The rain was pouring down in heavy sheets, not showing a single sign of ever letting up. On one hand it was a blessing since Holmes Chapel hadn't had a splash of rain in practically forever. But on the other hand, it was really just a misfortune and huge inconvenience to drivers like Louis who were just trying to get home safely and in one piece. The rain caused the weathered gravel roads to become awfully slippery and Louis had an impending fear of skidding off the road and into a ditch.
Louis gripped the steering wheel tighter with his clammy palms as the rain pelted the windshield and the windshield wipers sweeped it away almost as fast as it accumulated. Even with the much appreciated help of the windshield wipers to help Louis see where he was going, Louis had a naturally horrible sense of direction. And of course with intense weather like this, it was just his luck that his GPS was going haywire. Louis sighed and thought that worst case scenario, he'd get lost. But eventually he'd be able to recognize somewhere and be able to decide where to go from there, or he could ask for directions from one of the friendly locals.
So, Louis kept driving, the rain still not slowing any and the roads still as slippery as ever. There were a few times where the thick rubber tires didn't grip the road well enough and the slight skid of the car almost sent Louis into having a heart attack, but then the tire would regrip the terrain and Louis' hyperventilation-like breathing would return to normal.
Louis had been driving for maybe an hour, and he still hadn't found any familiar landmarks or markings anywhere. He didn't see any people wandering around either to ask for directions, but then again, what right minded person would be wandering about in this tsunami-like weather?
Louis was just about to throw his hands in the air, pull over at the side of the street and try to get his stupid GPS to work, but that's when he saw it. The oasis in the desert. The sign right before the alleyway that read 'Downtown Holmes Chapel'. This was far out of the way that Louis intended to travel, but Louis knew precisely where to go from there. He could make a swift U-turn and take a left, go directly down Centre Street and just simply return merrily home. Easy as that. But that's when Louis saw the dark figure that was identified as a young male.
Louis caught sight of a tall boy emerging from the dim shadows of the grungy spray-painted alleyways. His curly raven hair matted and sticking to his forehead, his clothes clinging impossibly tighter to his evidently toned body, and in his right hand was a small suitcase. The boys face was turned towards the ground, watching his feet as he walked and Louis couldn't help but notice that the boy was quivering. Louis wondered if he'd been out in the rain the whole time. The boy looked sopping wet and vulnerable like a lost puppy looking for his owner. Just the thought of the poor boy wandering and getting soaked, probably freezing as well, sent a pang to his heart and an immediate feeling of empathy. Louis truly felt for him.
Louis rolled down his window, "Hey!" he yelled.
The boy just kept on walking, his broad shoulders slumped. So Louis yelled a little louder this time. He waved his arm out the window, trying to capture the unknown lads attention. It worked as the boy pivoted on his white converse clad heels to face Louis and tilted his head to the side. His jade green eyes were wide, almost as if asking what Louis was doing and what Louis wanted.
"What?" The boy called back, standing still and looking directly at Louis.
"Have you been out in the rain this whole time?" Louis asked, leaning his head out the open window, raindrops splattering against his forehead and cheeks, his hair dampening as well.
The mystery boy trudged over the pavement to stand in front of Louis' driver side door, he shrugged before answering, "What's it to you? Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't. It doesn't really matter."
