Friends For Tomorrow

Chapter 1

I hustled through the rain quickly, lifting my bag over my head as I tried unsuccessfully to ward off the downpour.

It was supposed to be a beautiful day, complete with blue skies and sunshine. That's what I'd been told, so that's what I'd planned on—and that's why I'd decided it would be a perfect day to walk to school.

Without an umbrella.

Because why would I need an umbrella on a perfect, sunny day?

The wind started to pick up around me, and I actually let out a laugh at the prospect of it all. I was soaked from head to toe—and so was Foster.

Foster was my best friend, and had been for most of my life. We'd been through a lot together, finding ourselves in more absurd situations than most.

Like right now.

"Sunny and bright my ass," he cursed as we ran.

I threw my head back and let out another laugh, picking up the pace.

"I swear to God this only happens to us," he muttered, matching my pace.

"Yeah, we're the only people in the universe who get rained on."

He shot me a look, his hair completely soaked with rain water. "Smartass."

I shook my head, smiling.

"Your place?" he asked me.

I thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, sure."

"Your dad home?"

I didn't answer him.

"Alright, my place then."

I didn't argue.

We kept sprinting until we made it to his neighborhood, then slowed to a jog.

"Pretty sure this is the hardest it's rained in months."

"Arn't we in a drought though?" he commented.

I scoffed. "Yeah, can't you tell?"

As if on cue, the rain picked up again, making the road look like a small lake.

"Well then it's a good thing we're a couple of geniuses and declined everyone who offered us a ride," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Hey, every weather app known to man said it was going to be beautiful," I defended. "Steve Jobs himself would've believed it was going to be sunny."

"I can still hear your voice when you declined Keith's offer," he mused, ignoring me.

I groaned. "Foster it was pretty outside all day long—"

"'No thanks. It's so sunny. I think Foster and I are gong to walk,'" he mocked. "Famous last words."

I shoved him and we both slid across the pavement. He shook his head at me, laughing.

We finally reached Foster's house. He fumbled inside his shorts pocket for his lanyard, which was attached to his house key.

Inside, the smell of lemon hit my nose right away.

He sniffed the air. "Damn it, Josie."

"Did she go through an entire bottle of pledge?" I joked, stepping inside and taking off my shoes that were completely drenched. I dropped my bag on the ground.