Lanterns in the Rain

Chapter Four: A Fragile Truce

The air was crisp the next morning, the ground still damp from the night's rain. Rae walked slowly across the courtyard, her hood drawn over her light brown hair, shielding her from the curious eyes of her classmates. The familiar weight of her books in her arms grounded her, but her mind was elsewhere—on Henry.

He'd been the first person in a long time to linger, to press just enough without pushing too far. It annoyed her how easily he seemed to slip through the cracks of her armor, yet there was something about him she couldn't ignore.

Rae reached the school doors and paused, staring at her faint reflection in the glass. Hazel eyes framed by wisps of hair, freckles barely visible against her pale skin. She didn't look any different, yet she felt... unsettled. Vulnerable.

The sound of laughter broke her thoughts. She turned to see Henry across the courtyard, walking with two boys she vaguely recognized from his group of friends. His dark brown hair was windswept, and his smile—so bright and effortless—seemed to light up the dreary morning.

Rae hesitated. Part of her wanted to turn and walk away before he noticed her, but it was too late. As if sensing her presence, Henry glanced in her direction and immediately broke into a grin.

"Rae!" he called, waving as he jogged toward her.

She shifted uncomfortably, clutching her books tighter. "You're loud," she muttered as he approached.

"And you're predictable," he shot back, his tone teasing. "Same hood, same corner of the library yesterday, same mysterious stare."

Rae raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Absolutely."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the faint twitch of her lips. Henry noticed, of course, and his grin widened.

"Walk with me?" he asked, nodding toward the school doors.

Rae hesitated. She didn't usually walk with anyone. She liked her solitude—the quiet, the space to think. But Henry's hopeful expression made it hard to say no.

"Fine," she said, her voice heavy with mock reluctance.

As they fell into step, Henry kept a comfortable distance, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "So, what's the plan for today?" he asked.

"Plan?"

"Yeah. You seem like the kind of person who always has a plan. Or at least a strategy."

Rae glanced at him sideways. "You think too much about what I do."

"Maybe," he admitted with a laugh. "But you make it hard not to. You're an enigma, Rae."

She snorted softly. "I'm just a girl who likes rain and books. Hardly an enigma."

"Disagree," Henry said, his tone light but firm. "You're fascinating. And I don't think you even realize it."

Rae stopped walking, her hazel eyes narrowing. "You keep saying things like that. Why? What's your angle?"

Henry stopped too, turning to face her. His brown eyes met hers, steady and unflinching. "No angle," he said simply. "I just like getting to know you."

His honesty was disarming, and Rae found herself at a loss for words. She looked away, focusing on the puddles glinting in the morning light.

"You're... weird," she muttered, though there was no heat in her words.

"Thanks," Henry replied, his voice warm with amusement.

They walked the rest of the way in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Rae found herself glancing at him occasionally, curious despite herself. Henry didn't seem to notice—or if he did, he didn't let on.

As they reached the hallway where their classes split, Henry paused. "See you in the library later?"

"Maybe," Rae said, her tone noncommittal.

Henry chuckled. "That's as close to a yes as I'm going to get, isn't it?"

She didn't answer, just pulled her hood tighter and walked away. But as she slipped into her classroom, she felt the faintest flicker of something unfamiliar—a small, reluctant hope.

Maybe, just maybe, letting someone stick around wouldn't be so bad after all.