Rain
Rain poured over Blackwood University on Lucas Reed’s first day.
Not soft rain.
The miserable kind that soaked through clothes within minutes and made campus sidewalks shine beneath gray skies. Students rushed between buildings carrying coffee cups and backpacks while buses splashed water across crowded roads.
Lucas already felt exhausted.
Not because classes started.
Because everybody else looked like they belonged here already.
Groups laughed together beneath umbrellas. Couples walked across campus holding hands like college movies were apparently real life. Loud music drifted from dorm windows somewhere nearby while students shouted greetings across sidewalks.
Meanwhile Lucas stood alone outside the humanities building with wet hair falling into his eyes and a folded class schedule slowly dying in the rain.
Perfect.
He adjusted the strap of his backpack before staring at the paper again.
Modern Literature — Hall B, Room 214
Somewhere above campus, thunder rolled softly.
Great.
By the time Lucas finally reached Room 214, his hoodie sleeves were completely soaked.
The classroom buzzed with noise already. Conversations filled every corner while students settled into seats beside friends they somehow made within three hours of arriving at college.
Lucas immediately looked for the safest place possible.
Back row.
Near the wall.
Invisible.
Unfortunately, almost every seat was already taken.
Except one.
Beside a girl near the window.
Lucas hesitated briefly before walking toward it.
The girl looked up the second he stopped beside the desk.
And suddenly something inside his chest shifted unexpectedly.
She was beautiful.
Not in the intimidating way social media girls looked beautiful.
Real beautiful.
Golden-brown hair fell loosely over her shoulders while a camera rested beside her notebook on the desk. Silver necklaces layered against the collar of her oversized sweater, and her smile—
God.
Her smile looked warm enough to survive winter.
“You look emotionally destroyed,” she said casually.
Lucas blinked once.
“…What?”
The girl pointed toward his soaked hoodie sleeve.
“You lost a fight with rain.”
Despite himself, Lucas looked down at the water dripping from his sleeve.
“Oh.”
Excellent response.
Very smooth.
The girl laughed softly before sliding her coffee toward him slightly.
“Here. You need this more than me.”
Lucas frowned.
“You’re giving me your coffee?”
“You say that like I offered you a newborn child.”
A smile almost escaped him.
Almost.
The girl noticed immediately anyway.
“There it is,” she announced proudly. “He does have emotions.”
Lucas shook his head slightly while sitting beside her.
“You always talk this much?”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re honest.”
She gasped dramatically. “Wow. A personality.”
Lucas laughed quietly before he could stop himself.
And somehow her smile softened immediately after hearing it.
“I’m Hailey,” she said while extending her hand toward him.
Lucas looked at it for half a second before shaking it carefully.
“Lucas.”
“Nice to meet you, Rain Boy.”
“That’s not my name.”
“It is now.”
God.
She was impossible already.
The professor finally started class several minutes later, but somehow Lucas kept noticing the girl beside him anyway.
The way she doodled tiny stars across her notebook margins while pretending to pay attention.
The soft scent of vanilla drifting from her sweater whenever she leaned closer to whisper sarcastic comments about the lecture.
The easy confidence in her voice.
Everything about her felt warm.
And for the first time since arriving at Blackwood University…
Lucas didn’t feel completely alone anymore.
Rain still hammered against campus buildings after class ended.
Students crowded near entrances waiting for the storm to calm down while conversations echoed loudly through hallways.
Lucas packed his notebook quietly while Hailey shoved random papers carelessly into her bag.
“You’re really quiet,” she commented casually.
Lucas glanced toward her.
“Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?” She smiled faintly. “Quiet people are usually more interesting.”
“That sounds fake.”
“It kinda is.”
A laugh escaped him again.
Hailey looked weirdly satisfied afterward.
“You’re getting less awkward already.”
“I wasn’t awkward.”
“Lucas.” She stared at him. “You thanked me three times for coffee.”
Fair.
Together they walked toward the main entrance while thunder echoed softly outside.
The rain somehow looked even worse now.
Hailey sighed dramatically beside him.
“Well.” She pulled her hoodie over her head. “Guess we die.”
Lucas smiled faintly despite himself.
Then suddenly Hailey looked toward him again.
“You heading toward freshman dorms?”
“Yeah.”
“Come with me.”
The words came naturally from her.
Easy.
Like including him beside her required no thought at all.
And honestly?
Lucas couldn’t remember the last time somebody made loneliness feel less heavy that quickly.
So together they stepped outside into cold rain and crowded sidewalks beneath gray skies.
Neither of them noticed the quiet girl standing near the second-floor library windows watching them leave.
Dark hair.
Reserved expression.
Psychology books held carefully against her chest.
Ava Monroe watched Lucas Reed walk away beside another girl…
and somehow already felt her heart sink slightly.
Even though they hadn’t spoken yet.