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It got dark really fast that day. The clouds were grey when I walked out the school doors and the rain began on my way home. Good thing I forgot my jacket.

All the richer kids in their uniforms hurried by to their cars with their chauffeurs carrying umbrellas for them. Too bad I had to walk home. With a partial scholarship, all my money every weekend goes to the other half of the unpaid schooling. For this reason, I don't have enough money for a uniform and the school. So management lets me go out of uniform. I feel so odd doing it though, and people stare a lot. But gotta do whatcha gotta do. And I gotta do what I gotta do to keep attending that fancy school with the excellent teachers.

Man it's almost pouring now. My books are going to be soaked if I don't hurry up! Maybe walking through the field would be faster and a little dryer this time. At least the high corn would protect me more than out in the open on the sidewalk.

So I turned the corner at the next block and entered the large expanse of field before me. The rain did lighten when I walked in, just as I had thought. So I just kept going straight, trying not to stray off course. This proved difficult as the corn was too high for me to see over.

I stopped to get my mp3 out of the side pocket of my bag. The earbuds slipped in easily, and I stood for a moment to choose a song. One of my favourites. "Jane Doe" by Nevershoutnever. Perfect. Goes nicely with the weather too.

"Hey."

I whipped around to the voice. Standing only a few feet away was a red headed, tall, pale kid in the school uniform. His golden, catlike eyes caught my gaze immediately, and I felt I couldn't look away. He had a mischievous grin split across his face as he walked a couple steps closer to me. Great, the song is ruined. "Why are you walking around in a field in the rain?" he asked, still smirking.

Are his canines... pointed?

I looked from his teeth quickly back up to his eyes. What was the question? "Umm..." I stuttered. "Ahm... It's better than walking on the sidewalk in the rain. I also usually come to sit here after school, to do my homework."

He let out a small laugh, glancing at the sky and shoving his hands into the pockets of his black pants. Those teeth... "That's a pretty smart reason. But why do you come to do schoolwork here instead of at your house?"

I moved my gaze to the muddy ground. My converse will be very dirty. I have to wash them off. The laces can't be fixed though. Neither can that peeling off the side...

"You still with me?"

"Yeah." He shouldn't be asking me questions like that. The pattering of the rain on my hair and the ground was the only sound I heard. I don't know him. He doesn't know me. Why did I answer the first question anyways?

"Ok, well... I'm going the same way you're going."

"Ok."

Whatever.

I turned around and began walking again. I heard rustling behind me indicating that he had followed. I didn't bother to turn around. How come I've never seen him this way before if he's "going the same way"?

The fast squelching sound told me he was jogging to catch up to me. The song was almost over. "Whatcha listening to?" he asked, bending to look into my eyes. That pale face was like a spotlight in this dim, clouded light.

"Christofer Drew," I replied, showing him the mp3 screen.

His smirk widened. "I like that song," he said, leaning closer and placing an arm around my shoulders.

As soon as we touched, a spark ignited in the pit of my stomach. I gasped and stopped walking. What the hell... Am I sick?

But... it felt kind of good...

I realized that I must seem like such an idiot for stopping. But when I looked over at him he had stopped as well. His face had shocked look plastered on his face, that smirk completely gone. He was staring straight ahead, his golden eyes open wide and his shoulder stiff around my neck. Did he feel it too? Was it static electricity we'd both picked up combining? STUPID, I know, but what else could that have been?

He giggled. The shock had left his face and he was now staring happily back at me. Damn those teeth... What the heck is it with this guy? "Well am I sure glad I met you!" What is that supposed to mean? The question must've revealed itself in my eyes, because he laughed some more and said, "You make things exciting."

I was still shocked about that big pop. We both experienced it, so nothing could've just spontaneously broken or burst inside me. But it spread throughout my body and then back to my stomach. The first time it was pleasant, like butterflies you get on a high fair ride. But after a few seconds it made me sick. My head throbbed and all of a sudden the world was grey. Oh my gosh... so lightheaded...

"Hey..." He saw that I wasn't moving when he tried to continue walking. "What's up?"

I feel sick. Gripping his arm, I lowered myself down to the ground and brought my hand to my stomach. I need to puke. I didn't eat much this morning. Say hello to dry heaving. "I'm not feeling so hot..."

All I could think was about how filthy my skinny jeans are now, and that I'm wasting this guy's time. And then about how my stomach was squirming and my head pounding. The rain dripped down my back and my neck. I saw his knees in the wet dirt and his hand glided up and down my back. I've ruined his pants. "It's going to be fine, ok?" he whispered. He must be close. I could feel his breath fly over my ear. How could I believe him when I was practically dying?!?

I'm sure the rain helped to ease the headache, which would have been unbearable without it. But it still resounded through my skull, and it was all I could think about. I almost didn't notice that he kissed my forehead soothingly. Too bad for him, I did. But I was a little preoccupied to deal with it right then.

World spinning... sky overwhelmingly grey... Something warm embracing me. His chest somehow got against my head... Oh. He picked me up. He was carrying me. Where did my backpack-

"Shh, don't worry about it," I heard him whisper again. "I've got it with mine." I don't need your help. I'm fine. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had an implosion of my stomach.

Where are we-

"We're going to my house. I don't know where yours is and I don't think you're capable of leading me there right now. And I have a personal doctor there that could maybe help."

I don't know you.

"My name is Kaoru. I'm sorry we had to meet this way. But if it were this or not meeting at all, I'm glad it happened." My head hurts so bad. "Just go to sleep for now."

I'm sorry I ruined your pants, I thought as I drifted off into pain-filled sleep in his arms. The rain was nice and cool, the corn drifting into my dreams like hypnosis.

"It's ok. I needed new ones anyway."