“Obviously, I’m insane. I’m defending myself as if I was Roman. Listen, I took the language in high school because I thought it would give me a good foundation vocabulary for my intended college major.”
“Oh, I’m dying to know what major you’ve chosen that Latin could possibly create a good foundation for,” she teased.
I feel the corners of my mouth twist up. “I’m going pre-med.”
Her eyes bug wide, “Seriously?”
“I know it’s a lofty goal, even for people who come from money but I’m determined and it’s been a dream of mine since I was small, so...”
She’s staring at me.
“It’s not lofty Callum. It’s brilliant that you have dreams. You should do it.”
I was taken aback.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” I grinned. “I mean, my teachers were always supportive but I got conflicting messages growing up. My foster parents constantly told me I’d amount to nothing.”
“But you didn’t listen to them, did you?” She asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
She shook her head. “Like what?”
“Like I’m already a physician,” I grinned.
“What kind of doctor do you want to be?” She asks, ignoring me.
“Uh...a pediatrician.”
“How ya’ going to do it?”
“Well, there’s this thing, see, it’s called a university. You apply...”
“Very funny. Seriously, how are you going to pull it off?”
Before I could answer though, a woman came out. Harper didn’t know it, but we were about to get word that we were sleeping outside that night.
“I’m sorry,” the woman callously announced, “but we’re full tonight!" And with no other explanation, she shut the door behind her. The veteran homeless scrambled to the nearest restaurant dumpsters in hopes of finding new cardboard, resigned to their evening’s fortune. Others stood gaping, unsure of what that exactly meant. I turned toward Harper, ready to speak but instead found myself studying her. She brought her hands to her mouth, her fingers trembled against her lips. She felt lost, I could tell, her tough outer facade was beginning to crack.
“Come with me,” I said, quickly grabbing her hand, leading her through the dispersing crowd toward my motorcycle.
“Where are we going?” She whispered.
“Away from here.”
Tears threatened the corner of her eyes and I caught one with my thumb before it slid down her cheek. I pushed her hair out of her eyes and strapped the helmet to her head without another word, before plopping her small frame toward the front seat of my bike, afraid she was too dazed to hold on to me. I got on and straddled the seat behind her, her lovely back against my chest, kicking on the motor and driving off the curb onto the street.
I leaned in closely to her ear, hoping she’d be able to hear me through her helmet, “You know everything’s going to be okay, right?” She shook her head. “Trust me,” I said. “I’ll figure it out. Promise.”
She slowly nodded her head, but I wasn’t sure she really believed what I’d told her.
I stopped at a nearby gas station, narrowly avoiding a cab who cut me off but it didn’t seem to faze her.
“Stay here, Harper. I’m going to call my friend Charlie, see if he’ll let us crash on his couch.” Her reply was a soft grin.
I held the receiver to the pay phone a few inches from my ear, nothing is grosser than a New York City pay phone. It rang three times before I got Charlie’s voicemail. Hey, Charlie here. Leave a message and I’ll ring you back.
“Charlie,” I sighed, “I’m in need of a couch tonight, dude. Maybe you can call me back in the next five? I’m at 555-9876,” I said, eyeing the number on the payphone. “I’ll stick around for a bit. Also, I’ve picked up a stray. She’s cool, you’ll like her, just, please,” I begged, “ring me back soon.”
It was hit or miss with Charlie, he was a roadie for a mediocre band and he had mentioned a few weeks back that he’d be going to Japan with them soon. I just hoped he hadn’t left just yet. The phone rang before I even got an opportunity to turn around.
I placed my hand on the receiver. Please, God, let this be Charlie. I picked it up.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Yo, Callum. It’s Charlie.”
“Oh ,thank God!” I exclaimed a little too loudly.
“Calm down, dude.” He laughed. “Got your message. I’ve got some good news and some bad news. I’m not in the city tonight.” Damn. “And I left my spare key at Cherry’s and she’s doing some waitressing job in the Hampton’s this weekend for some extra cash so she’s nowhere near you but if you want, you can crash at my studio tonight. There’s a random shower in the back of the shared common space, if you remember, not ideal but all yours.”
I breathed out an audible sigh. “Thank you so much, dude, seriously.”
“No problem, man. I’ll call Henry, let him know you’re coming, he’ll let you in, just mention my name.”
“Thank you so much, Charlie. I can’t thank you enough.”
I hang up, invigorated.
I turn and slap my hands together. “Okay, Harper Bailey, you’re comin’ with me.”
“I am?” She said, looking hopeful.