𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 ─ nathan scott

after rain comes the sun

𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬—gray, drab, and unmistakably moody. Emiliana used to think rain was romantic: a perfect excuse to snuggle under the covers, sip a warm cup of tea, and listen to the world slow down. But somewhere along the line, it lost its charm. Maybe it's because rain in Tree Hill is a different kind of beast. There, it doesn't softly patter against windows; it pounds, rattles, and invades, turning every umbrella into a fortress and every car into a chariot.

But maybe there's more to it. Rain doesn't care if it disrupts your plans, if it ruins your hair, if it floods your carefully paved path. It comes when it wants to, unapologetically, washing over the world, cleansing it—or perhaps just complicating it. Emiliana used to think rain was something you waited out, endured until the sun returned, but maybe rain is like love, or heartbreak. Sometimes, it's uncomfortable and inconvenient. Sometimes, it's beautiful and necessary. Sometimes, it simply refuses to leave.

So, as Emiliana stood on Nathan's doorstep, shoes soaked, hair frizzed, and mascara starting to smudge, she wondered: maybe life isn't about waiting for the rain to stop. Maybe it's about learning to dance in it—even if it means getting a little wet along the way.

Emiliana knocked on the door until Nathan finally opened it, blinking in confusion.

"Em?" he asked, concern and surprise etched across his face. Without a word, he pulled her inside, grabbing a towel from the nearby linen closet and tossing it to her. "What are you doing here? How did you even get here in this weather?"

She took the towel, patting her hair and wrapping it around her shoulders, offering a small smile. "I drove."

Nathan looked at her, wide-eyed. "You drove? Emi, the roads are flooded, and it's practically a hurricane out there. It's not safe!"

Emiliana shrugged, unbothered. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I? Besides, it's not like I couldn't handle it." She smirked, trying to brush off his concern.

He shook his head, a slight grin forming. "Barely. You're a terrible driver, even on a clear day. You're lucky you didn't end up in a ditch."

"Hey, I made it here in one piece, didn't I?" she shot back, playfully nudging him. "Anyway, my parents are in Charleston for the weekend, and I didn't feel like being alone in that huge house. So I figured, why not come over? We could get some studying done together. Or, you know, pretend to."

Nathan laughed, rolling his eyes. "Studying, right. That's what you were thinking about when you risked life and limb to drive over here."

"Well, I do have to keep you from failing political science," she replied, crossing her arms with a mock-serious look.

As they bantered back and forth, the house suddenly went dark. Emiliana froze, looking around as the hum of the refrigerator and the soft glow of the hallway light disappeared.