Lanterns in the Rain

Chapter Twenty-Three: Shadows and Sparks

The week slipped by, each day blending into the next with the quiet rhythm of routine. But for Rae, everything felt different. The moments she shared with Henry—brief, fleeting, and yet impossibly significant—seemed to punctuate her life in ways she hadn't expected.

By Friday, the rain had returned, casting a familiar mist over the school grounds. Rae sat by the window in her last class of the day, her notebook open but untouched as she watched the droplets slide down the glass.

Her mind wasn't on the rain, though. It was on Henry.

His voice, his laugh, the way his hand lingered a little longer on hers when they said goodbye. She found herself caught between wanting to hold onto those moments and being afraid of what they might mean.

"Rae," the teacher's voice cut through her thoughts, "do you have an answer for us?"

She blinked, her attention snapping back to the classroom. "I'm sorry, could you repeat the question?"

A few students snickered, but the teacher only sighed. "We'll come back to you. Pay attention."

Rae nodded, her cheeks flushing as she forced herself to focus.

When the bell finally rang, she packed her things quickly, eager to escape the suffocating hum of the classroom. She stepped into the hallway, the familiar pull of her hood going up as she navigated the crowded corridors.

Henry was waiting for her by her locker, his dark hair slightly damp from the rain he must have walked through. He smiled when he saw her, the kind of smile that made her chest feel lighter.

"Hey," he said, falling into step beside her as she walked toward the main doors. "Busy weekend ahead?"

Rae shrugged. "Not really. You?"

"Not much," Henry replied. Then, almost hesitantly, he added, "Do you want to hang out? Maybe tomorrow?"

Rae glanced at him, her stomach doing a strange little flip. "Like, just us?"

"Yeah," Henry said, his smile turning slightly sheepish. "If you want to."

Rae hesitated, the familiar tug of anxiety creeping in. Spending time with Henry at school, where everything felt contained and predictable, was one thing. But outside of that? It felt... bigger, more vulnerable.

"I—" she started, but before she could finish, Henry held up a hand.

"No pressure," he said quickly. "Really. If it's too much, it's okay."

Rae looked at him, the earnestness in his eyes disarming her. He wasn't pushing, wasn't expecting. He was just... there.

"I'll think about it," she said finally, her voice soft.

Henry nodded, his smile easy and understanding. "Fair enough."

They walked together to the gate, the drizzle settling into a steady rain. Henry pulled the hood of his jacket up, glancing at Rae as they stopped under the cover of a nearby tree.

"Thanks for walking with me," she said, her words quiet but sincere.

"Anytime," Henry replied.

For a moment, they just stood there, the rain falling in soft, rhythmic patterns around them. Then Henry leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Whatever you decide, I'm here. You know that, right?"

Rae nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "I know."

As Henry walked away, his figure disappearing into the misty rain, Rae stood there for a moment longer, her thoughts swirling.

The idea of letting herself have something more, something real, scared her. But at the same time, she couldn't deny the spark Henry had ignited—a spark that felt like it might just be worth the risk.

And as she turned toward home, the rain falling softly against her hood, Rae decided that maybe tomorrow she wouldn't say no.