Just walking in the rain

From the shallow depth of the small bookstore and behind a group of people in the store, she saw him across the street at the main gate of their school. He ran across the street to the bus stop next to the bookstore in the pouring rain. His strides were light and seemingly not too concerned with the rain. He was in his pressed snow white summer school uniform, now beginning to soil. He looked in the direction of the bus and saw nothing coming, decided to get out of the increasingly heavy rain and edged into the bookstore. He did not see her behind the crowd and started to look for books of interest.

They were in the same class in school; she sat two seats behind him to his left. They had not exchanged any spoken words for the two years they had been classmates. She felt, however, they had exchanged unspoken words on many occasions. At times she found him looking at her with a lost expression on his face. She was sure he was smiling at her and wanted to smile back, but had not always managed to do so before he looked away.

She knew that his schoolwork was acceptable, but not outstanding. His interest was chess playing and appeared to be rather consumed by it. His backpack was often full of chess strategy books and only a few textbooks. He read all the time during recess. She made a point to see what he read. No surprise, always Chess strategy book of some kind.

He was of medium height and athletically built but not an athlete. His had an open face always wearing a slight easy smile, as if nothing in the world mattered. She considered him ordinary, average and not particularly good-looking. In the past recent months, she caught herself looking in his direction more often than she intended to. She forced herself not to look at him and failed repeatedly. She told herself it was natural to look at him since she sat behind him. She did not try to justify why she looked at him instead of the instructor on the podium.

Just three weeks ago, he was reading a chess book hidden beneath his desk during lecture. The instructor unexpectedly walked towards him. She threw a paper clip at his feet to warn him. He covered himself soon enough, but only barely. Moments later he turned his head and smiled. She was sure this was one of the exchanges with unspoken words. She was still thinking about it from time to time.

She thought guys of his age should be more in-tuned with time. Having lived fifteen long years or more, he was still totally unaware, unconcerned, aloof, insensitive and not paying attention to girls. She sometimes thought boys in her class were really stupid. 

Upperclassmen were more attentive, eyeing her everywhere she went, following her around after school, and writing anonymous letters to her. Boys in her class, they were impossible, especially him. How could anyone be so..., so stupid.

The rain let up a little and the crowd in the bookstore thinned down. It was also getting dark, a few lights began to appear. She was still glancing at this unknowing guy, reading a chess book he picked up on the bookshelf. He looked around to see if the rain had stopped and saw her turn her head away. He walked up to her, easy smile on his face and said, " Are you waiting for the bus?"

" Er, er, no. It takes three transfers to get home. I usually walk home, it is easier."

"It is still too rainy to walk outside, where do you live? ".

"Er, er, about 20 to 25 minutes on foot from here, not too far from the Jordan area "

Without saying a word, he walked out of the bookstore to the toy store next door, found an umbrella for kids, bought it and walked back to her.

"Come on, I'll walk you home with this. It is getting dark, better get started", showing her the small umbrella. 

"Er, er, okay, are you sure? Do you not have to catch the bus yourself?". Why was he so sure of himself that I would go with him into the rain, she thought to herself.

" I can catch bus #14 from Jordan, it's fine."

They walked out into the rain together, sharing a tiny shelter. Her heart started to pound a little, not knowing if she could carry on a conversation, not knowing if she should take his arm, just not knowing...

He put his arm over her backpack pulling her under the umbrella. They were physically touching; it was a rather tingling and strange sensation for her. She wondered if he felt the same, although it was not apparent on his face. The street was crowded with people hurrying home, splashing, pushing, umbrellas extending. It was like dancing on a crowded floor. He navigated well, grabbing her and guiding her to avoid collisions. They laughed when they bumped into people, they laughed when they barely missed a collision. The tension eased and she asked what he was reading in the bookstore. 

"Ah, it was a classic chess strategy book, believed to have come from the ancient grandmasters. Do you play chess?"

" No, oh, maybe a little. My brother plays a lot".

"Really! I should meet your brother and get a game in with him. Where does he go to school?"

" Same as ours, he is one year ahead. His name is John".

" What! John is your brother? He is a good player. I see him at chess clubs from time to time. Wow, this is just great, You are John's little sister ".
This guy was really obtuse, she thought. What was so great about having John as a brother, but it was nice that he thought highly of John, at least of John's chess skill. 

Conversation flowed easily as they negotiated the rainy streets. It was slow going getting to Jordan but didn't seem slow to her. Street lights, neon signs, street noise and the rain began to fade in her consciousness. She was only aware of his presence and his presence alone. She wished they could walk on forever, together to the end of the world.

He stopped suddenly, and pointed to an open window on a nearby apartment on the second floor, "Listen" he said.

"What?"

"The music. The radio up there is playing "just walking in the rain ". Wow! A nice song. I like it."

" Me too".

They stood still until the end of the song, then went on silently. Both felt the impact of the song on their present situation.

Finally approaching a stairway on the sidewalk, she said, " Here it is. I live upstairs". 

He looked at her hair in the evening glitter and his right hand reached out toward her. 
"Oh, Boy, he is reaching for me. He is going to kiss me. What am I to do?" she thought.

He pulled back his hand quickly and said " I saw an insect near your hair. It is gone now". 

For an infinitely short moment, his eyes caught hers, gazing into the depth of her soul. For her the moment lasted for a lifetime. 

Easy smile on his face, " goodbye, see you in school", he walked away, turned and waved.

She climbed upstairs slowly in a dreamy motion, not knowing where she was actually going. Opened the door and went inside.

Her brother, John, was sitting near the window, listening to the radio, looking at the rain. The radio station started to play "just walking in the rain" again. She stood there for a moment, listening to… 
"Just walking in the rain, thinking how we met... ".

She half-smiled and said to herself silently, I was just walking in the rain---with him.