Of course it was raining, why would it not be raining? Last time Charlie ever listens to the Weather channel. She wasn't even mad at the fact that it was poring, to be truthful the rain made a lovely sound when it hit objects and the smell was luring; no it wasn't the rain. It was the relentless series of events that lead up to the downpour.
Any other day she would have an umbrella and walked to her car in the company's parking lot,maybe even spare a moment to sit and watch the rain roll down the window shield. But unfortunately the car had been stolen along with the umbrella she had left inside it that day. After that everything seems increasingly worse, someone could drop a pencil and she felt the need to scream at gravity.
Rain was welcomed, when inside a house, warm in a blanket and drinking a cup of the darkest coffee money can afford.
Charlie walked quickly down the side walk. Her arms cling to her elbows across her chest and her chest tightened as she shivered from the cold. Large drops of water crashed into her head and rolled down her body. She came to a cross walk it was agonizing to stand and wait for the okay to walk. For a moment she envied the silhouette of the green cross walk man, at least he stayed dry. She then glanced at herself pitifully in a shop window.
Under her hood, long black hair was glued to her face and shoulders but still held its curls. The dark red sweater was heavy with water and outlined her curves mockingly. Black pants hugged her legs and weren't completely soaked, but her ankles and cafes had collected water from walking though puddles. She continued to stare at herself, almost trying to look melancholy so her mindless curses she expelled at the world could feel justified.
The light turned red and she crossed. Once she was across, the doors of a large corporate building opened. She swerved to avoid whoever was coming out but before she could continue on they grabbed her arm and the rain stopped.
Snapping her head Charlie look at the man. The first thing she noticed was his black suit do to the fact his arm was held out to her face holding his umbrella over her head. No rain dared to touch him as he was still under the over hang of the building.
He smiled at Charlie ," It's pouring out here, you should carry an umbrella."
He's charm made her forget her breath and a smile on her face.
"Wow couldn't tell,you should be a detective" Charlie mused taking up is offer and standing under the umbrella moving closer to him. She looked around to feel less awkward and then looked back at him.
"You think so? Well if I was a detective I'd say your cold and are in need of a ride home?" His keys suddenly came out of his pocket and he held the offer out for her to see. Charlie felt shy and the hazardous truth of Gotham City was evoked.
"Uhm oh no no, it's fine!" She moved back a little and gave him a warm smile. His face fell a little. But he could understand its hard to just trust in this city.
"Here" he grabbed her hand and put it on the umbrella handle," at least take this."
Charlie looked at him dreamingly.
"Are you sure you don't need it?"
"I have more, and you'll catch a cold. If you haven't already."
Looking around she tried to think of some way to express how thankful she was.
"Here, where's your car? I'll walk with you to it so you don't get wet."
He smiled and began to walk slowly forward prompting her to follow. With a little skip in her step she followed.
"So do you work here?", she gazed up as far as the umbrella would let her at the building, inside a lower window were the words 'Wayne Enterprise' accompanied by a slogan," I think I've seen this on the news somewhere."
Pulling up his arm he looked at his watch, then smiled at her as they rounded the corner into the lot," what's your name?"
"Charlie!" She felt a little heat rise to her face.
He smiled," My names Timothy, you can just call me Tim and yes I do work here." He drifted towards a Black Mercedes CL65. He held down a button and the car started on its own.
"Wow, nice car!" Charlie felt a ping in her heart for her own car, "Mine just got stolen." She laughed.
"Oh really? Did they find out who did it?"
"Yes, some petty thief, Uhm John... pineapples," she giggled, "something with a P I swear. But they haven't found him yet. Apparently he steals a lot of cars." Her smile dropped. She knew she wasn't going to get it back. It's probably already sold.
"Do they have any leads?" He leaned against his car door and hands moved with his sentence.
"I wouldn't know," she shrugged," not like they tell me anything. Just an 'oh we will tell you if we find it'. Sucks, I can't even get money back until my insurance hears back from the police." A cold wind blew and she realized how cold she was. He seemed to notice.
"I don't want to keep you, are you sure you don't want a ride?" He offered again while opening the driver door but not getting in.
"No, really it's fine. I'm almost home anyway." When he got all the way in her hand came up to hold the top of the door," thank you for the umbrella! If I see you around I'll make sure to say hey." He smiled then turned the key into the car. She smiled once more and they both closed the door.
Turning around quickly she spend out of the parking lot and down the street. She could help but watch his car drive by then sighed.
"Well he was cute."
