Whispers Among The Magnolias

Eight

We spent most of the ride speaking on trivial things as the rain picked up. I wasn't sure I'd seen clouds form and darken so fast.

We were almost to the house as the windshield wipers violently tried to keep up with the speed of the rain. I could barely see the driveway as we pulled in.

"I'm going to go grab an umbrella hold on," Ms. Banks said before opening and closing the driver's seat, the brief second it was open, had her side covered in water. I groaned and put my head on the window, I wasn't a huge fan of the rain especially not with my hair out.

I squinted out the window as I saw a figure come to my side of the door opening it, the large umbrella shielding me from the rain.

"It's really coming down out here huh," Hunter said over the noise.

I looked out the door to see him with his hand out waiting for me.

"Sorry I thought you were your mom," I said and he just nodded motioning to his hand again.

"Watch your step there's a," Hunter started to say as I got out of the car immediately stepping in a deep puddle the bottom of my jeans instantly wet.

I stepped back in disgust as Hunter finished his statement, "A puddle." He laughed a bit and I glared up at him.

"That's really not funny," I said as I tried to squeeze the bottom of the jeans out.

"It is a little, what you don't get rain up north?" He asked.

"No, it isn't. And yeah we get rain but we normally get a bit more of a warning." I didn't try to hide my disgusted look as I looked back outside.

"Don't be a baby come on," Hunter said as he reached out for me half of his arm now in the car I looked down to see he was standing calmly in the still water.

"Gross," I said dragging out the 's.'

"I know the Princess wouldn't dare get her feet wet, I meant come on like, get on," Hunter mocked my face.

Did he mean to get on him?

"Don't call me that," Was all I seemed to be able to mumble.

"Come on, you'll catch a cold," He said as I leaned forward a bit hesitant. He wrapped his arm around my back careful where he placed his hands. I leaned into him and let my legs dangle a bit. Even without wrapping my legs around him, I didn't touch the water from how tall he was. I wrapped my arms around his neck. His skin was warm and his t-shirt smelled like cologne and summer air. His hold on me was tight but it didn't hurt as he slowly sat me down on the porch without getting my feet wet any further.

"Thank you," I said as he nodded to the front door,

"Get inside and dry off I'll help with the bags," He didn't look at me as he pulled the umbrella back down and turned from me.

I walked inside as Ms. Banks was standing in the kitchen towel drying her hair with another towel on the table she grabbed it as she walked over to me and wrapped the warm towel over me.

"Darling you look like you've seen a ghost, don't worry it ain't a hurricane or anything, the wind just gets strong here," she said as she rubbed my shoulders over the towel.

"Sorry, the rain just happened so suddenly, I'm going to go shower," I said turning from her and walking swiftly to the bathroom.

I closed the door behind me and made sure both doors to our rooms were locked. I shook my head for a moment and walked to the shower turning it on. I hopped in and let the water run over me for a long moment not even moving.