The Day It Rained

Chapter 6 - New Emotions

Iris turned around the back of the diner. Walking towards the dock where it went out across the water. She rubbed her sleeved hand across her face, trying to wipe off what Vanessa had said.

I didn't work. She had reached the dock and sat down with her feet over the edge. Tears splashed and creating ripples in the water.

     Her parents were a sore subject. They had died a little over a year and a half ago in house fire. They weren't her real parents, she was adopted. But she had lived with them for the greater part of her life.

Willow's parents had adopted her and she had moved here over the summer.

Footsteps interrupted Iris' thinking.

She looked down at her hands. She had been clenching her fists so tight earlier that her nails had dug little half moons into her palms. Small amounts of blood piling over the peeled up skin.

"Hey," Willow sat beside Iris and handed her a cardboard cup. "I brought you a milkshake."

Iris set the cup in between her legs and stared at the water. It's funny how something unmoving can show so much. Another tear hit the water and set the whole picture rippling.

"Vanessa doesn't know what she's talking about. She can't see behind all the make-up, and one day the world is gonna knock her down a few pegs."

Iris picked up her milkshake and took a sip from it. Chocolate. "I seriously don't deserve a sister like you. And I really don't care what she says. Anyways-"

"Don't say it." Willow rolled her eyes, and scoffed a little. Iris poked her side.

"Don't say what?" She poked her side again mockingly. "Don't say, oh yeah... everything happens for a reason."

Willow rapidly blinked a few times. "Oh sorry I just had a cringe attack." She pushed herself up and stood beside Iris. "I'm gonna head back inside. It's freezing out here."

"How are you cold, it's like 70 degrees?" Iris looked up at Will. "I'll head in, in a sec." Willow nodded to her and walked back towards where she came.

Iris set the cardboard cup down next to her. She looked down at her hands again. Red was now rolling over the edges of one. She watched as a drop gathered, then fell into the blue below. It dived down below the water, then spread. Dissolving as large circles formed around it and moves outwards.

     Vanessa doesn't even know what she's talking about.

     Iris leaned forward and splashed the cold water on her skin.

     It not like she's ever had to deal with anything harder than what outfit to wear that day.

     She worked the water into the little half moons, trying to push out the clumps of blood.

     Or maybe she has and that's why she's such a jerk.

     As she sat back up, her elbow brought the cardboard cup down.

     Either way, it's not her business.

     As the cup crashed down, the lip popped off.

      Just avoid her at school tomorrow.

     Light brown liquid poured as the cup rolled a ways.

     Avoid Vanessa and her entire friend group.

     The brown liquid drip between the cracks of the boards and into the water. 

     Yeah, that'll be easy.

     Iris leaned over and grabbed the mostly empty cup.

     At least it's just school, and not something crazy.

     She pushed herself up, and brushed her clothes off.

     What she would give for Vanessa not to come to school tomorrow.

     She dragged her sleeve across her face one the last time.

     Tomorrow.

     She walked back to the diner.