I stared outside as the rain fell, completely lost in thought. It was getting harder to concentrate in this class when I knew there was still so much to do at home. My studio needed to be finished and cleared by the state board and health department, which could take weeks. It felt like I was running out of time. Iwas always one to panic or feel anxious before clarity hit. I knew things were going as planned; I just needed to calm down.
The rain outside picked up quickly, and thunder shook the school. I absolutely loved storms. Watching the rain always felt so nostalgic to me.
Before I moved in with Lena, I lived with my brother. We used to sit on the porch during thunderstorms and shoot the shit. I was so lucky to have a brother and best friend in one.
Before I knew it, I realized I had spent an entire class in my head. Probably not a great thing, but I could always send a text to our class group chat and ask if I missed anything important. I gathered my unopened notebook and books, then headed into the storm.
My old Jeep Wrangler was not made for weather like this. From how much I was hydroplaning, I knew I had to replace my tires before winter. Also, I probably could use a new pair of windshield wipers because I couldn’t see shit. I really needed to start checking the weather before class. The drive from the college to my house was less than twenty minutes, and by the time I pulled into my driveway, the rain had lightened up immensely.
Before I even stepped foot out of my car, I noticed trash all over my yard. I hopped out of my car with my backpack hanging off my right shoulder. I shut the door and turned around. I looked at the trash covering my lawn and driveway. My eyes widened as I stepped closer to investigate. This wasn’t trash.
It was my fucking roof.
I ran to unlock my front door. I prayed that only the shingles blew off and there were no leaks or damage. But I knew better than that. I flung the door open, heart racing, and stepped inside. It didn’t take an ophthalmologist to see how fucked I was.
I huffed, dropped my bag onto the floor, and hurried over tothe fuse box to cut the power. I had my electrical done a few months prior, and getting it redone was not in the budget. When assessing the damage, my heart broke. I could hear the steady rush of water coming from somewhere inside my house. Then I took off towards the stairs, which were now soggy. When I got to the top step, all I could do was cry. The roof was caved in, and a steady stream of water was flowing in. It flooded the hallway and into the rooms on this floor. I did my best running around and picking things up off the floor before they were ruined, but I was too late. I felt beyond defeated. Like, somehow I could’ve prevented this.
I had homeowner’s insurance, but knew well enough that it doesn’t cover a roof that probably needed to be replaced years ago. We have had storms worse than this, and nothing ever happened. Why now? Why me?
I did the only thing I could think of.
Pick up, please pick up. The phone kept ringing, and just when I thought I would get the voicemail box, the person on the other end spoke.
“Hey, Harp! What’s up?”Wren’s cheery voice on the other end made me sob.“Oh my God, Harper. What’s going on?”She sounded panicked.
I took a deep breath, and the words practically sprinted out of my mouth.“My roof collapsed, and my house is fucking ruined. I don’t know what to do. Please. I don’t know what to do.”I sobbed into the phone, hoping my best friend would have a solution. I looked up and noticed the steady stream of water was now slowing as the storm had passed.
“Oh, Harper, I am so sorry. How about you pack up what you can, clothes, school stuff, and anything salvageable, and come stay here? The guest room is yours, and anything else you need. You’re family, and this is the least I can do while we figure out how to fix this.”
I closed my eyes and let out a slow, shaky breath. This couldwork. I could call Tucker and stay at Wren’s until the roof is redone. This would be fine. Everything will work out.
This isn’t going to work. Fuck.
“Thank you, Wrennie. I’m going to make a few calls and pack then, I’ll be on my way.”I dried my tears and walked back over the squishy carpet to my bedroom.
“Everything will be okay, Harp. Love you and see you soon!”
“Love you too, Wrennie.”I hung up the phone and slid it into the pocket of my leggings. I needed to sort out a game plan quickly. I took out my suitcase and a duffel bag from the closet. Then I shoved enough clothes into the suitcase for about two months and packed all the items I would need for school in the duffel bag. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but it was better than nothing.
I called Tucker to see if he could give me some advice on what to do or who to call.
“Hello, this is Tucker,”said the man on the other end of the phone.
His voice immediately gave me butterflies.“Yeah, hi Tucker! This is Harper from the house on Charlotte Court!”It was such a relief to hear his voice rather than a voicemail.
“Hey, Miss Harper, what can I do ya for you?”
I explained to Tucker exactly my situation and what I could see from the lawn and inside my house. Tuck informed me he could help with the issues inside the house and that he worked closely with a company that could look at the roof. Then he would send me an estimate. He advised me to send him an email so he could give his buddy a rundown of the situation.
“Doesn’t look to be anymore rain on the radar for tomorrow, so chances are we will swing by yours to see what's going on. Harper…”There was a brief pause in his sentence.“Uh, if you need anything else, please don’t hesitate. Feel free to text me. Whatever works.”
His hesitation made my heart flutter.“Thanks, Tucker. Foreverything. I can always count on you.”I could practically hear him smiling as we said our goodbyes.
I don’t think I have ever been so grateful in my life. He sent me a text message that contained his friend's email. I thanked him for his time and hurried out of my soggy, ruined house.
I put my bags into the trunk of my Jeep and hopped into the driver's seat. I was thankful to have a place to stay, especially since it was with Wren. But fuck, living with her brother was going to be rough.
3
