Just wanting to go home and sleep all her troubles away, Eliana put one foot in front of the other. She clutched her backpack straps while she observed the city in front of her as if doing so will keep her safe.
The light blue morning sky had now disappeared to a darker hue since the sun had already set. The shadows started to overtake the towering buildings that made up the city and the lights started to blink through the windows. Neon signs of various colors that advertised different things illuminated the streets. The lampposts that lined the streets gradually turned brighter and cars rushing to get home filled the streets.
She clutched her backpack straps tighter and glanced at her watch. It read 6:37 p.m.
Eliana had missed her bus because of her unexpected visit to the Nurse's Office, so she had to walk the entire way home. In order to do so, she had to pass through the city that she had only seen once since her moving here.
She memorized the way back just in case and she could've biked to school on the weekdays, but her mother didn't want her to walk the streets this late.
She passed through a barb-wired fence covered in wanted and missing posters.
Eliana halted.
Something about the man in the wanted posters seemed familiar...
She shrugged it off and kept going.
Then she felt something cold and wet drop onto her cheek.
Not very long after, rain was steadily falling from thick cumulonimbus clouds.
She unzipped her backpack and hastily searched for her foldable monochrome umbrella with her hand.
"Oh, crap." She muttered under breath, remembering that she left her umbrella next to the door. She sighed and zipped her backpack again.
Eliana was now completely drenched and her clothes were ruined.
She was cold to the bone and the water droplets dripped off her skin.
Nonetheless, all she could do was trudge on and try as best as she can to ignore the the chilly wind gnawing at her shins.
She placed one foot in front of the other, listening to her muffed footsteps thump on the damp concrete.
(* Thump, thump, thump, thump... Thump, thump, thump, thump *)
Something about those footsteps didn't sound right.
It sounded like two people walking, not one.
Eliana peeked through the corner of her eyes and she definitely saw a figure.
She quickened her pace and she could her heartbeat pounding through her ears.
Eliana turned a corner and into a abandoned building that was under construction.
Right next to her, a bundle of metal pipes were strewn about on the floor.
As silently as she can, Eliana picked up the smallest one and held it in her hand.
Eliana heard footsteps behind her grow closer and closer.
She steadied herself, raising the weapon in her hand.
'Any moment now...'
When she deemed moment right, she swung the metal pipe as hard as she can.
Although caught by surprise, the figure swiftly dodged and fell flat on their bottom, only missing the impact of blunt object by half of an inch.
"Hey! HEY! IT'S JUST ME, TIMOTHY, PLEASE DON'T- AAAAAAAA!" He shouted, squeezing his eyelids shut while he raised both of his hands to shield his face.
Recognizing who he was, Eliana lowered her weapon and shook her head.
"Wha... What the actual f**k were you doing just now?!" Eliana blurted as she dropped the metal pipe.
"Y-You could've gotten hurt! Don't just sneak up on people like that!" She continued to cry out.
She bent down and lent a hand to help the school boy.
After he dusted his clothes off, Timothy stared at Eliana as if he was wanted to say something but decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Do you need something?" She asked, tucking a couple loose strands behind her ears.
"No, its just that you're sopping wet-"
Eliana shrugged.
"No dip, Sherlock."
She crossed her arms and tilted her head.
"Anyway, why were you following me?"
"Let me get straight to the point, then..."
"I don't see why you should not..." She mumbled.
"Huh?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Proceed." Eliana nodded as she patted out her skirt.
"You left school even though it was going to rain today and I knew you missed your bus (I did too)... So, I chased after you to give you an umbrella."
"How gentlemanly of you, but still, why didn't you say something?"
"The way you looked earlier... It felt like it rude if I startled or disturbed you..."
He started to fiddle with his fingers.
"I see, but please do say something next time. If you didn't..."
Eliana shivered because of the cold and of the mistake that could've happened.
"Anyway, let's both just go home... It's getting cold."
"Okay, but take this."
Timothy placed the umbrella he has been holding into Eliana's hand.
"Also, I'll walk you home, a real danger could be around the corner this late at night."
"Wait... Will you be okay?" Eliana asked after noticing that there was only one umbrella.
"Oh, I'll be okay. A little rain isn't going stop me, haha. Plus, I have a raincoat on anyway." He assured Eliana while he pointed the black and lime waterproof fabric draped over his shoulders.
They made their way out of the building and through the city streets, observing the scenery before them without exchanging a single word.
"You know…" Eliana suddenly spoke in a quiet voice. She bit her lip, then she continued to speak.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but, I really am glad it was you back there."
Timothy didn't say anything, so she quickly said,
"I don't mean anything weird by it, or whatever you're thinking in there."
She turned to face him.
"It's just that it's nice to know that someone does care, you know?" Eliana smiled.
"Also, how do your ears get so red all the time?"
"Um… W-Well, it must be the lights p-playing tricks with your eyes." He stuttered, twiddling his fingers again. She silently chuckled.
'He may have left the wrong first impression on me, but he can be pretty cute at times.'
"Now that I think about it, I didn't really catch your name. I'm Timothy. Timothy Greyfaun."
"I apologize for forgetting my manners. My name is Eliana. Eliana Terrifota." Eliana answered as she slightly bowed.
"That's a pretty name… Eliana."
She shrugged.
"You think so? I think it's an alright name. Sometimes I feel like it might fit someone else, but then I don't because I'm to used to being called Eliana."
"You serious?… But I really think so."
"Well, I really think you're good at breakdancing."
"Wait… You remember that?"
"Of course I do, it was an impressive sight to remember."
As they got to know each other a little more, Eliana decided that Timothy was not an irritation but someone nice to speak to. In fact, talking to him made walking down these dark wet streets more enjoyable.
They continued to walk down the sidewalk and the rain started to fall harder.
Eliana leaned the umbrella to the left to shield Timothy from the incoming liquid ice droplets. She felt like she would be held accountable if he got sick and besides, the umbrella was wide enough to be shared by two people.
Eliana lifted her eyes skyward.
'Something about the rain makes me feel at ease…'
She heaved a deep sigh.
'If only the rain could wash away the things clouding my mind...'