Harper hopped over from the backseat of the convertible and smiled reassuringly as Samael headed in. Pulling out her phone she looked up the directions to the nearest donut shop and squealed. “Oh my God! They have a Krispy Kreme nearby! Dude! Free hot donuts while waiting in line!” She put the car into drive and moved into the light traffic.
As she drove she hoped things with Samael were going okay. She worried about him and the shit he was going through. The drive was nice as she cranked up the music to punk rock and sang along with a few songs just to be a bit goofy. “Draven… you know what this means now, right?” She asked as she looked over to him briefly before getting into the parking lot of the donut shop.
Getting out she couldn’t stop jumping like an excited child going to the toy store. “Come on! You’re so slow old man!” She joked as she rushed over to the door only to run into it as someone opened it. She held her nose as tears brimmed her eyes and she turned away from whoever it was that opened the door. “Looks like someone had a bit of a blond moment and forgot how doors worked!” Some guy chuckled with his friends. “Those roots go deep.” Another joked.
Harper checked her hands to see that there wasn’t any bleeding thankfully, but it hurt like a bitch. She wiped at her eyes and tried taking a deep breath as she turned around. Although she wasn’t really one to show her anger, she was pissed, but she was starting to feel insecure as they gave her some predatory glares with those smart ass smirks. “Hey, she’s actually kinda cute. Look how small she is.”
“Bet it’s bigger than anything you’re packing jackass!” She snipped back. The guys lip twitched until he noticed Draven coming up behind her. “Let’s get going guys. Rudolph if you want some fun tonight come and find us. Club called Karma is opening tonight.” Harper glared daggers as her fists clenched hard. Her fingers started to disappear as she felt like she wanted to just vanish for a bit. “Let’s go get those free donuts.”
She forced a smile over her face as she opened the door carefully and went to the display window that showed the machine that cooked and glazed the donuts. The place wasn’t too packed as people came in and got their donuts.
Draven watched as Samael headed into the building and he hoped that everything was gonna be okay. He had spent too many nights up talking with his friend trying to keep him sane. Obviously, this girl he had met was something special since he went through this length to find her. Still whatever caused her to be away this long had to be something they didn't wanna deal with. Harper pointed out the Krispy Kreme and he just laughed at how excited she was. When they got into the lot he was still smoking a joint he had lit on the way and she beat him outta the car.
"Hey, young lady respect your elders...dang whippersnapper." He joked in an old grandpa voice as he finally slid out of the car. By the time he got around to the back of the car, he noticed the group of guys harassing Harper. A cold expression played on his face as he started to walk up behind her and they all piped down. Before he could put them in their place they ran off and talked about some club they would be at if she wanted fun. "They are gonna see some karma." He muttered under his breath as he headed into the store to pick out something to eat.
"You okay Harper?" Draven asked as he grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. It was obvious the soft worry that was in his eyes as he stared down at her. "Let's get some munchies and maybe we can check out the beach scene. I'm sure the two lovebirds will need to catch up and...talk." Of course, they both knew that it wasn't just gonna be talking going on in that apartment. Moving up to the counter they both ordered enough doughnuts to feed a small family and Draven headed outside towards the tables of the doughnut shop.
It was nice out here on the Beaches of California and draven could see himself living here long term. Maybe they could start a new chapter of the fools here and call this place home. "You look very pretty today." He spoke as he glanced over at her changing his view of just the beach. "Not that you don't always but.." Draven had always seen harper for a beautiful person even when she didn't see it herself but over the past year, he had grown fonder of his shadow. Those nights it was just them still awake and watching stupid cartoons. Sometimes she had fallen asleep on his chest and he dared not wake her up.
It had changed his whole view on her and those men who just treated her so badly were gonna pay. Sure fools never disrespected women but they weren't going to disrespect her and get away with it. Taking a bite of a donut he glanced back at the water. "I need to get a surfboard and check out the waves. This place is like the surf capital of the states so it would be a shame not to touch the water."
Rubbing her nose she just watched the machine for a bit until Draven had turned her to look at him. Her nose was still bright red from the impact of the door and she couldn’t help the blush showing up on her cheeks. Seeing the worry in his face her frown turned to a soft smile. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just dickheads being dickheads… I’m used to it.” That may not have been the right thing to say a Fool guy but it was her truth and she was going to stick to it.
“Munchies sound like a good idea. I just hope everything goes alright for them.” She said quietly. Receiving steaming hot freshly glazed donuts right off the assembly Harper was happy as a kitten with a ball of yarn. But she also couldn’t resist getting some of their specialty donuts either, Oreo crumble, and reese’s cups with peanut butter icing. She had always had a sweet tooth. It was how she got her stage name Candy Pop besides the green and pink stripes of color in her blond locks.
Heading out to the tables Harper took a seat and pulled her legs up to sit cross-legged in the chair. Opening her box of donuts she smiled and took in the scenery. The crashing waves, the warm breeze, and the bright sun peering down, she could definitely get used to living here. It was much more her speed anyway. Everything was laid back except those assholes earlier. She could do without running into guys like them again, but she knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Nothing ever really went the way she wished though.
Her eyes turned back to Draven as he complimented her on her appearance. She didn’t know what to say as her eyes widened just a little and a darker blush took over her pale cheeks. “I… just thought it was time for a change with my makeup.” She shrugged, she wasn’t always the best with compliments, but it was nice that he took notice of her. Her heart sped as she stared into those eyes of his, the wind blowing her hair to the side before she broke contact and started eating her donuts.
Over this whole year being on the road, Harper had plenty of opportunities to scream at the top of her lungs how she loved him, how she cared about him more than a friend. But the demons in her head kept her from voicing her affections. She tried so hard to be perfect for him, someone he could talk to about anything. Someone he could depend on and she knew she had that, but she couldn’t find it within herself to open up the gates of her own mind.
She was happy with those nights they were the only ones awake, watching Scooby Doo, smoking a joint and just laughing about the little things in life. But there were times she would find herself in a bathroom, a little baggie of meth in her hand. She had sworn off the toxic drug when she tried getting herself back together. For the most part she had, but there was always that tug and pull on her mind. Just one shot, one little needle and it would be all fine.
Shaking her head she bit into her donut and looked back at the ocean. She hadn’t learned anything about swimming… her mother never had the time or money. It was always with men or drugged up on the couch waiting for food that Harper would cook. Hearing him talk about surfing and it being a shame to not touch the water she smiled. “I’m sure Samael wouldn’t mind us doing our own thing for a while. We should totally go and do it… well, you should. I’d drown like a slab of concrete.” She said jokingly.
