And Always.

Chapter 30

(Marjorie By Taylor Swift)

Harley's Pov

I stood there with my hands shaking as I opened the door and walked into the penthouse, shutting the door behind me, and locking it.

It was still as I remembered. Everything was in the same place. Nobody touched a thing, and if someone did, they would put it back.

"I should've known." I said, looking up at the guitar hanging on the wall.

***

"Dad, why are we doing this?" I said, looking around at all of the boys sitting next to me.

"Because if I could keep you under my thumb forever, I would. But I can't. Take this as protection." My hand was dipped in blue paint, and pressed to the side of his guitar.

"Abu, your next." Abu's hand was stuck in orange paint, and stuck to the side of the guitar.

"Yomar." Purple paint, hand print on the guitar.

"D'Angelo." My father sang, and he ran over to him with a smile.

"Why is mine so bright?" Dlo asked, as his hand was pressed to the side of the guitar.

"Because you brighten up every room, even if everyone is sad." The white guitar had all of our handprints on it, except for my fathers.

"Dad, put yours on it." I ushered him to, and he shook his head. He stuck his thumb in red paint, and put it on the front of the guitar.

"How's that, Ace?" He asked, and washed his hands once we were done.

"Perfect, Dad!" He kissed my cheek, and we all looked down at the guitar.

"Why are we doing this, Cam Cam?" Dlo asked, tilting his head up.

"Because one day I won't be able to be here with you. This will guide you through everything. It will tell you everything you need to know, Rejects." All of us stared up at him, not understanding the words coming from his mouth.

"But Dad, you will always be with us!" I smiled, and he shook his head.

"One day I won't be, Ace. As much as I dread that day, I have to protect you from making the same mistakes I did." His hand fell to my head, ruffling my hair.

"How do you know we are even going to follow in your footsteps?" Yomar asked, head raising to look up at my dad.

"I know you all will. All four of you are destined to change lives. One day, you'll rock the big stage like I do. With or without me around."

My smile dropped. I didn't want my Dad to not be with me. He is my best friend. What else am I supposed to do?

***

"What the hell are you doing?" Yomar asked, rushing into the penthouse while I stood on a chair, taking the guitar off of the wall.

"We have to open it." I responded quickly, handing Abu the guitar while Dlo helped me down.

"Harley, I don't think that's a smart idea. This is your fathers... This is a piece of him that still is a part of all of us." Yomar reasoned and I knocked on the guitar.