Rainy Days

Chapter One

"Rayne, get down here now!" My mother screamed from the bottom of the stair case.

I sat on my bed with my hair in a braid and my best Sunday dress on. It was Sunday tradition to have lunch with the Howards. Our families were long time friends and even went to high school together. It was only common sense that Caleb and I would be friends. I never expected it to come to this.

I knew that if I didn't go downstairs, my mom would yell at me, but I couldn't do it. I really couldn't face him. He was like the poison apple in Snow White. He looked perfectly normal on the outside, but his intentions were fatal.

I decided it was best to avoid this before this night became fatal as well. I threw off my dress and hid it under my bed while I placed on my pajamas once more. I ran my fingers through my hair to give in the slept in illusion. I hopped in my bed and did my best to put my sick face on, though it wasn't very hard whenever I would think about seeing Caleb.

I heard a knock on my door and I grunted for them to come in.

"Mom is getting angry, she wants you downstairs." Steven said from the outside of a cracked door.

"You can come in." I sighed. "I'm not feeling too well, so I think I'm just going to stay in bed this morning."

"Shit sis, you look like shit today. I'll tell mom, but I'm sure she'll insist on checking up on you too."

"Thanks." I whispered as he closed the door.

Our wall were pretty thin, so I could hear the whispers from downstairs and then the clammering up the stairs before my door swung open.

"Rayne, I know you stayed out late last night partying, and one little hangover is not stopping this lunch. You should have thought about that beforehand. Now get dressed." Mom lectured.

My mom was a thin, petite woman with aging lines gracing the outsides of her face. She had dyed red hair and brilliant blue eyes with a few freckles dotted across her cheeks. Her smile was a heart stopper, but the only thing that was stopping my heart today was the obvious look of disappointment that shone from her face.

"Mom, it's not even a hangover. I am sick. I have felt it coming on for a few weeks now, I think there is even a stomach bug going around the school." I whined, hoping that her motherly instinct would kick in.

"Then I guess you shouldn't have gone out partying. If you were feeling good enough to go out and party last night, then you should feel fine enough to put on a smile for lunch today."

I sighed loudly, "please mom. I feel so horrible."

"No, that is too damn bad. Put on some leggings and a nice dress over it, some flats and fix your braid. I will make a soup for dinner tonight, but we are having turkey and potatoes for lunch and we will all be sitting at the table. Caleb is going to be here, so maybe he will be able to indulge you in your sympathy you're clearly seeking. Hurry up, they will be here soon and you still need to set the table. Up. Now." Mom stated firmly before walking out my bedroom door.

I knew there was no use in trying to convince her any further. She had set her mind, and once that was done, no one would change her mind. We were alike in that way. I grabbed my cell phone and texted Steven and asked him to set the table for me. I did not feel like rushing today.

I grabbed a pair of grey leggings and a black sweater dress with a red belt buckle and walked towards the bathroom. I undressed to my underwear and ran my fingers over the places that he touched me. There were faded bruises from volleyball season and a few fresh bruises from last night. Two on my breast. Once on my stomach. Five on my inner thighs.

I threw my hair in a messy bun and jumped into the shower. Scrubbing every place he touched me until it felt raw. I turned on the cold water to numb myself before I dried off and got dressed. I stared into the mirror trying to examine my own blue eyes. What once was excitement and adventure is now loss and sorrow.

I quickly fixed my hair into a side braid with a black and red ribbon tying the ends and slipped on my red flats. Once my teeth were brushed, I cleaned up my mess and wandered down the stairs into the dining room.

"If you wanted to take forever, you should've woken up earlier." mom sighed while placing the food on the table that Steven had set.

I ignored her and stole a piece of asparagus to snack on before she seen me. The doorbell rang and I hurried out of sight before my mother told me to answer it.

"I'll get it." my dad hollered from the living room.

My dad had more meat than my mother, and he had dark brown hair like myself. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown with a small beard growing on his face. He was handsome in a subtle way.

"Welcome guys! How are you doing, lunch is ready! Come in!" my dad greeted as their family came into view.

"You've got the game on already Richard?" Charlie Howard laughed as he peaked through the living room walls.

My father laughed, "well obviously."

"It'll be put on mute of course until we finish dinner." My mother smiled as she came strolling in from the kitchen with her cooking apron around her waist.

"Pamela! It's been forever!" Susan Howard exclaimed as she threw her arms around my mother.

I rolled my eyes because we literally do this every Sunday, so it wasn't that long. Their chit chat continued while they made their way into the dining room.

"Rayne!" Natasha exclaimed as she ran up to me and I quickly wrapped her into a hug.

Natasha was Susan and Charlie's littlest, she was only five and turning six soon. She had blonde curls that were tied into a pony tail and large green eyes that looked like they were ready for the world. She was dressed in a blue dress that matched her headband with a white scarf.

"Hey there pretty girl! How have you been?" I said as I picked her up and twirled her around in the air.

"Good! I get to start school next year. My mommy already helped me get all the stuff for my backpack! It's got Elsa and Anna on it." she explained with such enthusiasm that it warmed my heart.

I nodded and smiled as she explained in detail the supplies that they bought her for preschool in January.

"Where's Caleb?" My father asked as we filled our plates with the food placed around the table.

"He stayed home sick. He wasn't feel too well after the party last night. He told us that something awful happened." Charlie said in between bites.

"Yes, Rayne tried that stunt this morning as well." My mother sighed.

I sat there staring into my plate. He said that something awful happened awful to him? To him? He is such a lying bastard.

I used my fork to mix my food together to give the illusion that I was eating. The rest of the lunch was a blur. I couldn't stop thinking about the events of last night.

Fifteen minutes to ruin every good thing in my life. Fifteen minutes.

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New story idea. Let me know what you think, I've got great ideas for this. 

Love,

Autumn