Three years ago, on a Friday night...
It had been raining the entire day,
a sort of drizzle that was only mildly annoying.
But it wasn't until my parents left for the theater that the rain really started coming down.
I watched it for a few minutes before deciding I needed a cup of tea, a few candles, and a movie.
While the kettle was heating up, I thought about inviting Aria.
But she hated going out in the rain.
Better not.
I poured myself some earl grey tea and moved to the couch, where I wrapped myself in a blanket and put on Ten Things I Hate About You.
I was about ten minutes into the movie, and I'd taken about five sips of my tea, when the shouting started.
Curious, I got up to look out the window.
Across the street, in front of the Rogers house, was a man and Grayson Rogers.
The ever so quiet Grayson was shouting, and pulling on the man's -- his father's -- arm.
In the door opening, face streaked with mascara, stood a woman. She was shouting at Grayson to stop, please just stop, while the man was shouting at Grayson to let him go.
Grayson seemed to refuse to do either.
With the same determination he used to teach himself how to ride a bike, Grayson Rogers held onto his father.
But his father was a big man, and Grayson was weak from crying and screaming, so with just a push, he fell backwards, sliding over the wet pavement.
His father got in the car before Grayson could get up again.
I watched everything in horror. I knew the Rogers' fought a lot, but this time felt different. When I saw the car driving away, I knew it would be the last time I ever saw Grayson's father.
His mother shouted at her son, but when he didn't respond, didn't even get up, she just closed the door.
My heart clenched as I watched Grayson Rogers shrink in on himself in the pouring rain, wet clothes sticking to his body and his shoulders shaking.
It wasn't any of my business. I should get back to my blanket, my tea, and my movie.
But I'd been watching Grayson for years. I'd seen him laugh, and cry.
I'd seen him fall and get up, get up, get up.
"Get up," I whispered.
But Grayson Rogers didn't get up this time.
Before I could think it through, I put on my shoes, barely taking the time to tie my shoelaces, before ripping open the front door and running outside.
The pouring rain rushed around me, blinding me within seconds, streaks of it dripping down my glasses.
"What are you doing? Let's get inside!" I shouted, gesturing behind me at the open front door.
Slowly, Grayson looked up, his dark hair plastered to his face.
At first, nothing happened on Falcon Lane. Nothing but two boys looking at each other from a respectable distance apart.
Then, Grayson moved to his feet.
It was too hard to see anything more than movement through the rain, so I took off my glasses. The edges of my world turned blurry and unfocused, but I could see with a startling clarity how Grayson Rogers, after a moment's hesitation, ran towards me.
I let him go inside first, then closed the door behind me.
Silence fell.
I stared at a drenched Grayson Rogers and decided that the adjective was the easiest problem to tackle.
"I think I have a sweater that fits you."
***
Present day...
On Wednesday, at lunch, I'd had enough.
"This is ridiculous," I said, interrupting Aria doing a reading for Tanner.
"Listen---" she started.
"Hey, that's my future you're talking about," Tanner protested.
"--- I know you don't believe in the cards, but you can't deny that they predicted your car trouble. Hmm?"
I pushed up my glasses, annoyed. "That was the best thing that happened to me that week."
Aria blinked. "Oh."
"Is he talking about Grayson Rogers?" Regan whispered.
"Yeah," Tanner said, not bothering to whisper.
I stood up. Quite suddenly, judging by how Craig startled awake.
"I'll show you Grayson Rogers," I said.
Regan laughed nervously. "Why does that sound like a threat?"
"Because I refuse to indulge in his hiding from society!"
And with that, I walked out the cafeteria. I was not running, but it's a near thing.
Grayson usually hung out in the science building, so I briskly walked there. I threw open the front door and went straight for the little lounge area to the left.
"Grayson Rogers!" I exclaimed. "I refuse to indulge in your hiding from society!"
He shot up, looking kind of frightened. "What?"
"You're going to consume lunch with my friends, or I will..." I wracked my brain for a good threat. "Or I will slash your tires!"
"You would?"
"Are you willing to test me?" I asked, looking intimidatingly down my glasses. At least, I hoped it was intimidating.
Grayson looked down at his hands. He's wringing them nervously. Then he slapped his legs and stood up, suddenly reminding me of his size.
If Grayson Rogers wanted, he could break me in two.
Instead, he chose to look to the side and mumble, "Alright."
I sighed in relief. "Good."
But it's not. Because then, the school bell rang.
***
On Thursday, a few minutes before lunch, I waited for Grayson near the science building like I wanted to fight him.
I didn't.
If anything, I'd like to try kissing him again. Kiss Grayson Rogers, forest explorer, defeater of the rain, and nervous driver.
Grayson Rogers, who turned around the corner just then.
The horrible, illogical thought filled my mind that what if he could read my thoughts? My cheeks heated up in embarrassment.
"Hey," he said nervously, looking at the ground.
"Hi. We're going to the cafeteria and not think about kissing people," I said sternly.
He looked up. "What?"
***
On Thursday, at lunch, Tanner looked up as Grayson and I walked towards our usual lunch table, and asked, "Did I look that nervous?"
"Yeah," Craig said, at the same time that Regan said, "Not really."
Tanner gave his boyfriend a look.
"Okay, maybe a little," Regan admitted.
"It's okay to be nervous," I said as I took a seat. "New people can be a little scary.
Beside me, Grayson hesitatingly sat down. He looked very uncomfortable as he took his lunch from his backpack.
"As if you ever have trouble talking to people," Craig laughed. "You just straight-up tell them what you want."
"Do you think it's strange that I'm nervous?" Grayson said, looking firmly at his lunch box. "You told me you would slash my tires if I didn't join you for lunch."
Tanner nearly choked on his sandwich. "No way."
"Monty, you didn't," Regan said.
"I did," I said. I turned to Grayson. "And I would say it again if it meant getting you here."
But Grayson wasn't looking at me. He's hiding behind dark curls and hunched shoulders.
"I can't really believe it," Tanner said. "I just don't think you'd slash someone's tires."
I rolled my eyes. "Of course I wouldn't. That's a crime."
Aria walked up to our table. "Hi guy...s..."
Ah, I thought a second too late, as I noticed what made Aria pause. There's no chairs left, because Grayson was sitting on her usual chair.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Grayson tense up, probably realizing this too.
I shot Aria a panicked, pleading look.
"I'll just..." Grayson started, scooting his chair back.
I felt my heart sink in my chest, because he was going to leave, but then Aria grabbed a chair from a nearby table and let herself fall in it.
"No need to move for me," she said to Grayson. "I'm a feminist. I don't need guys to give up their seats for me, no matter how sweet the gesture is."
It's a bullshit argument, considering that Aria always bullied me to give up my seat for her.
But Grayson didn't know that.
I held my breath as he hesitated for a few seconds. Then he scooted his chair forward again.
"If you say so," he mumbled.
I sagged in my chair from relief.
"Yeah, no problem!" Aria smiled. "Do you want me to read your future?"
A/N:
Have you ever tried tarot reading?