Raindrops

[Taylor Smith]

Taylor had been in the park almost all morning, having gotten out of her dance lessons for the day because of a twisted ankle. It was already doing better, but the teacher had told her to take it easy for today and get back to work tomorrow, so that she wouldn't bruise it anymore by putting too much weight on it. For most of her time out she had been lying down on the grass, simply enjoying the small amount of freedom she had been given for the morning, as she knew she'd have to go back to school during the afternoon for her other classes. But to her, going to that school was some kind of freedom. She could do what she loved doing most, and that without any restrictions. She was only starting her second year and yet she felt she had learned such an amount of amazing things she didn't know before, making her better every day.

After a while of relaxing, she had ended up falling asleep on the ground, which would probably end up in her catching her death but she didn't mind. She was often lacking sleep during the first weeks of school and she knew she wouldn't last until weekend by sleeping only five hours per night. She awoke only when she felt small raindrops colliding with her nose, her eyes snapping open as she noticed the sky was now a dark shade of grey. Sitting up, she looked around to see that the park was getting emptier, most people wanting to rush to the safety and warmth of their house. Sighing, Taylor got back to her feet, smiling lightly when she felt almost no pain in her ankle. It was already completely healed. She started slowly making her way back to school, not realizing she had left her coat on the ground. When the rain started getting heavier, she wrapped her arms around her body, shivering lightly, and finally noticing that she was missing something. Groaning, she turned around and started walking back to where she had been earlier, hoping her coat would still be there. As the rain started falling harder and harder, she quickened her pace and soon started running, her head down as she was getting blinded by the water that was falling on her face. The next thing she knew, she was lying down on the ground again, mud and water splashing around her as she gasped lightly.

She looked up sheepishly, wipping the water from her face to be able to see who she had collided with.

• • • • •

[David Monteiro]

David was walking outside the park. He had been shopping as since he got back from the summer vacations he hadn't had the time to properly shop for food or any other basics. Now he was heading towards the Academy, he'd get there faster if he cut through the middle of the park but he still wanted to see one or two shops more. However, his plans were ruined as soon as he felt a raindrop on his head "Oh no, my hair! And all my shoppings!" he thought.

Quickly he turned left into one of the park entries, the rain was getting heavier, he was now having a hard time keeping his balance while running with the bags and make sure he wouldn't slip. He looked down for a moment to make sure nothing was escaping from the bags and before he had time to lift his head again he collided with something or someone as he heard a gasp.

"Shoot!" he couldn't help himself from saying. His vegetables were spread all over the mud, though those were still wrapped in plastic and could be saved but unfortunately his bread bag had riped itself and the bread lay there all soaked with muddish water "Oh man!" he said frustrated.

Then he remembered he had collided with someone so he looked up to see who it was. His jaw almost dropped, it was Taylor, a Junior dance student, David had seen her dancing a couple of times, she was a great dancer. "Oh God, I'm so sorry, I just looked down for a moment and then..." David really admired Taylor skills so that was kind of an embarassing moment for him as he hoped to one day be formally introduced to her. Even in that situation he couldn't not notice how she had the perfect ballerina body. "I'm really sorry, I hope you haven't hurt yourself I'd kill me if I was the cause for you stop dancing..." David stopped himself, he realised he had probably crossed some line since he and her weren't friends and he was talking to her like they known each other for years "Right David, way to go" he thought to himself feeling an urge to slap himself at that moment.

[Taylor Smith]

Taylor could feel the sharp pain returning to her ankle and swore under her breath. She couldn't afford to miss another day of practice, but it looked as though she'd have to. Mrs. Meyer wouldn't be too happy about that either, especially after she'd given her a day to rest it so that it would get better and now she'd only made it worse. She cursed herself mentally for not looking where she'd been going, especially when running. She should know stuff like that by now, shouldn't she? At least she knew it wasn't broken, which would have probably put a stop to whatever carreer plan she had in mind, but she'd have to work very hard to make it stronger than it was now. She couldn't afford weak ankles, not while dancing. She knew it was not disastrous to have a twisted ankle, but it was not good either. She had to get back to work soon before it lost all its strenght. Then again, she'd been working for so long now, she knew it wouldn't lose all of its force so easily.

She was brought back to reality by the voice of a guy, apparently frustrated by his fall and she glanced up, biting her bottom lip nervously, opening her mouth to apologize when he saw her and started apologizing himself. He sounded really guilty but someone she couldn't get a word in between to tell him it wasn't his fault, and she couldn't help but notice that he looked at her slightly admiratively, though she couldn't quite understand the reason. Of course, she wasn't fully unaware of her talent, but she was not the kind of girl who admitted that she danced very well easily. She usually stopped herself at saying she danced well, simply - she was a modest girl and she couldn't quite help it. So as she listened to him talk, she couldn't help but blush lightly.

"It's all fine, no harm done," she said finally, smiling lightly at him. "I wasn't looking where I was going, so it's as much my faut," she added. She was trying to replace him but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't put a name on his face. She figured he went to the Academy, but he wasn't in her class, and he didn't look older than her, so he was probably a Sophomore, since he did look older than a Freshman too. She slowly got back to her feet, testing a bit of pressure on her foot and finding it wasn't as bad as she'd thought. She would indeed have to take it slow until the end of the day, but she would hopefully be fine by tomorrow.

• • • • •

[David Monteiro]

David noticed her cheeks became a slightly red and since the weather wasn't exactly the warmest at the moment with all the rain so he guessed she was probably embarrassed by his scrutiny. David couldn't really understand the feeling as he usually liked to be watched and admired. It was with relief he heard her saying she was okay and no one was to blame which made him really happy. David was realizing she was really shy as she seemed but he was discovering now she was also very sweet. David was hoping that this was finally his opportunity to really make contact with her.

She was now looking at him like as she was trying to remember something when he realized she probably didn't knew him "Oh, I apologize, I'm David, you must not know me but I know you, Taylor, right? I'm kind of a fan of yours, seen you dance a couple of times" David was not one to hold is inhibitions for too long, the more he spoke the more he felt compelled to spoke. He stretched out his hand and looked how she weighted herself to see if her feet were supporting her "Oh oh, ankle troubles? I hate those, they're really a pain, I hope I haven't made it worse, it's not like Audrey...erm... I mean Mrs Meyer, it's not like I'm her favourite student if she knows I somehow caused damage to one of her students she might go balistic... and I'm probably talking too much again...". David was now feeling rather silly with his hand outstretched in the middle of the park when was pouring rain with all the bags spread on the ground around them.

[Taylor Smith]

She smiled lightly and tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear, tilting her head slightly as she looked at him. "Nice to meet you David," she said and shook the outstretched hand before nodding slightly as he guessed who she was correctly, then blushing once more as he added he was a fan of hers. To be honest, he wasn't the first to tell her, younger students sometime did say things like that, but she was never completely at ease with hearing it. After all, she wasn't a famous dancer, though she hoped to be someday, and getting compliments and being told she was admired always kinda seemed like a dream to her, as though she was getting an early sight of what her life could be if she achieved what she wanted to. Dancing was her life, simple as that, she couldn't imagine herself doing anything else at all, and she knew it would be extremely hard to give up if the day came that she had to. Like her mother, she planned on teaching Dance once her carreer as a ballerina was over, if she ever had one. If an injury came to keep her from dancing at all... well, she really didn't want to think about it.

She laughed slightly as he mentioned how their Dance teacher, Mrs. Audrey Meyer, wouldn't like to see her injury and know it'd been worsened by someone else. "There's no worry to have," she assured him. "I twisted my ankle yesterday and Mrs. Audrey gave me the day off to let it rest so that I'd be able to go back to class tomorrow," she said. "But you didn't really made it worse. I thought the fall might have damaged it more than it already was at first but it's not really that bad, I'll just have to be very careful until later tonight. It should be fine by tomorrow," she said with a light grin. At least she hoped so, because he was right - Audrey definitely wouldn't be happy if it wasn't, but she didn't plan on telling her she'd bumped into someone either way. "But even if she is unhappy about it, I'm not gonna rat you out," she added with a small laugh. "So you're safe."

• • • • •

[David Monteiro]

David was thrilled when she stretched her hand and shook his. As she blushed again David couldn't help himself from saying with a big smile "Oh my god, you're so cute!". Then he listened her talking about having twisted her ankle in the previous day and how she wouldn't 'rat' him to Mrs Audrey. When she finished David looked thrilled again "Are you for real? Talented, charming and nice?" Then he put his hands around his waist and put on a suspicious face "Weren't you suppose to be all snobbish and look down to a sophomore like me?" he said kidding.

Assuming that position made him remember it was raining "You know, it's getting kind of wet around here and I reckon if I were straight this could have been quite a romantic situation." He started grabbing what he could save from the ground "What do you say if we... oh man it's ruined... " he was looking at what have once been a perfect delicious white bread "as I was saying what do you say if we head back to the Academy, maybe we could talk a little bit more once we get ourselves a little bit more dry." the last part of the sentence denoted a more hoping tone. David couldn't still believe how nice she was being and didn't know if she'd find that too upfront.

[Taylor Smith]

Taylor thought he was nice but she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable and awkward in his presence. She hardly knew him but he surely seemed more outgoing and outspoken than she was. She didn't have a problem with that really, but it didn't really make her feel at ease, and the more he talked, the more she felt like her face was getting even redder than it already was, especially when he asked if she was for real. It was always hard for her, being spoken too, especially when it was on good terms. She was one of those people who'd rather have been ignored, frankly. And this guy's admiration, no matter how sweet she thought it was, was not something she easily dealt with. She never knew how to answer to compliments - she feared she would either seem conceited if she accepted them simply, as though it was something she already knew and didn't need to be told, or that she wouldn't seem grateful enough if she didn't say much.

When he mentionned it was wet around, she quickly jumped on the change of subject to get away from the awkwardness she felt a moment before, thankful that she wouldn't have to answer to anything else. "Yeah, going back would be a good idea," she agreed. She was really getting cold now from the rain and only wanted to get back and change into dry and warm clothes. She gave a small smile as he then suggested talking more afterwards, and she probably would have tried to find a reason to say no - she was somehow craving for peace and quiet right now - if it wasn't from the hopeful tone of his voice. "Sure, I'd just need to get changed and maybe take a quick shower first," she said with a small nod. She just hoped it wouldn't be so awkward as before.

• • • • •

[David Monteiro]

While waiting for answer from Taylor, David picked up all he could from the ground. "I hope I have not scared her for good, why can't I just go easy?! No, I just have to let out all of my 'charm' on her". He knew her to be really shy so he had to give her time to process all of his 'hyperness'. "Say yes, say yes" he was mentally saying to himself. When she answered he had to refrain himself from jumping when she agreed to meet later to talk a bit more, though he couldn't help out from letting an "Awesome!". He directed himself towards the park exit waiting for her.

After it David became silent for a moment. It was time for him to start trying to win her trust and also making her at easy around him so he brought a topic he knew would help creating a bond between them. Glancing at her ankle he asked "So, how exactly did you hurt yourself? Was Mrs Meyer in one of her non-stop let-kill-my-students day?". All the while David was still 'taking her measures' "She's really fit to be a ballerina. Mrs Meyer must love her, me I was never one for ballet I just hope we try more modern stuff this year, those tights are sooo itchy!" a grin crossed his face with that last thought.

[Taylor Smith]

Taylor couldn't help but smile when she heard David's exclamation to her answer. Maybe it would be so bad to get such an outgoing friend after all. She wasn't sure she would ever be able to be anything like him, or people like him, who were outspoken and talked to people with familiarity even though they didn't exactly know them that much. But maybe he would still be a good influence for her, to help her with her shyness that often became a problem for her. She didn't exactly like being so shy, she didn't do it on purpose - it was simply the way she was. She couldn't manage to go and talk to people on her own, even though she was able to answer to them whenever they talked to her - she hated rudeness after all. And it wouldn't hurt to be a little more outgoing either.

She followed him to the park exit with a small smile, glad to see she was able to walk on her foot without too much difficulty, though she tried to keep her weight off it as much as she could. She laughed a little when he asked her how she'd bruised her ankle and shook her head, brushing away a strand of wet hair that was stuck to her forehead. "No, it was simply clumsiness. Somehow, when I'm not dancing, I manage to have problems with my balance," she admitted with a shy smile. "I wasn't looking where I was going and I tripped, fell badly, twisted my ankle in the process," she added with a shrug. "I simply feel glad I didn't break it," she finished with a light grin, glancing at him sideways.

• • • • •

[David Monteiro]

David was happy to finally see a true smile on Taylor's face. "Oh she smiles" he noticed how she seemed more in sync with the world when she smiled "See you should smile more, it suits you very well and not everyone can get away with smiling". Being a dancer too David could tell she was still avoiding putting too much weight on her hurt ankle "Everything okay?" David laughed lively when she told him about her clumsiness and when she grinned he stopped walking "Wait! Stop everything! She can grin! Girl, you've been holding on me!" and then he started laughing nonstop. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I hope you don't feel like I'm mocking you, is just me, I like to joke about stuff."

The rain was now getting less intense now and they were almost at the exit of the park. "Hmm my roommate won't be happy with me getting in the room all dry, let's just hope he doesn't thinks I'm trying to hit on him" he said winking at her. "So are you happy with your roommate?" he so wanted to keep talking to her, he just felt good around her, she had a calming effect on him which he was very much enjoying and he also felt like he could learn so much from her.

[Taylor Smith]

Taylor blushed lightly again when he made a comment on her smile, but somehow she was getting a bit more comfortable with him now and the blushing didn't happen as often as it normally would, nor was it as strong. Currently, it could be simply taken from the fact that they'd been standing in the rain for a while now and she was getting a little cold. "I'm not a very... expressive girl," she explained. "Not at first anyway. Mostly my emotions come out when I dance," she added thoughtfully. It could seem a bit weird, but she was like that. She was scared, most of the time, of letting her emotions out, because she figured that way it would be easier to get hurt. And like any very sensitive girl, she didn't like getting hurt, though most of the time she simply ignored it and acted as though it didn't really matter. She giggled lightly when he then made comment on the fact that she was able to grin, shaking her head lightly. This guy was really something, but somehow she knew he wasn't making fun of her. She figured it was just some good old teasing, like friends do, and she didn't feel embarassed by it.

She listened to him talk with a smile but it faltered a little when he asked about her roommate. How to describe the situation? She didn't want to say she was upset because her roommate hated her - it wasn't true. She didn't think Vanessa hated her, simply... she didn't like her for some reason. But she didn't really want to blame the girl or anything for the fact that their relationship was so tense. She'd surely done something for it to get like that. "Well, let's say we're not exactly the best of friends," she stated slowly, as though looking for her words, hoping they wouldn't sound wrong. "We're both in the same year, but I suppose our personalities just don't click."

• • • • •

[David Monteiro]

A shadow crossed David's face momentarily when Taylor mentioned she wasn't a very expressive girl and her emotions came through dance, he nodded lightly knowing what she meant. Truth is that despite all of David's effusiveness and outgoing boy mask, beneath it he was very closed on himself, rarely allowing someone to see his fears and desires, having always been able to push more delicate or sentimental feelings and thoughts aside with a laugh or a joke. However rarely anyone noticed how alone he is deep inside as he always look so cheerful and happy with life, he believed if he faces life in an optimistic way eventually good things will happen. More and more he was feeling a good connection with Taylor.

He saw her smile retreat a little at the sound of the word roommate. She took a moment before answering, like she was choosing her words carefully. When she finished he said bluntly with a smile "So basically you dislike her" he finished with a laugh. "My roommate is a Senior Theater student, a guy named Aidan. Has quite a cute butt I must say but our personalities don't seem to quite fit each other. I hope we can co-exist politely for the rest of the year." At the reference of Aidan's butt he realized something "I rather doubt that that butt reference gave me away but as you must have deducted I'm gay, just thought I'd put that on the table, some people just get uncomfortable but I like to be straight forward from the beginning and let the person decide if they want to keep talking to me or not." David was never one to be discreet and had promise himself never to hide anymore and also he didn't thought Taylor was the judgmental kind of girl.

[Taylor Smith]

Taylor thought she saw a change in David's expression as she mentionned she wasn't a girl that let out her emotions show too much, but she couldn't really be sure if she'd really seen it, and even if she had, she didn't know what it meant. Though somehow, she figured that maybe he wasn't so different from her. She knew, from one of her best friends when she was in elementary school, that people who came off as cheerful and outgoing weren't necessarily constantly happy about their life, or who they were. It could simply be an outside face of their personality, one that they weren't as afraid to let show, and she could understand that. The more you let your emotions and thoughts out, the easier it is to get hurt. And hurt pretty badly at that. It wasn't a happy place to be.

She smiled and shook her head lightly as he jumped to the wrong conclusion about her roommate, sighing lightly. She hadn't wanted to say what it really was, she didn't feel like playing the victim, but she didn't want him thinking that she had a problem with Vanessa herself. "No, I don't dislike her," she said after he made his comment. "I don't really know her all that much to be honest, but she seems like a nice enough girl. She dislikes me," she added, shrugging lightly as though it was nothing big. Truth being, to Taylor, it was. It was foolish and unreasonable, but she sometimes wished she could be liked by everybody, or at least tolerated. She hated the feeling of being disliked by someone, even when it was somebody she didn't know. She then laughed lightly as he mentionned his own roommate - she knew Aidan alright, he was one of her very good friends since the previous year. And though she hadn't exactly looked at his behind all that much, she couldn't deny he was good looking, but to her he was more of a big brother. "Oh, I know him," she said with a small smile. "Don't let his appearance fool you, he's not exactly the same guy inside as he would seem on the outside. Mainly, it's just his way of protecting himself," she added before grinning widely. "Well, I'd figured that out already to be honest," she said, nodding. "And don't worry, I won't run away because of it."

• • • • •

[David Monteiro]

David made an outraged face when Taylor told him her roommate didn’t like her “She what? That bitch! How can she not like you? You’re adorable!” David added with a smile “You know what your problem is? You’re too nice. What’s her name again?” David was almost infatuated with Taylor kindness, sweetness and shyness, clearly she was unease with having someone that didn’t like her. He had always been so flamboyant, loud and definitely not shy that he found such qualities just adorable in Taylor and thinking she hadn’t got snob with all of her talent.

When Taylor mentioned she knew Aidan David instantly tuned on what she was saying “Ohhh you do? C’mon tell me! Tell me all the juicy details. Don’t hide anything from me!!!” he listened to her explaining he was more than what the eye can meet. “How close together are you? Will I be able to survive a year with him? Hmm maybe the question is more of will he be able to survive me” David made a grin he wasn’t planning on making Aidan’s life hell but if he turned out to be a jerk he sure wouldn’t be shy in paying back.

“I’m glad you’re fine with my sexuality. I mean seriously I was so gay so soon there was never a point in hiding it. It got easier with time but it wasn’t always like this.” David took a moment he didn’t wanted to turn that first interaction into a trip down sad memories lane and he also didn’t like to dwell in sadness and commiseration he believed if you force yourself to look happy eventually you will be happy. “Let’s not talk about sad things. How’s that ankle going?” however in the back of David’s mind a little sadness had laid down and curled not ready to go away right away.

[Taylor Smith]

Taylor blushed lightly and shook her head, giving a small smile. "She's pretty nice actually, I'm sure. She doesn't exactly hate me, you know," she added. "I think I might just make her a bit uncomfortable or something, it'd be unreasonable for me to expect everybody to like me anyway," she shrugged. She didn't think it was necessary to add she'd met people who were much worse than Vanessa on the disliking department, and she didn't mind it as much as she used to either. "I mean, at least she talks to me," she added. She'd been with people who just ignored her, and that wasn't a fun place to be in.

She raised an eyebrow lightly as he started pretty much pleading her to give her details about Aiden. "Well, I don't know what to say, really," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she frowned throughtfully. "He's not as he seems though, that's one of the most certain things I can tell you," she added with a short nod. "He's a very straightforward guy, seems very confident in himself too. It can be annoying if you don't know him well, but he's definitely not conceited, and he's a nice guy. He helped me with my Science classes last year, gave me tutoring."

She gave a small smile and nodded. "I think that's important, being okay with who you are," she said. "Not many teenagers manage that, it's such an awkward period of our life," she added with a light frown. Even she wasn't quite sure she really liked being the way she was. There was always a little something bothering her about the way she acted, or the way she looked, the way she did this or that... but that was possibly her self-consciousness that didn't help too. She then grinned lightly when he inquired about her ankles and put a bit more pressure on it, testing it. "It seems fine. I'll still try to keep weight off it for tonight, that way I'll be okay for the classes tomorrow."

• • • • •