Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

“I’m so sorry, Callum,” I cried.

“Shh,” he said, stroking my back. “Did you really think I was going to hit you?” He asked.

I nodded in response unable to speak.

“Jesus, what kind of life did you have before me?” But it was a rhetorical question and when I opened my mouth to speak, he just shook his head and hugged me tighter.

“So sorry,” I mumbled out, still shaking with sadness.

“It’s not your fault, Harper. It’s not your fault,” he whispered. “It must have been the dude on the subway.” I nodded my agreement, sniffing loudly against his chest.

Asa chooses that moment to walk into his tornado blasted office, interrupting our full blown meltdown.

“What happened?” He asked.

“We, uh, lost over five thousand in cash. It was stolen actually.”

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry. Here,” Asa said to Callum, helping him place me in Callum’s chair. “Shall I call the police?” He asked.

“Please,” Callum said, before bending down and gathering all my belongings into a neat pile.

I bent down next to him and helped him fold my laundry and place my stuff back into my messenger bag. The salt from my tears must have clouded my eyesight and I was having trouble controlling my trembling hands because I kept losing my grip on my toothbrush. Callum grabbed it from me and placed it in the front zipper. He closed the top flap of the bag and placed it by my chair. When he stood, he brought me up with him one more time and hugged me closely. He kissed the top of my head but instead of comforting me, it sent me reeling down a spiral of guilt and the tears flowed nonstop until the police arrived.

The police took our statements but both Callum and I knew, we were never going to see that money again. We left the bank a few hours later in utter disbelief. Callum clasped his hand tightly into mine and silently guided me toward The Hope House to wait out the night in hopes we’d get a cot. How long we stood, I don’t know but I remembered suddenly being yanked from the line with a single curse from Callum. He dragged me to Central Park and sat me on a bench next to him. He dragged me closely to him, tucking me into his side much like when he introduced me to Charlie that same night. How quickly life can change. In an instant, you can lose your mother, your father, your life, your youth, your innocence, and your pride. Losing your money and possibly the best friend you’ve ever had seemed like too much, even for me.

“You’re going to leave me now, huh?” I asked him.

Callum looked at me, stunned. “What? No. Never, Harper.”

o;Charlie,” Callum said, still holding my hand tightly, looking down at me with what seemed like pride. “This is Harper. This is the girl I was telling you about.” He squeezed my hand a bit harder.

“Harper,” Charlie said warmly, a smile reaching the corners of his eyes. “It is an absolute pleasure to meet you.” He took my free hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing the knuckles softly. I’d be lying if I told you it didn’t feel nice or that I wasn’t completely charmed by him in that moment and just as suddenly I finally got to see what Callum had been talking about.

“You, too,” I lamely said back.

Charlie righted himself and winked at me before turning to Callum and hugged him with heavy slaps to the back. He lifted his friend off the ground and shook him around.

“Good God, Callum. It is so good to see you.”

“What do you think of Harper, Charlie?” Sam piped in, seemingly from out of nowhere.

It’s a miracle! She does know my name.

Charlie laughed slightly, the smile meeting both his eyes. “She is breathtaking, Callum. How in the world did you find her?” He asked.

“We met at social services of all places but I’d like to think it was fate,” Callum said, tucking me into his side.

Blossoming warmth seeped into my body and I felt the blush reach even the tips of my ears as it swept across my face.

“That’s sort of cool,” Sam said, pathetically wrapping Charlie’s arm around her shoulders. “Did your parents die too, Harper?”

“Samantha!” Charlie said.

“I’m sorry. Did I say something offensive?” Sam asked him, feigning innocence. God, she’s good.

“Sam, apologize,” Callum said, his body tensing beside mine.

“No, it’s okay,” I tell him, squeezing him around his waist. “No, Sam. Actually, I have no idea who my dad was but my mom was young and addicted to drugs when she gave me away at the hospital.”