Dancing in the Rain

4: The Meeting of Ivan

Finally, it was time to walk into school. My car had been towed and my mom had scolded me for being soaking wet in the house yesterday. Well, she wasn't the one that was freezing. So, right now, school was the only partial safe place. As long as I stayed away from those pack of popular hyenas, I should be fine.

I tried to walk into the building unnoticed, but of course there where whispers here and there. I hurried to locker 647 and begin putting my musty books into my fairly clean locker. "Hello there, Ms Porter." I hear a voice behind me. I turn around, and of course, it's August. I smiled, laughed, and blushed all at the same time. Man, he's cute. I blush some more at my own thoughts.

"Hello there, Mr Bell," I answered. He smiled and began putting his own books into his locker. "Oh, I, uh, have something for you..." August said a little nervously. "Oh, yeah? What is it?" I ask. He clumsily opens a pouch or two in his backpack until he finally pulled out a tree-shaped air freshener. I laugh so had I begin to cry a little and he does the same. Once our sides stop aching I graciously accept the gift and hang in my locker.

"Got any poems today, Sammy?" August asks. I came prepared today and pull out a small notebook that I write down famous poems and some of my own. It's a small, black book with the words in white and gold My Little Book of Big Ideas on the front cover. August opened it and read the first line he silently.

"Whoa, that's cool. Who's it by?" August asked. "Me," I answered shyly as I looked at the page. "Okay, lemme just say, not only is that one of the coolest things I've ever read, but it was written by my girlfrie-" He stopped and blushed. "Let's move on," he said quickly. He turned to another page and began reading aloud.

"O mistress mine, where are you roaming?
O stay and hear! your true-love's coming
That can sing both high and low;
Trip no further, pretty sweeting,
Journey's end in lovers' meeting-
Every wise man's son doth know.

What is love? 'tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What's to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty,-
Then come kiss me, Sweet and twenty,
Youth's a stuff will not endure."

"Now, Samantha, I may be a whole and complete idiot, and didn't understand like 3/4 of that, but I do have my faint shining moments of wisdom and knowledge, and I do believe that this is Shakespeare," August announced. "You totally guessed didn't you?" I asked. "Yes, my dear Samantha, yes I did," August said with dignity.

We both laughed and he handed me back my little book as the bell rang for Homeroom. We both sighed and began walking down the hall, shoulder to shoulder, our fingers brushing by each other as we walked. Until, August grabbed my hand and I didn't let go, not until we walked into the classroom.

***

Finally, after a full day of classes, it was over. Not much happened. August drew, I actually payed attention, we talked between classes, passed a note or two. Hyenas probably plotted. Now, we were standing at our lockers packing up the little homework we had.

We simultaneously finished and began walking out the front of the school. August and I stood under the short outcropping that gave us a little shelter from the sunshine. "I think the world is ending," I said as I looked at August, "It's actually sunny." August chuckled as he gently grasped my hand. I smiled as we began the walk home.

"So what do you have going on today?" he asked me. "Nothing really, Netflix, dinner, homework, I'll probably have to look after Ivan for a little," I answered. "Who's Ivan?" August asked. "He's my little brother, he has Autism," I said sadly. "Well, I might have to meet this Ivan," August smiled. "Well, he doesn't like people that much. His only friends are his stuffed animals. But he's good at reading people you know? He'll know if you're lying or hiding something. It's actually pretty cool." August nodded solemnly and said nothing for a few blocks.

Finally he spoke. "Does he believe in magic?" He asked. I laughed. "Yes, yes he does," I said happily. "Well I must meet this Ivan Porter," August insisted. I laughed as we strolled up to my house and I invited August in. "Ivan! Gramma J?" I called. I heard loud thumping of Ivan bounding down the stairs. He ran up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I laughed and gave him a hug back. My grandmother lazily wandered into the room and looked at August.

"Who is this, Samantha?" Gramma J asked suspiciously. Ivan let go of my waist and grabbed my hand instead. Then stared blankly at August. "This," I gestured to August, "Is August Bell. He's moving in down the street and is new in school." He said hello to Gramma J and shook her hand. He almost towered over the tiny Ivan, so he crouched until they where eye-level. "Hello, Ivan. I'm August. Nice to meet you," August said gently, his green eyes shining. Ivan looked August up and down. Then, something wonderful happened.

Ivan smiled.

For the first time in weeks. Not just a small smirk. A bright toothy grin that could not be more amazing. August smiled back. Gramma J nodded and grabbed her small bag. "Well, I'm heading to work now, kids. Take care of Ivan, Sam. And August," Gramma J smiled. I waved goodbye as she walked out the door. As soon as he door closed, Ivan laughed. A loud belly laugh that I hadn't heard for months. Ivan ran to August and jumped onto him.

Luckily, August was quick and caught him before he fell, and swung him onto his back. Ivan giggled and laughed and August with him. August laughed and paraded around my house. I laughed and followed them around to make sure my brother didn't fall. My boys ran through the house until finally, August, exhausted, had to set Ivan down.

They panted hard and tried to catch their breath while I grabbed water bottles. I handed them each one and followed as they moved silently through my front door and onto my porch to feel the unnatural sunshine on thier faces.