Lame.
“As a matter of fact,” Harper said, “I need a ride to pick up my kids. They’re mine this weekend. We were planning on a trip to the zoo. Do you like elephants, Brandon?”
“Kids?” He asked, stepping back slightly. “But..b...but, but you look too young to have children,” he stuttered like a blubbering fool.
“Oh, do I? Well, if I was being honest, I started quite young.”
“That’s nice. Listen, I see my friend calling me over to him. It was nice to meet you, Jenny?”
“Yes, Jenny. Oh, but wait, Brandon. You didn’t ask for my number.”
“Oh, well, I don’t,” he spit out.
“That’s okay, Brandon,” I chimed in. “She’s with me, anyway.”
Brandon looked so incredibly relieved, I almost laughed.
“Good luck to you, bro,” he said and bolted.
Harper and I leaned against the back wall, holding in our guts.
“So, Jenny, what are these kids of yours named?”
“Oh well, there’s Bosephus. He’s my youngest. Just two months old.”
“That is hideous, Harper.”
“I know, but it’s his grandpa’s name.”
“Oh, well, then it’s understandable.” I smiled at her. “You’re a goofball.”
Harper and I laughed ridiculously hard when we noticed Brandon talking animatedly and pointing our direction.
“I think you may be a genius, Harper Bailey.”
“You know it.”
I turned my body her direction, my left shoulder leaning against the brick wall. She followed suit and leaned on her right, facing me. I brushed her hair behind her shoulders and blew at her neck, trying to cool her off. She closed her eyes, enjoying the makeshift breeze, her lips parted slightly. She inadvertently succeeded at driving me insane. I instantly stopped and drank her face in. Her eyes popped open.
“And here we are again, Callum. We really must stop playing these games.”
I swallowed hard. “What could you possibly mean, Harper?”
“Oh, just that you and I are walking a razor thin line and I’m trying to find out if it’s sharp enough to actually hurt us.”
“Anything can hurt you, Harper. Even things you’re supposed to be able to count on can hurt you.”
“These things you speak of, do they include how we’re supposed to rely on mothers and fathers never to die or leave us alone?”
“Exactly, but that’s life, Harper. Nothing is guaranteed.”
“You’re right.”
“But I can promise you that I would never intentionally hurt you and, although a promise is not a guarantee, it is still a promise and you can ask anyone I know, I’m good on my word.”
“I don’t know why but I believe you.”
“Harper, I...”
But Sam interrupted us.
“Hey, you guys!” Sam said emphatically, a little too emphatically. Great.
“Hey Sam,” I said, never taking my eyes off the glorious Harper. Sam forcibly distracted me from Harper, grabbing my arm and twisting it around her own waist. “Uh, what are you doing, Sam?” I asked, unwinding myself from the death grip she held on the hand she placed at her hip.
“What am I doing? You are a silly goose. I’m saying hello to my friend.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Oh, I see. Am I interrupting?”
“No, it’s okay, Sam,” Harper said politely.
I beg to differ.
Sam turned towards me. “A few of us are heading over to Cherry’s afterwards. I would love it if you could come, Callum.”
“And?” I asked, looking pointedly at her.
“And, what?” She played dumbly.
I snorted sarcastically. “It doesn’t matter,” I said, refusing to buy into her game. “Harper and I have had a crazy day. Unless, wait a moment.” I turned toward Harper. “Would you want to go, Harper?” She shook her head no, fighting a smile. “Yeah, we’re probably going to go crash at Charlie’s soon. You remember Charlie, don’t you, Sam?”
All the color drained from her face. “Of course I remember Charlie. What kind of question is that?”
“Oh, nothing, Sam. I just wanted to make sure you still did, is all. Tell the gang I’ll catch up with them later, will ya’?”
I captured Harper’s hand in mine and lead her toward the exit. We burst out into the hot summer night, relieved to be away from the sweltering bodies inside.
“All I want to do is crash out,” I confessed.
“No kidding. First, shower, then, bed. I’m exhausted,” she said.
I smiled down at her. “I’m happy you came with me.”
“They were surprisingly awesome,” she admitted.
Chapter Five
Holdin' On To Black Metal
Harper
Callum and I readied for bed in very little time as we were both drained but also because, I suspect, we were eager to talk. This was one thing I loved about Callum. He was actually interested in things I had to say, something I’d never experienced before and made me feel extraordinarily special.
“You take Charlie’s bed. I’ve made a pallet on his couch.”
“Okay,” I conceded without argument. It would’ve been useless.
I’ve learned that he loves to argue, which I believed falls just short of his love for winning an argument. I climbed the bookcase stairs into the elevated loft. It was open to the living room just below and I could see Callum clearly.