Rainy Days

Chapters 3-5

***3~Mason

The day passed sluggishly as usual, and by the time the last bell rang, it had become foggy outside. I stayed after school for football practice, sweating and smelling rancid by the time we had finished. I asked my friend Brady to help me fix my bike after practice, which he agreed to do wholeheartedly.

Upon seeing it, he burst out laughing, making fun of me in the jocose way that he always did. He loaded it up onto his truck and waved goodbye, driving off just as it started to rain. He smirked at me as he pulled away, leaving me in the rain, and I couldn't help but smile

Hurray, I thought sarcastically, starting off into the rain. I was jogging so quickly that I didn't see the girl walking ahead of me until I was directly behind her, and when I tried to stop my untied laces tangled together and pitched me forward, straight into her.

She yelped and I cursed as we both fell onto the muddy, wet ground with a thud. I felt the wind go out of her as her  elbow collided with my stomach.

"Watch where you're going!" She growled breathlessly. She tried to get up, but I was weighing her down. The rain was getting heavier, and she sighed angrily as I struggled to get off of her.

"Sorry," I muttered hurriedly, embarrassed. I shoved myself off of her and wiped some of the mud off of my shirt, feeling extremely awkward. She stood up haughtily and our eyes met, her hazel eyes making my heart stop. She stared, her mouth parted but no sounds coming out. I floundered for a moment before settling on an awkward handshake, and apologized again. She shook my hand and looked away, her cheeks flushed and her other fist clenched. I blinked a few times, trying to get back on track, and she released my hand and started to walk away, but I caught up to her, shoving my hands in my pockets. I thought she'd try to outpace me, considering the fact that I had just plowed her over, but instead she slowed down, meeting my eyes. The rain dripped onto her face, and she wiped it off, never looking away from me.

"Hi," she said, almost shyly, but with her eyebrows raised to suggest that I was still on probation. I had no idea how to respond. My mouth wasn't working right.

"Um, hey, uh, sorry again, I'm Mason. What's your name? Unless you don't feel comfortable telling me. That's cool," I blurted, almost stuttering.

I mentally smacked myself. You idiot! Now she's going to think you're insane. Why would I say all of that?! I winced after the outburst, running a hand through my hair. She laughed, and I felt my cheeks flame.

"I'm Lilli, and I'm perfectly cool with telling you," she said, arching her eyebrows. I smiled nervously, still worried that I may embarrass myself further by talking and still noticing those slightly threatening eyebrows. We walked in awkward silence for a couple minutes before getting to my street. I waved at her and turned, not realizing that she had turned as well. I stopped and slapped my forehead, still feeling idiotic, and groaned. I heard a muffled giggle behind me, and instantly froze.

"This is my street too," she said, grinning and walking into view. I felt embarrassment completely wash over me, and started to walk off, furious at myself, when she ran up to walk beside me.

"You probably think I'm an idiot, but I promise I'm usually articulate," I muttered, not meeting her pretty hazel eyes. She smirked and tucked a loose strand of dripping hair behind her ear. The rain lifted up a little bit, allowing the sun to spill through and illuminate her features.

"Oh, really?" she asked, looking dubious. She smiled slightly to show she was kidding.

"I hope we can do this again sometime, so you can prove it to me," she said, pushing her hair behind her ears and shoving her hands into her pockets.

"I'd like that," I said, and she her mouth twitched up into a sweet grin.

We walked along for a few more moments when I felt myself tripping and grabbed her shoulder desperately. She gasped at first, but then once I righted myself, she punched me in the shoulder forcefully.

"What was that for?" I asked, a smile playing on my lips. She crossed her arms and stopped walking.

"You almost killed me and you still haven't tied your shoes?!" she said in a jokingly aggrieved tone. I looked down with a chastised expression, but she didn't relent until they'd been correctly tied. Then, we continued our walk. 

Abruptly she sighed and stopped in front of a little brick house, shooting me a glance of regret.

"This is my stop. Nice meeting you, Mason! Or...being trampled by you, I guess!" She joked, rolling her eyes and jogging up to her front door. I waved, wishing we could talk some more.

"You should have asked for her number," I whispered to myself, feeling stupid. Well, it was too late now. I turned and kept walking until I got to my house, only a few minutes from hers, and went inside, contemplating her wonderful laugh and wondering when I'd get to see her again.

***4~Lilli

I clicked the door shut and leaned against it, breathless and soaked to the bone. He had been so handsome! Maybe not too bright, though.

What if he was taken? My heart slowed at the very notion. I replayed our conversation in my head, starting from the moment when he'd fallen onto me. I remembered how angry I had been, until I had stood up and actually seen him. I'm surprised that I haven't seen him walking through the halls. He was obviously still in high school, and the only high school within miles of here is White Pine. I walked down the hallway and into my bedroom, ignoring my growling stomach, then dug through my bookshelf to find my yearbook.

"Mason..." Had he mentioned his last name? I don't think so. Looks like I'd have to start from scratch.

I flipped through once, not finding him, then flipped through a second time, when a pair of shiny blue eyes caught my attention. It was him!

"Mason Cordon. Hey, I think he's on the football team!" I yelled, recognizing his last name. I'd have to ask him. Well, that is, if he'd even want to talk to me ever again. I groaned and stood up, stretching.

"Well, now that I'm finished stalking him, I think I'm going to go grab some dinner," I decided, walking into the kitchen. I was definitely way too excited that someone had tripped over me.

***5~Mason

I shut the front door, walking into the kitchen with a huge grin on my face. My mom was already home, heating up last night's meatloaf. I had to lean over to peck a kiss on her cheek, since she was so small. She smiled and looked up, and her eyebrows immediately sprang up so high that I thought they might fall off.

"Someone's happy! And soaked! What happened to your pants?" She asked, laughing when I glanced down, surprised. I had forgotten about my fall on the way to school completely.

"Oh, I hit a bump on my bike. Brady's bringing it by later," I said, dodging her as she tried to see about me, fretting and saying something about bandages. I laughed, shaking my head.

"You worry too much, mom. Hey do you know a girl named Lilli?" I asked suddenly. My mom held a track team over the summer, and I bet Lilli might have joined. Mom stared suspiciously at me, tapping her chin in thought.

"Lilli Kirsten?" She asked sliding my dinner onto a plate.

"What does she look like?" Mom and I asked at the same time. I laughed.

"Curly brown hair, kind of short," I began at the same time my mom said, "Long blonde hair, green eyes." I shook my head.

"It's definitely not Lilli Kirsten," I said, and she smiled.

"She lives right around the block from here," I said, remembering suddenly. My mom thought for a second before realization lit up her face.

"Lilli Weston!" She exclaimed, sitting down at the table. I tilted my head, shoveling some meatloaf into my mouth and feeling giddy. Well, now I know her name.