I turn all of my music on shuffle with my earbuds in, sitting on a bench with my back against the wall of the library.

Favorite Record comes on, full blast, and I feel myself relax against the rough brown bricks. Fall Out Boy always seems to perfectly match my mood. Something about Patrick's voice just adheres to all my emotions.

I pull my knees up to my chest and just breathe in the sweet, fresh air. There's a faint chatter from the odd student passing by and some random car noises, but besides all that it's peaceful. The sky is getting pretty gray and cloudy, but I don't mind.

I twirl a strand of my hair around my finger, then brush my hand through all of it.

I dig my hand through all my pockets, then my bag. I manage to scrounge up two hair bands, and I tie my hair back into two buns on the top of my head.

And when you ask, you ask me how I'm doing

Like you know, you know how much better off I am

And when we danced, we danced

With windows down, and we danced, we danced

I fiddle with the hole in the sleeve of my sweatshirt as I watch clouds inch their way across the sky. They're gray too.

The song ends, and there's just silence. For a while.

Either shuffle stopped, or Blood is playing.

Well, they encourage your complete cooperation

Well, there's that question answered.

I eventually move onto my shoelaces. I untie them and twirl them around, through, and in between my fingers.

I have the beginnings of a headache, and this is the best way to drown it. Music and tranquility. And though that may seem like an oxymoron, it works for me. And today, it might be easier than usual because the air hangs heavy with the prediction of rain soon.

Sure enough, I feel a couple raindrops on my shoulders and my head through my thick hair.

And as soon as Blood ends, the beginning of Addict With A Pen comes on.

My headache dissolves as soon as Tyler starts singing. His and Josh's presence (though they are just through my earbuds) are therapeutic.

The rain gets more consistent, and I slip my hand into my pocket to make sure my phone is still dry and protected.

By the time I decide I should be getting back, my hoodie has been thoroughly dampened and I'm starting to shiver a little bit. It is still only March, after all, and my hair is dripping.

I stand up from the bench. I must certainly be an odd sight for the couple of students I see rushing into the warm, sheltered library: my hair in its soaking wet buns and lonely demeanor.

Though I may be alone, I am far from lonely.

I walk through the pounding raindrops as if it was the sunniest of days. I love the rain. It's so refreshing and it makes me feel so alive.

Earlier today, I looked at the forecast and got super excited when it said rain, so I raced out the door in my rain boots, ready for it.

Now I'm thankful, because I can splash around in the puddles. And also because wet socks are the worst.

They're a bright yellow, contrasting the gray of the sky.

A lot of my favorite memories are in the rain. Playing with my parents. Conversations on the roof with Rose. Meeting Jacob for the first time. Walking with Annabelle. Running through the small creek on campus with Jenna.

I smile wistfully, stomping through another puddle.

People I know, places I go

Make me feel tongue tied

I can see how people look down

They're on the inside

When I finally make it back to the dorm and into the warmth of the shower, Jenna and Jacob are studying for Jacob's exam.

The pair of them, used to me being out in the rain and looking it, don't bat an eye at my drenched figure.

I dig my phone out and toss it onto my vacant bed along with the earbuds after taking off my hoodie and boots.

My clothes underneath are thankfully dry. I strip them off when I get into the bathroom and toss them onto the floor.

The cold, lingering touch of the rain and the wind melt away when I step under the stream of warm water.

Twenty minutes later, I'm laying in bed with my phone heating a small rectangle of skin on my stomach, dressed in red sweatpants and one of Annabelle's soft tank tops.

My head's on Jacob's stomach and his head is on Jenna's stomach. We always seem to end up like this. He's playing with my hair and humming a random song.

I spend a good couple moments hard at work trying to discern the tune before I finally recognize it.

Jenna and I share some sort of telepathic communication and start singing it at the same time.

"And it was enchanting to meet you. All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you," we sing together.

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonderstruck, dancing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you know

I was enchanted to meet you

One of my favorite songs of all time. How did Jacob know that's what I needed?

I will never know, I guess.

Later that night, the sky still hasn't cleared up. So I skip out happily, leaving them to watch whatever they watch on Netflix. (I don't know what it is-- they have their own user on my account.)

I skip all the way down to Annabelle's apartment, and knock energetically on the door.

She opens it, her hair messy and eyes half-lidded and sleepy. She's in flowy white pants and a lazy pink robe-cardigan thing and her hair is done up in a bun.

"Sweetheart, I was taking a nap. Next time just come in," she says, tossing me a key and retreating into the hallway.

"A nap? It's only seven!" I pipe, still buzzed from the rain and my good mood. I put the key on my keychain, then slip it into my pocket and follow her inside.

"Mmm, great," she mumbles, then makes her way back into her room and flops facedown onto the bed. Her limbs are splayed out like a starfish's. I smile. She's so adorable. "I trust you 'round here. Do what you want, I'm beat from awful decisions of morning classes."

I lean beside her, bend down, and kiss her on the forehead. "M'kay. Sweet dreams."

I have too much pent-up energy to just sit around and watch television (which is why I had to leave the dorm). I decide to cook something, just to occupy my hands.

Peeping into all the cupboards, I assess what's available to me. Hmm. I could make sugar cookies. 

I really like sugar cookies. 

Annabelle really likes sugar cookies.

I'm gonna make sugar cookies.

I smile to myself for my absolutely brilliant idea.

I bring in Annabelle's CD player and shuffle play Fearless at a really low volume to stifle the silence.

Humming along, I mix the batter and roll out the dough and cut out the cookies and put them in the oven.

I've just set the timer when Annabelle comes out and drapes herself around me.

"I made you cookies," I tell her, suddenly warm and fuzzy.

"You're the best," she says into my shoulder.

"Dance with me?" I ask, offering my hands as Love Story comes on. She takes them, twirls me around, and pulls me into her chest. I rest the side of my head right where I can hear her heartbeat.

I rest my fingers along the sides of her stomach and tap them into the skin to the beat.

"Hmm, Annabelle, I think I might have a crush on you," I say.

"I think I might be in love with you" she says, in an equally gentle tone.

"That's gay," I say, looking up at her with a pout on my lips. She leans down and presses a soft kiss on my lips.

"I'm gay, so ..." she trails off.

I gasp, holding a hand to my mouth. "That's crazy! I am, too!" Her eyes crinkle and then we're both laughing.

The timer goes off just as You Belong With Me comes on, and I draw the tray out of the oven with a flourish while singing.

What talent I possess.

Annabelle immediately grabs one, making me let out a small yelp of fear and surprise.

"Annabelle! You could have burned yourself!" I exclaim worriedly. She only giggles, and breaks it in half, stuffing part in my mouth and part in her own.

I roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to muster up anything to be annoyed at her. She's just so soft.

She wraps her arms around me, and the sleeves of her cardigan push up. Her dark skin strikes out against my shirt (which is actually hers, but whatever).

"I'm gonna go back to bed," she says. "Join me?" I look at the clock on the oven. It's a couple minutes past nine, so I nod.

And suddenly, her arms are lifting me up bridal style and then she's in her starfish position under her soft duvet, only this time with an arm curling around my side.

Another happy memory to add to my collection of rainy days.