chapter 4
The Intern
Chapter 4: Storm Clouds
The rain came down in relentless sheets, drumming against the roof of Harperâs car. She huddled in the driverâs seat, her thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The dampness crept into everythingâthe upholstery, her clothes, even her bones. A small puddle had formed on the passenger side floor where water leaked through a crack in the window, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Her headlights barely cut through the gray morning as she sat parked outside the high school. Finals week had arrived, and Harperâs stomach churned at the thought of everything she needed to do. Between studying, her internship, and her waitressing shifts, there wasnât enough time in the day.
The buzzing of her phone broke through her thoughts. It was an email from Mr. Callahan.
"Harper, the partners are impressed with your research. Iâve put in a request for you to transition to a paid internship. Letâs discuss it tomorrow. Keep up the great work."
Her breath caught. A paid internship. The thought was almost too much to process. If this worked out, it could change everythingâshe could finally save enough to get out of her car, maybe even find a small apartment.
But there was no time to celebrate. Her AP Calculus final was in less than two hours, and she hadnât finished reviewing. Harper grabbed her damp backpack, shoved her notebooks inside, and dashed through the rain toward the school.
The halls were bustling with students, most of them laughing or chatting as they made their way to class. Harper ignored the noise and found an empty spot in the library. She spread her notes across the table, trying to focus despite the fatigue gnawing at her. Her head felt heavy, her eyes burning from lack of sleep.
She managed to power through the exam, but by the time she left the classroom, her head was pounding. The rain hadnât let up, and her soaked sneakers squelched with every step as she made her way to the diner for her shift.
âRough day?â her coworker asked as Harper slipped behind the counter.
She forced a smile. âJust a little tired.â
The shift dragged on. Customers were grumpy from the weather, and Harper had to dodge puddles of rainwater tracked in from outside. Her tips were meager that nightâbarely enough to cover the gas she needed to keep her car running.
When her shift finally ended, she sat in her car and let the exhaustion wash over her. The rain had turned into a light drizzle, and the faint sound of droplets tapping on the roof filled the silence.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from her teacher, Mr. Aldridge:
"Harper, I wanted to check in. I know finals can be overwhelming, but I have no doubt youâll excel. Let me know if you need any resources or help."
Harper stared at the message, her throat tightening. It wasnât much, but it reminded her she wasnât entirely invisible.
With a deep breath, she pulled out her laptop and opened her notes for the internship. The rain outside blurred the streetlights into a soft glow, creating a cocoon of quiet. Despite her aching body and the chill in the air, Harper felt a flicker of hope.
If she could just make it through finals, if the internship came through, maybeâjust maybeâthings would start to get better. For now, though, all she could do was keep going, one step at a time.
The rain might have dampened her spirits, but it couldnât extinguish her resolve. Harper was determined to rise above the storm, no matter how heavy the downpour.