The sky finally broke the moment the final bell rang.
Rain poured down in heavy sheets, soaking the pavement and blurring the world into shades of grey. Groans echoed through the halls as students crowded under doorways, digging through bags for umbrellas or texting rides.
Storm stood near the exit, staring out at the rain with a tight knot in his chest.
He didn't have an umbrella.
"Seriously?" Niki said, checking his bag for the third time. "I swear I put it in here."
"You say that every time," CJ replied.
Yuri pulled her hood up. "My mum's picking me up."
Elias shrugged. "I'll wait it out."
Storm shook his head. "I'll just run."
CJ frowned. "You live like ten minutes away."
"I'll be fine."
Before anyone could argue, Storm stepped outside and immediately broke into a sprint.
The rain soaked him within seconds. His shoes slapped against the pavement, bag thumping against his back as he cut through side streets and shortcuts, he'd memorized years ago. Cold water dripped down his face, hair plastered to his forehead.
He didn't slow down.
He never liked being late.
Turning the corner onto his street, Storm exhaled in relief, until he collided with something solid.
Hard.
"oh!"
Storm slipped on the wet pavement and went down, palms scraping against the concrete as his bag slid away from him. Pain shot up his wrist.
"Hey...are you okay?"
Storm froze.
That voice.
He looked up slowly and met familiar green eyes.
Rayne.
Of course.
Rayne stood there soaked just like him, dark hair dripping rainwater, blazer hanging open. He looked startled, then concerned, as he crouched down without hesitation.
"I didn't see you," Rayne said quickly. "I'm sorry. Are you hurt?"
Storm pushed himself up, heart pounding for reasons he didn't want to think about. "I'm fine."
Rayne reached for Storm's bag, picking it up before Storm could stop him. "Here."
Storm snatched it back. "I said I'm fine."
Rayne blinked, taken aback, but he didn't snap back. If anything, he looked amused.
"Okay," he said lightly. "Message received."
They stood there in the rain, neither moving, water pooling around their shoes. Storm noticed then, the faint bruise forming near Rayne's cheekbone, the split skin on his lip.
"What happened to your face?" Storm asked before he could stop himself.
Rayne touched his lip instinctively. "Oh. That."
Storm instantly regretted asking.
"Fight," Rayne said. "Nothing dramatic."
Storm frowned. "You look pretty dramatic."
Rayne laughed softly. "Fair."
Silence stretched between them, filled only by the rain. Storm glanced toward his house, just a few doors away. He should leave. He wanted to leave.
But Rayne swayed slightly, barely noticeable.
"You should probably get that checked," Storm muttered.
Rayne shrugged. "I will."
Another pause. Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.
Rayne tilted his head. "You live around here?"
Storm hesitated. Then nodded. "Yeah."
Rayne smiled, tired but genuine. "Lucky. I'm soaked and lost."
Storm sighed, irritation battling something uncomfortably close to sympathy.
"Come on," he said finally. "My house is close."
Rayne's eyes widened just a little. "Really?"
"Don't make it weird," Storm snapped. "You're bleeding."
Rayne grinned despite himself. "Noted."
They ran the rest of the way together, rain pounding down harder than before. When Storm pulled open his front door and dragged Rayne inside, warmth rushed over them both.