Chapter 53 Rainy 2
Allan walked silently behind, his footsteps almost blending with the faint rustle of leaves and the distant rumble of thunder that had been echoing for a while. The air was thick, carrying the smell of wet soil that scent that always came before rain. Helena walked almost beside him, stealing glances at him whenever she thought he wasn't watching. She didn't know that he caught every single one, every flutter of her eyes, every hesitant glance that flickered toward him before darting away again.
Elaine, a few steps ahead, walked beside Leonard. He was making small talk something light, probably to ease the tension that hung in the air like fog. But Elaine wasn't fully listening. Every now and then, her eyes shifted back toward Allan, as though making sure he was still there, as if she feared that if she looked away too long, he might vanish into the darkening path.
"What?" Allan's sharp voice cut through the uneasy silence.
Elaine almost jumped. Her chest rose quickly, caught off guard by the tone of his voice. "Um… it's nothing," she stammered, her words tumbling out under the gaze of Helena and Leonard. Then she quickly turned forward again, pretending to focus on the path, refusing to risk another glance at him.
"Are the both of you close?" Leonard asked suddenly in a light voice, his tone curious but casual.
"Hmm?" Elaine asked, distracted, unsure if he was talking to her or someone else.
"You and Allan," he repeated.
She blinked. For some reason, that moment made her think of Allan's nature how he'd never repeat himself, never soften his tone, while Leonard did so easily without a hint of impatience. Allan was just… built differently.
"Oh, Allan and I?" she said finally, a little flustered.
Leonard nodded.
"Yes," she answered after a pause, almost surprising herself. At first, she had wanted to say no, but that would've been a lie. The truth was, somehow, she and Allan had grown close without even realizing when it happened.
"How?" Leonard asked, his brows furrowing. "He's not exactly… approachable."
"Well, yeah," she admitted with a small laugh. "He may seem that way and honestly, he's not far from it but he has another side to him. He just doesn't mingle with anyone. He chooses his friends carefully like Gwen and Horace. But he's actually very kind… and helpful too."
As she spoke, a soft smile crept across her face the kind of smile that came from remembering something quietly precious. She didn't even notice she was smiling, but Allan, walking behind, did. He caught every word, and his unreadable expression deepened. For some reason, Leonard's next question "So do you like him?" made Allan's mind flash back to that night. The night of the accidental kiss.
Elaine froze, her pupils widening in shock. Of all questions, she hadn't expected that.
"Oh, no!" she said quickly, laughing in embarrassment. "I don't like him he's just a friend. A very good one."
"Well, okay," Leonard said, but the slight curve of his mouth told another story.
They walked on. The air grew heavier the kind of heaviness that carried warnings. The sky dimmed into an iron-gray color, and the wind picked up, brushing against the trees with a low sigh. Ahead, the outlines of old buildings appeared, their crumbling walls and mossy edges making them look like ruins from a forgotten time.
A low growl of thunder rolled again, closer this time.
"Oh no…" Helena muttered, feeling the first cool droplet hit her arm. Then another. And another. The air had shifted completely colder now, the earth rich with that smell of coming rain.
"The rain should've waited a little longer," she grumbled in frustration, pulling her jacket tighter.
"At least we're not alone in the forest anymore," Leonard said, trying to sound optimistic as the wind carried his words away.
And then as if the sky had heard them it finally broke open.
Rain poured down in thick, heavy sheets, drumming against the leaves, soaking through their clothes in seconds. The world turned dim and silver misty air swirling between the trees as droplets struck the ground like tiny sparks.
"Come on!" Allan's voice called over the sound of the downpour. As they ran together, shoes splashing against the muddy path, laughter and shouts of other people mixing with the thunder until they found shelter under the archway of one of the old buildings.
The roof above them groaned faintly from age, but it held. Water trickled from the edges, forming glistening streams that fell like glass beads into the earth.
Elaine stood at the entrance, catching her breath. Outside, the forest shimmered under the rain, blurred and hauntingly beautiful. The sound of the storm surrounded them completely like a heartbeat from the heavens above.