Chance Of Rain (16 page)

“Did he ever mention having a sister?” Bri asked, grasping at straws.

I couldn’t speak. We sat there for a while. “Bri, I’ve seen enough.”

We headed to my house, riding in silence the entire way. As I got out, she said, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”

I tried my best to smile. “Thanks, Bri. Thanks for everything.”

I went inside. My mom came home a few minutes later. We were both exhausted, so we only spoke for a moment before going to bed. I was thankful.
If I had to pretend that everything was OK for one more second, I would have burst into flames and turned into a pile of ash on the floor.

I showered and crawled under my comforter. I was almost asleep when my phone dinged.

Good night
.

It was from Trent. I turned off the phone and forced back a tear that tried to make its way down my cheek.

XVIII

100 %

I
picked Bri up the next morning. It was dark out; heavy clouds hung low in the sky. It looked outside the way I felt on the inside. Bri tore into me as soon as she got in and saw I still had the same scowl on my face that I did last night.

“You have to quit this pouty BS. You don’t want him to get suspicious, do ya?”

“You’re right. I’ll try to act like nothing’s wrong.”

“
Nothing
is wrong as far as you’re concerned,” Bri reminded me.

I nodded.

“Now…we need to move on to more important matters.”

“Such as?”

“Such as your birthday. Your
eighteenth
birthday! It’s only a couple of days away! I have, like, no time to plan.”

“I know you’re trying to distract me, Bri, but you can’t cheer me up. I don’t want to be happy.”

“Well, we’ll talk about it later—when you’re not so
moody.”

That morning we were greeted by large signs made of butcher paper covered in pumpkin orange paint. They were hanging from the balcony, inviting us to our annual homecoming dance at the end of the month.

“We should go,” said Bri. “It’s our last year.”

“How ’bout we talk about that when I’m less
moody
too,” I said with a smirk.

When we entered Ms. Elliott’s room, I walked over and sat right next to Trent. Bri sat on my other side. She was happy because she got to sit next to Angel.

Trent and I greeted each other with a smile, and then I rustled through my purse until I found my phone. I texted him.

Sleep tight?

He responded with an adorable grin then typed:

Could have been better
.

“Ladies and gentlemen, get where you can best view the TV. We’re watching
Romeo and Juliet
today.” With some enthusiasm the class applauded. A second later Ms. Elliott had the movie playing and the lights off.
Oh, good!
It was the 1968 version directed by Franco Zeffirelli. I liked this one.

My phone vibrated with another text from Trent.

Can I take you home?

I responded:

I drove today
.

He wrote back:

Can u take me home?

I smiled when I read his message then responded:

I have to work
.

Then he texted back:

Let’s just hang out at your house for a little while…pleeease :)

I couldn’t resist him any longer.

Fine—for a little while…Now pay attention!

We were barely past the opening credits when the bell sounded.

“My goodness. I believe that’s a fire alarm,” Ms. Elliott said calmly while shutting off the TV. “Quickly gather all your personal items,” she instructed as she gathered hers.

We walked behind her in a single file to exit the building. Trent came up behind me and whispered, “Hold me. I’m scared.”

I giggled. “Aw…poor baby.”

As Ms. Elliot opened the door to step outside, a gust of wind yanked it from her hand. Her dress was whipping all around, threatening to fly over her head.

We walked out into the schoolyard with hundreds of other students and waited patiently for instructions.

Lightning shot across the sky, and thunder rumbled shortly after. As long as I could remember, I’d always loved the rain. It was exciting and frightening at the same time…like Trent.

Principal Rayburn finally stepped out with his megaphone. “It seems our front office received a bomb threat this morning. Therefore, I am dismissing you for the remainder of the day.” The applause that erupted was almost louder than the thunder. “Quiet down!” He waited for a moment. “Do
not
reenter the building! Buses will be running shortly. That is all.”

“Not a prob,” said Bri. Then she looked at me. “Hope you don’t mind—I’m catching a ride with Cole.”

“See ya,” I said.

Trent looked at me, and whether or not he realized he was doing it, he licked his lips. “Looks like it’s just you and me,” he said.

I immediately called my mom so I could fill her in. If she didn’t hear about the bomb threat from me, she’d rush home and take my temperature or something.

“Everyone’s OK, though, right?”

“Yes, Mom,” I reassured her for the millionth time. “I’m going straight home to do my homework. Oh, and don’t forget I have to work tonight.”

“Oh, good, now I don’t feel so bad that I’m going to be working late. I’m actually on my way to Houston right now. I’ll be there until tonight.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll go to The Egg and I again this Sunday, OK?”

“That’s a great idea, but only if you let me pay this time,” she said.

“I promise.”

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Me too. I’d better get going. Love you,” I said.

“Love you too. Bye.”

The rain was coming down in buckets. Before I could leave my parking spot, I had to figure out how to turn on my wipers. Until this moment I’d never used them.

I had just begun to look for the switch, when Trent leaned across me and turned the wipers own. “Here it is,” he said confidently.

“Well, aren’t you just
sooo
smart,” I said. “I would have found it if you had given me half a second.” He was still leaning against me. I pushed him. “And get off me. You’re crushing me,” I said dramatically.

He was grinning. I thought he was about to sit up when he reached over and turned the wipers back off.

I looked at him like he was crazy. “What are you doing—besides aggravating me, that is?”

It was dark as night, and the rain was pounding. You couldn’t see out, and you couldn’t see in either.

Trent turned slightly to face me. He wasn’t grinning anymore. My heart was pounding like the rain. He licked his bottom lip again. He and I were the only two people in the world, and I’d been yearning to touch him for so long.

I slowly raised my hand to his face. He responded by closing his eyes and pressing his cheek into my palm.

With my other hand, I traced his jawline. It was rough with stubble. I felt him clenching, and then his lips slightly parted, and he subtly caught his breath.

I brushed his dark hair from his eyes, and he opened them. We held each other’s stare. Then I leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. At that
moment it felt like everything was OK between us…even though I knew it really wasn’t.

I smiled. “Where do you want to go for lunch?”

We went through a drive-through and devoured soft tacos in the parking lot before heading to my house.

The rain hadn’t let up yet, so we made a mad dash to the front door. We laughed as we shook the rain from our hair on the porch. Inside, I grabbed a couple of towels from the bathroom, and we did our best to dry off.

I rushed to the TV. “Come on.” I flipped on the Weather Channel. I was almost giddy.

“What is it?” he asked as he walked over.

“Look at this footage. Some areas are already flooding.”

“And this excites you?”

“Oh, come on. You don’t think this is interesting?” I laughed. Something scrolled across the bottom of the screen in flashing red letters. “Look! A tornado warning!”

“Darn. Look! It’s about to expire.”

I rolled my eyes at him, set the remote down, and headed to my room.

“Where ya going?”

“I want to check my rain gauge.”

He followed me.

Amazingly everything was dry on the porch, but if the wind shifted, we’d be soaked.

Trent sat on the lounge chair. “Nice view,” he commented as he looked out at the forest. The leaves were starting to show the first signs of fall.

“It is,” I agreed.

“How much rain so far?”

“Just two inches. It looks like it’s stopping too. Guess that’s it for now.”

He looked through my telescope. “Bri said you want to be a weather girl.”

“
Meteorologist
. And yes.”

“You like looking at the stars too, I see.”

“When I get the chance. It’s relaxing. I need a new telescope, though. This one’s old and pretty simple. I got it when I was a kid. I need one that’s more powerful for starters, but now they have some that you can hook up to your laptop, and they can locate stuff for you.”

“That sounds like what I need. Maybe you’ll get one for your birthday. Who knows? Maybe I’ll buy you a star and name it after you.”

“Aw, how sweet, but don’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because that’s a scam. Only the IAU—”

“IAU. Is that like NASA or something?”

“It’s the International Astronomical Union. Anyway, only they can officially name stars. Save your money.”

He nodded. “Good to know, Devoe.”

Too soon it was time for me to get ready for work. Trent stayed outside on the porch while I went inside.

Fifteen minutes later I opened the door. “Ready to go?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to call in sick? You can stay here, and when it clears, you can teach me about the constellations.”

“Don’t tempt me.” I laughed. “We’d better get going. I still have to run you by school so you can get your car.”

We rode in silence the entire way. Not even the radio was on. We just stared out at the drizzle, both hypnotized by the steady rhythm of the wipers.

I replayed what had happened earlier in the car between us. The thought helped numb what I’d been feeling. Why did Trent have a gun? What was his connection to my parents and Chase? I started to get angry.

I pulled up next to his car. It was the only one still in the lot.

“See ya later,” he said, like he didn’t have a care in the world.

I thought about the girl I’d seen him with, and even though I didn’t have a right to be, I was suddenly very pissed. I didn’t let it show though.

He followed me to work and watched me go inside before leaving.

Mack looked at me then at his watch. “You’re early. Do you want to go ahead and get started?”

“How early?”

“Almost an hour.”

“I guess I read the schedule wrong. I’m going to run back out to my car for a little bit.”

He shrugged and walked off.

I didn’t want to be there anyway; I was still livid.

I sat in my car and worked myself up into a frenzy. I knew not to do it, but I couldn’t help myself. The next thing I knew, I was crying.

Forty-five minutes later, I looked like crap, but at least I felt better.

XIX

Downpour

I
looked at my reflection in the lighted mirror on my sun visor and touched up my makeup as best as I could.

Luckily the rain had stopped. Hopefully I’d be able to make it inside before it started back up. I hopped out of my car just as Angel pulled in beside me. I felt like I was drowning and a life boat just arrived. I walked over to his truck before he even got out. When he opened his door, I smiled, and of course he was already grinning.

“Pretty smart parking next to a bodyguard,” he said.

“Is that a promise you’ll walk me out again tonight?”

“Yes ma’am.” His smile faded. “Ash?” He reached for my chin and turned my face upward so he could have a closer look.

I thought I was OK, but I swooned at his touch. He was being so kind and sincere, and I felt so sorry for myself that I couldn’t help it.

Tears began to fill my eyes.
Not now!
I tried to will myself to stop, but it made it that much harder. He pulled me close. Then he held me tightly with one arm and held my head against his chest with the other.