Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

But she doesn’t rebuff me as I anticipate. No, instead, she says, “I think, in some ways, we have. Only you could know what I’ve been through; the humiliation, the judgments, the unwanted pity and none of it at your doing. We may not have known each other our whole lives but we’ve definitely lived them in parallel.”

We waited in line for three hours, marking the time with idle chit chat that held no meaning whatsoever, but felt strangely vital to have at the time.

“Your favorite color?” I asked.

“Green,” she said. “Yours?”

“Same.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying.”

She eyed me disbelievingly, “Mmm-kay.”

“I’m not! Seriously, it’s always been green.”

“Alright, I believe you, I guess.”

“Favorite food?” I continued, changing the subject.

“You first,” she says.

“Afraid of an unoriginal answer?” I teased. She raised both eyebrows. “Okay, my favorite food is Tex-Mex. Good, authentic Tex-Mex though and as you may not know, that does not exist in this city.”

“Have you ever even been to Texas?” She mocked.

“Yes, I have, miss. When I was sixteen, I went there for a Latin competition for school. So there.”

“A Latin competition!?” She scoffs.

“Don’t make fun!”

She attempts to straighten her face, “I’m sorry. Really.”

“Yeah, that burst of laughter your hiding is really convincing.”

She sobered up, after some effort I’m unhappy to report. “I didn’t even know they taught Latin anymore,” she said. “I thought it was considered a dead language.”

“It is not a dead language! Your language is based in it, Harper.”

“I’m sorry. I can see that this subject is a sensitive one for you.”

“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.