Raindrops on a Bench

She could only imagine the goofy grin plastered on her face as she looked at her stepfather’s eyes that were currently reflecting the light of many candles on his birthday cake. Outside rain drizzled lazily to the ground, booms of thunder we’re heard every now and then. The rain didn’t sadden the mood through. Out of tune, some already half drunk, voices sang “Happy Birthday”. With one big breath the fire from the crayon shaped candles that had previously been used on Jack’s cake, were out.

She spotted him against the wall, sipping a root beer, and eating cold goulash. It only took a second for her to decide not to have a piece of cake. She knew Jack had had a band-aid adorning his index finger before he stirred the cake batter and that it had mysteriously disappeared after he had finished stirring. She didn’t want to be the one to find the Spongebob band-aid in her piece of cake.

She weaved her way through Snake’s and her mother’s friends, and finally caught his eye.

“So I see you raided our fridge…” she stated, her eye wandering to the Styrofoam cup, he held in his hand. He simply nodded his head, taking in another fork full. “… Well I’m glad someone eats the stuff that’s been in our fridge for the past three weeks” she continues a playful smirk dancing on her lips.

With that her he let the noodles he had been chewing fall from his mouth, in a disgusting matter, back into the bow. She shielded her eyes with her hand.
“ So, I take it that green stuff isn’t Momma Spike’s special seasoning?” he said his face turning slightly pale. She slowly shook her head ‘no’, as he chucked his bowl into the already overfilling blue garbage can.

“Stick to the food on the table, Manning.” She jokes a toothy smile on her face mirroring his. His arm extends for a piece of cake with an ‘H’ and half an ‘a’. “Except for that” she swats his hand away from the piece of cake that could hold the missing band-aid. His face is puzzled, but puts his arms up in surrender.

The rain hade faded leaving behind dark clouds and a fresh smell. She could feel her forehead getting sticky from being in such a crowded place with so many people. It was too warm inside. Now most of the ‘grown-ups’ were fully drunk besides a few that were sober.

“Hey, Emma, do you want to get some fresh air?” he asked so innocently, reading her mind almost.

“That’d be great…” she replied in a near whisper, a smile lurking on her lips.

They escape out the front door without a glance of notice from part goers. It smells like rain outside. Puddles are scattered everywhere and seem to have some mystery within them and are just waiting to be stomped on. Emma and Craig walk silently for a couple of minutes. They didn’t know what could be said or what to say to each other.

“So Craig, how is everything in the ‘take-me-back-Ashley’ department?” she questioned tilting her head so she could see into his eyes. They were a beautiful shade of brown; unique in the way they gleamed. She hadn’t noticed they had stopped walking and he was staring at her earnestly at her.

“Things could be better; what about you Emma?” he asked continuing walking on the sidewalk, avoiding the puddles. The air was thick with fog, not too foggy, just a light haze. “What do you mean Craig?” she questioned him. Things were quiet for second or two. “I mean like, how are you?” he said looking down into her eyes. “I’m surviving…” she mumbled out and continued in her normal voice, “Lets go to the park!”

She ran through wet grass and he was taken aback. The sparkles of tears glimmering her hazel eyes had made me think sincerely about Emma Nelson. Was she really as tough as her ego claimed her to be? He dismissed the thought and ran to catch up with her.

“Tag!” He touched her shoulder and ran off. Her long legs caught up to him in no time and “tag you-” she was cut off by a panting voice, “Time out!’ he breathed, hitting his hands into a “T”.

He walked a slow pace is hand on his hip, out of breath. He was making his was making his way to a green bench. Emma ran after him “Don’t sit she!” she yelled, but was too late. Craig Manning had innocently sat on the bench and little raindrops from earlier showers had soaked into his pants

“Well, this sucks…” he stood up peering over his shoulder trying to get a glimpse of his wet butt. Emma was laughing in away she never thought she could laugh. A good feeling washed over her as she continued giggle. He glanced at her and smirked. “You think this is funny?” she nodded her head; laughing “Oh okay…” he said rolling his eyes. Thunder boomed in the distance and as she glanced up towards the stormy sky, she found herself swiped of her feet lying on cold, wet grass. He was pinning her down in a gentle way, an arm and knee resting on each side of her. She continued letting muffled giggles slip from her beautiful lips.

“Ha, ha Miss. Nelson” and as the words slipped from his mouth he found him in a daze. She picked up a near by dandelion and placed it, smiling, behind his right ear. In his daze he searched her eyes for something. The moment was so there. It was the thing that made you heart sigh and one knew it was coming all along.

But with a smile he stood up, holding out a hand he helped her up and watched as she smoothed out her hair and fixed her disgruntled shirt, her backside wet with raindrops mirroring his. She gave him a curious look and put his hand back in hers, pulling him towards her and planting a soft, innocent, sincere kiss on his needy lips. The kiss was beautiful, not demanding or filled with love. Just a kiss.

“What was that for” he question after they had pulled apart, anything but regret in their eyes.

“I think you wet butt is sexy” she said leaning in close, a whisper only met for him to hear. He grinned and slowly strutted to the bench, ignoring the sprinkle of rain that had begun to fall aimlessly to earth. She laughed as he acted in false arrogance, sitting on the wet bench.

“You know raindrops on benches never seem to dry” she stated, sitting down next to him. And with that they watched the rainfall with interest, both of them was in deep in though and his arm hung lazily over her shoulder.