Chapter 6: Rainfall
1035 Words
Rain poured over Blackthorn Academy in silver sheets, turning the cobblestone courtyard into a mirror of rippling light.
The lanterns along the walkway flickered against the storm, casting warm halos through the darkness.
I stood beneath the stone arch at the front entrance, hugging my blazer tighter around myself as I checked the time on my phone again.
And again.
9:42 PM.
“Holden, was supposed to be here ten minutes ago.”
Breathing out softly, I decided to step just outside the arch, holding my hand into the rain. The droplets were cool against my skin, and the quiet of the storm made the usually lively campus feel strangely peaceful. With my head towards the sky I closed my eyes.
Most students were already inside their dorms.
Which meant I didn’t hear the engine until it pulled slowly up beside the curb.
I turned, expecting the familiar black sedan.
Instead, a sleek dark car rolled to a stop.
The window slid down.
Ryker Kane leaned his arm casually on the steering wheel.
“Well,” he said, rain ticking against the roof, “this is either spectacularly bad timing… or God seeing how fast he can ruin my self-control.”
I blinked in surprise.
“Ryker?”
He tilted his head slightly, “In the flesh. You waiting for someone?”
“Uhh my driver, He’s stuck in traffic.”
Ryker glanced up at the rain pouring harder now.
“Looks like you might be here a while.”
I hesitated.
Thunder rumbled a little louder now.
Ryker pushed the passenger door open from inside.
“Get in.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“You’re offering me a ride?”
“Don’t sound so shocked.”
“I am.”
“This must be your version of character growth.”
His mouth twitched.
“Vale, you’re getting f*****g soaked. And your dorm is across campus.”
Another gust of rain splashed against the stone steps, dampening the edge of my skirt.
I sighed and slid into the passenger seat.
The door shut with a soft thud, instantly muting the sound of the storm outside.
The car smelled faintly of leather and something warm… cedar, maybe.
Ryker turned the heat on and pulled back into drive slowly.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
The windshield wipers swept back and forth in a steady rhythm.
“You’re unusually quiet tonight,” he said finally.
I watched the rain streak down the window.
“I’ve had a hell of a day.”
“What no smart ass comebacks?”
“I’m trying something new”
“Torin still bothering you?”
I shrugged.
“Not really.”
Ryker glanced at me briefly.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
I turned toward him.
“And you’re annoyingly observant.”
“Occupational hazard.”
“Being broody?”
“Being right.”
I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips.
The car slowed as we turned onto the narrow road leading toward the dormitory.
Soft lights glowed from the tall building ahead.
Ryker parked just outside the entrance.
The rain hadn’t let up.
I reached for the door handle.
Then paused.
“Thanks for the ride,” saying quietly.
Ryker didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he looked at me.
Really looked at me.
Rainlight flickered through the windshield, casting shifting shadows across his face.
“You know,” he said slowly, “you never answered my question.”
I frowned slightly.
“What question?”
His voice lowered just a little.
“Back in the library.”
My heartbeat picked up.
“Oh.”
The memory of how close they had been when they were younger rushed back all at once.
The rain.
The quiet.
The almost-kiss.
I cleared my throat softly.
“I think the librarian answered it for me.”
Ryker leaned a little closer across the center console.
“Did she?”
The space between them suddenly felt smaller again.
My pulse quickened.
“You’re doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“The persuasion thing.”
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Working yet?”
My breath caught slightly.
For a moment neither of us moved.
The rain drummed harder against the windshield, cocooning us in the quiet car.
Ryker’s gaze flicked briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes. Jaw clenching then releasing.
“You know,” he said softly, “it’s kind of unfair.”
“What is?”
“You kissed me first.”
I let out a small laugh of disbelief, shaking my head.
“I was ten years old!”
“Still counts.”
I shook my head again.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” he murmured, “you haven’t gotten out of the car.”
My heart pounded. I swear he could hear it.
He was right again.
I hadn’t moved again.
The heat in the car didn’t help much either.
Ryker’s voice dropped slightly.
“Zari…”
My name sounded different when he said it. Calling me by my nickname he used to say.
Closer.
Softer.
My hand tightening slightly around the door handle.
“Ryker…”
Neither of us finished the sentence.
Because at that exact moment…
My phone buzzed.
Both of us froze.
I glanced down at the screen.
A Text.
Holden: “Miss Vale, traffic finally cleared. I’ll be there in 15 minutes.”
I let out a breath that was half laugh, half frustration.
Ryker leaned back in his seat slowly.
“Your timing,” he said dryly, “is incredible as hell.”
I opened the car door, the rain rushing in again.
Before stepping out, I looked back at him.
“Next time,”
Ryker raised an eyebrow.
“Next time what?”
I hesitate just long enough to make his curiosity grow.
Then smile slightly at him.
“Maybe we finish that persuasion experiment.”
I step out into the rain before he can respond.
But as I ran toward the dorm doors, I couldn’t stop smiling.
And inside the car, Ryker Kane watched her go with a look that said only one thing.
The game definitely wasn’t over.
- Writer
