Forever Rain

Chapter 2

Rain

Friday. A day that I have taken for granted, but now, it's a day that I am truly grateful for, marking the end of a long and emotionally draining week. The first day of school had started atrociously, but somehow eased down day after day. My classes are proving to be quite challenging, which is the only positivity I can name, as I submerge myself with the work.

Mrs. Lattle, the administrator that I met on my first day of school, handed me a box after school that very day, saying that it's something she figured I might need. I had strapped it down on the back of my bike and drove it straight home before opening. Once home, the box revealed an assortment of uniform attires in the colors that I have seen the other kids at school wearing.

Some people might have been offended by such a gesture, but there was nothing other than gratitude I had for her. Not only was she kind enough to donate me gently-used uniforms that fit perfectly, she hadn't made an ordeal of it, like it was some kind of charity case. I remind myself to figure out a way to thank her. At least there was one person at that school who didn't shun me.

Well, her and Gorgeous Blue Eyes. Turns out, we shared two other classes together, and his intentions towards me are questionable, although kind.

I have tried to deny all his offers of assisting me, but it didn't stop him from following me to my classes, leading to several deadly stares from Lizzy, the vicious redhead. I've learned to just avoid her glares and move out of her way, but I couldn't shake Damon loose.
Every time he stood close, my palm became sweaty and the air in my lungs struggled to be released. I have overheard a few students mentioning that Damon was the only son of George Welding, the founder of an international trade consulting firm. Honestly, I have no clue what that means, but apparently, he's one of the wealthiest and reputable guys around this city and a little intimidating. Just the title alone petrified me, but it motivated me to steer clear of his son, Damon.

Outside the windows of my English Literature class, the clouds are rolling in with dark shades of gray, and I am relieve to hear the bell of our final period today. I grab my things and head out the building. Sure enough, tiny spritzes of water are descending around us, the chilly air of Bountiful, Utah making the rain more frigid. I zip my jacket up higher and throw the hood over my head.

There's a few other kids that also ride their bikes to school on a normal day, but concerned parents have opted to come pick their children up to avoid a ride in the rain, and I'm sure neither of my parents are waiting for me in the line of cars.

Pulling out onto the street that avoids the after-school traffic, I try to pedal as fast as I can to finish the seven miles I have until I reach my home, beyond the pristine neighborhoods with white, picket-fence houses and perfectly manicured lawns. I've driven maybe five blocks away from school when I see a black BMW slowly rolling beside me.

"Rain, let me give you a ride," the familiar voice calls out to me. I don't look over at him, only shaking my head and continue pedaling. There is no way I'm getting in that car with him.

"Please, it's going to start to rain harder, and I know you were named for such an event, but you don't have to endure through it." I stop, placing my foot down on one side to steady the bike. I turn to look at him, wanting to read if his expression shows any signs of mockery, if he has an audience waiting to join the joke he had just set at the expense of my name. He is alone.

"Welding, please stop. The more you try to help, the worse you're making it for me at school," I beg. His car has also come to a stop and several cars are honking, swerving to get around his vehicle. Suddenly, he opens his door and walks over to my bike lane. With one swift movement, he lifts me off the seat with one arm around my waist and pulls the bike from under me with the other.