It is curious how certain moments remain imprinted on memory even though they started from unassuming events like rain.
The festivities were in full swing and people were laughing and dancing when they first heard the sound of raindrops falling on the wooden porch.
No one paid much attention initially.
Another drop fell.
And then more.
In no time, it started raining heavily.
A surprised chorus of voices could be heard in the backyard as students burst into laughter and ran toward the house. The bonfire went out, chairs were moved under the roof, and conversations became a riot.
Jay made his blurry exit from the backdoor, drenched entirely.
I should have checked for rain!" he exclaimed.
"You never check for rain," said Loid.
That does not matter.
Loid smiled.
He found it interesting how the humor of Jay could easily make him happy.
Soon the house was full of students. Inside the party atmosphere was different – heavier and more intimate. Students were sitting on the floor, eating snacks, playing cards, or just watching the rain through the windows.
Loid found himself standing near the glass door, looking at the raindrops flowing down.
"Do you like rain?" he heard Charlotte's voice saying from beside him.
He rotated.
She donned a pale grey hoodie that someone provided her after being caught outside. A few wet strands brushed over her cheeks.
"I do," Loid affirmed. "It is calm."
Charlotte nodded.
"It causes everything to slow down."
They stood silently beside each other.
From outside, garden appeared bright beneath the street lamps. The rain blurred the lamps into round shapes making the night strangely beautiful.
"When I was a child," Charlotte remarked, "I would sit close to my bedroom's window when it rained."
Loid gazed at her.
"My parents thought I was reading."
She smiled to herself.
"But I was simply observing the rain."
Loid chuckled softly.
"I used to do that too."
Charlotte looked surprised.
"Really?"
"My grandmother always said that rain allows people to think their thoughts."
Charlotte stared at him for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"I love that."
The conversation continued easily after this moment.
Books.
Favorite seasons.
Childhood memories.
Little things that felt important.
Neither of them noticed how much time had gone by.
On the other side of the room, Ava noticed.
"So they really are growing closer," she whispered.
Shaw thought the same.
He stood by the kitchen table, laughing with friends, but he couldn't help but keep looking at the couple at the window.
"It seems that they are having a long conversation," one of his friends said.
Shaw shrugged his shoulders.
"So what?"
But he definitely knew the answer.
It bothered him more than it should.
A little later, all of a sudden, there was a blackout.
There was no light anymore, and someone screamed.
Some of the guys laughed.
"The lights are off!"
"It should come back."
The phone flashlights turned on, creating a cozy warm light.
Instead of panic, there was excitement.
People started telling scary stories.
There were people who began to sing.
Charlotte laughed.
Loid couldn't help but look at her a little bit longer.
She looked different, but not because of the darkness.
She looked free.
"You are looking at me."
Loid blinked.
"No, I wasn't."
"Yes, you were."
Loid's ears felt warm all of a sudden.
Charlotte laughed again.
"I was only kidding."
Loid started scratching his neck.
"You're being mean."
"Just a bit."
He joked with her for the first time since their meeting.
"You smiled before you said that."
"No, I didn't."
"You undoubtedly did and you can't deny it."
Charlotte turned aside as she secretly smiled.
While Jay watched them wide-eyed from nearby.
"I'm nudging Julian."
"Did you witness that?"
Julian had closed the book he was reading.
"I did."
"They're having flirtation interaction."
Julian mulled over that.
"...Not purposefully."
"This somehow makes it much more interesting."
Outside, rain was finally slowing down.
Lights were madly back on.
Applause filled the house.
Students began to get ready to go.
Charlotte took her bag.
"So..."
Loid looked at her.
"...I am happy you came."
These short words meant much more than they seemed to.
"So am I," he replied genuinely.
And everybody was walking to the front door while Shaw was quietly standing in the hall.
He was following them with his sight.
Charlotte smiling.
Loid smiling back.
Something in him hardened.
For the first time in his life he was not just angry.
It felt like losing.
And Shaw Donovan had never liked losing. The rain was completely stopped with the fresh air and city streets looked like glass.
Loid and Jay made their way back home at the dead of the night.
"You see," Jay had said, smirking, "tonight seems to have had an impact."
Loid kept looking straight.
"Perhaps it did."
He could not figure out what exactly had changed.
But there was one thing he was certain of.
Charlotte's gladness over his coming sounded completely genuine.
And somehow that line had remained in his mind longer than anything else.