The day started like any other bright, full of promise, with a sky that was the perfect shade of blue. I'd spent the afternoon with Samantha and Julia, breezing through lunch, catching up on gossip, and laughing at the latest campus drama. But as the clock ticked closer to 4:00 PM, something shifted. The air grew heavier, and I could feel it like the earth was holding its breath, waiting for something.
I should have known better. I should have checked the weather forecast. But no, I was too distracted, too focused on the usual grind of homework, classes, and the unspoken tension that had been building in my chest.
I stepped out of the library with my backpack slung over one shoulder. The late afternoon sunlight was still warm against my skin. I'd decided to walk home that day instead of taking the bus, something I don't usually do, but the weather was so pleasant. The campus was alive with the low hum of people heading to and from their respective destinations, and for a moment, I was just another face in the crowd.
But then, as I took my first step down the familiar path to my off-campus apartment, the sky seemed to shift.
The clouds, which had been fluffing like cotton candy above, darkened into an ominous slate gray, spreading across the horizon faster than I could register. I paused for a moment, glancing up at the thickening clouds, a slight frown tugging at my lips.
A sudden chill sweeps through the air.
It wasn't even a few seconds later when the first drop of rain hit my cheek—light at first, almost playful. But then it came, pouring down in a thick, torrential wave. Within seconds, the street became a blur of raindrops, the world muffled as the sky opened up.
I cursed under my breath. Typical. Just my luck.
I hadn't brought an umbrella, of course. What kind of preppy college girl forgets to check the weather?
My steps quickened as I pulled my bag closer to my chest, trying to shield it from the water that was now coming down in sheets. The sidewalk was practically deserted, with most people seeking shelter in nearby buildings. My shoes squelched with every step, the soaked fabric of my jeans clinging uncomfortably to my legs.
The coolness of the rain wasn't a relief. It felt like an invasion, soaking into my skin, the cold creeping through the layers of my clothes. But I had no choice but to keep walking. My apartment wasn't far, just a few blocks away, but in this downpour, every step felt like an eternity.
Then, out of nowhere, a car came speeding down the road, too fast, too reckless. I barely had time to notice it before the tires hit a massive puddle, sending a wave of water splashing in all directions.
Before I could move or react, the cold, murky water drenched me from head to toe, splattering across my face, soaking through my hair, and sending a cold shiver down my spine. I gasped, eyes wide in shock, as I stood there, frozen for a second, in the middle of the street, blinking through the sudden rush of water that dripped down my face.
My jeans were a sodden mess, my white shirt clung to my body in ways I could never unsee, and my hair—already frizzy from the rain-was plastered on my forehead. I was completely drenched, a walking, soggy disaster.
I spun around, eyes narrowing in disbelief, only to watch the car speed off into the distance. The audacity!
I felt a flash of anger burn through my chest, but it was quickly replaced by a wave of exhaustion. The world seemed to pause for a moment, and I just stood there in the middle of the street, water dripping off my eyelashes, wondering why this kind of thing only seemed to happen to me.
"Great," I muttered to myself, not caring that no one was around to hear.
The streets were empty, save for a few people huddled under awnings or running for cover. I picked up my pace, trying to make it home before I became a complete drowning rat. But as the rain continued to pour, I felt like there was no escaping it.
I should have taken the bus.
But then, just as I passed the old bookstore on the corner, something—someone—caught my eye.
A figure stood across the street under the dim glow of a streetlamp, watching me. He was tall, his features obscured by the heavy rain and the dim lighting, but there was something about the way he stood there, unmoving, that made my heart skip a beat.
I couldn't explain it, but it was like the moment I noticed him, he noticed me too. There was an intensity in his gaze, even from across the street, something that sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn't like the usual glances I get from passing strangers—it was heavy, as if I was being… measured, assessed. His silhouette was striking, with broad shoulders and a tall frame that seemed to command attention even through the curtain of rain. He wore a long, dark coat that clung to his form, the hem swaying slightly in the wind. A hat was pulled low over his brow, casting shadows across his face, but I could just make out piercing eyes that seemed to gleam with an enigmatic light.
I stood frozen for a moment, the sound of the rain pounding in my ears, the sensation of being watched growing stronger by the second. I shake my head, blinking away the water from my eyes.
It was ridiculous.
Who stood out in the pouring rain, just… watching someone?
I started walking faster, desperate to get to the safety of my apartment, but the feeling of his gaze lingered, an electric tension that buzzed in the air around me.
Was he still there?
I didn't dare turn around to check. But as I reached the intersection and the streetlights flickered overhead, I couldn't shake the sense that something was shifting—something that was just beyond my understanding.
The city around me seemed normal, people going about their lives, but I felt it deep in my bones: something was different. And for the first time in my life, I couldn't shake the feeling that my world was about to change forever.