Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

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.

We sat on the concrete around the trailer, getting to know a few of the bands around us. Charlie had a keg on rollers that he spilled from the back of the trailer as a surprise. A million hands lifted in cheer and the after party had begun.

“God, what time is it?” A drowsy Harper asked.

I peeled my pocket watch from my jean’s pocket and checked. “Twelve fifteen.”

“It feels like four,” she said laughing, laying her head on my shoulder.

“That’s because the past few days were exhausting pieces of crap that no person, no, people, should endure.”

I felt more than heard her chuckle in response.

“I need to talk to you, Callum,” she said suddenly.

“And I need to talk to you. Badly,” I said, looking at the top of her beautiful head.

Just then, Sam came up.

“Can I speak with you?” She asked.

“No,” I said and I meant it.

“Please, it’s...I just want to apologize. Please?”

I sighed. “Fine. Harper, excuse me.”

She lifted her head and bit her bottom lip. I could tell she didn’t want me to go.

I kissed her neck and whispered in her ear, “It’s not her I want.”

She nodded and I stood, following Sam to a dark space near the other side of the trailer. She wanted me to follow her farther away but I felt sick leaving Harper where I couldn’t see her so I froze there, crossing my arms and waiting. Sam seemed to understand and came back up to me.

“I just wanted to apologize for earlier this morning,” she began. “I overstepped some boundaries. I knew how much you wanted her and it scared me. I always thought you’d be there, waiting, and it just freaked me out that you weren’t there when I wanted you.”

“That’s the lamest apology in the history of apologies, Sam.”

“What? Why?”

“Sam, are you really this dense?” She had the decency to act embarrassed. “You just admitted to using me. Listen, I know you strung me along and before Harper I was just pathetic enough to endure it because I thought I loved you but since meeting her I realized something about myself. I’m worth more than what you think of me. I shed some crazy when I met her, took off my blurred visioned glasses and saw what you really are...not meant for me.”

“Callum!” Sam yelled, showing a bit of crazy herself. She reached for me in desperation but I was distracted by yelling on the other side of the trailer. I ran into a crowd gathered in a circle around Harper and Charlie.

“I told you! She wants nothing to do with you!” Charlie said to a rather large man in jeans and a stained t-shirt. Harper clung to Charlie, her body visibly shaking.

“And I told you! That girl is coming home with me. She’s mine,” the man said with slurred speech.

“You’ve had a lot to drink, John. Let’s just leave,” a sensible friend of the drunk said, pulling him away from the circled crowd.

I finally reached the circle and broke through, wrapping Harper in my arms and trying to drag her away but the guy became enraged.

“Stay away from her!” John, the drunk, said.

“It’s John Bell,” Harper barely whispered, her lips quivering, her body shivering in fear.

I searched her face. John Bell, John Bell. Why does that name sound so familiar? That’s when I realized, John Bell was the sick psychotic who tortured her at her foster home.