"Aww shit." I mumbled under my breath as I paid for my cigarette at the convenience store realizing it was raining outside.
"At least you have your hoodie on." The old guy behind the cash register said to me as he handed me my change.
I gave him a fake smile, let out a "Thanks man," while I waved to him my reason for being in his store at 9 in the evening. Before going out the store, I pulled up my hoodie , looked up at the pouring rain and sighed heavily as if that would magically stop from pouring. Instead, a loud thunder clap answered. I went out, put my hands and cigarettes in my pocket and immediately walked under the pouring rain. Well, more like brisk walk. I wasn't a fan of running so I had to suck it up. Feeling the cigarette in my pocket thinking it was a bad idea because of my current situation "It was worth it." I tried to convince myself. I swear to God as I walk towards my street, the rain would just get heavier and heavier. Fuck rain.
I noticed from across the street I saw this dark image under the streetlight casually sitting on the bench - head down, hood up, hands tucked in inside the jacket's pocket. “Well this is new.”
I crossed the street, as I got closer towards this insane person I noticed it was a girl, judging from her physical build - petite, drenched hair, and her wet clothes hugged her body for dear life.
“You know you could get pneumonia if you stay out in the pouring rain.” I said to her as I stood behind her.
She raised her head towards me, squints her eyes, crunching her nose and uttered the most ridiculous thing, “Oh it's raining? I couldn't tell.”
Her piercings were reflecting the streetlight as she said it. Nose ring, a Monroe piercing and left spider bites on her faded red lips. She was sarcastically optimistic as she said it.
“I'm Anthony,” I smiled at her and I let out my hand for a friendly handshake. “Sorry, my hands are kinda wet.” I returned her sarcasm.
She giggled before she took out her hand to shake mine, “That's okay, mine's wet too.”
I laughed at her remark. I haven’t seen her in this town. Maybe she’s new around here.
“So, uhh.. Why are you sitting out here?” I practically yelled because of the rain's strong and heavy downpour.
“I'm waiting for a bus. What are you doing standing outside the rain, Anthony?” She yelled back.
Waiting for a bus? I thought to myself but I needed to get the fuck out of the rain, as I was blessed to be born with a weak immune system.
“Wanna wait for the bus over there?” I said as I tilted my head towards a shaded building.
She looked at the building I was referring to, “Sure.” She said as she stood up, hands inside her pocket and walked with me until we reached our destination, shielded from the pouring rain, at least temporarily.
“You smoke?” I asked as I took out the new pack of cigarettes out my pocket. I was freezing cold, and I badly needed a cigarette. Before she could answer, she removed the hood of her jacket and looked at the cigarettes.
“Yeah, thanks.” Taking the cigarette as I handed one stick to her.
“You were waiting for the bus?” I asked curiously as I blew the smoke from my first sip.
Where God's name is this girl going at 9 in the evening? Is she running away or something? She nodded as she was lighting her cigarette.
She looked up at me under her lashes, “I'm not running away if that's what you're thinking,” She seemed to have read my thoughts. “I'm from Chicago.”
I raised my eyebrow. What is she doing in Jersey? She let out a line of smoke from the side of her lip and smiled at me. “I know right?” She said.
What the fuck? This chick is getting weirder and weirder. But I was curious. She seemed interesting, and my parents have no clue I went out because they were busy bickering about something I clearly don't give a rat's ass about anyway.
“You have a name, kid?” I asked her again as I leaned on the wall remembering she didn't tell me her name earlier.
“Mari.” She blurted as if I snapped her from a deep thought.
She was looking at the other direction - waiting for the bus I assume - so it gave me a quick opportunity to look at her clearly. Hair, soaking wet and long; black hoodie, drenched; she was wearing a black skirt, grey knee-high socks and black worn out converse – what an amazing choice for fashion this strange girl has.
“Were you just checking me out?” She raised an eyebrow. Another piercing, I see.
Clearly she liked me checking her out. Ok, she really is weird.
“Yeah, I mean, no. I mean, uhh, your jacket's soaking wet. Must be cold. Or heavy. Or..” I shrugged. That was the most retarded response ever. I mentally gave myself a facepalm.
“Oh, yeah. Thanks for pointing that out.” She pressed the cigarette between her lips again and took off her hoodie revealing a not so wet white polo shirt tucked in her black skirt. School uniform? I looked at the badge on her shirt – Chicago Hope Academy.
“Oh, my bus is here.” She pointed at the blinding white light coming towards us.
As the vehicle started getting closer, I realized it wasn't a bus - it was a fucking limo. This chick is loaded?! My night couldn't get any weirder. She took a long sip of her cigarette and waved frantically at the limo till it pulled over.
“C'mmon, Anthony.” She dragged me along with her, I dropping my cigarette from her burst of spontaneous excitement.
We got in the limo. To be honest, it was my first time riding a fancy car. Good thing I wasn't out of place with my attire as Mari was just as wet as I am.
“What's your street?” She asked me as she scooted over to make more room.
“Uhh, around the corner.” I said as I closed the car door still shocked from what had just happened.
A while ago, I was in this crappy convenience store buying cheap cigarettes, the next thing I knew I was going home in a limo. Even at my prom night when I was a junior I never got a chance to ride in a limo. The limo's privacy window rolled down and the driver looked at us from the front view mirror.
“Good evening miss.. And friend.” He was formal with his greeting and not to mention monotone.
“Roemy, this is Anthony.” She tilted her head towards me.
Roemy nodded politely. “Just around the corner, sir Anthony?" He asked.
Wow! I felt like the God damned President. Still surprised, I nodded my head, eyes wide open in disbelief.
“Very good, sir. Miss.” Roemy nodded again and the privacy window rolled back up.
The limo pulled over outside my house at around 10 in the evening. The sound of breaking glass from inside my house reassured me that my parents never noticed I was away for an hour. I thanked Mari and Roemy for the ride home. Midway up our front porch, I hear her yell "Hey, Anthony. Thanks for saving me from pneumonia!", and waved goodbye as she rolled the window back up. I smiled, waved goodbye, and they were off.
As I creeped in our front door, the whole house fell dead silent. Shit. Did they actually notice me now? Much to my surprise, my parents weren't there anymore. My mom probably went upstairs to sulk, and my dad in the basement - mad fixing anything he sees that obviously does not need fixing. I sneaked in the house and darted to my room to avoid any contact.
Later that night, as I was crawling up in bed I can't help but recollect my random encounter with that weird rich girl, Mari. She's flippin rich, her dad's probably a hardcore business tycoon and they live in this kickass penthouse in Chicago. But what the fuck is she doing in Jersey?
