Fifteen minutes had passed and I sat idly by on the outside staircases as the school cleared out. Even those who attended after-school programs were gone, making me anxious by the minute. The sky didn't help much either. It had turned an ominous dark gray, as light thunder rippled through every once in a while. I could tell the water itched to drip down from the clouds like a broken faucet pipe, with no control and no mercy. I fish out my phone and reread the simple yet straightforward message.

"Meet me today. After practice. School entrance." I didn't bother replying because it was more of a statement than a question. I had been studying at the library and when the time hit, I decided to leave my backpack in my locker, thinking I would come back soon. The minutes went by and I sat, believing he was on his way. I try to look out into the field but can't see anything from the distance. I huff in annoyance and decide to go check. He won't just leave me here, right?

I get halfway when the rain chooses that exact moment to break from its confines and drench me in its cold liquid hold. I stay frozen, trapped by the wildness it carries. The wind whipping past me and the rain so heavy, my eyes can only make out hazy visions of the world. I try to breathe but it suffocates me, holding me in its time of need, wielding me to stay with it. I take a step forward, breaking me from its grasp, and I can breathe again. I resumed my march, trying to get away from my captor but it was everywhere.

I made it to the football field, only to realize there was no one there. My heart sinks and I curse my luck. The rain keeps penetrating my surroundings, not allowing me to push past the memory. I can hear the car horn in my ears and the bright light as I scream. The rain drowned me in my fear.

"Amelia," I hear a voice and turn to it, looking for the source. I make out Abacus holding a blue umbrella as he approaches me and my chest fills with overwhelming happiness. His words are filled with worry as he asks, "What are you doing here? You're completely soaked." He takes off his varsity jacket and wraps it around me, guiding my hands through the sleeves. The small warmth spreads through me as the umbrella covers us. I look up with no response to his words, but the grief of being so dumb to come here believing Grayson was worth it gets to me, and I find myself wrapping my hands around his waist. I bury my head in his chest as I think about what a fool I was. I had let myself believe Grayson wasn't that bad but he had stood me up and left me in the pouring rain with no way home, all because I had confided in him that night and I thought he had done the same. I thought I had seen the real Grayson but that seemed to be a lie.

Abacus loosens his hold on the umbrella and I watch as it swirls away. "The umbrella," I whisper and look up at him, his eyes trained intently on me.

"It's just an umbrella."

"But you're getting all wet," I point out.

He laughs a little, "says the person hugging me who is covered in water."

"Your jacket's getting wet too."

That seems to knock him back into reality as he grabs my hand and guides me under the bleachers. He scans me like a metal detector before giving me a soft smile. "Sorry, I just dragged you here but I figured that if the jacket got wet, then you would be right where you started. So I brought you here, hoping you don't get a cold."

"Oh, how considerate," I say as my cheeks heat up. All of a sudden a bolt of lightning flashes through the sky and the loud rumble of thunder accompanies it. I yelp at the sound and stumble into Abacus. He loses his footing at the sudden movement and we stumble to the ground with a loud thud. He looks up to the weak remorseful expression I was giving him.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to," I say but find myself shutting up as I feel his hand move the wet strands of hair from my face, and tuck them into my ears, for both sides. The mood had shifted as I noticed him shift his eyes from my eyes to my lips. I see him bite down on his bottom lip as he caresses my cheek.

"It's okay. It was an accident. But, don't tell me you're afraid of a bit of thunder and lightning."

"Little?" I scoff, clearly ruining anything that could have happened as I sit down next to him. He straightens himself up from the ground as I add, "That could have brought the whole building down."

He turns to his left and shakes his head, "nope. Seems like it's still standing."

I bump my shoulder with him as I laugh, "shut up."

"The noise came from over here," a voice says. We turn to see Sienna emerge from the darkness and Grayson behind her. My eyes go to their hands as they come out into the lightness. "Amelia, you're drenched." She approaches me and moves her arms up and down my sleeves to create warmth. "You poor thing." She turns her attention to Abacus, "what happened?"

He raises his hands, "I found her like this."

"I got stood up waiting for someone," I lash out as my voice drips with venom, my eyesight directed at Grayson. He narrows his eyes at me, with a confused look taking over his features. He shrugs it off and walks toward the edge of the bleachers, looking at the rain.

"He stood you up?" Abacus questions, pointing at Grayson. I stay quiet and look away, embarrassed.

"I didn't do anything," Grayson says, making me furious.

"Yes, you did. I waited for so long only to come to find you and get drenched in this storm." I walk towards him as he stands there, nonchalantly. "And to think I was thinking you weren't-"

"An asshole?" he finishes. "Hate to break it to you, but I am. I told you that from the start."

"You can't just go treating people like that. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and I'm left looking like an idiot."

"Benefit of the doubt? I didn't stand you up. I didn't even know you were coming or why. Yet, you don't believe me and just believe what they tell you." At this moment, his eyes shift to Abacus. Grayson scoffs, "Just because you're in love with the guy. You don't even know who he really is."

My eyes widened at his revelation. "The same can be said for you." Grayson turns away from him and is getting ready to run out when Sienna pulls him back.

"Tensions are high but you are not running away and we aren't fighting anymore. Apologize to each other."

"Sienna stop," Grayson says with a warning tone. I scoff and walk away.

She pulls my hand back. "Okay, we are all just going to forget about what was just said at least until the rain stops. Agree?"

We all look at each other before we unanimously nod. We all stay quiet as we watch the rain as if lost on a desert island, planning our next move. The rain tapped on the bleacher with a soothing pitter pattern and I felt like I could fall asleep at any moment. I get into the fetal position and hug my legs towards my chest, trying to keep warm as Sienna tries to create heat by rubbing my sleeves.

"How about we play a game?" Sienna says lively. "Truth or truth?"

"What kind of game is that?" Grayson scoffs.

"The only one we can play here," Sienna bites back. Grayson rolls his eyes and looks away while Sienna beams at me with a wide smile.

"Okay," I say. The guys turn to look at me as Abacus sits down while Grayson scoffs. "You don't have to play if you don't want to," I tell him.

"I wasn't planning on it." He takes out a cigarette and lights it up.

"So what were you two doing under the bleacher?" Sienna says.

"They were obviously running from the rain, Sienna," Grayson says, "remember? I allegedly stood her up."

Sienna has a tight lip as she nods her head and gives me a faltering smile. "We can speak for ourselves Archer," Abacus says.

"I forgot I was in the presence of royalty, your goldenness."

"You want to go?" Abacus says, standing up and whipping the dirt away.

"Hey Amelia, did Abacus ever tell you what his big secret is- because I know it and I doubt he wants it getting out. It would ruin his image if it just got out." It doesn't take long before Abacus is clinging to Grayson's collar and the cigarette has fallen to the floor. I watch as the light embers are put down by the cascading water, never to be lit again. I was too drained to care whether they fought or not but I managed to squeak out, "why can't you guys get along?"

This seems to stop them as they look at each other. Abacus removes his hands and runs a hand over his face while Grayson fixes his jacket. He looks over at Abacus with a smirk as he speaks, "you want to tell her or should I?"

Abacus's jaw is slack as he glares at Grayson. "Why can't you just let bygones be bygones?"

"Because you ruined my life and never owned up to it."

A bolt of thunder strikes the sky as lighting showers the sky with color. I inch closer, ready to hear the story of this feud.

>>>>>

Well, I'm excited about the one after this. Are you? 

Also, anyone watch any good shows?daq

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