And Always.

Chapter 42

(Dorothea By Taylor Swift)

Harley's Pov

It was the last song, and I felt my body starting to get extremely tired. Yomar grabbed his acoustic guitar and put it on, while I stood there, with my microphone in hand.

I looked over at the group and smiled once more, before looking at Yomar and mouthing the word '10.' He started to strum on the guitar, and my feet took me over to the part of the stage right in front of the group.

I sat on my knees, right in front of them, and they all looked at me like I was crazy. There was a camera pointed right at me and them, but I didn't care anymore. I'm tired of running from secrets that won't hurt me.

"Hey Dorothea! Do you ever stop and think about me?" Skylar's eyes lit up, as she turned and looked over at Nick, who was smiling down at her.

"When we were younger. Down in the park, Honey, making a lark of the misery." I held my hand out, and she grabbed it.

"You got shiny friends since you left town. A tiny screen's the only place I see you now. And I got nothing but well wishes for ya." I held onto her left hand, pulling it up, as I smiled down looking at the engagement ring. The tears pricked my eyes, as she cried.

"Ooh. This place is the same as it ever was. Ooh. But you don't like it that way..." She shook her head with a smile, as the tears poured down her face.

"It's never too late, To come back to my side. The stars in your eyes. Shined brighter in Tupelo." Ranboo wrapped her arm around her shoulders, as I held her hand, and she death gripped mine.

"And if you're ever tired of being known, For who you know, You know, you'll always know me." The tears ran down my face as I stared at her with a smile on my face.

"Dorothea. Dorothea."

Rhea was behind her filming it, and I looked around at the rest of the group. Some faces I recognized, other faces I didn't. I recognized Wilbur, but not the girl he was with. I recognized Punz, but not the girl he was with.

"Ooh, you're a queen. Selling dreams, Selling cars and magazines. Ooh, from you I'd buy anything." She let out a laugh, as she got closer to me, standing right in front of the stage.

"Hey Dorothea. Do you ever stop and think about me?" She nodded her head yes, and I held in my laughter.

"When it was calmer. Skipping the prom. Just to piss off your Dad. And his pageant schemes." I let go of her hand, and ruffled her hair, as she laughed.

"And damn, Dorothea. They all wanna be ya!" I screamed, looking out at the crowd and everyone cheered. She looked up at the screen on the wall, which held our interaction on it for everyone to see.

I looked over at Nick as I kept singing, Skylar's hand now back on my own. He smiled at me, a few tears of his own, running down his face. Tommy was even tearing up. I am so going to bully him for that later.

"And Hey Dorothea?" I sang, and she looked at me in confusion.

"And if you're ever tired of being known, For who you know, You know, you'll always know me, Skylar." I wrapped my arms around her, and she cried into my shoulder. I held my arm out for Ranboo, and he wrapped his arms around both of us.

"I love you both. So much." I said, holding the microphone away from me so that it doesn't pick anything up.

"We love you too." Ranboo said, because Skylar was still crying so much. Nick held Skylar up, as Ranboo spoke to me.

I reached my hand out for Nicks, and his hand touched mine. I grabbed it, and I felt my heart stop, as Skylar walked to Ranboo. I pulled Nick closer, and wrapped my arms around him.

His intoxicating scent took my mind over. I've been trying so hard to get that smell to stick around, but it never worked. His hands sat on my back, and i knew my body was full of goosebumps.

I pulled away, lookin at both of them, before standing up, and walking over to Yomar who was center stage. Abu came down and stood on the other side of Yomar. Dlo then came down and stood on the other side of me.

"See you tomorrow, Florida!" We all shouted into the microphone at the same time before the curtain dropped.

"Harley that was so fucking heart melting." Dlo said, tears falling down his face.

"You're an idiot." I responded, causing him to gasp.

"Someone needs to give Skylar a better hug, right now." Dlo said, deadpanning.

"Weren't you just crying?" Abu said, causing us all to break out into laughter.

"I love you guys." I said, hugging all of them, as the tears still poured down my face.

"And if you're ever tired of being known. For who you know. You know, you'll always know us." Yomar said, and I felt myself tear up even more.

"What do you say we get out of here now?" Abu said, and I shook my head.

"Please."

***

"I'm taking the car. I'll text you." I said to Yomar who nodded his head, not taking his eyes off of his phone.

"Call her." I said, and he looked up at me.

"No- I can't-" He rambled, cutting himself off.

"Call her." I deadpanned and he picked up his phone. He typed in the phone number from the little slip of paper in the back of his phone case, and the phone started ringing.

"Harper?" He said, as she picked up the phone. I smiled before going to grab the keys.

"Do damage control too. You've sent the internet on fire." Yomar said, and I nodded before rushing over to the table.

I took the keys off of the table, and I opened the door, locking it before getting into the car. I started the car, and started driving down the streets I know so well. I pulled the car into the same spot as earlier this morning.

I turned the car off, got out, and locked it, before walking up the driveway. I stood in front of the door, with a smile on my face. I brought my hand up to knock, and I let myself do it.

1102 Words