Chapter Eight: In the Rain
678 Words
The sky had been grey all day.
Heavy.
Like it was holding something back.
Scarlett didn’t care.
She just needed air.
After everything—the rumors, Blake, the whispers—she couldn’t stay inside anymore.
So she went out.
No destination. No plan. Just walking.
At first, it was calm.
Cool breeze. Quiet streets.
Then—
Thunder cracked through the sky.
Scarlett stopped.
“Seriously?” she muttered.
And just like that—
The rain came down.
Hard.
Within seconds, her hair was soaked, her clothes clinging to her skin, water dripping down her face.
“No umbrella… great,” she sighed.
She looked around.
No cabs.
No shelter nearby.
Nothing.
Scarlett exhaled slowly.
“Fine.”
And she kept walking.
Step after step, rain pouring over her, shoes splashing against the wet ground.
It was cold.
But worse than that—
It felt… lonely.
Her thoughts started creeping back in.
Blake.
His voice.
His eyes.
That night.
That moment in the pool.
“Ugh, stop,” she whispered to herself.
She picked up her pace.
The road ahead was slick, shining under the storm.
Her foot slipped—
“—!”
Her body lurched forward.
Too fast.
Too hard.
She braced for impact—
But it never came.
A strong arm caught her.
Pulled her back.
Held her steady.
Scarlett’s breath hitched sharply as she clung instinctively to whoever it was.
Her heart racing.
Her hands trembling.
Slowly—
She looked up.
And froze.
Blake.
Rain dripping from his hair, his shirt soaked, his grip firm around her like he wasn’t letting go anytime soon.
“You really have a habit of getting yourself into trouble, don’t you?” he said quietly.
Scarlett didn’t answer.
Her chest was rising too fast.
Her eyes wide.
The fear hadn’t left yet.
“I—I almost…”
Her voice broke.
And that’s when it hit her.
Tears mixed with rain as they slipped down her cheeks.
Blake’s expression changed instantly.
“Hey…”
His voice softened.
Completely.
“You’re alright,” he said, steady and calm. “I’ve got you.”
That was it.
That was all it took.
Scarlett broke.
She leaned into him without thinking, her fingers gripping his shirt as the fear finally spilled out.
“I almost fell…” she whispered shakily.
“I know.”
“You weren’t there and I—”
“But I am here,” he cut in gently.
His arms wrapped around her fully now, pulling her closer, shielding her from the rain as much as he could.
“You’re safe.”
Safe.
The word settled into her chest in a way she didn’t expect.
Scarlett closed her eyes for a second, her forehead resting lightly against him.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
Blake didn’t move.
Didn’t rush her.
Just… stayed.
Then, without warning—
He lifted her.
Scarlett gasped softly. “What are you—?!”
“Taking you home,” he said simply.
“I can walk—”
“No, you can’t,” he replied, already moving.
His tone left no room for argument.
Scarlett stared at him, stunned.
Rain pouring around them.
His grip steady.
Careful.
Like she actually mattered.
She didn’t fight him.
Didn’t argue.
Just… held onto him.
For once—
She didn’t want to push him away.
When they reached her house, Blake set her down gently at the door.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Rain still falling behind them.
Scarlett looked at him.
Really looked this time.
Wet. Serious. Different.
“…Thank you,” she said quietly.
Blake nodded once.
“You should get inside. You’re freezing.”
She hesitated.
Like she wanted to say more.
But didn’t know how.
So instead—
She turned.
Opened the door.
And stepped inside.
But before she closed it—
She glanced back.
Blake was still there.
Standing in the rain.
Watching her.
And for the first time—
Scarlett didn’t feel angry.
She didn’t feel annoyed.
She didn’t feel like running.
She felt…
Something else.
Something softer.
Something dangerous.
- Writer
