KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 11: I Can't Stop the Rain (Peter)

I squinted through a curtain of rain as I drove, windshield wipers working overtime but doing basically nothing. Of course if there was no lightning, there would still be practice. Can't wait for that.

A huddled figure shuffled along the sidewalk, hunched over in a hoodie. Man that would suck. I decided to be nice and slow down, to avoid splashing them. To my surprise, Eric looked up and waved at me. 

Ignoring the rain, I rolled down the window. "Why are you walking to school, man? It's pouring!" 

"I failed the chem test and my parents grounded me and took my keys!" he shouted back. 

Aw this is ridiculous. "Get in, man," I called, pulling over to the sidewalk. A relieved smile split his face and he opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat. I tried to ignore the rainwater soaking the seats and kept driving. 

"So they took your car and everything?" I asked. 

He gave a glum nod, hair bobbing and sending water flying everywhere, splattering me and the windshield. "Yeah. They really want me to keep this scholarship. And I should've studied more too."

"What grade did you get on it? Like you failed failed?" 

"Yeah...I got a 69%," he said sadly, staring out the window. 

"Oof that sucks. It's supposed to rain all day so if you need a ride home I can take you, but I'm gonna have practice unless we can get a bolt of lightning." 

His smile brightened. "Thanks! What sport do you play?" 

With a huge sigh, I locked eyes with him. "Water polo."

He gave me a blank look in response and I sighed again. "It's like...soccer in the water? But with your hands. And you can't touch the bottom of the pool and stuff." Another nod sent ripples running through his hair. "Sounds cool. I wouldn't mind watching your practice if that's alright." 

Eric grabbed his backpack and hopped out into the rain once we had made it to school. "Thanks for the ride, man. I'll see you in a few."

"Where are you going?" I called after him. 

"To chem!" 

Shaking my head, I leaned back in my seat and turned up the radio, tuning out the sound of the rain. 

Unfortunately, I also tuned out the sound of the first bell. It was only a confused text from Eric that sent me sprinting through the parking lot, feeling the water seeping into my shoes. Thankfully my first class was art today, and all I got was a puzzled look from Mrs. Calla rather than a tardy as I collapsed into my seat, panting. 

Ace shook his head, giving me a crooked smile. "You're cutting it close, curly! You rack up five of those and you'll get suspended." 

I shook my head, wringing the water from my hair. "I'll be fine. Besides, I can afford three suspensions before I get expelled." 

"Get out your journals and start sketching. This needs to be a real example of your skill, as well as serving as a testament to how far you will have progressed by the end of the year," Mrs. C said, pacing around the classroom. Perfect. A chill class, just what I needed. Hopefully the rest of the day was like that.

It wasn't, and by the time Eric and I headed toward the pool I was almost glad we hadn't gotten any thunder. I was kinda looking forward to just being able to slide into the water and forget about it. 

The feeling vanished once I had to strip down to a Speedo and stand in the freezing rain, shivering. Eric's eyes lit up and he pointed at my bicep. "You play the drums?" he cried. 

I nodded, brushing the rain from my tattoo with a smile. "Yeah, me, Ace, Gene and Paul have a band. We're pretty good but we haven't quite gotten it yet. You play?"

He nodded, sitting beneath the overhang. "Yeah, but I don't have a group anymore. That's cool you guys have a band."

"Criscoula! Practice is starting now!" Coach bellowed.

"Yeah Pete, stop flirting with the new kid," Kulick said with a grin, elbowing me in the ribs as he walked past. I just rolled my eyes, tying up my hair and diving into the pool. Oh man it was cold. Bruce was probably just jealous that Eric was friendlier with me than him. 

As I pulled myself through the water and began to lose feeling in my fingers and toes, I let the stress slip away. It felt nice, being able to forget the worry of college applications and grades and the fake ID's I probably shouldn't be trying to sell and just focus on the water around me. 

I surfaced with a gasp, feeling the rain hitting me in the face. So cold. The more I swam the more tired I got, until I was barely moving forward. All of us were floundering, even Bruce the human fish. Of course this didn't stop Coach from screaming at us to swim faster and make good passes. Easy for him to say, standing under an umbrella in three jackets. 

He had the decency to cut practice short by five minutes, and I gratefully accepted the towel Eric handed me once I pulled myself out of the pool. 

"Thanks," I said, teeth chattering. "Give me a second to throw some clothes on then we can go."

He nodded, watching Bruce as he walked by, flexing at the girls team and smiling as they giggled. 

"Sounds cool with me," he mumbled, pulling his hood up and squinting at the rain. "Man I hope my parents got my text about me being late coming home." 

"What happens if they didn't?" I asked, shrugging on a soaking wet shirt. "Then I'm grounded for even longer." 

It was really dark once I finally made it to his house. "If you need a ride tomorrow just text me and I can come get you." 

Eric nodded, slipping into his house with a parting wave. "Thanks, man!" 

By the time I made it back to my place I could barely see through the rain. The one thing I could see, though, was the group of figures very clearly outlined against the walls of the complex. That's not a good sign. I cut the engine and slid my keys into my pocket, trying to act natural as I walked toward the door. They detached from the wall and followed me.

"Hey, Criss, where you headed?" 

Fallon. Great. 

"Home. I told you, I'm not getting another shipment for a few more weeks. I'll tell you when they're ready." 

He grabbed me by the collar and shoved me against the wall. "I'm taking a risk trusting you. If you tag them, you're dead." 

I forced a smile. "Why would I want my best customers behind bars? Relax man, it'll be fine. Like I said, give it a few weeks." 

Fallon released my shirt, walking away. "I'll be waiting."

If it wasn't for the fact I was basically using him to stay in school, I would've never spoken to him again. But honestly, what's the worst he could do to me?