Rain

I wrote this a few years back, but it's always been one of my favourite little snippets of story. I thought I might use it in a wider context but that doesn't seem likely now so I thought I may as well publish it here!

It was raining but I had decided not to care. I let the raindrops hit my face and drip off the end of my nose with no attempt whatsoever to keep dry. I was cold, wet and shivering in my thin jacket and my bag was getting soaked through. Still, I stood there stubbornly; waiting. I refused to let this abysmal weather have any effect upon me. It suited my mood, at any rate. The rain would have hidden my tears if I had been crying, but I wasn’t. I probably should have been. Only, I just felt kind of angry.

I watched the heavy raindrops race one another to the ground and pool together in great puddles and streams which led to the drains. My hair was plastered to the sides of my face and I tossed my head back irately. My hands were in my pockets in an attempt to warm them, since I’d noticed a few minutes earlier that they’d changed to a rather strange purple colour due to the cold.

The trees above me dropped the water from their leaves onto my head occasionally. The cars would splash through the puddle just in front of me in the road every so often and soak my tights. It was an altogether unpleasant situation, but I adamantly refused to let it get to me. I watched the bright lights in the windows of the semi-detached houses. The water torpedoes must have been making a racket on their slate roofs. I listened to the sound of them falling all around me; not the soft sound of a waterfall or the flow of a river but the harsh staccato as they hit the houses and streets with renewed intensity. It looked as though a sheet or veil was falling in front of me. There would be thunder soon.

I looked up and down the street but saw no one outside their cars and homes. Why would there be anyone? Who in their right minds would be out in this? He was such a bastard. He was such a fucking bastard. I would actually kill him when I saw him. Then resurrect him and kill him again.

I leant heavily against the wall behind me, sighing with impatience. Why had I even bothered to wait this long? He clearly wasn’t coming. Yet I couldn’t make myself leave. I was far too irritated to do anything but stand there and brood. I was restless and kept on adjusting my weight from one foot to the other, folding my arms and unfolding them, pushing my hair away from my face and occasionally cracking my knuckles. I couldn’t concentrate on a single thought; my mind was racing but thinking of nothing in particular punctuated by the odd ‘what a fucking bastard’.

I saw a figure emerge at the end of the street, tall and hooded; obviously male. That was him all right. I could tell by the way he swaggered down the road towards me, taking his sweet time about it. I stood up straight, folding my arms again and tapping my foot impatiently. The minute that he was in ear shot I yelled at him.

“You fucking knob!”

He didn’t respond, but I could tell that he was smiling; that stupid conceited sneer that he reserved especially for me. He was soaked through like I was, dressed in a hooded jacket and jeans which were sticking to his bony legs. He was a good foot taller than I was and skinny as a lamppost; about as attractive as one, too.

He came to a stop just in front of me and considered me for a moment.

“Bit wet, aren’t ye?” he commented.

“You were supposed to be here an hour ago,” I reminded him.

“No, you rang me an hour ago. I had to walk ‘ere,” he said.

“Where’s your fucking car, you dick?” I asked rudely.

“Crashed it,” he shrugged.

“Then why the fuck didn’t you say that on the phone?” I said.

“Didn’t think it were time,” he said.

“Oh Jesus Christ!” I exclaimed.

“You okay?” he said awkwardly.

“Fuck off,” I said, leaning against the wall again.

I pictured her beautiful face when she’d said it. She had been crying but she still looked so perfect. Flawless white skin that was smooth to the touch, though stained on her face by the tear marks. Bright red hair, dyed in stark contrast with her skin, straight and sharply cut to her chin. Plumped pink lips pursed in awkwardness. Great big brown eyes shining with the wetness and long saturated eyelashes melting onto her skin. She had been wearing a short red skirt that matched her hair and showed off her long, thin legs the skin smooth and perfect as on her face. Then she had that black vest top which clung to every curve and a heart shaped silver necklace around her neck that she’d worn ever since I could remember. I couldn’t bear to think of her that way. She was unbearable.

All the memories of kissing those plumped up lips; touching her smooth round cheeks and looking into her deep brown eyes were like torture for me now. He couldn’t possibly understand it; yet he was the only person that I could think of to call.  She had been the only one and now she was gone I had no one else. She had been my best friend and now none of that counted for anything. I was so angry I thought I would scream.

“She broke up with you, eh?” he said, leaning against the wall next to me.

“Yeah,” I grunted. Hearing it said like that put it in perspective a little.

“Why?” he asked.

“She used the whole ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ line. Basically, I’m not good enough for her,” I replied bitterly.

“Never liked the bitch,” he commented.

I laughed suddenly with incredulity.

“You can do better, sis,” he assured me.

I nodded, smiling a little. It still hurt but he made me realise, as he always did, that I was being a sensationalist.

“You crashed the car, huh?” I said.

“Yeah,” he laughed. “Some crazy bastard cut me up.”

“Where is it now?” I asked.

“I dunno. Some place in town,” he replied nonchalantly.

“Fuck. You walked here from town?” I turned to look at him.

“Yeah,” he said.

“You’re a nutter!” I exclaimed.

“So are you, mate; looks as though you’ve been stood out ‘ere waiting for me the whole time. I was half expecting you to be gone by time I got ‘ere!” he was laughing at me again, but I didn’t mind. I was pretty ridiculous.

I stared ahead of me again at the rain. It was still pelting it down full force and I heard in the distance that first rumble of thunder. I smiled. I was going the fuck inside now; I was freezing.

“We going home?” I asked him.

“We can start walking!” he chuckled.

“Oh you little shit. I only wanted you for a lift!” I said, punching his arm playfully.

“That’s balls. You need your big bro to sort that little bitch out, don’t you?” he said, attempting to ruffle my sopping wet head of hair.

“Come on!” I said, starting to walk down the road away from him.