"Are you ready?" Lina asked.

He closed the last latch on his guitar case.

"Yeah. Let's go" He said.

"Don't take too long," Ben said.

"He won't," Lina said.

The noise grew loud; outside of the sound-dampening practice room.

"It's raining?" Lina asked.

"It started when I got here. Sounds like it's picked up," Clint said.

"Did you bring an umbrella?" Lina asked.

"No, I never bring one. I have gym first period so I can always change. Where's yours?" he asked.

"It's in my locker," she replied.

A brief silence followed.

"What do you if it's raining after school," she asked.

"Free shower," he said.

She laughed.

The rain hadn't let up the whole morning. The world didn't seem all that different from the way he'd left it. The basketball courts, which usually sported at least a few egotistical student-athletes practicing, off-season, in the morning, were empty puddles. Students, usually going through the gym's exit to cut through to the other side of the school, were absent.

He took off his hoodie and handed it to her.

"Here," he said.

"Thanks," she said beaming.

She took her backpack off and put it on.

"It smells nice," she said.

He blushed and looked off in the distance while she tried to make eye contact. She let out a playful laugh.

He drew a line in the air above her forehead.

"Gotta be this tall to make fun of me," he said.

He grabbed her hand and ran off into the rain.

"W- wait. My backpack," she said.

She only had one arm in a strap.

"Take it off," he yelled.

It trailed behind them as they ran through the rain.

"Where are we going?" she shouted.

"Second-wing entrance," he replied.

"Why?" she asked.

"If no one's used the gym exit then it's locked," he replied.

They both burst out laughing once they made it to the entrance.

"You didn't have to go so fast," she said.

"Yeah, I did," he said.

He was still holding her hand. He brought his other hand up to her face and fixed the loose strands of hair. She smiled. Without giving her time to react he grabbed her head, leaned down, and kissed her. She stood on her toes. After a few seconds, they separated.

"I'm going to be late," she said.

He let go of her hand.

"I'm keeping this," she said and walked into the building.