Colours of the Rain Read online

  Colours of the Rain

  Asrai Devin

  Published: 2010

  Tag(s): romance contempo

  Colours of the Rain

  A Short Story by

  Asrai Devin

  Published by Asrai Devin at Feedbooks

  Copyright 2010 Asrai Devin

  Liscense Notes

  Thank you for downloading this free book. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete orginal format.

  Discover other titles by Asrai Devin at Smashwords.com

  Second Chance Romance Book One Up in Flames Series

  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2340

  Summer Fling - Book Two Up in Flames Series

  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/3117

  Complications Over Coffee - Book Three Up in Flames Series

  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44645

  * * *

  She wakes, slowly, from a dreamless sleep. She found herself alone in bed. She focused on the window first. The bed was right beside the window.

  It was raining. She watched as rain drops hit the glass then rolled down. She reached out and touched the window, tracing the rolling water.

  Finally she stretched and turned over, facing the rest of the room. She could smell coffee, and she thought about getting up for some.

  He was sitting on the chair, sipping his coffee. He looked toward her, noticing her movement. He smiled at her. She smiled back, in an almost sad smile. She turned back to the window watching the rain. Behind the window the city was grey. On a clear day she could see people below walking.

  She felt his weight on the bed behind her. He lifted her into his lap. She smiled and snuggled into his lap. He hugged her close.

  His clothes scratched against her naked skin. She pulled the blanket over her breasts. He pulled it away.

  She let out a small laugh as she arched her back, pushing her head back and looked up at him.

  He cupped her breasts with her hands, running his thumbs in circles around her nipples.

  She watched his pale hands, somehow darker than her pale skin.

  Tears flowed out of her eyes and down her cheeks. Her skin mirroring the window in front of them. She lifted her hand and wiped them away.

  He twisted, peering down at her face. His hair brushed against over face, sticking in the tears. "Are you crying?"

  She nodded, sniffling, wishing they would stop.

  His fingers stilled. He held her in silence for a while.

  "Why are you crying?"

  "Because I'm lucky. Because I love you."

  He kissed the top of her head. "You know I love you too."

  "I know. But I like to hear it."

  He kissed her head again.

  How they met.

  He was third in line. He shifted his weight, his long fingers gripping the books and CD's in his hand. The girl at the counter was arguing with the librarian behind the counter. "This is bullshit. I can't borrow books because I don't have proof of a fixed address."

  "I'm sorry it's the rules."

  "Bullshit." She stormed off. He put his picks down on a table and quickly followed her out the doors.

  She was muttering to herself, and walking fast. His legs were much longer than hers and he caught up to her quickly.

  "You could put your books on my card if you want." He cleared his throat, hoping he had spoken loud enough. He had a habit of being quiet.

  She stopped walking and stared at him. He smiled a little, dropping his shoulders from their hunched state. She waved her hand and started walking again. "I've seen you around the square. I don't mind if you don't return them even."

  She stopped again, and turned on him. Her hands on her hips. "And what would you ask from me in return?"

  "Nothing."

  She looked at him in disbelief. "It's okay. I'll just figure out something else for entertainment."

  He shrugged and kept walking beside her.

  "Are you following me? Weren't you getting books or something at the library?"

  "I'll go back another day. It was just a way to spend time."

  She stopped at the corner, watching the lights.

  "I'm not following you. I'm going this way. To the square?"

  "I'm going to the hostel. I have a headache."

  "You live at the hostel?'

  "Why else would I go there?"

  He didn't say anything. She looked at him disgusted then turned away. She stalked across the street. On the other side she stopped again. She looked at him. "You'd really let me get books on your card?"

  "If you want some."

  She dropped her shoulders. Defenses down, she looked at him. She almost had to take a few steps back to look at him. He was tall. "Maybe another day. I don't think I should go back in there for a while."

  He laughed. "Probably not."

  "You want to get a cup of coffee with me or something?"

  "Food?" His stomach had been rumbling and he had a few extra dollars in her pocket.

  "We pay for our own," she said, turning.

  "Deal." He smiled, looking down at her. She was frightened. She was trembling. Part of him wanted to take her and protect her from what she was running from. He knew better than to try to get close. Girls like that bit and ran, and he would get hurt. He'd been around long enough to know better. There was something about her he longed to discover.

  Twenty minutes later they were eating. She devoured her sandwich as if she hadn't eaten in days. Apparently living at the hostel, maybe she hadn't eaten in a while. He watched her eat for a while, until she realized he was and stopped eating. He picked up his sandwich and ate as well.

  They had both ordered the cheapest thing on the menu: a ham sandwich with milk. Cheap and nutritious.

  "How long have you been at the hostel?"

  "Less than a month. I work at the fast food place around the corner." She chewed her sandwich. "Today's my day off and I thought I'd check my e-mail at the library and get some reading material."

  He nodded.

  "Do you live here?"

  "Here?" He furrowed his brow, trying to decide what here meant.

  "In the city."

  "Oh yeah. I have an apartment near here. I work at the mini-mart in the square. Which is why I've seen you."

  The square was an area of the city that was termed "seedy" by the middle class, problem area by politics, crime riddled by the police, and home by 20-somethings working dead-end jobs or travelling cheaply. Drugs were on the corners, hookers came out at night. A few businesses clung to life there. And the buildings were all but condemned.

  "Good place for snacks. At least it's not far from the hostel." She bowed her head and considered what was left of her sandwich. She picked it up and took a tentative bite.

  "It's not shameful to live there you know." He wanted to reach out and comfort her.

  "I just used to have this good life. Sometimes it's hard."

  He wanted to ask about it, but something held his tongue. He turned his concentration to his food, giving her a moment to gather herself. "People in the square are anything but glamorous. But most of us came from a good life. But we ended up here. You know."

  She nodded. She knew too well, but she wasn't about to confess to this stranger how she came to be here. She finished her sandwich and wiped her hands and face on the napkin.

  He still had half of his left. She leaned back in her chair and looked at him. It was the first time she had really looked. She had avoided eye contact throughout the meal. Her mouth half opened and he thought she was going to say something, but she turned away from him and looked out the win
dow.

  He shrugged, chewing on the last bite of his sandwich. Her long hair fell over the side of her face that was turned to him. It was dark and wavy, like she was. He laughed to himself, at the simile his mind devised. Her eyes were dark and unreadable behind her square glasses. The glasses were fairly new, he thought, not scratched or worn.

  She turned back to him, her hair brushing over her shoulders. She brushed it out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. "How is your headache?" he asked softly.

  "I'm okay. The frustration is forgotten. What are you doing now?"

  He shrugged. "I thought about going home and reading my books. Or heading to the square and seeing who was about."

  "You have lots of friends there."

  It was more like a statement, but he replied as if it had been a question. "I do. I've been hanging around the square for a long time."

  She smiled, looking wistful.

  "Do you want to come hang out with me? I'll introduce you to some people."

  "I've learned not to make attachments. I never stay in one place long."

  Why? The question was posed on his lips, but it remained unspoken. "Come on, you don't want to go sit on your bed in the hostel and pretend to sleep."

  She stared at him, the shock registering on her face. His lips turned into a little smile. "Please. My friends will all be jealous that I brought a pretty girl."

  She smiled, in spite of herself. "Fine. But just this once. If you ever come into my work, I will pretend like I don't know you."

  They left the restaurant. She flung her stuffed backpack onto her back. "What's in the pack?" he asked.

  "Everything."

  "Everything?"

  "Everything I own is in here. I can't leave it at the hostel. At work I have a locker. The rest of the time I carry it everywhere."

  "Everything you own is in there." He stopped walking and looked at the pack. He tried to imagine why she came to a place in her life where everything in the world to her fit into one small canvas bag.

  "Don't look at me with pity," she said, not turning around. She was several steps in front of him and moving further away.

  "I'm just amazed. Shocked. In wonder. But I won't ask you any questions, because you won't answer them anyway." He had closed the space between them.

  She smiled up at him. "You are right about that. My name is Ocean."

  He looked at her, surprised to realize they hadn't yet exchanged names. "Terin."

  "Nice to meet you Terin."

  "You too." He smiled at her, and put his arm around her. She didn't shrug him away.

  It was early afternoon, when most people started making their way to the square. Most of them preferred to be there at night. Terin sat at the long empty fountain. He stretched in the warmth of the sun.

  Ocean sat cautiously beside him. She perched on the edge, eyes sweeping the square. She looked as if she were ready to jump and run at a moment's notice.

  "Are you always so tense?" Terin's leaned forward, his mouth close to her ear.

  She jumped. "Living on street makes one tense."

  He didn't say anything. Just looked at her with his deep blue eyes. She looked away quickly. He smiled and sighed a little. He touched her back softly. She tensed, but otherwise didn't move.

  "Terin, hey man." Terin took his hand off Ocean's back so he could shake his friend's hand. Ocean turned towards them as they greeted one another.

  "Hi, Rex. How's it going?"

  "Not bad. Finally dragged myself out of my place. You?"

  "All right. A day off is always good."

  "Except we aren't making any money."

  "Right."

  Ocean finally turned toward them. Terin smiled at her, reassuringly. "Ocean this is Rex, a good friend. Rex this is Ocean."

  "How'd you get a girl to talk to you man?"

  "I made her an offer she couldn't refuse." Terin and Rex grinned at each other. Ocean rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. Terin sobered. "Sorry. We just sorta ran into each other. I talked her into coming down here with me. She's new."

  Rex nodded. "I see. Well nice to meet you." He didn't offer his hand to her.

  She forced a smile at him. "Nice to meet you too."

  He sat beside Terin. "Where's the computer?"

  "I left it at home. I was just going to the library then back home. But I met Ocean and she sweet talked me." Terin turned and smiled at Ocean. She didn't look amused at his comments. "You did. Swearing at the librarian like that. People always get pushed around by them."

  No one said anything. Terin turned to Rex and started a conversation. Ocean watched them. Rex then excused himself and walked off.

  Terin turned to Ocean. "You shouldn't be so hostile all the time. You aren't going to get attacked in the square in the daylight."

  Ocean opened her mouth then closed it and slouched.

  "Old habits die hard, I know. A smile, a nice friendly hello, that's all you need. I'm not asking you to start a lifelong friendship."

  "I don't like you telling me how to live my life. You know nothing about me."

  Terin sighed. There would be no way to break through her defenses like this. He decided it was better to just let it go. "You are right. I'm sorry."

  "I better be going." Ocean stood and looked at him, uncertain what to say for parting words.

  "When is your next day off?"

  "Next Tuesday." Ocean replied before thinking about it.

  "I work the evening shift that day. I'll meet you at the front doors of the hostel at eleven to head to the library."

  She shook her head. "That's okay. Thank you for the offer."

  "I'm not taking no for answer Ocean. You can meet me then or I'll harass you until you give in."

  "Fine. Eleven. Next Tuesday. See you then." She turned and waved at him over her shoulder.

  He smiled and turned back to the library. He still needed some reading material.

  The next week at 11:00, Ocean packed her bag and left the hostel. True to his word, Terin was a few feet from the door, leaning on the wall. His head was bent as he looked at the book he held in one hand. He was chewing his thumb nail on his other.

  "That is an unhealthy habit," Ocean said, kicking his foot.

  He looked up at her with a smile. "What? Oh yeah it is." He closed the book and put it under his arm. "How are you?"

  "Okay. I saw you out here twenty minutes ago."

  "You were watching for me?"

  "I wasn't sure you would come."

  "I didn't think you would either. If you saw me why didn't you come out?"

  "You said 11. So here I am."

  He laughed. "You're quite the girl."

  Ocean shrugged. "So what's the plan?"

  "To get you some reading material. I need some new stuff too." He waved his book at her.

  She leaned back. "Alright, if you insist."

  "I do. Reading is important."

  She smiled. "It is. I've done far too little of it over the past few years. I've done far too little of anything productive over the past few years."

  "How long have you been travelling around?"

  "Let's see. I don't think about it very often. Six years."

  He nodded.

  She turned her head to look up at him. She wondered how old he thought she was. She hadn't asked anyone that question since she left on her travels. She had been in the middle of her nineteenth year when she left. The seventh anniversary was five months away, and her birthday was in two weeks.

  Not that she observed any of that. No one knew when her birthday was, no one knew when the anniversary of her leaving was. No one knew any details of her life and she wasn't about to tell anyone these things.

  They chatted casually about city life while they walked. Ocean noticed that Terin was careful never to ask any personal questions nor did he make any personal comments. She was grateful for it. She was grateful for a connection with someone. She had learned early in her travels that it was easier to keep to herself. I
t was less painful when it was time for her to move on.

  Lately she had become tired of having no connections, no where to call home and no one to confide in. She liked moving around, seeing different things and not being tied down. But it was exhausting sometimes.

  Terin opened the door for her at the library. "What's your pleasure, m'lady?" he asked, mocking an accent.

  She laughed. "I don't know. I haven't read anything in the last six months, and not much in the last six years. Help me find something."

  "What did you like to read before?" Terin looked at her, probing with his eyes. She wanted to run from them, they looked at her as if they knew too much already.

  She held her ground, looking back steadily into his eyes. "I used to read silly romance, contemporary literature, and self-help type books. I'll take anything." She rubbed her hands together, anticipating holding a book, smelling the pages and viewing the words.

  "We can do all three of those. Now, I think you should pick two of each for now. And we can go from there. Don't think about your choices; just grab something to read."

  He led her to the fiction section. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes." He disappeared around the corner.

  Ocean wandered for five minutes, just looking at the books. She picked four novels off the shelf, one of which she had read before. She was reading the top one before she could even pull a chair out to sit in.

  She was twenty pages into the book when Terin came back. He touched her shoulder, making her jump and throw the book across the table.

  "It's just me," he said, taking his hand off her.

  "Don't sneak up on people like that."

  He moved around the table and retrieved the book. "You don't usually let yourself get lost like that. Is that why you don't read?"

  "Partly. I couldn't get a card and buying books isn't cheap. Not the way I read."

  He nodded. "Is it good?" He set the book on the table in front of her.

  "Yeah."

  "Do you want to get more?"

  Ocean shook her head. "Four is all that can fit my bag, at the moment."

  "I could get you more and keep them at my apartment. Or something." He shifted nervously in his seat.