Hoping for Heroes

Chapter 38

Harley is slumped down with her arms crossed in the front seat of Argent's car. She stares out the window, pointedly avoiding Isaac's gaze.

"We're gonna have to talk at some point, you know," he tells her, but she remains silent. "I really am sorry, Harley. I was upset, but I had no right to talk to you like that."

"I know," she says. She looks at him and quickly looks away once she sees the puppy-dog eyes he was giving her. "Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" 

"Like that."

"I'm not looking at you any way."

"I'm not apologizing."

"I don't expect you to."

"I meant what I said."

"I'm sure you did."

"It was kind of harsh, though, the way it came out." She sees him still staring at her with those eyes and groans loudly. "Fine." She unfolds her arms and faces him. "I meant what I said. You can't freak out like that when something new comes along and changes things."

"I know. I'm sorry for reacting like that."

"And you also have to keep a level head next time I'm hurt."

"What?"

"You overreacted cause you were scared of what was gonna happen to me. I'm not dumb."

"Well-"

"But I'm sorry for the way I said things. I suppose I could be nicer."

"All is forgiven. We're good then?"

"We're good, Lahey." She jumps at his hands flying in the air. "Did you just have a muscle spasm or something?"

"Why Lahey?"

"What?"

"I thought we were good. Why are you calling me that?"

"Look. We always end up hurting each other, so I don't think we're meant to be friends like that anymore." This time she does feel guilty about the heartbroken look on his face.

"No--That's--Friends fight, Harley. But they don't give up on each other."

"They don't hurt each other like this, either." There's a moment of silence.

"I don't think we're talking about just friends, anymore." Harley lets out a shaky exhale.

"Were we ever?" Before he can respond, his phone starts ringing, signaling a call from Allison. He sighs deeply, turning to her one last time before answering. 

"This conversation isn't done." 

"It feels like it is."

He accepts the call.

"You ready?" Allison asks.

"Yeah." Allison sets up the phone on the ground. 

"Just go as soon as you see them, okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I got it."

Harley jumps out of the car the minute Isaac pulls around the ambulance. She rushes to the back and opens the doors, prepping the spot for Cora. She turns to go, but stops when she sees Stiles staring at something. 

"Stiles, let's go!" Isaac urges. 

"Stiles?" Harley asks. She steps beside him and looks at what he's staring at. She finds his finger tracing along the words, 'parent or guardian.' Suddenly, it clicks. "Oh, no." Before she can say anything, Stiles runs the other way. "Stiles!" She moves to go after him, but Isaac wraps an arm around her waist and drags her back to the car. "Hey!"