In the morning, Harper woke just a few minutes before her alarm clock sounded. Her birthday was a year in the making, a year of counting down, and it was coming tomorrow. She didn't hate her birthday. It was just never something she looked forward to growing up. It was always depressing.
She never had a party, never had presents—if she did, they were barely anything—and she never had friends to share it with. Sucking in a deep breath, Harper stood and crossed the room to her calendar. She narrowed her eyes at the circled day—the twenty-fifth of August—and crossed out today with a marker.
She trudged into the bathroom and started a shower, beginning her daily routine. After showering and drying her hair, she dressed in a mint green tank top and denim kaki capris. She applied her light make-up and slid on her sandals. She grabbed her jacket and beach bag, then slid on her sunglasses and headed out the door. Seeing as her appetite was close to nothing, she decided to skip breakfast.
She slid in behind the wheel of her van and started the engine with a sigh. As she drove to work, she rolled her windows down and played the radio. She pulled into the parking by the Hut and cut the engine. The beach seemed lively today. Maybe Harper would actually talk to customers today?
She hopped out of the van and walked into the small back door of the Hut. Kaya was sitting—as usual—reading through magazines. Harper sighed. "Well, well, well," she said. "What have we here?"
Kaya chuckled. "You're here early."
"Is that all you have to say for yourself?" Harper asked, sarcastically. Kaya slid off her stool and turned to face Harper, loosely crossing her arms in front of her. "I know what tomorrow is," she said. Harper took off her sunglasses and exhaled. "It's that obvious?"
"Yes. And I've known when your birthday was for two years," Kaya replied.
"It's just so depressing," Harper said, leaning into the desk on her forearms. "You know, people caring about you?" Kaya leaned into the desk, mirroring Harper, and eyed her. "You don't have to make a joke, you know," she said.
"Sure I do," Harper said, watching the surfers. She hadn't gone surfing in a while, so she filed it away for things to do tomorrow. "How's Darcy doing?" Kaya asked.
"He's good," Harper answered.
"How are you doing?" Kaya asked.
Harper shrugged. "I'm alright." They commenced their small talking for the next few hours. Their conversations usually covered everything imaginable within a few minutes. It was easy for Harper to talk to Kaya about most things. They had been work friends for years. They'd been in the same position for hours when Steve walked up to the front desk. Harper was surprised to see him, but smiled. "Hey," she said, smiling.
"Hey," he said, smiling back.
"Hi," Kaya said, purposefully looking between Harper and Steve. Harper raised an eyebrow, but she caught on a second later. "Oh, right. Steve McGarrett, Kaya O'Ren," Harper introduced. Steve and Kaya shook hands. "I thought you said he was your 'ex'?" Kaya said, looking at Harper with a smirk.
"Kaya, please. That was last week," Harper said, sarcastically. Kaya chuckled and shook her head. "I'll be in the back," she said, before scurrying off. Harper waited until Kaya was out of earshot before speaking. "So, what brings you by?" she asked Steve.
"I thought I'd stop by and tell you the news: I've been cleared to go back to work," he said.
"Already?" Harper asked, a mixture of mild panic and confusion on her face.
"Nothing major," he reassured. "Just indoor stuff."
"When do you start?" Harper asked.
"Tomorrow," he said.
"Tomorrow?" she asked, to which he nodded.
"I won't be around much after that, and I won't always have time for dates, so I was thinking you could come over and watch a movie with me," he said.
"Ah, he shows his true colors," Harper said. He chuckled as she spoke. "That sounds nice."
"Wanna come over around eight? We can order in," he said. She nodded with a smile. "Sure. Oh, there's something I need to tell you," she said.
"What is it?" he asked. Just then, Harper noticed some customers walking over. She shook her head. "I'll tell you later," she said.
"Okay. I'll see you tonight, then," he said.
"I love you," she said. He smiled and leaned over across the desk to kiss her lips. "I love you, too," he said, before heading to the parking lot. Kaya moved back to the front to help with the incoming costumers. It not only gave Harper something to do, but it gave her a way to stop thinking about her birthday.
She was fine with growing older. But the part about making a big deal of it bothered her. Because no one ever did.
After her shift, Harper slid into the driver's seat of her van and started the engine. She sat there a minute and listened to the radio. Then she took a deep breath, and started driving. She pulled into the parking spot in front of her apartment and cut the engine. She hopped out and walked to the door, pulling out her keys. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, shutting it behind her.
Darcy was sound asleep on the couch, so she tip toed into her bedroom. She changed into a purple tank top and denim shorts, then walked back into the living room. Darcy was still asleep as she tip toed to the front door. She quietly opened it and slipped out, shutting it behind her.
After locking up, she slid in the driver's seat of the van and started driving. It was seven fifty-eight, so she drove to Steve's house. She pulled into the driveway and parked by his truck, then hopped out, walking to the front door. Her knuckles hit the wood twice, and she waited.
A second later, Steve opened the door, and he smiled down at her. "Hey," he said, smiling.
"Hey," she said, smiling back. He moved so she could enter, and she walked inside. He turned to face her after shutting the door and she rose on her toes to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her middle and her hands rested lightly on his chest. "I have some news," Harper said, pulling back.
"Good or bad?" he asked, with a smile.
"I think it's good. This girl talked to me at the Hut the other day and—long story short—she claims to be my half-sister," she said. "I'm not sure completely that she's telling the truth, but we should find out in a couple days if it's legit."
"You guys took a test?" he asked.
She nodded. "I was going to talk to you sooner, but I didn't really have the chance."
"Did she say anything about your parents?" he asked.
"Yes. Apparently my mother has breast cancer, and is in the hospital. She doesn't know anything about my dad, though. And I guess I also have a half-brother," Harper explained.
"You don't seem too excited about it," he observed. Harper sighed. "That's because I'm not. If this girl is my sister, that would mean after my mother dumped me off, she got married in a different city and had more kids and just forgot about me. She could've come back, but she never did. And I'm supposed to meet this woman," she said, the hurt evident in her eyes. "And my father is still MIA—and he supposedly took off when my mom told him she was pregnant. I don't know if I want that as my family."
"That's the thing about family, Harper. You don't choose it. I mean, just look at my family," Steve said. Harper nodded, thinking. "I guess you have a point," she sighed. He smiled and she kissed him on the lips once before pulling away fully and walking into the living room. "Enough about me," she said. "Let's get this shindig on the road." Steve chuckled and shook his head at her sarcasm.
She sat on the couch and he sat beside her. They spent the first thirty minutes of their movie date figuring out what food to order, then another fifteen minutes waiting on said food. But once the food arrived, they got it sorted and started the movie—the two-thousand-ten sequel to Tron, Tron: Legacy.
It was the only movie Steve could think of that wouldn't have anything in it that could possibly trigger something with Harper, but still be interesting. Less than half-way through the movie, they'd finished the food. Harper, glued to the screen, pulled her legs up beside her on the couch. Steve put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him.
Harper wasn't bothered by the movie at all. She grew to like it by the time the credits rolled. "You know, I've never actually seen the first Tron," Harper said.
"Tell me you're joking," Steve said. Harper shook her head, chuckling. "We have to fix that. Next time, we're watching the original Tron."
"Who said there's a next time?" Harper asked, teasingly. Steve gave her a look, and she laughed. He tipped his head down to kiss her and she met his lips half way. "Hey, are you doing anything tomorrow night?" Harper asked, pulling back suddenly, as she thought of it.
"Tomorrow night? Not that I know of," he answered, before kissing her again.
"Maybe we could go to dinner? You know, just the two of us this time?" Harper suggested. Steve chuckled at her reference to the last time they'd had a formal dinner together. Mary was still there, and Harper had had a panic attack. The night did not end well. Though Harper dreaded her birthday, she would still like to spend it with Steve. Well, at least a part of it. He nodded. "Sure," he said.
Harper smiled. "Great." They resumed kissing until a knock sounded on the door. "Are you expecting someone?" Harper asked. Steve frowned, staring at the door. "No…" he said, standing. He went to the door and opened it, revealing Jerry holding a card board box. "Hey, Jerry. What are you doing here?" Steve asked him.
"I got that thing you asked for," Jerry replied, glancing momentarily at Harper on the couch.
"Oh," Jerry handed Steve the box, and he took it. "Thanks, Jer."
"No problem, boss," Jerry said. He started down the drive and Steve shut the door. He put the box on the floor beside the couch and sat back down next to Harper. "Gotta love Jerry's timing," Harper said, sarcastically. "I should get going, it's kind of late." Steve nodded and Harper stood. He followed suit and followed her to the door. Outside, he walked Harper down the driveway and to her van. "So, you're going back to work tomorrow," she said, as they reached her van.
"Yeah," he said. Harper turned to face him and slid her hands in her pockets. "Just be careful, okay? I need you in one piece," she said.
"When am I ever not careful?" he said, mostly joking. She tilted her head lightly and smirked, and he chuckled. "I'll be careful," he said. "Goodnight." He pressed a light kiss to her lips. "Goodnight," she said. "I love you."
"I love you, too."