LIKE RAIN

by Leen Elle

  "Come on Nev, don't play dumb. I come home one day and find you on top of Cael. I come home another day and find you on top of some guy I don't even know. Then you leave with him, and you don't come back till the next morning. What is going on with you?"

  "Dad, nothing is going on with me. To answer the question you're probably dying to ask, no I'm not having sex. Not with Cael, not with Nathan, not with anyone."

  "Well," he said awkwardly, "that's a relief."

  "Okay, so are we done?" I asked.

  "Not just yet," he said. "I'm not too keen on this screaming and storming out business that you've been displaying lately."

  I sighed. "I know, I know. It's her. I hate her."

  "Well, you're going to have to learn to like her, because we're getting married." He stood up and walked out the door, closing it behind him. It was obvious there was no getting out of this. Jasmine and my father were getting married, and there was nothing I could do about it. I suddenly hated him again for subjecting me to such torture. If I had to be miserable, so did they.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Summer was nearly over which meant new backpacks, notebooks, folders, binders, pens, and pencils. There was no way I was asking Jasmine or my dad to take me to get my stuff. Instead of my screaming and sudden outbursts, I had taken to the silent treatment. I almost never spoke to either of them, and when I did it was usually just a yes, a no, or an I don't care. I had to have Nathan take me to get my school stuff, because a permit wouldn't get me there without an adult, and I didn't have a car anyway.

  "Okay, what's next?" Nathan asked as we went down isle after isle picking up everything on my list.

  "I need a 2-inch three-ring binder with dividers," I said, reading it off my list. Nathan ran ahead to get it.

  "Is this acceptable?" he asked, holding up a blue binder.

  "Yep, put it in the cart," I told him

  "How many more things do you need?" he asked, growing impatient.

  "I just need pens and pencils," I said, folding up my list and shoving it in my pocket.

  "Check and check," he said, grabbing both items of the shelf and tossing them in the cart. "Let's go."

  "Don't you go to college or something?" I asked.

  "I signed up for a few classes at the community college," he said.

  "What are you taking?"

  "Calculus, Advanced Chemistry, and English Lit."

  "Impressive. Any idea what you want to be?"

  He shook his head. "Not a clue. It's kind of annoying too. I don't know what classes to take because I don't know what I'm going to need."

  "Well, you could always be a pizza boy for the rest of your life," I joked, nudging him in the arm.

  He laughed. "What about you? Any ideas?"

  "I'm not sure," I said. "Maybe a journalist, or a psychologist, or a lawyer. I'm not too worried about it just yet. I've got other problems"

  "Yeah, about your housing situation, have you thought about moving in with me?" he asked.

  "Uh, I'm not sure that's such a good idea."

  "I'm not looking for any answers yet. Just think about it."

  I nodded. "Okay." The idea was intriguing, but it felt almost like moving in with a stranger. "So, where to now?"

  "My place, I guess." I paid for my supplies, and we headed for Nathan's apartment. As soon as we got in the door I fixed myself on Nathan's comfy couch. I had been going to his apartment almost everyday for the past week to avoid Jasmine and my father. Nathan sat down next to me and put his arm around my shoulder. Being with Nathan wasn't exactly heavenly, but it was nice. I needed him to take away the feeling of loneliness that had settled over me.

  Nathan immediately pulled me to him and began kissing me. His kisses had gone from deep and tender to hot and wet, with his hands always all over the place. I didn't care much. I was sure our make-out sessions were practically nothing to him, and I was just biding my time until the day he asked for more.

  Today appeared to be that day, although he didn't ask for it, he just did it. He took my hand in his, guiding it where he wanted it to go. He slipped my hand down his boxers, keeping hold of it as a way of teaching me what to do. I didn't flinch or attempt to pull away. I just let him do it.

  Nathan took me home about an hour later, seemingly more satisfied than usual. I was thinking about him as I walked to my front door. He never talked very much, at least not when we were alone together. I think he lived by the saying, "actions speak louder than words." The more I thought about it, the more mysterious he seemed. Which in a way, made him even more appealing.

  I was relieved to find that Jasmine's car was not in the driveway, but my father appeared to have been awaiting my return. "Come here," he said from the kitchen, as soon as I stepped through the door. I reluctantly dragged my feet into the kitchen. He looked rather pleased with himself. "I just thought you should know that Jasmine and I have set a date for the wedding," he said smiling.

  I sighed. "When?"

  "September 25th," he said. That was exactly a month away. "And another thing you should know, Jasmine is going to be moving in with us next week."

  I opened my mouth to scream in protest, but then I remembered that outbursts weren't my thing anymore. "Fine," I said with a tone of disinterest in my voice. I turned and left the room. Inside I was screaming my lungs out. I still could not bare the thought, and every second felt as if I might explode with rage and destroy the whole neighborhood.

  I decided to go for a walk in attempt to calm myself down. I stepped outside and saw Margaret watering her flower garden. Fortunately, she didn't see me as she was facing the opposite direction. I saw a car come up the street and turn into Cael's driveway. As I passed his house Kyla stepped out of the car. She saw me.

  "Oh, hey Nev," she called, waving. She walked towards me. "What's up?"

  "Nothing," I said. "I'm just going for a walk."

  "Oh. Cael had been wondering about you. He says you haven't come by in a while."

  "Yeah well, I figured he was busy with you."

  "Hey, don't let me get in the way of your friendship with Cael," she said. "I wouldn't want to do that."

  "You're not," I lied.

  "You're still important to him, you know. He told me you've been upset because of your father's girlfriend. He called me and broke our date the day you came over crying. He said you needed him."

  My eyes widened slightly. "He did?" I asked, slightly astounded.

  "Yep," she said, nodding her head.

  "Well, I don't know why I always have to be the one to come over here. He can come to my house if he wants to see me so badly."

  "I'll tell him." She smiled and waved. "I'll see you later."

  "Bye." I turned and continued to walk down the street and around the block, thinking about what Kyla said. I was surprised that Cael had cancelled a date with her just because of me. I guess he realized I must've been in crisis mode if it was something bad enough to make me cry. That Kyla was a lucky girl.

  Chapter Seventeen

  About a week later when Nathan dropped me off after a movie I saw Jasmine's car parked in our garage. I sighed as I walked up the driveway to the front door. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a pile of pink bags sitting in front of the stairs. I suddenly felt sick. Jasmine was moving in.

  "Nevaeh," my dad called from his usual spot at the kitchen table, "come here please." I walked slowly towards the kitchen and saw them both sitting there, Jasmine looking happy, and my dad looking uncomfortable.

  "She's moving in?" I asked, sparing him the trouble of telling me himself.

  He nodded. "Yes, she's moving in today, and you're going to be civil to her. Is that understood?"

  I stared at him for a moment, then nodded. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something, but I didn't have anything to say.

  "Is that all?" he asked, as if he expected me to have some kind of fit.

  "What do you want me to say?" I asked. "I think I've already made it pretty clear
that I don't like any of this, but that doesn't seem to matter to you. I have nothing else to say."

  "Well, we have something else to discuss with you," he said, changing the subject.

  "Oh great. What now?" I mumbled.

  "We're not having a very big wedding, but the two of you need to go dress shopping," he said.

  "Why do I need to go dress shopping?"

  "Because you're going to be in the wedding."

  "As what?"

  "As the maid of honor," he said.

  "What?" I asked, dumbfounded. "Isn't that supposed to be like the bride's best friend or sister or something?"

  "Well yes, normally, but Jasmine doesn't have a lot of close friends here," he said.

  "I wonder why," I said under my breath. He ignored it. "Doesn't she have relatives or something?"

  "None of them live around here. You're the only one."

  "I'm not a relative," I said, becoming more difficult.

  "You will be soon."

  "Forget it," I said. "I'm not going to be in it."

  "Don't give me that. You're going to be in it whether you like it or not."

  "Why is everything becoming 'whether you like it or not'?" I asked. " 'We're getting married whether you like it or not.' 'She's moving in whether you like it or not.' Why don't I get a say in any of this? It's my life too!"

  "Don't get into one of your tantrums again. I'm getting a little sick of this."

  "Well, don't worry. You won't have to hear me scream anymore," I said. "I'm leaving."

  "Leaving where?" he asked, looking confused.

  "I'm moving out." I turned and started for the stairs.

  "You will do no such thing!" he yelled after me. "Get back here right now!" But I wasn't listening to him. I continued to march up the stairs and into my room. I quickly grabbed a suitcase from under my bed and began to throw clothes, make up, and hair supplies in it. I found the bag of things I had taken from Maddy's room and threw that in there too. I found my backpack filled with my new school supplies and slung it over my shoulder. I got the number that Nathan had given me and dialed it.

  "Hello?" Nathan said on the other line.

  "I'm moving in with you," I said quickly.

  "Nevaeh? What's going on?" he asked.

  "Can you come pick me up please?" I was practically begging him. "I want to move in with you."

  "I'm on my way," he said and hung up the phone. I closed my suitcase and went and sat by the window. 5 minutes later Nathan pulled up to our driveway. I grabbed my suitcase and ran down the stairs.

  My dad had been waiting for me. He jumped up from his seat in the kitchen. "Nevaeh don't you dare walk out that door!" he screamed. I saw Jasmine get up from her seat too and follow after him. Just as I grabbed the door handle he grabbed a hold of my arm. I wasn't even thinking, I just swung around and slammed him in the stomach with my suitcase. He doubled over clutching his stomach. I could see Jasmine rushing to his aid as I pulled open the door and ran to Nathan's car.

  "Go!" I yelled before I had even shut the car door.

  "Running away now?" he asked as we drove down the street.

  "Yeah," I said. "Nathan, how am I going to get to school everyday?"

  "I'll take you," he said. I looked at him, worry in my eyes. "Don't worry about a thing babe." I sat back in my seat, thinking about what I'd just done. It all happened so fast, I didn't even have time to think about it. All I knew now was that I was free. It was scary, but I could finally get away from her.

  "Nathan?" I said.

  "Yeah?"

  "I'm going to get a job," I said. "You shouldn't have to pay for me to live with you."

  "Listen, it's fine. I'm starting a second job tomorrow anyway. I don't need your money."

  "I know, but I'm getting a job anyway," I said, being my usual stubborn self. "I can take care of myself."

  "But I want to take care of you."

  "You are. You're taking care of me by letting me stay with you. That's more than enough," I said.

  "Well, if you really want to get a job I'm not going to stop you."

  "I do," I said.

  "What kind of job are you looking for?" he asked.

  "I don't care. Any job I can get."

  "I think they're hiring at that 50's restaurant downtown," he suggested.

  "No way!" I said a little too suddenly.

  He looked surprised. "What's wrong with that?"

  "Nothing," I said. "But my friend's parents own that restaurant. I don't want them to find out where I'm living. Then they'll tell my dad. Besides, it's on the other side of town. How would I get there?"

  "Good point," he said.

  "I'll just go look for something at the mall tomorrow," I said. "It's in walking distance from your apartment."

  "Alright, sounds good."

  Chapter Eighteen

  I walked to the mall the next day while Nathan went to his first day of work at the coffee house uptown. I went into every store I thought was worth working in and asked if they were hiring. Most places weren't, or if they were they wanted someone older and more experienced. You can't get a job without experience, but how are you supposed to get experience without a job?

  I was about to give up when I saw a sign in the window of Abercrombie that read "Now Hiring." I went in the store and asked a woman at the cash register if I could speak to a manager. I waited patiently until he came.

  "What can I do for you?" he asked.

  "Oh, I just saw the sign that said you were hiring. I thought I'd come see if I had a chance," I said.

  "Oh, so you want a job?" I nodded. "Have you ever worked before?"

  "No," I said, shaking my head. "I'm looking for my first."

  "How old are you?" he asked.

  "I'm sixteen."

  "What's your schedule like?"

  "Well, school starts the day after tomorrow. I get out at 3:15 and then after that I'm free whenever you need me and on weekends."

  "Do you have transportation to get here every day?" he asked.

  "Oh, I only live about a mile from here. I can just walk."

  "Okay, one more question. When can you start?"

  "You mean I got the job?" I asked surprised.

  He nodded. "Yep."

  "I can start whenever you need me."

  "How about tomorrow?" he said. "You'll have the 4 o'clock to 9 o'clock shift, with a twenty minute break whenever you need it, as long as no one else is taking their break at the same time. That okay?"

  "That's perfect," I said smiling.

  "We'll see you tomorrow then." He smiled and then turned the other way. I thought I owed myself a treat so I got a smoothie at the food court and sat down to drink it.

  I looked up and saw Cael and Kyla walking hand in hand. I tried to turn quickly to hide my face, but Kyla had already seen me. They both headed over towards me.

  "Hi Nev," Kyla said cheerfully, with a smile on her face.

  "Hey guys," I said, keeping my gaze from Cael.

  "Mind if we join you?" she asked.

  "Sure."

  "So what are you doing here all by yourself?" Kyla asked.

  "Oh, I was just looking for a job," I replied.

  "Oh really? Did you get one?"

  I nodded. "Yep, at Abercrombie."

  "What's going on?" Cael blurted out.

  I gave him a puzzled look. "What?"

  "Your dad stopped by my house. I wasn't there, but he asked my mom if she had seen you. He said you ran off with some guy yesterday and haven't been home since."

  I hesitated, unsure what to say. "I'm living with Nathan," I said finally. "Jasmine moved in yesterday, and they just kept talking about the wedding and how I was going to be the maid of honor. I just couldn't take it anymore."

  "Nev, you can't just move in with some stranger," he said.

  "He's not a stranger," I protested. "Besides, where else was I going to stay? I couldn't stay with Halley. I can't even stand being in that house anymore. And well…I can't sta
y with you now." I glanced at Kyla.

  "Oh, no," she said. "I don't want you to feel like you can't see Cael anymore just because of me."

  I stared at her for a moment. "Well, that's how I feel." I stood up and tossed my smoothie in the garbage. I left before Cael or Kyla could say anything else. I made the walk to Nathan's last as long as I could. I could hear Maddy's voice in my head. I was throwing away my friendship with Cael, throwing tantrums, and running out of the house to move in with some guy that I still didn't know all that well. I wanted to tell her that everything would turn out okay, but I wasn't sure that it would. Nothing was certain anymore.

  "So how'd the job hunt go?" Nathan asked as I walked in the door.

  "Good. I got a job," I said.

  "Where at?"

  "Abercrombie," I replied. "I work from 4 to 9."

  "So when am I ever gonna get to see you?" he said sadly, putting his arms around my waist.

  "We'll see each other every night," I said. "And I won't be working every day."

  "But now I'm working at the Pizza Palace from 5 to 10. By the time I get home you'll be almost going to sleep," he said.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood on my tip toes to kiss him. "Don't worry," I said. "I'm not going anywhere."

  Chapter Nineteen

  My homeroom and first period class was Physics, and of all people, I got stuck sitting next to Cael. We sat in silence for a while just waiting for class to start.

  "Nevaeh, I hate this," Cael said finally.

  "Hate what?" I asked, pretending that I didn't know what he was talking about.

  "What's going on with us," he said. "We're supposed to be best friends."

  "Look, I have a boyfriend and you have a girlfriend. That gets in the way of a co-ed friendship," I replied.

  "Why?"

  I hesitated. The real reason it mattered was because it hurt me too much to know that Cael and I weren't together. I knew that we'd never actually been together before, but somewhere in the bottom of my heart I believed that someday we would be. I couldn't ignore everything Maddy had said about Cael and I being perfect for each other. But now that I had to see him with Kyla all the time I had lost hope, and it was hard to even be his friend.