A soft breeze swept through the park and created a brief respite from the relentless Californian heat. It was mid-September with fall quickly approaching but it felt more like the height of summer. Harper brushed a few strands of hair out of her face as she leaned against a picnic table. Shielding her eyes from the merciless glare of the sun, her mind raced as she scanned the area for any sign of Robby but he was nowhere to be seen. She told herself he'd be here to calm her nerves but each second that passed by only increased her anxiety. The fear that he got caught or something equally as tragic.

Everything's fine. He's running late, she told herself as she unscrewed the cap on her water bottle and took a small sip.

Harper knew that Robby needed to be careful. That every move he made needed to be calculated to avoid detection. His picture was all over the news. The headline of 'wanted fugitive' was followed by his name. Her heart continued to ache for the unfair life that he was living. She hoped that this nightmare would end for him but there didn't appear to be any way this wouldn't end badly for him. It's not like the police would drop the charges and let him continue with his life. For his sake, she hoped he would get far, far away, and have the chance to start over somewhere else. As much as she'd miss him, it was the only plausible option.

As she waited, her thoughts drifted to the past week. Her second attempt at starting fresh at West Valley High had gone no better than the first. Though it hadn't ended with her suspension, she would've preferred that over her interaction with Kyler. She'd tried to be friendly but distant, to not draw any more unwanted attention to herself but he'd pushed her. His overly flirty demeanor towards her, an attempt to impress his friends – or whatever deranged reason he had for it – made her vulnerable. Uncomfortable. Something she promised herself she'd never let others see because the moment they did, they used it against her.

And that's exactly what Kyler did.

While Harper had stood up for herself and managed to humiliate Kyler in front of the whole school, it left her feeling hollow, as if she'd lost the battle anyway.

The only positive thing that came from that long, treacherous week had been her reconciling with Demetri. They worked through the mess that Harper created and managed to fix things. Sometimes, it felt like a bandaid was keeping their friendship together but she was determined to make that fix permanent. The thought of losing him as a friend again brought on a wave of panic that had her apologizing all over again. He seemed okay with her betrayal – okay was putting it mildly as she was sure it still stung – but he no longer seemed like he hated her. Like he was mad at her.

It was a start that she would take.

Harper looked up, and a wave of relief washed over her when she noticed Robby walking towards her. Though it'd only been a week since she'd last seen Robby, it felt like much longer. Add to that the constant worry for his safety, and the days seemed to stretch endlessly. Harper waved him over, her smile fading when she saw how disheveled he looked. How despite his smile, the bags under his eyes told stories of just how beaten he was. How exhausted and scared.

Amid the leaves rustling from the wind, she heard her heart crack just a little bit more. The pieces were getting harder to glue back together, harder to find.

Still, she kept her smile bright even though she was crying inside.

"Hey," Robby said lightly, trying his best to downplay the severity of his situation.

"Hi." Harper pulled him into a tight hug as if it could fix everything, even though she knew it wouldn't.

He returned the hug with a feeling of desperation as if wishing for the same thing as she was. She could feel the tension in his body as his breath hitched and his muscles tightened.

The easygoing Robby was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he was replaced by someone who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Harper pulled back reluctantly but kept her hands on his shoulders to study him. Each second revealed another crack in the person he'd been just a few short weeks ago.

"You look like hell," Harper said gently.

"Nice to see you, too," he said with a tired smile.

Harper rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean." She'd promised herself to keep the topics light, to not point out the obvious about how worn out he looked. But her concern for him overpowered everything, and she had to know how he was doing. How he was really doing. "Been holding up okay?"

Robby shrugged. "Yeah, I mean it's been kinda rough but I'm managing."

Harper tilted her head. "Managing? You look like you haven't slept in days."

Robby forced a grin on his face. "I'm okay, Harper. I've just been taking it one day at a time. I'm not saying it's easy but…"

"You really don't have to pretend with me, you know," she interrupted gently. "I know what it's like to not have a safe place to stay. A lot of the foster homes I've been in left me fending for myself and I wasn't on the run but… I know how shitty and scary this is."

Robby nodded, his facade crumbling before her. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Yeah, okay. It's been scary. I mean, I never had it easy with my mom but at least I had a roof over my head, you know? And now I'm constantly looking over my shoulder thinking I'm gonna get caught. I haven't slept in days."

Harper took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Quietly. She blinked a few times to keep her emotions under control. He didn't need her falling apart. "I wish I could do more to help."

"But you are helping," Robby told her as they sat down on the bench. "I wouldn't have gotten this far without you."

She wasn't convinced and felt helpless because nothing could get him out of this situation. "Are you even eating?"

"A little. I'm trying to save the money you gave me until I figure everything out."

"You have to eat, Robby. I'll give you more money if you need it. You just need to tell me."

"I'm not taking any more money from you."

"I have some savings. If anything, I'll just ask my foster parents if I can get a part-time job after school and on the weekends to-"

"No. That's not an option," Robby said firmly.

"But-"

"I'll be fine, Harper."

She both hated and admired his stoic nature. It was an act to comfort her, to make her believe this horrible situation was under control. There was no way she believed him but decided to keep her mouth shut. Robby didn't need reminding of how hopeless everything was. Instead, she leaned her head on his shoulder and chose to take comfort in the fact that she had an afternoon to spend with her friend.

Their secret meetings were already risky and there might not be many left until Robby figured things out. For all she knew, this would be the last time she saw him. She hoped not, but realistically, she knew he wouldn't stick around this area for much longer. The search for him was growing each day, and he needed to choose a direction and go. To get away while he still had a chance.

"I stopped by that burrito place on the way here," Harper said after a minute, reaching into her backpack to pull out the paper bag. "There's some chips in there, too."

Robby shook his head in amusement though appreciation showed on his face. "You think of everything."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, eating the food she'd brought with her. The park around them was quiet, the occasional chirping of birds and the sounds of traffic being the only noises. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The gentle breeze was a reprieve from the heat, carrying with it the faint scents of flowers and nature. It was peaceful. Normal. And if Harper stayed in the present, she could almost pretend as if nothing bad ever happened. As if they were just two friends grabbing lunch and not dealing with their lives being turned upside down.

But the weight of their reality pressed down on her, a constant reminder of just how screwed up everything was.

Harper hoped that everything would work out for them. Mainly for Robby because she would deal with whatever cruelty life threw at her. She was an expert on taking the brunt of bad news and horrible situations. But Robby? He'd had a good thing going for a while. His life, while messy, started to stabilize before everything went wrong. Before one mistake, one accident screwed everything up.

She rested her chin on top of the water bottle and took in his familiar features. His jaw was set as he stared off into the distance as if searching for answers to questions that were unanswerable. The dark shadows under his eyes spoke of sleepless nights, of problems that followed him around relentlessly. Despite it all, she could see the old Robby beneath the exhaustion and constant worry that marked his features. There was still a resilience in him, a determination to get through everything. To make it to the other side in one piece no matter what it took.

His blue eyes landed on her and a questioning smile stretched across his face as he caught her staring. "What?"

Harper shook her head and tried to push away her troublesome thoughts. "Nothing," she said softly.

"How come you're not eating?" He asked.

"I ate. Before," she said and took a sip of her water.

"Harper."

Rolling her eyes, she reached for a chip and dipped it in the guacamole. Taking a bite, she smiled. "Happy?"

"You got all this just for me, didn't you?"

Shrugging, she wiped the excess grease and salt on the napkin. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He shook his head with a sigh but continued to eat. "So I've been seeing my mom. I visited her a few times already while I try to figure shit out."

"Oh, yeah? How's she doing?"

"Good. Really good," Robby said with a smile that reached his eyes. "She's so much better, and it's only been like almost three weeks. The LaRussos helped get her into this great rehab center."

"That's awesome."

"Yeah," he agreed. "I was thinking of seeing her today again. I kinda need to figure out what I'm doing but I want to see her before I leave, you know?"

Harper forced a smile onto her face, his words hitting like a punch to the gut. All along, she knew he'd leave because he had to but hearing it said aloud was bittersweet. Because she wanted him to be safe but she was selfish and wanted her friend close by. Her heart ached with the realization that his departure was imminent. "Want some company? I can go with you to see your mom. Obviously, I'll stay in the car but this way we can hang out for a little bit more."

"Yeah, that'd be great."

Fifteen minutes later, she sat in the passenger seat of a different car he'd managed to get his hands on. She didn't ask questions as she was relieved that he had some sort of transportation. This vehicle was even older than the Dodge. Its once shiny paint was chipped and rusted while the inside had worn-out seats and the faint smell of cigarettes and fast food. A few fast food wrappers littered the floor but it was clean otherwise, just worn down.

Harper nervously drummed her fingers on her thigh as they passed busy streets. The fear of getting caught gnawed at her but she tried to mask the unease that caused her to fidget. She focused on the hum of the engine and the staticky music that played through the speakers.

"So how was your first week back at school?" Robby asked, his voice a reassuring anchor amidst her worried thoughts.

"Busy," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'm drowning in homework and they just keep adding more. But Demetri's talking to me again. We kinda worked things out but the others are still pretending I don't exist."

"They'll come around. Just give it some time," Robby said with a reassuring smile. "What about Hawk? Are you still talking to him?"

Harper hesitated before saying, "Yeah."

Robby raised an eyebrow, throwing a look her way. "I thought you were going to stay away from him."

"I was," she said with a sigh, frustration bubbling up at her inability to distance herself from him. "But he's kinda the only friend I have right now. I mean, Demetri's talking to me but Hawk knows what a mess everything is. He's been there for me for the majority of it, that's all."

"Alright," he said, though his concern didn't fade. "What's going on with the whole adoption thing anyway?"

"It's fine, I guess," Harper said. "We met with the judge last week and they decided to give Ryan partial custody until they make a final decision. So now I have to stay with him for the last two weeks of every month."

"You're serious? That sucks," Robby said.

Harper shrugged. "Yeah, but it is what it is. I don't exactly have a say in any of this."

"I can't believe they're putting you through this. It's not fair."

"It's not," Harper agreed. The unfairness of it all weighed on her, but she pushed it down, refusing to let it overwhelm her. "But hey, it's better than being thrown into another foster home where I'd have to start all over again."

"Yeah, I guess. But it shouldn't have to be like this."

"It's two weeks out of the month, Robby. I can handle it."

Robby sensed her reluctance to delve deeper into the topic and nodded. "Okay. But you know I'm just a text away if you want to talk, right?"

"Yeah. Thanks," Harper said with a smile, hoping that he knew it went both ways.

They let the conversation drift to lighter topics as they continued down the road. The scenery passed by in a blur as the town transitioned to a more rural landscape. Buildings gave way to open fields and scattered trees that swayed in the late summer breeze. The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the area, creating a peaceful backdrop that seemed at odds with their current situation.

Their laughter filled the car as they drove through the winding roads. She kept her attention on the road, laughing at whatever Robby was telling her. They bantered about music and other mundane things while remembering funny memories of their summer together. For a moment, she could almost forget the weight of their problems. When it was just them and their friends and the only problem they had was Cobra Kai messing with them. She wanted to hold onto this. The normalcy of it all. The ability to be normal teenagers joking about trivial things and enjoying each other's company.

Like they didn't have a million problems each. Like the universe wasn't against them every damn second of their life.

Harper's eyes widened as they approached the rehab center. The scenery grew more tranquil with manicured lawns and neatly trimmed hedges. The sprawling complex looked more like a luxury resort than a rehabilitation center.

"Your mom's staying in a castle," she murmured, taking in the modern building with its large windows.

Robby laughed as he pulled into a visitor's parking spot. "Yeah, it's crazy, isn't it?" Unbuckling his seat belt, he put the windows down and stared out at the building. A shadow of anxiety passed over his face as he gazed at the building. "So, I'll be out in a few. I won't be long, I promise."

"Take your time. I don't have anywhere to be," she told him.

With a nod, he exited the car and walked to the building.

Harper watched him until he disappeared into the building and leaned back in her seat. The silence in the car felt different without him there, heavier somehow. She pulled her backpack onto her lap and rummaged in it until she found her homework. Her nose winked at the history book with an assignment that seemed impossible to complete in just a couple of days.

As Harper worked, the car filled with the sounds of rustling papers and the occasional curse when she got stuck. She worked diligently, determined to make a dent in the assignment despite it making her want to pull her hair out. It was unnecessarily complex but she couldn't afford to bullshit her way through it. Even though she wanted to very, very much.

Time stretched on the longer she worked. She sent a quick text to Demetri, begging him to offer some insight into the assignment. She was grateful when he replied right away, willing to help her with simple questions that were self-explanatory. But even as she worked, her thoughts occasionally drifted back to Robby, wondering how things were going inside the rehab center. She looked up occasionally, shifting in her seat, and watched as people wandered in and out of the building.

Her heart dropped into her stomach when she looked up from her homework a few minutes later. "No, no, no," she muttered watching as Robby was escorted out of the building with handcuffs.

She scrambled out of the car, running full speed towards him. "Robby!"

"Stay back," an officer said as he stepped in her way.

"No. Y-you can't do this! He didn't do anything wrong," Harper cried, shaking her head. She made a move to get to him but an officer moved towards her, a stern and unyielding look on his face.

Panic surged through her, overriding any sense of caution. She couldn't just stand by.

"Harper, it's okay. I'll be fine," Robby said over his shoulder, his voice too steady for her liking.

"No, it's not!" Her desperation overroad her common sense and she pushed her way past the officer. But what her plan was, she didn't know. She was just desperate to help her friend. Desperate to stop the impossible.

The officer moved in, ready to restrain her but before they could, Daniel stepped forward. "Harper, stop," he said, his otherwise gentle voice firm as he grabbed her arm. "You have to let him go."

The words hit her like a slap. "What? No, I can't!" She struggled against his grip, watching helplessly as Robby was put into the back of the police car. "I - We have to help him!"

"There's nothing we can do," Daniel said, his voice calm despite the chaos.

"No, there has to be something we can do. Please, Mr. LaRusso, you have to help him."

"I am, Harper," Daniel said, his words heavy with regret.

The weight of those three words brought her to a standstill. She looked up at him, confusion and fury swirling in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I called the cops. It's for his own good."

Harper shook her head in disbelief as her anger ignited. Pulling her arm free from his grasp, she took a step back. "You what?! How could you do this to him? You were supposed to be helping him, not throwing him into a police car!"

"This was the only way to help him. He couldn't run forever, Harper. And the longer he ran, the worse it would get for him."

"So you just sold him out," Harper said, furiously wiping at the tears that spilled down her cheeks. "He trusted you. I trusted you and you…." Her chest tightened, heart pounding with the sting of betrayal.

"I'm sorry," Daniel said, his voice softening.

"You're sorry?" She asked, her voice cracking with emotion. "He's going to juvie. Do you have any idea how horrible that place is? I've been there, Mr. LaRusso. Twice. He didn't do anything wrong, he just made a mistake."

Daniel's expression faltered for a moment, the weight of his decision clearly bearing down on him. But he didn't back down. "I get it, Harper. But he needs to answer for what he did. If he continued to run, it would've been much worse for him. Trust me."

"Trust you?" Harper scoffed, shaking her head.

"I know it may not look like it, but I'm helping him."

"No, you're not. You're just making things worse."

"It was a tough decision that I had to make, and I didn't make it lightly, Harper. But sometimes the hardest choices are the ones we have to make," he said softly but she chose not to answer him because nothing he said would make her feel better. "Grab your stuff, I'll drive you home."

With a shaky breath, Harper turned away from him and stumbled back towards the car. Everything was blurry as tears welled up, her heart breaking for Robby and the unknown horrors that awaited him. And the worst part was that she couldn't do anything. She couldn't be there for him. She gathered her stuff and grudgingly made her way to Daniel's car.

The ride to her house was quiet as the weight of that day pressed in around them. Her heart was heavy with a mix of sadness and guilt while the events of that day replayed in her mind. The betrayal cut deep, leaving her questioning everything. When they entered her neighborhood, the familiar surroundings did little to ease her anxiety.

When they pulled up to her house, Harper gave Daniel a distracted thank you and stepped out of the car. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for what awaited her. Each step toward the door felt heavier, the weight of another secret she'd kept from her foster parents pressing down on her. Another lie she'd told them. It was like she couldn't do anything right. Like she couldn't go a day without disappointing them.

Harper stepped through the door with slow and heavy steps to find Lucas and Olivia waiting for her, their faces a mixture of worry and frustration. Daniel followed behind, his concern evident as he stood quietly by the door.

"Sit down, Harper," Lucas said, his voice authoritative but laced with an undercurrent of concern.

She slumped onto the couch, her heart beating erratically as she stared at the floor.

"Daniel called us. He told us what happened," Olivia said, her voice more weary than angry as she settled beside her.

"What you did was reckless and dangerous," Lucas started. "Robby's a wanted fugitive. Do you have any idea how much trouble you could've been in?"

"He's my friend," Harper said, her voice barely above a whisper. The knot in her stomach tightened, the full weight of their disapproval settling in. No amount of explanations could justify what she did but she was determined to stand by her choices. "I couldn't just abandon him. He needed my help."

"Did you know where he was this entire time?" Olivia asked gently.

Harper hesitated before nodding. "I helped him run away."

"You helped him run away," Lucas repeated as his face fell, a mix of hurt and frustration crossing his features. For a moment, the sternness in his expression softened, replaced by visible concern. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he took a moment to process his thoughts. "Why didn't you tell us? Johnny was looking for him the other day and you lied to him. To all of us."

"Because I promised Robby I wouldn't tell anyone. Look, I know how the system works, okay? It wouldn't help him. They would throw him in juvie just to make an example of him."

Lucas and Olivia exchanged worried glances.

"This could've backfired on you really badly," Olivia said, reaching out and taking her hand.

"I know but I couldn't abandon him like that. I did what I thought was right."

Daniel, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward. "I know this is hard but you need to think about the bigger picture here. You wanted to help your friend, and I admire that but keeping secrets like this can lead to more trouble than you think."

"He's right," Lucas said with a heavy sigh. "We get that you wanted to help Robby but you also need to think about your own safety. And this could've put you in danger."

"I'm sorry," Harper said quietly. Her gaze dropped to the floor, the reality of how close she'd come to serious consequences finally sinking in. "I wanted to help him."

Olivia nodded and pulled her into a comforting embrace. The warmth of Olivia's arms was soothing, but it couldn't fully chase away the turmoil in her heart. "We know. He's lucky to have a friend like you. But next time, please come to us first. We're here for you and we'll help in any way that we can. You don't have to face everything alone."

"I'll leave you to it," Daniel said, giving them a sympathetic look. As he turned to leave, Harper's mind replayed the events of the day, her emotions swirling between anger and reluctant understanding. "If you need anything, just let me know."

"Thank you," Lucas said with a nod of appreciation.

The door closed behind Daniel, leaving the three of them alone. Harper remained in Olivia's embrace while Lucas stood off to the side, offering silent support. Despite the comfort they tried to offer, Harper's heart remained heavy. Despite it all, she still believed she'd done the right thing. It had been risky but she stood by her choice.

≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

Thanks for reading! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. We definitely needed some more Harper and Robby time.

Don't forget to leave reviews :) I want to hear your thoughts, opinions, etc.