Rain

“Everyone wants to tell you what to do.”

Raine put down her cell phone. Another notification popped up as it was hitting the counter. More political news, no doubt. All of it bad.

“The last one was just a picture of cute little kittens. I thought, how bad can it be? Bad. Just more preaching. That’s all anyone ever does these days.”

“How can baby kittens be preachy?” Kale talked over his shoulder without taking his eyes off the computer screen.

How could he understand? He was six foot two, had a perfect body without working out a day in his life, and his cloud grey eyes were enough to make most girls trip over their magnolias at the sight of him.

She undid the top couple of buttons on her blouse. He was more beautiful, but she had her assets too.

Large breasts, despite her underweight frame. Long, blue-black hair that fell almost to her tailbone. Hairdressers claimed they just couldn’t do anything with it. Legs that went on forever. Hips they might have called good for child-bearing, if her kind had been allowed to give birth. Her kind. That’s where the hips were from. Brown skin, large breasts, wide hips. Eyes too big for anyone.

They had the same eyes: the eyes of the Pure-Bloods. They fit him. On her, they hung like some cosmic joke, in between blue-black, thick hair and a too-wide nose. Some girls had nose jobs. She thought she might.

“These kittens are. Extremely preachy.”

She was aware that he wasn’t listening, not really, but continued anyway. “It’s some animal rescue talking about well meaning citizens who try to save kittens on their own, and how you shouldn’t take them home without calling the shelter first. Why, huh? So they can just shove them in a cage on kitty death row? They’re better off anywhere than with those... gatekeepers! Telling everyone what to do!”

“With kittens.”

“With EVERYTHING.”

“Well. I agree with them.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“You shouldn’t take in street cats. That’s how we got Shrode, and he craps everywhere.”

“Shröedinger does NOT crap everywhere!”

“He does. And you’re going to burn down my apartment if you don’t watch the stove.”

“Oh.” She shut her eyes and breathed out a sound of irritation. When was the last time he’d offered to help her with the cooking? Or even the dishes? Or so much as looked up from that stupid computer?

“What game are you playing?” She called over her shoulder, making a small dash for the kitchen. The real question hung in the air. Why did you come here just to play video games? Do it at home, on your own computer.

“Assault of Heroes.”

She rolled her eyes. “Monsters or Royals?”

“Of course, Royals.”

She took her eggs out of the pan, letting his cook a little longer until they’d reached a nice rubber consistency. She poked the tops to be sure. They felt like hard plastic.

“You want toast?”

“Who eats eggs without toast?”

“People on the Phen-phen diet I guess.”

“What do they eat them with?”

“They make those muffin tin eggs. Or like, cheese and zucchini smushed into like...bread or something.”

“Wouldn’t toast be easier?”

“Probably.”

“So, why did you ask?”

She put the toast on, and whispered to herself: “Just making conversation.”

Maybe she should put his eggs back on the pan.

They stared at her, two accusatory white-and-yellow eyes, like an owls. Everything seemed to stare at her these days. Part of her wanted to dash them into the sink and be done with them, and with everything. To walk out the front door and never come back. And why not? She should!

“Toast popped.”

It only took two words to condemn her.

She brought him the toast. He hardly looked up from the game. She wasn’t about to watch him eat; it was disgusting. Like watching a baby attempt to chew it’s food and lose most of it on its shirt. Crumbs everywhere. She physically shuddered.

He didn’t even notice the eggs.

“Do we have any ketchup?”

“Yes, and you’ve got two legs. Find the kitchen, young one. There will be many rewards.”

“Promise?” He slapped her butt and drew her into his lap. The strength of his upper arms swelled around her and his body seemed to expand as it pulled her in. He was one of the lucky ones, the Chosen. The best among the Pure Bloods. Specifically selected because of their special talents. Kale was a natural athlete and always had been.

She giggled. “I promise.”

“Promise you won’t leave me for an airline pilot just so you can go to Cancun for free?”

He loved making up weird scenarios. “I promise.”

“Okay. Don’t ever leave me. I know. I’m an ass. And I know you’re pissed. But it’s okay.”

“Oh you KNOW, do you?”

“Course. My eggs are turnt. You did that on purpose.”

She didn’t deny it.

He pouted. “You mad at me, boo? Huh, muffin cake? How you feel in’, butter cookie?”

“Oh my gosh just stop!” She slapped him playfully. He easily avoided the hit.

“But why, pooh bear? Don’t you need some attention right now?”

“You better stop!”

“Can’t stop won’t stop. And you know...I don’t think I want my breakfast!”

“Oh no? And what would you rather have?”

He winked, and lifted her up. Her limbs flailed about as he carried her to the bedroom. He was so strong...she felt like she was flying through the air. He set her down on the edge of the bed like she weighed nothing, and looked deeply into her eyes.

He was good at this too: seduction. What wasn’t he good at? There had to be something. Some Achilles’ heel. Didn’t there?

Kneeling in front of her, he looked vulnerable. Like any other man. But she knew better. The DNA testing knew better. More importantly, Kale did.

She looked down, unable to meet his gaze.

“Hey,” he whispered, taking her by the chin. Raising her gaze to meet his own. Never taking his eyes off hers, he moved closer. His lips met her own.

As always with him, she felt her heart jump forward in her chest. Her whole body seemed to swell toward him. Her heart pounded. Her skin flushed. When he pulled away, she felt an intense need. A magnetism. She wanted him. All of him. Always.

His scent hung in the air between them as he straightened up to his full height. He began pulling off his shirt, revealing a strong chest and abs underneath. He’d been working out more.

“Wow.”

“Hey.” That whisper again. The hand under her chin. His lips, locked over her own and her entire body swelling with love, lust, whatever it was.

Pheromones. It’s just pheromones. It’s nothing.

It didn’t FEEL like nothing. It felt, as he pushed her onto the mattress, covering her with his strong and beautiful body, engulfing her in his intoxicating scent...it felt...

“Oh crap. Crap crap crap.”

“What’s wrong?”

She rolled out from under him. Sat up, head in her hands. Her blouse was unbuttoned almost to the end. Her jeans were unfastened. She didn’t feel the way she should have with an intimate partner: safe and loved.

She felt more like a kid having a naked in class dream.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just...almost said something I would have regretted. It can’t go anywhere, I know that.”

“Of course it can. It can go in here, on the couch, in the kitchen...I can go anywhere you want. Name it! I’ll take you there, my princess!”

He bowed, and lifted her again.

“I’m serious, Kale. Put me down. What’s happening to us?”

“Oh, sweetie. After what we did last night, I figured somebody already had this talk with you!”

“I’m SERIOUS, Kale.”

She fought against his hold, rolling from one side to the other in his arms until he set her down. Forever aware of how weak she was compared to him. Compared to all of them. Could she have been stronger?

Maybe. If she’d been allowed into the same clubs. The same dance classes. The same gym as Kale.

“Okay. OKAY. Why are you like this?”

“Like what?”

“You know what I mean. Annoyed. Angry. Popping off like a rage queen.”

“Don’t talk like that. It makes you sound stupid. We both know you’re not.”

He stabbed a finger in the air. “That! You see? THAT is what I’m talking about! You’re so....”

“Irritable? Antagonistic? Bitchy?”

“....upset, Raine. I was just going to say upset. I’m your boyfriend—“

“Oh, ARE you?”

“...and I deserve to know what’s going on....” A moment too late, he heard what she had said. That snyde remark. “Aren’t I your boyfriend Raine? Or what are we doing here? What was last night?”

A mistake. It would be so easy to say it. To just end things. They could go on with their lives...well, he could go on with his, and nothing would change. He could get married. Have kids. Do one of the million and a half jobs their computer said he was suited for.

She could...

...could...

...could what?

She sagged back onto the edge of the bed, looking like a lost child. “I saw the Shift last night.”

He put an arm around her shoulders. “When did you go out?”

“Late late. You were passed out. I couldn’t sleep. I just wanted to see the city lights. They’re so beautiful in the dark.”

“Anyone you know?”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t see anyone clearly. They’ve got them in orange uniforms now. With lights, or reflectors I think. Something on them was so bright it turned all of them into silhouettes. I just stood there. I felt...different.”

“It’s sad to see. They’re alive, though, hon. Remember that. Don’t lose hope.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not sad. I felt...wrong. Like an imposter. Like I belonged more to them than to...” she gestured at the room in a way that implied everything “to all of this. To us.”

“How could you? They’re criminals.”

“For what crime, Kale? My FATHER was a criminal. And you know what? I get it. We’re just kids now. You just started college. Me?” I’m not allowed to go. I’m not even allowed to take the assessment tests. Not even allowed to bubble my A’s and B’s and C’s into the multiple choice boxes. My only chance in the world is with you.

But you can’t say that to them. They get angry. So you just say something maybe they can understand. You say: “I work hard. I pay my bills.” Just like you. I’m just like you. Please acknowledge me. Please see it. You can’t, can you?

“What’s going to happen later?”

Will things change? Will people like you, with the power to change reality with words, say anything? Or are you afraid of them too?

It was his turn to look down. Her turn to grab him under the chin and whisper “hey” sharply. To look him in the eyes. Questioning. Challenging.

“When you graduate. When I get my raise. What then?”

“I don’t know.” He sunk into himself.

“It must be nice, not knowing.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I know. I know my entire future. Every hour, every second, every minute of it. Everyone knows. Everyone knows but you...you people! Don’t you get that?”

“Oh. It’s YOU PEOPLE now? I thought it was us. Remember us, Raine? Me and you?”

“I remember. Us against the world. We were going to change everything.”

“Still are.”

She looked at him. Really looked. The concern that wrinkled his brows never quite reached his eyes. His expression was placating but uncaring. He was above her and knew it. An angel messenger, here on earth.

Imagine being told you know everything.

Imagine being told you’re good at everything.

Imagine being told your life is your own.

“We were sixteen when we met. Life was full of dreams, then. We had our heads full of nonsense. It was fantastic. Living in this perfect fairy world we really believed in.”

“Everything was everything.”

She chuckled. “I remember the song.”

“Yeah.” There were stars in his eyes as he laid back, reminiscing in silence.

“Why did you change?”

“I didn’t.”

“You did. You’re...one of them now. Don’t you remember? It was you and a bunch of other kids. Jen Ziegler, Leslie Hill, Marina Millar, Xiao Chen...a ton of others.”

“Les. I haven’t seen him in so long.” His voice was far away, dreamy. He was in the past. Things were different there. Better. All kids were entitled to an elementary education. Even high school, if they met the requirements.

“I was the only one at our school.”

“No,” he said, still in that faraway place. “There was one other. What’s his name? You remember...”

It came back to her, hard and fast.

“Marc.”

“That’s right! Wow, what happened to him?”

“Died.” It was all she could manage.

“Accident?”

“Beaten to death in the boy’s bathroom.”

“Oh.” It was all he could get out.

“Do you remember what you all said? That you’d walk out. That you weren’t going to college if none of us could get in.”

He let out a little laugh. “Hundreds of us just standing on the lawn, calling out the administration.”

He reached for her. Pulled her down into his shoulder. She lay there, revelling in the strength of his arm and his warmth, staring off into space. She pulled her knees up between them. Tears pricked her eyes. He kissed her on the top of the head and stroked her hair.

“Is that what you’re worried about, babe? Me going to college? It’s okay. We can get through it. Move with me. You can get a job anywhere.”

“I can’t get a good one.”

They fell into an unpleasant silence. It felt made of broken glass. One wrong word could break both it and them.

He didn’t understand, and he probably never would. This wasn’t about the two of them. It was about something else.

“What happened to that boy?”

“We needed to pay the bills. Someone has to.”

“Oh someone. Thanks for that. Why don’t you just say it? I’m a half-breed. I’m holding you back. You’re just counting the days until you meet someone worth having, so you can just cwalk out on me.”

“That is crazy talk. You’re crazy. Why would I do that?”

“We can’t get married. Can’t have children.”

“Lots of regular couples can’t either.”

“Oh. Regular couples.”

“You know what I mean. I love you. We’re young. Everything is ahead of us!” He said: “It’s just the beginning.”

“Then why does it feel like an ending?”

He tried to pull her back down to the bed, to hold her. She buttoned her blouse and straightened her slacks.

“I need to get to work. I can’t be late.”

“What’s the worst that can happen?”

“I told you. I saw it last night.”

“That’s for criminals.” What does he know about criminals?

“Goodbye, Kale. Lock the door when you leave.”

“Don’t forget date night!” He called, muffled, through the door.

It was the third Tuesday of the month. Cheap night at the movies. Their scheduled date night.

She hadn’t eaten her eggs.