a green eyed monster. Harlie was better off without him, but there was no telling her that. She wouldn't listen to anyone. Not even him anymore. One week away from him and she was going to back in his bed, playing the same games over and over again.
It was going to come around kick one of them in the ass and in his head, Kozik knew it was gonna be Harlie.
Again everything was moving too fast, faster than what Harlie could deal with. Happy hadn't even been there an hour and they were already naked in her room at Kozik's. This was too fast. She wasn't ready for this again, not yet.
She stopped him when she felt him slide his hands down between her legs. "Hap.. Stop.." She grabbed his arm.
"What?" Happy snapped, jerking his arm away from her.
"Not yet.. I'm not ready for this again." Harlie slid out from underneath him.
"Goddamnit.." Happy grabbed boxers off the floor and slid them on.
"I'm just.." She touched his shoulder, looking away. "Why did you come back?"
"I wanted to see you.. Make sure you're doing okay." Happy said quietly. He wasn't lying; he really did want to see her. Even though he needed her underneath, screaming his name.
"Why?" She picked her clothes up out of the floor.
"Because I missed you, isn't that enough?" Happy jerked his jeans on along with his boots.
"It was just a question." Harlie snapped.
"And I fucking answered." He rolled his eyes, grabbing his sunglasses off the nightstand.
"Who pissed in your cheerios, asshole?" Harlie threw him his shirt.
"When I really need you, you wanna keep your fucking legs closed." He sneered, earning himself a slap to the face. He deserved that one. He was just pissed that she was still pushing him away. He watched her plug her iPod into the dock on her dresser. The song Rehab by Rihanna played through the speakers as she started getting dressed.
"You can leave now.." Harlie turned to face him before leaving the room. Not paying attention to where she was going she walked straight into Kozik. "Shit.. Sorry.." She frowned.
Kozik grabbed her arms to stop her from falling when he noticed the tears in her eyes. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine.." Harlie lied, sniffling. "I gotta get ready for the party. I promised Aimee I'd help set up.." She stopped for a second. "Think I could get a ride?"
"Of course. How long do you need?" Kozik asked, leaning back against the wall.
"About thirty minutes?" She stepped into the bathroom, closing the door.
"Sounds good! I'll wait on ya." Kozik walked into Harlie's room, glaring daggers at Happy. He heard that was said between them. "Everything alright with you two?"
"Fine.." Happy stood up only to be pushed back down by Kozik.
"Listen, bro.. I've known you for a long time and you we're good friends, but when it comes to that girl in there I'm not afraid to beat the shit out of you. I heard every word you said to her. You're in my house and if I hear it one more fucking time you'll regret you ever said it. That clear?" Kozik growled.
"Crystal." Happy narrowed his eyes as he stood up. He grabbed his keys off the dresser and left. Happy knew what he said to Harlie was wrong, it just slipped. He never meant any of it. He just wished she knew that.
"Harlie!" Kozik yelled down the hall, getting anxious. "It's been forty five minutes!"
"Okay, okay.. I'm almost done." Not even a minute later Harlie walked out of the bathroom. She was wearing a pair of tight white skinny jeans and a red tank top that had a low neckline with a pair of red, stiletto pumps. Her waist length hair was down and the ends were curled.
Kozik choked on his beer, spitting it back into the bottle. "Damn.."
"That's attractive." Harlie wrinkled her nose at his beer bottle.
"You gonna be able to sit down in those jeans, doll?" Kozik chuckled.
"Trust me; I rode with Juice in tighter ones. You ready?" Harlie grabbed her purse and her phone.
Kozik was still staring. "Sure, babe." He smirked. "You have to save me a dance.." He whispered.
"Yeah, yeah.. Keep it in your pants, Koz." She kissed his cheek. "Let's go!"
Harlie and Kozik walked into the clubhouse, her hand around his arm. She blushed as everyone turned to look at them. "I feel like a rockstar.." Harlie whispered, laughing.
The Tacoma clubhouse was set up just like the one in Charming except the bar was on the other side of the room. She had a few memories in this place from when she was a kid. She spent some time up here in the summer with Glenn and Aimee's oldest son Caleb. He was going to college in California.
"You look good." Kozik chuckled, leading her behind the bar. About thirty minutes later the club started to fill up with women dressed in clothes three times too small for them. The music blared through the speakers.
Harlie had missed most of the kids and wives, now it was time for the strippers and the Crow Eaters. She scanned the crowd Happy, noticing him in a corner with his arm around some young girl's waist. The girl couldn't have been two or three years older than Harlie with long, straight blonde hair. She wore a small denim mini skirt and a dark blue corset.
"Jealous?" Aimee took a seat in front of her.
Harlie placed a fresh beer in her hand. "Nah." She smirked. Oh well, her mom had always taught her to share.
"You know, you should be out there having fun. Not back here pouring drinks. You're royalty here too, sweetie." Aimee laughed, touching her hand.
"I'm fine. I'm getting paid for this." Harlie pulled one of the stools around the other side of the bar.
"At least pour yourself something to drink." Aimee took a sip of her beer. "Anything happen today between you and Hap? He was absolutely livid when he came back to the clubhouse."
"We got into an argument and I told him I wanted him to leave." She shrugged.
Aimee could sense she still wasn't telling her everything. "Well, if you don't do something about that.." She pointed to Happy. "I will. Didn't your mom ever teach you to set these bitches straight?"
Harlie laughed at the memory of when Cherry first came into the picture. The moment Krys figured out who it was she had Cherry tackled to the ground. "Oh, god.. She told you about Cherry, right?"
"The little tart that slept with your dad in Nevada?" Aimee asked. "Hell yeah. I laughed my ass off. These girls just don't learn."
"Aimee.." Harlie frowned. "Do you think Hap is using me?"
"In Happy's mind, there is no such thing as using. It used. If he were using you, honey.. He wouldn't have come all the way from Charming just for you." Aimee touched her cheek.
"I just feel.. I dunno. I made him mad earlier." She sighed.
"What happened?" Aimee asked. "Do I need to let Kozik out on him?"
"I.. Well, were messin' around and it felt like it was going way too fast for me. Every other time before it did go fast, but.. I dunno. I just didn't feel ready for it this time." Harlie poured herself a rum and coke.
"Don't let him pressure you, darlin'." Aimee kissed Harlie's forehead. "Do you wanna fix things?"
"Of course." Harlie sighed, taking a long sip of her drink.
"Then go talk to him." Aimee pointed in Happy's direction. "And if she gives you any trouble, I know you can handle that." She laughed.
"What about the bar?" Harlie asked.
"Wait.. I have an idea." Aimee smirked, grabbing Harlie's hand. "Come with me.."
"Okay?" Harlie blinked in confusion as she was led towards Happy.
"You, girl.." Aimee touched her shoulder. "Tha-.."
Harlie cut her off. "That's my old, sweetheart, and if you wanna keep your pretty little face the way it is I suggest you move." She grabbed the girl by the arm. "There's a place behind the bar for you.."
"Excuse me?" The girl stood up in Harlie's face, towering over her in her boots.
"Harlie.." Happy warned.
"Do you know who I am, bitch?" Harlie smirked, her fingers playing with the end the girl's dangly earrings.
"Does it matter?" The girl smacked her hands away, crossing her arms.
Harlie looked back at Aimee before her first collided with the bitch's jaw. "I said back the fuck off."
The bitch stood back up, grabbing Harlie by the hair. "You stupid bitch! Who the fuck do you think you are?"
Harlie was able to reach her hand up and grab the girl's earring. She ripped it roughly from her ear, blood gushing from the wound. "I warned you!" By now the whole clubhouse had gone quiet and were all watching the fight.
"Hell yeah!" Aimee yelled, clapping her on the back. "If only your mom were here to see this.."
A few of the other Crow Eater's rushed over to the girl, helping her up off the floor. Harlie threw the earring to the ground, looking up at Happy. "I told her not to.."
The ends of Happy's lips crept up into a smirk. "That was hot, babe.." He slid his arms around Harlie's waist, kissing her cheek.
"You, are mine." Harlie whispered, taking his hand. "Think we could head to your room?"' She saw his smirk grow. "Just to talk.."
Happy nodded, squeezing her hand.
"I'll be back, Aimee." Harlie looking back at her, smirking.
"Be careful you two!" Aimee yelled.
"I love that woman. She reminds me so much of my mom." Harlie laughed, following him down the hallway. "Hey.." She stopped him. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too.." Happy scratched the back of his head.
"I just never expected you to be here." Harlie walked into the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
Happy sat down beside her, pulling her against his chest. She smelt sweet like vanilla and strawberries. His arms were wrapped around her waist. "I'd always come for you, Harlie."
"What are we gonna do?" Harlie turned to face him, her fingertips tracing his cheek.
"I dunno, babe.. I really don't." Happy kissed her forehead.
"Just lay with me for now.." Harlie whispered, resting her head on his chest. She secretly hoped everything would work out for the better, but in her gut she knew this wasn't going to end well.
Kozik sat in the hallway out Happy's door, listening to what was going on inside. He felt more for Harlie than he should have. He didn't want Happy here now. He didn't want Happy with her at all. He closed his eyes and took the last sip of his beer. No matter what happened, he would always be there for Harlie when Happy wasn't. That was a fact.
There's still more to come, of course! But I wanna thank you guys for sticking by me with this. I've work incredibly hard on this story and am proud of it. Thank you guys,(: Reviews, love!