Lanterns in the Rain

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Line Crossed

It wasn't intentional, not exactly, but every time she caught sight of him in the hallway, her chest tightened and her feet seemed to carry her in the opposite direction. She didn't know what to say to him—or worse, what he might say to her.

The kiss had been unexpected, and Rae didn't know how to reconcile the swirling emotions it had left in its wake. Part of her wanted to analyze every second of it, to pick apart the meaning behind Henry's actions. But another part, the one that often preferred the comfort of solitude, wanted to bury it under layers of distance and silence.

By lunchtime, Rae was exhausted from her own overthinking. She sat at her usual spot in the library, tucked away in a corner near the rain-speckled window. The faint murmur of other students faded into the background as she stared at her untouched book, her thoughts elsewhere.

"Rae."

Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice.

She looked up to see Henry standing there, his hands shoved into his pockets and his expression a mix of uncertainty and determination. He'd found her, of course he had. She should have known hiding in the library wouldn't work forever.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the rain tapping against the glass.

"Can I sit?" he asked, gesturing to the chair across from her.

She nodded, closing her book as he took the seat. The silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken, until Henry finally broke it.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Rae hesitated. She wanted to lie, to tell him she was fine and that the kiss hadn't thrown her into a whirlwind of confusion. But something in his gaze stopped her—an openness, a quiet patience that made her feel like she didn't have to pretend.

"I don't know," she admitted, her fingers tracing the edge of her book. "Yesterday... it caught me off guard."

Henry leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowing. "I know. I'm sorry if I—"

"Don't," she interrupted, meeting his gaze. "Don't apologize."

He blinked, clearly surprised. "You're not mad?"

Rae shook her head. "No. I just... I didn't expect it. And I don't know what to do with it."

Henry let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I didn't mean to confuse you, Rae. I just... I couldn't help it."

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, her gaze drifting to the rain outside. "Why?"

He tilted his head. "Why what?"

"Why did you kiss me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Henry hesitated, his fingers tapping lightly against the table as he considered his words. "Because I like you," he said finally, his tone soft but steady. "I've liked you for a while now, Rae. And yesterday, in that moment, I couldn't keep it to myself anymore."

Her breath hitched at his confession, her mind racing. Part of her wanted to retreat, to put up the walls she'd spent years building. But another part, the one that had been quietly craving connection, told her to stay.

"Henry," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "I don't know if I can do this."

"You don't have to decide anything right now," he replied quickly. "I just... I wanted you to know how I feel. And I'll wait, Rae, for as long as it takes."

His words were a balm to the chaos in her mind, a reassurance that she didn't have to have everything figured out.

"I'm not used to this," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "Letting someone in."

"I know," Henry said, his eyes soft. "But I'm not going anywhere."

They sat in silence for a moment, the rain continuing its rhythmic dance against the window. Rae didn't know what the future held or if she could let herself fully trust him. But as she looked at Henry, at the quiet determination in his gaze, she felt a small flicker of hope.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice steady.

Henry smiled, his expression warm and understanding. "Okay."

For now, it was enough.