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Anne had never really liked the rain.
Rain was cold, wet, and dull. Rain always depicts sadness and sorrow. It's stupid.
She remembers many times where the rain has brought misfortune in her life. An example would be back when she was 6 years old. Little Anne was being dragged along with her mother to the market.
Anne had the proper gear for rainy weather, but had slipped on the slippery concrete the rain had drenched.
Another incident was after tennis practice. It had started to pour so they decided to dismiss the team early. While walking out into the field to the car, Anne had slipped on the muddy ground and got covered in mud.
It could've been worse, but Anne thinks the rain is still stupid. Only the type of weather to bring some kind of misfortune upon her.
Currently, she sat at her desk waiting for dismissal while also looking at the rainy weather outside the window with a scowl. The school day would be over in about 10 more minutes and just awhile ago Anne had hoped the rain would stop as soon as the bell would ring.
She doubts that now.
Sighing, Anne rested her hand on her cheek as she continued to stare out the window, ignoring the teacher's lessons.
She couldn't wait to go home, wrap herself in a warm blanket and hold Domino in her arms. That would definitely make up for this rainy day.
As if her prayers had been heard, the bell had rung and students started swarming towards the exit while ignoring the teacher calling after them about homework.
Anne grabbed her school bag and swung it over shoulder then made her way over to the door. As she walked out she heard her name being called from down the hall.
Waiting by the doors were Sasha and Marcy, who both waved at her from across the hall.
"Heya, Anne!" Marcy greeted, giving Anne a bright smile that could probably clear out the cloudy skies.
"Hey, Mar-Mar, Sash!" Anne replied as she made her way over to them down the hall. Anne glanced passed them for a moment, looking through the windows of the double doors. It's still raining.
"Yeah, it's pouring and I'd honestly rather not get sick so no walking for me." Sasha said when she noticed Anne looking out the window.
"Did any of you need a ride? Wouldn't want you both getting sick on me, cause otherwise who would I get to bitch about the teachers to tomorrow?" Sasha said jokingly, waving her hand in a downwards motion.
Marcy lifted up their umbrella and held it like a sacred item. "I got my umbrella so I should be okay! The rain isn't too bad to walk in!" They chirped.
Sasha gave a nod towards the raven-haired teen then looked at Anne. "How about you, Anne?" He asked.
Anne shrugged. It made sense to take Sasha's offer for a ride home. She wanted to get home and not be in this miserable weather any longer than she has to.
The brunette was about to accept the offer until Marcy had cut in. "Hey, how about we walk home together since we live close by! My umbrella is big enough for two so it'll cover us both. Plus, we could discuss the help you need in science along the way.
Sasha raised a brow as if she knew something. Even if there was something going on, it completely went over Anne's head. "Well, I guess but-" Anne was cut off by Sasha, who had randomly pulled out his phone from his pocket.
"Oh crap, yeah never mind. Sorry Anne but you'll have to walk home with Marcy today. I'll see you both tomorrow." She said as she briskly made his way out the door, but not before looking back and said "Don't get sick!" While giving Marcy a wink.
Marcy flushed and looked away, leaving Anne confused. What was that about?
"Um...Anyways let's get going, shall we?" Marcy asked, a light blush still dusting their cheeks. "Yeah dude, let's go. The faster the better!" Anne replied as they both made their way out the school.
Marcy flipped open their umbrella and held it over Anne, giving her one of those sunshine smiles once again. Anne smiled back as the two of them made their way home down the sidewalk.
They talked about their school day, random moments from the hangouts the trio had, and some homework help as promised.
They spent the next few minutes like that under the umbrella as the rain continued to pour around them. The sound of the rain landing and bouncing off of the umbrella, and the steps in the puddles filled the silence that had long been around after the two ran out of things to talk about.
Anne put her hand out from the protection of the umbrella, feeling the droplets of the rain pitter patter on her palm and fingertips. "Man, I can't wait to get home and away from this rain." Anne sighed, pulling her hand back in as she wiped off the droplets on her skirt.
Marcy turned their head towards Anne, tilting their head in confusion. "Do you not like the rain?"
The Thai teen shook her head. "Nah, never did. I mean, what is there to like about it? It's cold, wet, and not to mention how depressing it feels."
Marcy hummed in thought, turning their head back to stare at the distant sidewalk ahead of them. "What's not to like about the rain?" They simply said.
Anne turned to her head to face Marcy in confusion. "What do you mean?" She asked, to which Marcy giggled in reply.
"Well, the rain can represent different things than sadness and depression." They said, still looking ahead. Anne listened, wondering what Marcy could see in the rain. Movies, magazines, and experiences had always taught her rain was gloomy and terrible, so what could Marcy see in rain?
"Rain could represent rebirth, growth, tranquility, fertility, and change." Marcy's vision moved upwards, looking at the clouds with an expression Anne couldn't read.
"It can also create wonderful things like the smell it makes. It's caused by a molecule in the air pockets rain creates called geosmin! Geosmin is created by a soil-dwelling bacteria and when the rain falls, it releases those air pockets filled with geosmin, allowing it to disperse into the air!" They rambled, stretching out their free hand that isn't holding the umbrella out into the air as if to exaggerate a point.
Anne couldn't understand what Marcy had said, but was rather interested in more of what Marcy had to say about the rain. What more did they know about it?
"Another thing is- oh, here!" Marcy pulled Anne's hand along with them, heading towards the small park. They crouched down and pointed towards a budding flower.
"You'd already know this but rain also helps the soil keep moist and this little flower to grow! I assume this is probably a common daisy based on the white petals that seem to be beginning to bloom." The Taiwanese teen exclaimed as Anne nodded. Marcy reached over to a daisy that seemed to have already blossomed and picked it up.
"Here, let me just-" Marcy tucked a loose curl behind Anne's ear and nestled the flower behind her ear. "There! It suits you!" They said, feeling proud of the little accomplishment.
Anne blushed as a warm feeling started to build up inside her. It felt like her stomach was doing flips and twists and knots. Huh...
Before Anne could dwell on the feeling any longer, Marcy pulled Anne back up from crouching as they headed back towards the sidewalk.
They continued to walk back home with Marcy going on and on about rain as Anne listened, unaware of how she gently touched the flower tucked behind her ear.
Anne never knew how much Marcy knew about the rain nor did she know there was so much more to rain. Though, this is Marcy Wu. Always filled with knowledge and excitement for everything around them.
Even if Anne didn't understand half of what Marcy says, she enjoyed how much Marcy knew about the simplest of things. Even gloomy stuff like rain.
Soon enough, they had arrived at Anne's house as they both stepped onto the porch to bid each other farewell.
"That was a nice walk. Thanks for walking home with me, Anne." Marcy said as they clutched the handle of their umbrella, seemingly thinking over something.
"No problem dude! It was nice. Plus, I guess I learned some new things about the rain." Anne replied, beaming.
"Right, I'll see you tomorrow!" Anne turned around to walk inside, but was stopped by a hand that grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a hug as she felt Marcy tuck her head into Anne's shoulder, hair tickling Anne's chin.
The brunette was surprised for a moment before enveloping her arms around Marcy in return. They stood there for what felt like eternity until Marcy pulled away.
"Um...Also-" Marcy began then leaned in, giving Anne a small kiss on the cheek.
They pulled back and leaned into Anne's ear. "The rain can also represent a scenery for love." They whispered and leaned away.
Both teens had burning red faces as both their eyes widened in surprise. They stood in silence for a few moments before Marcy took off down the porch but not before turning back as they clutched the umbrella, still red-faced.
"I-I'll see you tomorrow!" They called out to Anne, giving a big wave and ran off, but not before slipping on the wet concrete. Marcy got back up and shouted reassurances that they were fine and ran off, pulling the hood of their hoodie over their head.
Anne stood there on the porch, dumbstruck. Her fingers reached up to trace where Marcy had kissed her, as if the kiss had still been lingering there.
Her eyes sparkled in awe as she stared off into the distance, the rain still pouring as every pitter patter rang in her ears.
The same feeling in her stomach had returned. The same flips and knots swirled around like butterflies. She knows what this is.
Anne plucked the daisy tucked behind her ear and held it, twirling the flower between her fingers. She let her thoughts linger for a little longer before smiling fondly.
Anne thought the rain was terrible, but now it doesn't seem so bad.