Forever Seems So Far

Chapter 1

It was pouring rain when I left the library.

With a Japanese test coming up, I had been studying for hours checking my speech, writing characters, fixing my hand writing, and translating. But I just couldn't get it.

I threw on my hoodie and walked with my umbrella swung over my head. Rain tattered off it.

As I walked beside the park, I found I was alone. Not a single person nor car strode by. Wet trees glided over my head, pink petals soaked the pavement. My shoes slapped the ground making water droplets glide through the air.

The sky looked like water colors, twisting around to make different shades of gray. My once curly black hair now stuck to my face. The Levis I wore where soaked from the bottom and my socks squished against my shoes. The book-bag I was carrying was completely dry, as the umbrella I carried protected it more than me.

I had hoped it wouldn't thunder nor flash lightening anytime soon. I had always been afraid of thunder and lightening, ever since I was a little boy. When dad walked out on me and mom a thunder storm was raging across the sky and I had been screaming for my parents... It was my first thunder storm and I thought monsters where attacking, stealing my father. I knew better now, but the fear didn't ware off.

I pushed the memory out of my head.

I strode across the wet pavement, petals falling forcefully to the ground, rain-drops splashing painfully on puddles. I looked across the green park to my left. It was full of wet grass, few trees stood randomly in thick fog. Nobody was there.

Then I stared down my path. A wooden bench sat nicely next to a tree and in front of the park's fence a man sat silently on the bench. He wore light jeans, a tank top, and socks with slacks. He was soaked.

The man looked about my age, he had tan skin and a dazed expression. A small mess of soaking blonde hair slopped on his head. As I came closer I could see tears coming from his milky gray eyes and long dark lashes that girls killed for. Pink lips seemed to be painted across his lower face, and they pouted profoundly at the ground.

His eyes stayed blank, his expression was sad. I was five feet away from him when he shoved his face into his hands. Something across wonder and guilt rushed through me.

I stepped towards the man with a plain expression. He didn't seem to notice I was standing in front of him. I tilted my umbrella forward so it covered him. Splotches of water soaked me. I noticed him shiver.

Probably noticing the lack of rain hitting him, he looked up from his hands. Streaks of red flushed his face and tear drops lined those girly lashes. Seeing him close up triggered a small feeling: he was cute.

I smiled at him softly, "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up. My apartments just around the corner"

I held out my right hand with a gentle nudge. A moment later he placed a cold hand in mine. I shivered lightly but smiled brighter.

Knowing the small umbrella wouldn't keep us both dry, I tugged him off the bench and closed the thing. I started to run with his hand still limply clenched in mine. We took a right, away from the park. After passing a few small fast-food restaurants, I jumped into the lobby of my apartment faculty. The boy ran in behind me. I threw my umbrella into a box by the door and guided him towards the elevator. As we passed the front desk, the man sitting there waved. I waved back.

He stopped before we could enter. "You're not going to stab me, are you?"

I let go of his hand. "When I see a person my age, alone in thirty degree weather while it's raining with a tank top on, I feel obliged to offer them the use of my dryer and a possible hot shower"