3:45 pm
"Completely and utterly disgusted."
That's how Harper felt about rain, and right now I had the honour to hear her yet again complain that it was raining and how much she hated it.
"Honestly, I was exited to walk around and explore with you today. But now we're stuck here in Starbucks, looking out the window at nothing." Harper groaned and glared out the window, her brown hair falling lightly onto her shoulders. "Not nothing," I reminded her. "Look, the Brandenburg Gate is right there." She paused, then gave me a look that said have you forgotten I live in this city? "Yeah, I've seen it a million times before." She replied.
There was a silence, and we continued looking out the window.
4:15 pm
Walking in Berlin in the rain with Starbucks in our hands might make a great Tumblr photo, or something to post on someone's Instagram account to match their feed. But in reality it's cold, wet and uncomfortable. That's why we're still sitting in our seats by the window in Starbucks, even if Harper already finished her drink and I only have a few inches left of mine.
Outings with Harper are always adventurous and different every time. Whenever we go out we discover something new, and if we don't then we make sure we try at least one new thing. We always learn about our city, but also about ourselves. Today was no different from our usual routine. We met at the usual underground station we always meet at then took the same train we always take to the Brandenburg Gate. We're working on a project about it and its history in school so we decided it would make sense. There were stands around the gate with information on them about the gate and it's history for tourists we decided we could use for research. (Yes, we could just pop out our phones at any time and use Google to get the information, but where's the fun in that?) It would have been better if it wasn't raining of course, we would't be stuck in the Starbucks. "Okay so, basically I need to make a sketch of the Gate and then under the sketch add information about the Gate. Then I'll make my finished copy later on a bigger sheet of paper," Harper told me, looking up at the Gate through the large window we were sitting next to. She was already drawing on her note pad that she brought with her. I looked up at the huge historic pillars holding up the well known carriage with four horses pulling Eirene, the goddess of peace. "Can't you just take a photo?" I ask. Still drawing quick strokes on her note pad, Harper sighed. "Yeah, it would be easier. But Ms. Maxwell says, and I quote," Harper raised her voice to an unnatural high pitch, "'Oh, you have such great drawing skills, dear. Draw the Gate yourself! I'm sure it'll look great.'" I laughed, Ms. Maxwell had that exact high pitched voice. "Your so good at impersonations," I say, still smiling. "You should enter the school play, or work for Disney and voice a character in their next animated film." Harper snorted, "Keep dreaming, Aria. I'll be lucky if I even earn five bucks to buy dinner when I'm older."
4:20
The rain started picking up, but we didn't want to stay in the Starbucks anymore. We decided to leave and started walking in a random direction, which ended up being towards The Richterstag Building. But instead of going there, Harper had another idea. We stopped at a curb.
"Do you have money?" she asked me while we were waiting to cross a road. I checked my bag to see how much I had brought. "Forty five euro. Why?" I asked, shoving my Hello Kitty wallet that I've had since I knew what money was back into my bag. "Cause, we could go to Central Station. There are stores there and we could buy a snack. Then, when we're done shopping, we could take the train back home," Harper said while looking in her own wallet that was in her pocket. I could see she had twenty euro. I hesitated. "I don't know, it's kinda far."
Then the famous walking green man lit up, indicating we could safely cross the road now. "Not really," Harper stated as we started walking onto the road. "Plus it's only four, we have lots of time. Don't make this boring Aria. Trust me." I can never argue with Harper. "Fine." "Yaaay!"
Central Station is one of the busiest places I know. People are everywhere. They come here to pick people up, arrive by train to see people, or leave to other places to meet people. People are rushing all around us, lots of them with suit cases or huge backpacks. One man accidentally pushed me into Harper with his backpack while trying to turn around. He looked very stressed and his forehead was shiny from sweat. I wonder where he was headed off to today. I realized that I was starting to sweat, too. Not because of stress but because of the heat from all the bodies crushing Harper and me. "A train gong somewhere big must be leaving soon, just look at all the people all going the same direction," Harper said into my ear so that I could hear her over the crowd. I nodded, she was probably right. The swarm of people were all going one way, which is sadly the opposite way me and Harper are trying to go. Then, through the corner of my eye I saw a store called Esprit and I quickly lead Harper to its entrance, where we would be safe from the crowd. Immediately Harper's eyes grew and her mouth stretched into a wide smile. I suddenly realized that I made a mistake bringing Harper here. Harper loves, loves clothes. From t-shirts to baggy sweaters, turtle necks to halter tops, Harper loves it all. She looks good in almost everything, too. Therefore she doesn't even have a specific style, she just wears and looks good in everything. It makes me jealous sometimes, since I literally have a long list of things I can't wear unless I want to look like a maniac or a disfigured bird. Harper also loves to spend money on anything she likes, which can sometimes be everything in an entire store. I could already tell we'd be in here for a while, and that I'd probably end up having to give her some money so she could afford the twenty shirts she's going to want to buy. "Come on," Harper cried happily, tugging at my arm. "Let's shop!"
5:35 pm
Crap. "Harper we need to go, now," I tap her shoulder. She was having a conversation with the cashier of Esprit. Yes, we're still in Esprit. "Come on, Harper," I tell her again, "we need to go, now." Finally, she turns around and looks at me. "Why? What time is it?" "Almost six! We need to get on the train." "Where to?" The cashier asks me. I tell her the area where I live and she tells me the train we need to go on is leaving in about five minutes. "Thanks. Come, let's go," I tilt my head towards the door and start speed walking to the exit of shop. Harper follows me, carrying two bags filled with new clothes and other items.
5:42 pm
The loud rock music I heard from my left was so loud I could hear every word the signer was singing---no, more like screaming. The train was full of people, so me and Harper had to be separated. She was sitting across from me, next to an elderly man with a fancy black hat. Very unsettled at the moment, I continuously got my phone out of my pocket and looked at the time. I put it back into my pocket again for probably the sixth time, and two minuets later it's out again and then back in. I don't think I've ever been so eager to get home. I'm already imagining the worst possible scenarios of what will happen when I get home and run into my mom. I'll go in through my window, like usual. But instead of going in and taking a nap or watch YouTube until my mom comes home, I'll come in to my mom in my room frantically looking for me. I can already see her surprised face as I climb in, then her arms cross and her face turning red. I'd be grounded for sure, and all my freedom would be gone. For the eighth time I pull out my phone to check the time. It's been five minuets since I last checked my phone. I'm still hearing the rock music from my left, and still making occasional eye contact with Harper.
5:59 pm
We're almost there. Almost there. Me and Harper are on the second train home. This train is much emptier than the last one we were on, so now we can sit next to each other.
"I cant't believe this," I say to Harper.
"What?"
"We can't do this again. It's already six." Harper rolls her eyes and turns to face me. "Is it really that big of a deal to you?" "Yes! You took so long shopping in Esprit--" "Okay, okay. Sorry. I'll try to make time one of my bigger concerns, too. I'll try and watch the clock more. I think we can make it though. So don't worry." I look her dead in the eye, my face not showing even a hint of amusement.
"It's six! My mom comes home at six!" Then, the train stopped at our destination. Yes, finally! "See?" Harper says and smiles as she gets up and gathers her bags. We approach the doors so we could get out. Before the doors even open, through the glass I make eye contact with a pair of mint blue green eyes that stared right back at me. They belonged to a boy around my age. His hair was a shade of brown, and his skin was tan. For some reason his eyes made my heart race faster than it already was.
The doors opened, and we stepped out onto the platform. At the same time the boy and a few other people walked into the train. As the boy walked passed me his arm brushed against mine. On purpose? I looked back for him once I was standing at a reasonable distance from the train, but I couldn't find him.
"Aria? What are you doing? Come on." Harper tapped my shoulder. I turned to her, shaking my head. "Right. Sorry. Run." We raced up the stairs to level ground and I ran all the way home.
