Chapter 34
I was halfway through my meaty pepperoni mid-size microwave pizza when I heard the loud rambling of an engine.
I wasn't exactly an expert, but the engine roar of a Harley Davidson seemed unique enough. And a Harley outside my house could only mean one thing; Harper.
Jumping up from my bed, I rushed to the window to take a peek.
With my back pressed against the wall, I moved the curtain slightly before slanting my eyes to look through the tiny slit I had created.
Bingo. It was him and he was carrying something.
Ok, so we weren't enemies, but what was he doing at my house -7:00p.m- on a school night?
I didn't even get a single minute to try and figure out why he'd shown up out-of-the-blue, than the doorbell rang.
"What are you doing here?" I asked once I'd gotten the door open.
"Surprised to see me?" He asked leaning against the doorpost.
"Well, duh! It's not like you'd told me you were coming over."
"I just thought we hadn't hang out in a while and you don't exactly live on the moon; so why not come over unannounced?"
"I guess that's a valid-ish explanation," I said moving back so that he could come in. "What do you have in the bag?" I asked eyeing the striped carrier suspiciously.
"Can't you smell it?" He asked waiting as I closed the door.
With the lock in position, I sniffed the air.
"Chips!" I shrieked excitedly.
"Yep, and Guinness."
"I'll go get some plates."
I was completely in culinary 'love' with chips and ketchup, and it was an awesome thing that 'a lifetime on the hips' was still pretty much a speculation where I was concerned.
"So, how have you been?" Harp asked as I peeled off the bottletops with an opener.
"Good I guess... things seem better these days. My dad got kicked out."
"For real?"
"For shizzle. He was creeping around with Molly Tempest-"
"The Tempetress," he completed shaking his head.
"I know; he could've done better."
"How's your mom taking it?"
"Um, I think she was crashed at first, but now she seems fine."
"I never liked your dad."
"I know, its a shared sentiment," I said unwrapping the chips from the newspaper and polythene packaging.
"It's been a while since I saw you with your lip ring on, you look great," he said taking a gulp of beer.
"Yeah, it's been a bit of a while. I actually saw Kaulitz somebody with one on the EMAs and decided it was time I brought mine back. Did you get into Byron Phelps?"
"I actually did, since I am obviously the best art student ever. How about you? LIIST?"
"Congrats! That's great," I said wondering how I was going to tell him that I'd chosen Lockwood instead to be with Julie. "I got accepted but I'm going to Lockwood."
"Why? Doesn't Logan have a better science program?"
"It does, but I'll go there for my masters, Ph.D or something."
"I guess that's ok, it's one of those unis that make it hard for someone not to give you a job."
"You're the one who's got it good considering you could sell a single art piece for like ten grand," I said popping two sticks of chips into my mouth.
"I'm going to be filthy rich aren't I?"
"But don't become a nasty b*tch. Nobody likes a rich nasty b*tch."
"Where did Julie get in?"
Wow! I totally didn't expect that.
"Lockwood."
"So, you're going to the same uni to be together?" He asked.
"That's the basic idea. I know it's stupid-"
"It's not stupid Charlie. You love her, and if you want to be with her then you should. I mean, it's not like you're giving up your life."
"You're just saying that."
"No I'm not. I truly want you to be happy. I'm not that selfish a bastard to want you to be alone because I can't stand to see you with somebody else."
"She gave me this," I said showing him the ring.
"When's the wedding?"
"It's not an engagememt ring -I think it's a promise ring."
"In promise of what?"
"Those love things. Who's Claire?" I asked remembering that he'd gone out with her.
He scratched his head and laughed a bit, "she's a girl."
"Obviously!"
"I like her."
"Ooh!"
"It's not anything serious, yet, but I wouldn't mind doing something with her."
"'Doing something'? Like building a sandcastle?"
"You know what I mean!" He said laughing again. "I'd like to date her."
"She's straight right?"
"Yeah. I made sure she only responds to XY."
"Well, I'm glad we've been able to remain friends through everything," I said placing my free hand over his.
"Me too," he said giving me a peck on the cheek.
I was totally glad that we weren't awkward, and that it was clear that our friendship was meant to last.
