Rain

I don't like the rain. I never have, and I probably never will. It just makes the grass muddy and the world bleak and grey. So I don't watch. I do my homework instead.

Just then, Susan ran in, dripping wet and laughing. I looked up, smiling. She always does this to me. She makes me smile, even though I hate the rain.

"Hey Hannah, come out with me. It loads of fun!" said Susan. And she can just look at me and not forget basic vocabulary, and just tell me to come out and play. And of course, I will.

"Sure, Susan. Just a second," was my lame response as I close my book. Even though inside I screamed BUT YOU HATE THE RAIN! I told the voice to shut up.

She grabbed my hand and pulled me thorough the castle at top speed. All I could think was she's touching my hand! She's touching me purposely! And then we're outside. In the rain. Icky, icky rain.

I must have shown how much I didn't want to be out in the grimy turf because Susan looked at me for a split second, smiled her sunshine smile, and started to dance. Swinging her hips, swaying her arms, spinning around to the beat of her own music. As I watched her, my vocabulary flew out the window. Or what was left of it, anyway.

She saw me looking at her and said, "What's the matter, silly? What did you think we were going to do? Just stand out here?"

Well, yes.

All of a sudden, Susan grabbed my hand again, this time trying to get me to dance. I tried to resist, feeling a little ridiculous and a lot nervous being out here, in the rain, with my beautiful best friend.

"Please dance with me," she whispered. I never was very good at saying no, especially to Susan.

"Okay," I whispered back.

So we danced on the muddy lawn. Well, rather, Susan danced; I tried to copy what she was doing and failed quite miserably. But I stayed out in the harsh rain, dancing with the most gorgeous woman I had ever met and laughing and swaying to invisible music.

Susan stopped. She looked at me with a studious expression on her face.

"What's up, Sue?"

"Nothing, nothing," she replied. "No, wait. There is something up. Sit down with me."

"Here?" I asked, incredulous.

"Yes, here. What's a little mud on our knickers? I'll leave a note for the house-elves to wash these specially," Susan returned, and pointed to her own underwear.

So I sat. How could I not? Even if it was raining, even if the ground was gross and slick with muck. "Fine. Now what's the matter?"

"I'm in love," she said simply.

My heart sank. I wasn't expecting this. She could have said she was running off to America, and I probably would have been happier than I was now. At least if she was in America, I might still have a chance with her. But now I knew I didn't. But I plastered on a smile anyway.

"Wh-Who's the lu-lucky guy?" I managed to say without crying. Well, I was proud of myself for not crying, but I didn't think I could hold out much longer.

"Who said it was a guy?" she retorted with a smile. But just as fast as the smile had come, it fades. "You see, Hannah, there is this beautiful, intelligent, perfect girl I know. Only I don't think she likes me in that way..."

"Well, who is it? You can tell me anything, Sue." I wanted to say something perfect and comforting, but all I could think is, it's not me. Damn! How could I have been so stupid as to fall for my best friend?

"You see, Hannah, that's the thing," she paused. "It's you," she finished quietly.

For a full three seconds I didn't know what to do. Then I knew exactly what to do.

"Please don't hate me, Hannah. I'm sorry."

I kissed her then. It was so perfect. It was grass and rain and mud. It was years of friendship and comfort. It was so Susan. People used to tell me that when you kiss your soul mate, you'd be able to taste something sweet in their mouth. Now, it may have been the hot chocolate we had with lunch, but there was definitely something sweet about this kiss.

Susan pulled away and smiled. Her hair was soaked through, and her uniform was grimy. She leaned in again for another kiss. And everything was right with the world.

I think I love the rain.