Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

“Oh, very cool,” she smiled. She looked around her a bit before leaning into me. “Uhh, at the risk of sounding rude, I’ve observed that they’re all older than you,” she added.

“Yeah!” I laughed. “They’re probably mid to late twenties, the lot of them. I seem to relate to them better than kids our age. Maybe because at this age, they know what it’s like to be the only one responsible for yourself.”

“I can see that,” she said. “Older’s cool. Except for Sam, though, right?”

“Yeah, Sam’s our age.”

“Mmm, yes.” She cleared her throat. “I know.”

“What?” I furrowed my brows at her.

“Oh, nothing. It’s just...I think Sam may like you.”

“What! What gave you that idea?”

“Well, when we were talking earlier she sort of gave me the impression that I wasn’t to touch you.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. That is really weird.”

“Why? You’re kind of a catch,” she teased.

That made my chest swell. “No, it’s just that Charlie and Sam are sort of dating.”

“Are they exclusive?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Well, that explains it then.”

I was embarrassingly sort of flattered by that but peeved at the same time because she was dating Charlie and although they probably weren’t exclusive, why would Sam all of a sudden take an interest in me? Unless, she’s one of those ‘I want what I can’t have’ sort of girls which are the worst kind of girls. Nothing is less attractive than that quality.

“I wouldn’t go out with Sam for anything in the world,” I honestly said.

“Why?”

Well, besides the fact that she’s dating Charlie, she’s not you. “Because, I just never would.” Harper eyed me strangely but turned back to the stage.

The curtain began to peel open, revealing a marvelous Cherry and band.

“Cherry pie!” I yelled out inciting a little dance from Cherry at her keyboard.

“She’s wonderful,” Harper said, laughing at Cherry’s antics.

“I know.”

“Hi, we’re The Ivories,” Freddy said.

Their first song was my favorite because it did wild things to the chest and stomach, filling both up with anticipation, and making the heart beat violently. It didn’t help that Harper held my hand the entire song. I’m not complaining. I loved sensation.

The crowd swayed and bent like wheat in the wind. The Ivories were the reason the crowd was what it was. I watched Harper’s eyes widen with every song they played. They were truly talented but this was something I am newly reminded of living the songs anew through Harper. She was so incredibly charming dancing and laughing. At one point, Cherry reached out and waved at her. You should have seen Harper’s reaction. She was so adorable.

When The Ivories set was over, I pulled Harper towards the back wall to cool off.

“Can I get you something to drink, my dear?” I asked.

“Uh, a water would be wonderful,” she said, smiling from ear to ear.

“Okay, don’t move or I’ll never be able to find you again,” I only half-teased.