The Deluge (On Hold for now)

Unbearable Circumstances

   I tore the curtain away from the window and groaned loudly; for the consistent rainfall and for the common cold. I didn’t feel like going to school, it wasn’t as if I had a perfect attendance record to maintain. However, there was something that kept me awake, the happenings of the previous day.

  I dragged my feet to the bathroom right above the second floor landing. The warm water that was sprayed from the shower-head did nothing to how I felt. It was just a subtle difference to the cold atmosphere.

  The previous night I snuck into my father’s home office, trying to find the book that he had been so curious about. Halfway through searching the door opened and I took the book I had in my hand, sprawling onto the rug. My father was duped; he assumed I was doing research, in here? Yeah, right.

  I shuddered, now in my room all the warmth gone. I pulled on the hideous plaid uniform skirt and white blouse, adding a jacket over it.

  I hurried down the stairs, taking my keys from the table when my father exited from the kitchen with coffee and toast in his hand.

 “Uh, about that,” he started nervously. “I’ll be taking you to school for this week.”

 “Why?” I asked skeptically, trying to ignore the nasal sound of my voice.

 He scratched his head and muttered just loud enough for me to hear, “We-uh-need to bond more, you know?”

 I sighed. No dad, I didn’t know.

 All the way to school my dad sang off key to the various songs playing on the radio. I banged my head on the car seat waiting and waiting for the nightmare to end. He pulled up to the school ending his sixth song. I jumped out, locked the door and said goodbye before anyone could make anything of the scene.

 The rain was a light drizzle but still cold. I hurried to homeroom trying to ignore the tree and all it’s weirdness and avoid getting wet.

  Once inside I sat at my assigned seat. I felt a nagging feeling that I was being watched. I looked up just in time to see Jared and mystery girl.

 As soon as they realized I had seen them, they rushed out the door.

 “Wait up,” I said walking as fast as I could.

 Jared spun around, irritation plain on his face. “What?”

 I looked up at him and rubbed my arms nervously. “What’re you doing here?”

 The girl spoke surprising me with her high voice. “What happened to your voice?” she asked with awe.

 I smiled at her, I couldn’t help it. “I’m sick; stupid rain.”

 They both stared at me open-mouthed. I sighed. “Is it strange for someone to dislike the rain?”

 Jared spoke softly, “We just assumed that after you knew you’d be different after you knew.”

 “Know what?” I asked in exasperation.

 “I thought Madam Lagash-“

 “Oh,” I interrupted him, “She gave me a book, but, my dad took it.”

 “Figures,” Jared said rolling his eyes.

 I ignored that. “You guys go here?”

“That’s obviously why we’re here, isn’t it?” he said pulling the girl along.

  I gritted my teeth and headed back to homeroom. I needed to know what was going on.  After roll was called the rain began falling, it was a bit scary, but, not scary enough for the girls to scream at the lightning and thunder. The amount of airheads in this school- no that was scary.

 “Attention,” the principal’s voice rang over the intercom, “Due to the heavy rainfall we are allowing students who can to leave. And by leave, I mean go straight home. No loitering.”

  The principal’s voice always gave me a headache and the cheer of the students made it worse. All that time I had been thinking about Jared and mystery girl. How hadn’t I seen them before? I’d have definitely notice such remarkable looks. Maybe they had just moved here.

  I looked around and noticed that about three-quarters of the class were already gone. Those kids moved fast when they had to. I sighed and stood, taking out my cell-phone. The battery was red and blinking. I figured if I spoke really fast I’d coax a complete call out of it.

  “Hey, dad, can you-“I started speaking without even getting a chance to finish, the phone went dead. I should’ve skipped all the greeting nonsense. I rested my head on the desk in frustration.

  The wind was fierce, blowing my hair around my face. I wore nothing but a sleeveless dress, now stuck to my body because of the heavy rain. The darkness was suffocating, as if something had swallowed me whole. Then there was whispering. The voices sounded familiar but I couldn’t see anyone. I suddenly couldn’t breathe and my mouth went dry.

  I shot up, breathing hard and holding my throat as if I really couldn’t breathe. The class was empty now except for me and two curious faces.

 “Are you okay?” the girl asked.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said breathlessly.

  “C’mon, she’s up. We can go now,” Jared said standing up.

 “Gosh, we don’t have to go. We’re supposed to watch her. I’m going to let Madam Lagash know she’s up. And Jared be nice, “she tipped on her toes and kissed his cheek.

 I raised an eyebrow and watched her as she left. “Her name?”

 He rolled his eyes, a habit of his, I noticed. “What’s it to you?”

 I gritted my teeth, a new habit of mine. “What’s your problem?"

 “You and your stupid parents that’s what. I wish you all would leave!”

 “You don’t even know me!” I shouted back.

 “No I don’t. Your parents- they’re the ones with the reputation.”

 “How do you even know them?”

 His voice grew quieter, “I don’t know them personally. But, as I said they have a reputation.”

 I pushed his chest, which was harder to do than I thought, but I did get a few chairs moving.

 “You don’t know anything! I bet you’re some screwed up person with a screwed up life!”

 He grabbed my wrists and spoke softer than I anticipated, “Maybe I am. And it’s all your parents fault.”

 “Hey, hey, hey,” the girl ran in, her face full of horror. “I expected you to talk not kill each other.”

 I yanked my hands away, folding them and touching my throat where it hurt. “Don’t worry, we didn’t. I was just about to do it either way.”

 She smiled sympathetically. “Well, I’m Arianna and I’m terribly sorry for all this.”

 I smiled back, it was sort of inevitable. “I’m Trishauna or Trisha, if you prefer.”

 “C’mon Aria,” Jared said through his teeth.

 Arianna smiled and waved goodbye. Once she was out Jared turned to mouth: Isn’t my girlfriend hot?

 I scowled and shot him the finger.