I was soaked within seconds. It dripped down my boots and soaked through my socks, just as I expected it to. I began walking but was soon stopped by the sound of someone calling my name. I looked around and found Dexter walking towards me. He was a boy in my grade and seemed really shy. I had never talked to him much before. I knew he was kinda nerdy like me, but I didn’t think he had many friends.
“Here,” he said. He quickly handed me a red umbrella, big enough for two to fit under. His glasses were black and they made his green eyes sparkle in the rain. “I don’t need it.” He stepped out from underneath the umbrella and his brown hair started to plaster to his head, flopping down and losing life.
“Thanks for the offer,” I said, “but you can keep your umbrella. You’ll be soaked in seconds.”
“We could share it,” I suggested, trying to sound casual and not awkward as he stepped under the umbrella with me. We began walking.
“Your story was really good,” Dexter said. “It was posted on the school website. You really brought the characters to life.”
“Thanks.” We walked a little longer and began talking more easily. I felt the awkward shield between us melt away as I learned much about him. He loved to write as well and was a straight A student. Dexter was an only child and president of the book club at school.
“We have a book club?” I asked excitedly.
“Yeah,” he said. “We’re reading Keeper of the Lost Cities right now. Our meeting is next week, if you can read it that fast.”
“That’d be great.” The rain poured on, but I didn’t seem to care anymore. It made the whole world smell so fresh as it washed away the dirt and masks that people wore. We walked the rest of the way home, arms linked. The umbrella projected the light colored red, like the love I felt growing in my heart.
“This is my place,” I said once we had arrived at the blue silent house on Pine Street.
“Oh...” he said. “I’ll see you Monday, I guess.” I walked to my heavy wood door but turned before I turned the handle.
“Hey,” I said, stopping him from leaving. My hands shook with nervousness and “I might sound kinda nerdy, but me and a few friends were going to play Dungeons and Dragons tonight at about six. We’ll have pizza and soda and stuff. You can make a character there, but you can also bring one. If you’re going to bring one, it would be best if it was a level five. You can come if you want to.” I held my breath from my doorway, waiting for an answer.
“I would love to,” Dexter said with a pearl white smile. “See you then.”
“Bye,” I closed the door, thinking that rain might not be so bad after all.