Callum & Harper (13 page)

“
What? Why so little? What is that, like, fifteen hundred a month?”

“
Yup,” I said, “and if I were to guess, our monthly apartment budget shouldn’t be more than seven or eight hundred. Fifty a day is just a guess, Harper. it’s so little because we’ll each be taking twelve hours of classes or, in my case, fifteen. We aren’t going to have time to work the way we have this summer.”

Harper stared at the floor, thinking. “We aren’t going to be able to do it.”

“
Why would you say that? We’ll figure it out. I promise. Listen, we have a week before school starts, right?”

“
Yeah, if I was even able to get in.”

“
Harper, you were already accepted.”

“
I
know
that. I’m just not going to get my hopes up that Sylvia may have found the funding needed.
    “Okay, so we’ve got five grand in our pocket. We earn another thousand this week bringing the grand total to six thousand. We’re in school ten months.” I tallied up an estimate, on a hand held calculator. “Leaving us an additional six hundred a month in added income. We can do this. We just need a little creativity.”

“
Yeah, you’re right. We
can
do this! Gee, you’re like a regular motivational speaker, Callum. I think I’m going to start calling you Tony from now on. Certain medical school is your true calling?” She teased.

“
Ha, ha.”

“
Just stay away from me in the mornings. Note to self, keep megaphone away from cheerleader Callum.”

“
That’s it!” I said, tackling her onto the couch, tickling her until tears spilled from the corners of her eyes.

“
Please stop,” she begged. “
Please
!”

She giggled uncontrollably. I released her but only long enough to allow her to think I was letting up. She sat up and took a deep breath but before I could tackle her again, a look flashed into her eyes. A look that told me she wouldn’t mind if I placed my hands on her body again. She sucked her bottom lip under her top teeth, her breathing was labored, her cheeks flushed. Did I ever want to place my hands on her figure. I sat up on my knees and walked them toward her. She instinctively sat on her heels and I placed my hands on either side of her legs, crouching over her.

“
Harper, are we ever going to talk about that day outside The Hope House?”

“
Don’t forget the subway,” she challenged.

I fought the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Or the subway?”

She breathed a sharp intake of breath when there was a hard knock on the door.
    I sat back onto my heels as well. “Seriously. Everyone I know is still asleep. Who in the world could it be?” I asked the ceiling.

I climbed off the sofa and walked to the door, forgetting I didn’t have a shirt on. I swung open the door and there sat Sam, her eyes grazing every inch of my chest and stomach. I tried to cover myself up which only made her laugh out loud.

    “
What are
you
doing here?”
    “I came to open up Charlie’s house. Clean it up a bit before he came home tonight.”
    “That’s bull, Sam,” I said, calling her out. “You knew we were here while he was away.”
    “Alright, fine, but...Wait,
we
?”
    “Yes. We, as in Harper and I.”
    “Did Charlie know you let some stranger stay in his apartment?” She practically yelled, knowing full well Harper was within hearing range.
    “Um, yes, he did, not that it’s any of your business.”

“
Shit, Callum. I’m his freaking girlfriend!”

“
No, you’re not and you know it. Charlie was never exclusive with you. You said so yourself.” She tried to open her mouth but I interrupted her, “What’s the real reason you’re here, Sam?”

She made a motion to come inside but I placed my hand on the door jamb, blocking her way.       

“
Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Are you coming to the show Saturday night?”

“
You knew I would be.”

“
Are you bringing
her
?”

“
Who?” I played dumb.

“
Harley.”

“
Harper!” Harper corrected from the living room.

I wanted so badly to howl in laughter.

Sam crossed her arms and slowly tapped her foot. “Well?”

“
Yes, I’m bringing
Harper
. I want her to meet Charlie.”

Her face brightened with realization.

“
Yeah, I want Charlie to meet Carper, too,” she said, barely stifling her glee.

“
Harper.”

“
Yes, I’m sure Charlie will find her as delightful as you do,” she challenged, voicing the very fear I was so terrified of.

“
Alright, well if that’s all, then I’ll see you tomorrow night,” I said, closing the door.

It clicked shut. I faced the door, shaking my head.
What in the world did I ever seen in that girl?
I wondered if I should mention it to Charlie or just see how things played out.
   
“As I said,” Harper chimed in, clearing her throat. “She likes you.”
    I scratched my head. “Yeah, maybe you’re right,” I said more to myself than to Harper. “I don’t get it. I’ve chased her for years, practically drooling at her feet and now, all of a sudden, she acts like she wants me? So frustrating.” I didn’t think I’d ever been less attracted to a girl once I knew she possessed that quality and I found myself almost feeling sorry for Charlie rather than my usual jealous.
I look up at Harper but she averted her gaze.
    “Um, yeah,” she said at the wall. “Well, shall we, um, look through the listings?”

The paper held several affordable options in Washington Heights but we agreed that Manhattan was not a requirement and by the looks of the prices, neither was a two bedroom. We searched around the city and visited a few options near campus but found nothing really worth anything. Our last stop was in Queens, an Astoria one bedroom.
    I rang the buzzer to gain entry to the building.

“
Yes?”

There was a distinct buzz and an audible click before I opened the door for Harper. She squeezed past me, her front brushing mine, her hair floating beneath my nose. Warmth flushed over me. We both smiled at one another before footsteps interrupted us.

“
Hi, I’m Kenny. I’ll be showing you the apartment,” the stranger said, before holding out his hand.

I shook it firmly. “Pleasure, Kenny. I’m Callum and this is Harper,” I said, gesturing to her at my side. I loved to see her there, at my side.

For some reason, Harper took massive offense to this for some reason. “Yeah, seeing as neither of us have parents and all, we don’t really have a choice now do we?”

“
Oh, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have..,” Kenny stuttered.

“
It’s okay,” I interrupted the man, before shooting Harper a ‘what’s wrong with you?’ look.

“
What? He was the busy body who started making assumptions.”

“
Harper
,” I admonished under my breath.

“
Uh, right this way,” Kenny said pointing to the elevator.

It was a long ride up to the top floor, the enclosed space felt stifling thanks to Harper’s defensiveness.
    “It’s, uh, right here,” he said quietly, pointing to thirteen-oh-seven, the last door on our left. He removed keys from his pocket and opened the door. “I’ll leave you two to look around. I’ll be on the first floor if you have any questions.” He closed the door behind him and we just stood there looking at each other, listening as he stepped onto the elevator.
    I broke the silence. “Even if we wanted this apartment, I doubt he’d rent it to us.”
    “Uh! Why?” She asked, looking confused.
    “Maybe because you were rude to him, Harper?”
    “
What?
”
    “Harper, he may have overstepped his boundaries a bit but he meant no harm by it.”
She sighed audibly, opened her mouth, but snapped it shut instead, releasing a hard breath through her nose. She walked off toward the bedroom, examined the plaster ceilings and walls. I followed her as she inspected the size, before she moved on to the bathroom.
    “It’s nice,” she said to me, failing to meet my eyes.
    “I agree,” I said in a hushed tone.
    She stopped, examined the white hexagon tile beneath her feet. She ran her toe over the black grout. “Do you really think I botched our chances?”
    “I don’t know, Harper,” I sighed loudly, running both hands through my hair and leaning against the marble countertop of the bathroom sink.
    She sat on the toilet seat, burying her face in her hands. After awhile, I notice salty tears dripping from the sides of her hands.
Oh, God. You were too harsh, Callum.
I hastily grabbed some toilet tissue from the roll next to her and handed her a few squares, moving to sit on the edge of the pedestal tub beside her.
    “I’m such an idiot and I’m sorry.
Please
stop crying. I don’t know why I was so short with you.” I paused for a second. “Well, it was probably because Sam came over today and anyway, please forgive me.”
    She sniffed loudly and wiped at her nose. “No, I’m sorry. I’m just in a horrible mood. I’ll apologize to the guy.”
    “Why? Have I upset you?”
    “No! No. I mean, of course not. You’ve been nothing but kind to me. It’s just, well...”
But before she could continue, Kenny opened the front door.
    “Hello!” He called out.
    I squeezed my eyes shut. “We’re in here!” I yelled, wishing we could have had just five more minutes. It felt like the world didn’t want us to talk about anything of substance.
    Harper quickly wiped her tears away in front of the mirror, attempting to erase all signs that she was upset. I could tell it was something she was practiced at because when we met Kenny in the ancient wood floored bedroom there was no trace that she had been crying less than two minutes before.
    “Kenny?” She asked, humility seeping from her pores.
    “Yeah,” Kenny said, trying hard to be light hearted but failing miserably.
    “I’m really sorry about downstairs. I’m having a crap day and I took it out on you.”
    “Oh, that’s cool,” he said but I could tell it made him feel a lot better because his face brightened a bit. “So, are you guys interested?”
    “What’s the rent?” Harper asked, a slight grin tugging at her lips.
    “Um, this unit is nine seventy-five. We’ve had difficulty letting it.”

I could barely contain the excitement in my voice. “What do you say, Harper? It i
s
the best one we’ve seen all day and we don’t have much time before school starts.”

She took a deep, cleansing breath and her eyes sparkled a bit before she answered, “I think it’s amazing. We’ll take it.”   

   
An hour worth of paperwork later, Harper and I were ready to sign the dotted line.
    “I’ll just need the first and last month’s rent and a five hundred dollar deposit,” Kenny says.
Harper reached for her bag to pull out our cash but Kenny stopped her.
    “Not yet. I’ll need to see if you’re approved first but as soon as we get the thumbs up, you can swing by and we’ll take care of it then. Do you guys have a number I can reach you at?”
    “Do we?” Harper asked.
    “Uh, sure. I’ll give you Cherry’s cell.” I grabbed a sheet of paper and jotted the number down. “Just let her know who you are and why you’re calling and she’ll take the message.”

“
Alright, I’ll let you know in a few hours,” Kenny said.

Harper

Before Callum and I boarded the packed train back to Charlie’s to put all the sheets back on his bed and put up a few things, Callum found a nearby pay phone and rung Cherry to let her know to expect a call from Kenny.

“
So, where should we go after Charlie’s?” I asked as I plopped next to Callum on the subway.

“
I’m not sure, sweet. I haven’t gotten a chance to think it through yet.”

I could tell he was sort of sweating it. He kept rubbing the palm of his hand against the back of his neck, running his long fingers through his hair, and scrubbing his face.
    “Dude, if you’re getting cold feet about moving in with me, remember that you don’t have to do it. I understand if I scared you with that crap I pulled back there. I don’t blame you if you want out.”
    “What? Shut up, goof. I’m stressed about Sam.”
    My stomach plummeted toward my feet. “Oh, I understand.”

When he revealed that he liked her back at Charlie’s, I wanted to burst into idiotic tears which was so unlike me. As I was fighting the urge, the burn subsided a bit because I realized that Callum had softened me like a stick of butter left in the sun. It scared the shit out of me, actually. The last thing I wanted was to feel weak in a vulnerable situation and here I’d gone and let him do it without my knowledge. I wanted to clobber him and kiss him all at once. The fact that he liked Sam was like a punch to my gut.