The man in the rain

A New Friend?

Genevieve got out of the cab and noticed that she wasn't going to be alone this time. She started to walk into the memorial when she realized that this stranger was at the pillar that had Harrison and his wife's names on it. She didn't mind at all, she knew that there were many people's names on the pillars and this stranger was probably mourning their family or friends. She started walking closer to the stranger, the rain making her footsteps echo more than usual. The closer she got, the more nervous she got. Sure she had been here many times when other people were, but they were at different posts and she had the privacy that she needed to be able to talk to her brother and sister. She hadn't realized the stress had caused tears to fall down her cheeks and make her eyes red and cheeks puffy. She also had continued walking while thinking and now she was right behind the stranger and she felt weird about it. She took a couple of steps back and when she did the stranger had turned around. 

Her eyes were met with the stranger's bright blue ones. They both were taken back by how beautiful each other's eyes were that they both just sat in silence for a few minutes, letting the rain soak their clothes even more. Her mind was racing about who this person was, and what they were doing here. She had never seen them here at this particular pillar before, so she wondered if they were just visiting from out of town or if they actually had a family member there. 

"Are you okay" the stranger's husky voice spoke out breaking the trance that Vieve was stuck in. She looked up at the man and to say she was shocked would be an understatement. The man was very handsome but not someone Vieve would normally go for. She studied his face and noticed the bags under his eyes as well as the five o'clock shadow that had just started to appear. She continued to study him and notice that he had long dark hair under the baseball cap that he was wearing and noticed how well the shirt that he was wearing outlined his muscles perfectly. She also noticed that she had been staring too long and as soon as she did, her face began to get hot and turn a bright shade of pink. 

"Yeah, I am good," she said giving a small smile "Just wasn't really expecting anyone else to be here right now that all." She shoved her hands in her coat pockets in order to keep her mind in focus and not go back to staring at the man. 

"Are you sure?" he asked genuinely "You look like you have been crying" he stated as she tilted her head down so he didn't notice the red in her eyes any longer. She had been crying because when it started raining she knew that her brother was with her. The rain was his favorite weather and the two would always go out and play in it no matter how old they were. 

"Yeah, just the rain is a sign from my brother and his wife that they are here with me is all," she said looking up and smiling at the clouds. The man studied her while she was looking away. She had short blonde hair and hazel eyes that entrapped him whenever he looked into them. Around her eyes, she had the smallest freckles and smile lines that showed the years of happiness she has had, but there were also dark circles under her eyes to show that she too hasn't slept in a while. She was soaked from the rain signifying that she had been there a while wanting to see her brother. 

"Your brother?" he asked while looking up with her.

"Yeah," she said letting out a sigh and turning her head back to him. "They died a couple of years ago in the attack on New York. I come here to visit them and talk to them when I am feeling really down or missing them both" she said looking past him at the post with his name on it. He noticed her looking past him and where she was looking. He moved just enough that her small body to go past his enough for her to get to the stone. She had seen that he moved so she could get to the pillar and that is what she did. She went right up to the tower of stone and found Harrison's name and put her hand on it and bowed her head. The man had turned to see the state that she was in and it was a state of grief but there was also a hint of happiness there too. 

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said lowering his head. 

"No, it's okay. I mean I miss them so much but I know that they are watching over me and letting me know that right now I am in the right place" she turned to him and gave him a smile. "Why are you here? Same reason?" she asked while turning back to the stone. The man didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell her the full truth as to why she was here because he didn't know if he could fully trust her, but he also couldn't say that he was coming to mourn family like she was. 

"Kind of. I needed some fresh air so I just started walking and I ended up here" he said making his way towards the stone that this girl was still touching. He didn't want her to be alone because she looked so broken when she had gotten there and even when she was looking up at the sky. 

"I completely understand," she said turning her head to look at him and he did the same. There again she was met with his beautiful blue eyes and she started to fumble with her words. "Uh it's a great place to come and think," she said quieter this time somewhat intimidated by his presence but she then quickly relaxed when he agreed with her statement. 

"Yeah it is a great place to think, not really much going on in this part of town," he said still looking into her entrancing hazel eyes while giving her a comforting smile, which she returned. 

"I'm Genevieve by the way" she introduced "but my friends call me Vieve." She turned to the man to see him looking at her with a gleam in his eye. His doing so caused her to go red once again and she wanted to curse herself out. She had never let a guy affect her the way that he was and it made her really nervous. The pair sat there for a few minutes just staring at each other both entranced by each other's looks that they didn't even notice that it had started to rain harder and there were puddles beginning to form at the bottom of their feet. 

"Nice to meet you" he finally spoke. "I'm James," he said sticking his hand out for her to shake and that is what she did. She took his hand and when she did they both somehow had gotten an understanding as to who each other was. 

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Ahhhh. You guys! I love how this chapter worked out! I hope that you guys like it just as much as I do! I also hope that you guys are having a wonderful weekend! See yall tomorrow and as always... HAPPY READING!!!