Lanterns in the Rain

Chapter Twenty-Seven: When Walls Crumble

The rain had grown heavier as the day wore on, drumming against the windows in an almost hypnotic rhythm. Rae sat by the library window, the faint hum of muted conversations blending with the steady downpour outside. She liked this spot—the way it felt like her own little corner of the world, separated from the chaos of the school hallways.

But today, she wasn't alone.

Henry had slid into the chair across from her without a word, his presence quiet but unmistakable. He didn't try to speak or draw attention to himself; he simply settled there, pulling out a book and flipping through the pages as if this was something they did all the time.

Rae had glanced up at him once, her brow furrowing in mild confusion. He'd just smiled, the faint curve of his lips so disarming that she found herself looking away too quickly, her cheeks warming.

Now, as the minutes stretched on, Rae found herself acutely aware of every movement he made—the way he occasionally ran a hand through his hair, the soft sound of him turning a page, the subtle shift of his gaze as he looked at her.

"You okay?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Rae blinked, startled. "What?"

"You've been staring at that notebook for ten minutes without writing anything," Henry said, tilting his head slightly. "Something on your mind?"

Rae hesitated, her fingers tightening around the pen she was holding. "Just... thinking."

"Thinking about what?" he pressed, his tone curious but gentle.

She considered brushing him off, giving some vague, evasive answer like she usually did. But something about the way he looked at her—steady, patient, as if he had all the time in the world—made her pause.

"I don't know," she said finally. "About... everything. Life. People." She glanced out the window. "How some things feel easier to figure out than others."

Henry leaned back slightly, his brow furrowing in thought. "That's fair. Sometimes things don't make sense until... well, until they do."

Rae huffed a quiet laugh. "That's not exactly helpful."

"Didn't say it would be," he replied, grinning.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at her lips.

The silence returned, but it wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, it felt natural—like they were two sides of the same coin, both needing space to think but finding solace in the other's company.

Then Henry shifted in his chair, leaning forward slightly. "Rae," he said softly, his voice almost drowned out by the rain.

She looked up, surprised by the sudden intensity in his expression. "What?"

"I—" He hesitated, his gaze flicking to her lips before darting away. "Never mind. It's nothing."

Her heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening for reasons she couldn't quite name. "Henry, just say it."

But instead of answering, he leaned forward suddenly, the movement so quick and unexpected that Rae didn't have time to process it. Before she could react, his lips brushed against hers, tentative and light, as if he wasn't sure whether he'd made a mistake.

For a split second, Rae froze, her mind racing. She hadn't seen this coming—not here, not now, and certainly not like this.

But then something shifted. The softness of his kiss, the warmth of his touch, and the way he lingered for just a moment longer than necessary—it all felt... right.

Before she could second-guess herself, Rae leaned into him, her hand moving to rest lightly on his arm. The kiss deepened slightly, a quiet intensity building between them that made her chest tighten.

And then, just as quickly as it had started, Henry pulled back, his eyes wide with something between shock and apology. "I—Rae, I'm sorry," he stammered, running a hand through his hair. "I shouldn't have done that. I didn't mean to—"

"Henry," Rae interrupted, her voice steadier than she expected.

He stopped, his gaze locking with hers.

She swallowed hard, her heart still pounding. "It's... okay."

His brows lifted in surprise. "It is?"

Rae nodded, her cheeks burning. "Just... don't make a habit of catching me off guard like that."

Henry's lips twitched into a grin, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Noted."

They sat there for a moment, the rain continuing its steady rhythm against the window. Rae's thoughts were a mess, but for once, she didn't mind. Because as unexpected as it had been, something about that kiss felt like the beginning of an answer to all the questions she hadn't dared to ask.