“I agree. Well, almost,” I said, nodding my head toward Harper, making Charlie laugh and shake his head. “Wait a minute! Evelyn?”
“That’s Cherry’s real name. It was her grandmother’s. I think I’m the only one she’s told.”
“Wow. I’ve never thought to ask if Cherry was her real name or not.”
“Nah, I called her that when we first met seven years ago. She was super tall, porcelain skinned, crazy deep red hair. When she stood next to me, she was only a few inches shorter than I and I was so intimidated by her. That was what made me think she looked exactly like a cherry bomb. Beautiful to look at but there was something alarming there as well, like a fire was nearing the end of her wick. Her eyes make me feel like if she exploded anywhere near me, I couldn’t help but be a very willing casualty.
“Haven’t you ever wondered why I’ve never tried it out with her?”
“Not really,” I said honestly. “I just figured you weren’t into red heads.”
“No,” he said emphatically. “She is the reason I don’t date red heads.”
“Damn, Charlie. You got it bad.”
He laughed wholeheartedly and slapped me on the shoulder.
“What a pair we are, eh?” He asked.
“Listen,” I said, seriously. “I promised her I wouldn’t say a word about the way she felt and that makes me feel like the most horrible friend right now but after you confessed to that phenomenal crush, I don’t feel as guilty as I probably should. Just, figure it out, will ya’?”
“I’ll try,” he said, readjusting against the trailer.
“You know, Harper’s here for Barcelona. Particularly Please, Don’t Go. Think you could...?”
“Already on it,” he said, standing upright and smoothly walking away from our group.
When Charlie left, Harper walked toward me. I held my breath and with every inch she closed the distance between us, my body began to tremble more and more.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.” I swallowed hard.
“Should we, ya’ know, head toward The Ivories’ stage?”
I nodded my answer.
It was crowded so I grabbed Harper’s hand so I wouldn’t lose her. We weaved our way through sweaty bodies and watched The Ivories but I had a hard time concentrating on their set because I still possessed Harper’s hand and I finally realized she possessed my heart.
When The Ivories left the stage, Harper and I left to camp in front of the main stage to see Barcelona. The rest of the band told us they’d meet us after they broke down their equipment and placed it in their trailer. We sat on the grass, side by side, a silence building between the two of us and it was becoming shockingly awkward.
“Dude, Harper. Tell me what’s up.”
“Uh, noth...”
“Don’t say nothing, Harper. I may have only known you a few weeks but we’ve practically lived a lifetime in those few weeks. I know you. You’re upset.”
She sighed loudly and brought her knees to her chest, resting her cheek on her knee, facing me. “I’m embarrassed to say,” she admitted.
“Just tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m jealous,” she said bluntly, making me choke on my own spit.
“Wh-what?”
“I’m jealous of Sam. I don’t like her for no other reason than that she obviously wants you. There, I said it.”
Her face turned a bright red in the artificial light of the stage lights. I opened my mouth to confess everything but was interrupted by the roar of the crowd. Everyone stood abruptly, surrounding us as we stayed on the grass, staring at one another. I wanted to reveal all. I just needed everyone to quiet down enough that she could hear me.
“Hi, we’re Barcelona,” we heard over the thunder of the crowd. “Our first song is dedicated to Harper Bailey from Callum Tate,” he said right before the first resonating piano note of Please, Don’t Go began to play.
Tears began to fill Harper’s eyes. I stood and offered her my hand and to my utter relief she took it. I enveloped her in my arms and brought her close, squeezing her tightly against my chest. I brought her hand in mine to my chest and splayed my free hand across the broad of her back.
I bent slightly toward her ear. “You don’t have to be jealous of Sam, Harper. It’s not her I want.”
My hand rose slowly with her breath. We bent to the rhythm of our song, her face buried in my neck and my cheek resting on the side of her head. What I needed in my life was right there, in my arms. I closed my eyes and drunk in the most perfect moment of my life.
The song was over all too soon and we reluctantly pulled away from the other, realizing this meant there could be no more pretending.
“I think I’m fa...” I started to say but was cut short by the howling of my friends.
They teased us incessantly, embarrassing us both but I just held tightly to her hand to let her know we’d be talking, extensively, much later.
I enjoyed the rest of the music with everyone and was so freaking proud that they included Harper like she was one of us now. Well, everyone except for Sam but I was hoping that with time she would come around. I knew I was nothing more than a forbidden novelty to her. By the time it all came to a halt, we were all sweaty and full of smiles. All of us walked back to The Ivories’ trailer where my bike and the gang’s van was.
The alcohol was poured freely that night. It seemed everyone around us were drunk including some of our group but we lived in New York City for crying out loud. No need to worry because there was always a taxi available.