Rain 01 When It Rains

By

Lisa De Jong

Copyright © 2013 by Lisa De Jong

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

ISBN-13: 978-1492784180

ISBN-10: 1492784184

Edited by Jessica Carnes and Jennifer Roberts-Hall

Cover by Mae I Design

W
HEN
YOU
LIVE
IN
A
SMALL
TOWN
, there’s not much to do on a Friday night after a football game. When the season started, some of the seniors at my high school decided that we should all get together and have a bonfire after each game. It was really just an excuse to drink and hook-up: two things I wasn’t interested in, but I always went to hang out with my friends anyway.

That’s where I was that night.

The night I retreated into darkness, where my night sky had no stars, my days had no sun, and all hope was drained from my body.

It was the night my life ended.

Beau Bennett wasn’t there. If he had been, he would’ve saved me, just like he always did. He was grounded that night for staying out past curfew the Friday before; in fact, it’s the only weekend I remember Beau ever being grounded.

I believe that life is a series of coincidences, and that night, coincidence screwed me over.

I was there with Morgan, my best friend since third grade. She was dating the Senior Class President at the time and it didn’t take long before they disappeared, leaving me huddled near the fire with some of the other kids from my school. I felt completely comfortable being there because I’ve known most of these people since I had moved here when I was five. That’s one of the nice things about small towns.

Or so I thought.

I was sitting with my arms wrapped around myself, trying to warm what the fire couldn’t, when Drew Heston sat down next to me. My stomach immediately did a somersault; I mean Drew was a senior. Mr. Football, as everyone called him. He was the local hero, the type of guy who would have his own billboard outside of town someday. It didn’t hurt that he looked amazing with his short dark hair, light green eyes and broad shoulders.

I had secretly crushed on him since the day I first walked into the doors of my high school. There was something about the way he walked the halls with his head held high that commanded every girl’s attention, including mine. I’d never talked to him, but there he was, sitting next to me in front of the fire. I couldn’t believe it. Things like that didn’t happen to Kate Alexander.

“Hey, Kate, how’ve you been?” he asked, his eyes burning into the side of my head. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. Just being near him made me lose all comprehension of the English language.

“Fine,” I mumbled, biting down on my lower lip. A shiver ran through my body like a freight train as I finally peered up at him.

“Were you at my game tonight?” he asked, bumping my shoulder with his. I could feel the heat coming off his muscular body and it made me blush.

My thoughts drifted back to the third quarter when Drew threw the ball to his star receiver Jackson Reid who, at the time, was surrounded by defenders. My heart raced with excitement as I watched Jackson and three members of the other team jump up to catch the ball at the same time. In the end, Jackson came out victorious because Drew had thrown it right into his hands. It was nothing short of amazing, yet for Drew, it was completely normal.

“You were great,” I replied, nervously reaching up to tighten my ponytail. A breeze blew through and a few raindrops fell from the sky. I ran my hands up and down my arms in an attempt to chase the chill from my body, but it didn’t help.

“Are you cold?” he asked, scooting his body even closer to mine. The way he was looking at me sent butterflies through my stomach. It wasn’t like I was an outcast at school, but I wasn’t one of the elite, popular girls that guys like Drew usually spent any of their time on.

“A little. I forgot my jacket at home,” I replied, feeling a few more raindrops fall on my cheek.

He stood up and reached for my hand. “Come on. I have an extra sweatshirt in the house you can borrow.”

The party was being held at his house since his parents had gone out of town that weekend. I hesitated for a minute before placing my hand in his. I knew of him, but I didn’t really know him. It wasn’t the first time I’d been to his house, but it was the first time I’d been invited inside. I felt a little uneasy, but I still trusted him. I didn’t have any reason not to.

Drew opened the front door, never loosening his grip on my hand as he guided us through the house. My attention was focused on the contemporary paint colors and beautiful cherry wood floors; it barely registered that we were heading upstairs.

I watched as he took a key out of his pocket to unlock one of the doors that lined the second story hallway. He must have noticed the way I was looking at him because his lips turned up on the sides. “I don’t like anyone to be in my room but me,” he said, pushing the door open.

I nodded, following him inside. Did I feel a little uncomfortable stepping into Drew Heston’s bedroom? Yes. Did I think for one moment that I shouldn’t be there? No. I’d known him for years and everyone that knew him, thought the world of him.

When he closed the door and locked it, I felt my heart rate pick up. I watched him glance around the room, following his eyes with mine. The walls were a deep navy blue with various football posters covering them. And I’ll never forget how it smelled like he had used cologne to cover up the stench of his dirty gym clothes.

Drew remained still, staring at me with glossed over eyes and, suddenly, being there didn’t feel right. “Can you find that sweatshirt? I should probably get back outside before Morgan comes looking for me.”

“Oh yeah, give me a sec,” he said, moving to dig through a drawer in his dresser. I walked to the window at the other end of the room and looked down at the diminishing fire. The rain was falling faster against the glass making it harder to see into the distance, but it looked like everyone had left their spots by the fire. I really needed to hurry up and find Morgan before she left without me.

The house was completely quiet, sending a chill down my spine. I closed my eyes and listened to Drew’s footsteps moving closer to me, my heart beating faster every time I heard the rubber soles of his shoes against the floorboards. Everything about being inside his room felt wrong and I knew I needed to escape it. Going to his room was a bad idea . . . and going to that party without Beau was a huge mistake.

As his footsteps continued to get closer, I spun on my heels to head towards the door. I was greeted with dark eyes and a vacant stare. This was not the same Drew that sat next to me by the fire. I wanted to run out of this house and never look back but he was blocking my path. “I’m going to wait outside. It’s getting warm in here,” I lied, motioning toward his door.

He didn’t say a word as he pressed his body to mine, completely closing any gap that remained between us. My hands were sweaty and my knees felt like they were made of paper. It was as if he was in a trance, and it was scaring the hell out of me.

“Drew.”

“It’s raining outside, Kate,” he said, reaching his hand up to cup my cheek. I stepped back out of his grasp, but he followed me. It wasn’t long before my back was against the wall. Even if I wanted to leave, it was too late. His hands rested on the wall behind me, caging me in with his arms. “Mm, you smell so good,” he growled, pressing his lips to my neck. I felt helpless.

“Drew, please, just let me go. I need to find Morgan,” I cried. My whole body was shaking from a fear unlike anything I’d ever felt before. It was paralyzing, but I was stuck.

He ignored me, running his lips down my jawline. I turned my head to fight, but he followed my movements. “What’s the matter, Kate? I see the way you look at me. You want this as much as I do,” he said with a husky voice that sent more panic through my already tense body. I used the little bit of strength I had left in me to push on his chest, but he didn’t move. Not even an inch.