It was pouring on the next morning that Pelham doubted whether they were ever going to proceed with their activities, especially not under the thunders clapping in the leaden, murky sky. They were already late for breakfast after thinking they were on a holiday, staying in their beds for longer than necessary. The three boys practically had to bolt all the way from their cabin towards the cafeteria under the heavy downpour; Pelham almost slipping on the slippery mud and Lucio nearly knocking his head against a lamp post, while Roshon let out startled shrieks every time a lightning zipped across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder that seemed to quake the earth.

In the cafeteria, they searched all over the place for an empty table, for Pelham knew that - owing to the fact that they arrived reasonably late - the chances of them finding an empty table were fairly near impossible. All of the students had already arrived, their tables occupied with their belongings - even on some empty chairs - and any attempt at asking whether they could join the others had long been disregarded. Fortunately, after striding around the cafeteria in their soggy state, they did find an empty one near a large window overlooking the now fast surge of the river. The rain was growing heavier, muffling out the chatters of students and the clinks of silverware against plates altogether, while the clouds thickened that they eclipsed any remaining rays of sunlight.

The only reason nobody sat at the table was because water had leaked through the ceiling and was now dribbling all over the surface of the table, by which a bucket had been sat on top of it to contain the water. They took it nonetheless, disregarding the fact of getting droplets of water all over their clothes - particularly on their breakfast.

Pelham grabbed a container of food and a juice box along the way, Roshon doing the same. Lucio, however, had gone off further into the cafeteria for a preferably appetising breakfast. Pelham and Roshon then conversed about their near-to-impossible activity in that kind of weather for a while, seeing as it required running around. After all, they were going to have a Capture-the-Flag game.

That was until a girl with red curls, who looked younger than sixteen, approached their table with poise. Pelham thought he recognised her as one of the honoured students at school, who had gotten into the top-five winners in the recent International Science Competition - not that he bothered to spare a thought on what even occurred around the school. News merely spread like wildfire.

"You're the dark-skinned boy with the red beanie," she addressed at Roshon.

"Excuse me, girl?" Roshon cocked an eyebrow at her, looking quite startled and reasonably offended.

Pelham hid a grin behind his spoon.

"You're ... er, Ricky - no, Rowley-"

"It's Roshon - what d'you want?"

"Mrs Towson sent me to call you," she said monotonously. "And I'm to escort you."

Roshon looked at Pelham, who already had his gaze locked on him. That was their usual silent reaction whenever either one of them couldn't think of a riposte: the internal screaming of what-the-bloody-hell-just-happened?

Roshon took a deep breath before facing the girl again. "Now?" he asked.

"At once,"

"What crime did I do that made you escort me?" Roshon queried. "What did I do now?"

"The fact that you emphasised on the word 'now' gave out a huge impression that you did do something before," Pelham pointed out, feeling relatively shrewd about himself. "And you're not telling me."

Roshon gave Pelham a narked look that made Pelham raise his hands before his chest with his palms out in defence. "Wish me luck,"

And Roshon went off with the girl, leaving Pelham to sit alone at the table. Lucio came back a few minutes later, looking somewhat riled as he slammed his breakfast tray down on the table, causing Pelham's drink to almost topple over from the wobble it had caused. Lucio's little frown faded, however, when he noticed Roshon was nowhere at the table.

"Where's Roshon?"

Of course he'd ask that, Pelham thought to himself. "He was called by Mrs Towson,"

"Did something wrong happen?"

Pelham merely shrugged. "What about you?" he asked, a smile tugging on the corner of his lips. "You looked quite hacked off about something earlier and it was sort of funny."

"I just took a drink and hit my elbow on the edge of a stupid table and it spilled all over my breakfast," Lucio explained. "It was an apple juice."

"Did your food swim?"

Lucio sent a vexed look in his direction in response.

Pelham couldn't stop the grin that was now pulling on his face, so he laughed. Lucio glowered at him, but he soon joined in anyway.

They were supposed to have the game up until noon. Initially, the teachers had almost cancelled the whole day's activity due to the grim weather, not until bursts of gripes emanated from the students did they affirm their consent. And as though the early downpour wasn't heavy enough, another shower of rain poured down from the leaden clouds by eleven in the morning, which might cause reasonably acute injuries to the students playing the game around the forest and hills had they not been watchful. Pelham's group was winning (credits again, to Gary Kieth), however. On the contrary, Roshon never returned since he was called. And Pelham found himself constantly worrying about his best friend, even though he had Lucio for company.

The game was cut short by half-past eleven, even though their time was supposed to be until half-past twelve. The students had brought umbrellas and rain jackets, as they were told to in the list. But the teachers, regardless of the murmurs of complaint that was beginning to grow from the students, just had to put the activity to a stop when a radiant, golden lightning pierced the sky, followed by an ear-splitting crack of thunder that quaked the ground. The girls weren't the only one who squealed.

"We would still proceed with the activity if it weren't this heavy!" Franco shouted in the rain when they were all assembled a a small shelter. "Now, proceed to your cabins and stay inside until supper - be careful on the way!"

Just like that, by twelve-thirty, they were all inside their cabins. To Pelham, it was actually fairly cozy; the sound of pouring rain running in the background like a static television, spattering against the window and dribbling all the way down. He lay on the couch with his hands tucked behind his head as he gazed up at the ceiling, thinking of nothing at all. It was all like that; serene. He didn't even feel like moving a limb, nor did he feel like starting a conversation with Lucio, who was almost engulfed by the armchair beside him, reading a book with a mug of hot coffee placed on the small table beside him.

It felt more like vacation.

The silence stretched out for another long while, the distant thunder muffled by the heavy deluge of rain. Pelham was just about to doze off when the door burst open to reveal Roshon, who was practically drenched from head to toe. Pelham and Lucio jumped up then, slightly dizzy by the sudden noise breaking the serene silence.

"Rosh!" Pelham exclaimed, as though his best friend had just returned from a war. "Where were-"

"Dude, you cannot believe this, I'm telling you!" Roshon slammed the door shut and took four big strides before he stood in front of Pelham.

Pelham stopped short. "Haven't heard you say 'dude' in a long time,"

Roshon gave him a look. "What does it matter?"

"So what's up?"

"Were you in trouble?" Lucio asked, finally putting down his book.

"No," said Roshon. "But look at this!"

And he shoved a letter - almost soaked too - under Pelham's nose. Gradually, Pelham took it and unfolded it. Lucio looked up at Roshon, but Roshon motioned him to read it with Pelham.

Pelham had only read the header - Study in New York - when he suddenly hollered, "Holy-"

"Yeah, baby!" Roshon snatched the letter back, his face split into a broad grin. He was practically jumping on his heels.

"You - you got in, then?" Pelham said, way louder than he'd intended, as though the answer wasn't already printed on the cream A4 paper.

"Got what?" Lucio said, clearly baffled by the sudden excitement.

"Right? Man, I thought I'll never get it! Gaming, Pel! That's my dream!"

"But didn't you apply for this way back in September?"

"Worth the wait, right?"

"I honestly don't know what to say. Rosh, this ... this is brilliant!" Then something struck Pelham. "Wait, you're going then?"

"It's just for a trial, I'll be back here before the finals," Roshon told him.

"What's going on?" Lucio said, clearly ignored by both of them.

"Rosh has always wanted to be a gaming master since we were fourteen," Pelham told him. "Well, it seems like he finally got it."

"Took you that long?" Lucio asked.

Roshon nodded, still grinning. "Like I said, it's worth the wait,"

"So why did you have to miss the activity today?" Pelham asked, thinking he already knew the answer.

"Yeah, we were winning," Lucio added with a grin.

"I have to fly to New York tonight,"

If Pelham were drinking a coffee, he would have have spitted it out and choked.

"They had the ticket booked already. My parents knew. Last-minute call, you see," Roshon huffed. "I know, mate. I know."

"Well, you can't miss it," Pelham clapped Roshon's shoulder. "There's your dream blooming right there in New York."

Roshon didn't say anything but smiled.

"C'mon, we'll help you pack." Pelham added.

Pelham admitted that he might be a little upset at the sudden news that his best friend was going to leave for one whole month. He and Roshon kicked around it further - they even included Lucio, despite only knowing him for a couple of days. Pelham felt like it wasn't apt to leave Lucio out. If he were to point it out himself, Lucio was already in their little circle of friends. His little circle of friends.

It had been a rush that whole evening. Instead of spending the rest of the rainy day relaxing like he had been intending to, Pelham found himself dashing in and out of the rooms to help Roshon pack - not that there was much. After all, he was flying off at half-past ten. Roshon had to leave before three, particularly seeing as the airport was miles away from where they were now.

Pelham and Lucio accompanied Roshon to Mrs Towson's Jeep later that evening - so much for being a loyal friend. It was drizzling then, and a few students could be seen walking around under umbrellas and chatting away, minding their own business.

"You'll be great, Rosh," Pelham told him, giving a clap on his shoulder once again before pulling him into a big brotherly hug. "If they ever need reviews - say they're not much of a professional - call me and I can lecture them."

"So you still play the crappy zombie game I made back in Year Eight?"

"Whatever it takes as a friend," he shrugged.

"These people aren't my friends,"

"Yes. Also, bring back that American accent," Pelham grinned.

"See you in a month," Roshon said. "And by the time I get back, you better tell me you already lost your vir-"

"OI!"

Lucio, who had been silently watching the moment between the pair of best friends, let out a loud snort with a reasonably amused expression drawn all over his face. "You take care, Lucio. Nice having you around," Roshon addressed at Lucio.

"You'll only be away for a month," muttered Pelham.

"And look who's emotional," Lucio pointed out, to which Roshon gave him a high-five.

"All right, all right, you can continue your chit-chat on the MySpace or MSN later on, we're running late here," came Mrs Towson's voice as her petite figure shoved past the boys and into her jeep. "C'mon, Ledger!"

Roshon gave a weak smile before getting into the Jeep after Mrs Towson, and they sped off immediately, which told Pelham and Lucio just how late they were running. Pelham and Lucio remained on their spots, the rain lightly dampening their clothes. Again.

"Who uses MSN anyway?" Lucio wondered aloud, staring at the shrinking Jeep.

"And MySpace?" Pelham added.

"Do they even exist anymore?"

"Just you and me now, Lu," Pelham sighed. "You in the mood again for UNO?"

Lucio smirked. "Is that a challenge?" he asked, a glint of amusement present in his tone.

Pelham cocked an eyebrow before throwing one arm around Lucio's shoulders, causing the latter to burst into a small chuckle as he dragged him along the way to the cabin by his shoulders.