And Always.

Chapter 19

(Illicit Affairs By Taylor Swift)

Harley's Pov

I stood on stage, microphone in hand, ready to sing, and the flowy red dress hugged my body. The way I just danced around, and it would travel with me. It made me feel free. Like I had some sort of wings to fly me out of this mess.

Make sure nobody sees you leave.

I remember this morning like it was no other. Sneaking out of the Kansas hotel I was in, and following the Air-Tag on Kevin's car. I ended up in the middle of nowhere. A desolate motel that laid on an empty parking lot.

Hood over your head, keep your eyes down.

I remember watching Kevin Matthews get out of the driver's seat of his Benz that someone drove back after dropping off Opal and Eden at the airport. My mother, hopping out of the passenger's seat. Taking pictures of them as they got out, and walked into a random hotel room.

Tell your friends you're out for a run.

After taking off my hoodie, and wrapping it around my waist, running into the house. Quickly rushing to the sink, wiping water onto my face to look like sweat. I heard the footsteps and quickly opened the fridge, grabbing something to drink, acting breathless.

You'll be flushed when you return.

The redness in my cheeks from the mass amount of blush I put on, to sell this. I had to act the part, or else everything would be ruined.

Take the road less traveled by.

Walking down the street on the way back, making sure nobody was following me. Making sure Kevin Matthews did not know that I was there, plotting his demise, and my escape. It was only a matter of time before I would be free.

Tell yourself you can always stop.

I could always stop this madness. I wanted to escape, and now I was too far in, to stop. But Nicholas gave up, why shouldn't I?

What we started in beautiful rooms.

Looking out at the crowd of thousands of people as they all held up their flashlights. I know that this is where I'm supposed to be. But I'm not supposed to be here with Kevin by my side, or as my manager.

Ends with meetings in parking lots.

Meeting him for the first time in that Dairy Queen parking lot would always be one of my favorite memories of ours. That's where our secret language came, that's where our colors burned into the Polaroid of our lives. We were no longer black and white. We were red and blue.

And that's the thing about illicit affairs.

Jessica Carson and Kevin Matthews were having an affair. And I had proof of it. Now is that proof enough? I sure as hell do not know, but I will continue to gather that proof.

And clandestine meetings and longing stares.

Their stares from across the room, and their fears fill up their eyes if someone notices. People didn't know how to play the part like I did. People didn't know how much i was hiding, how much i was planning, how much i was writing.

It's born from just one single glance.

When Opal showed me that contract. I could have dropped to my knees right in front of her and cried, but I couldn't. I had so much to prove. I still do, have so much to prove. And i would fucking prove it. I would make my freedom, whether Nick was waiting or not.