After School Rain
Rain poured down hard enough to blur the streets.
Most students stayed crowded near the school entrance, waiting for it to calm down.
Andrea stood near the wall with her headphones around her neck, staring at the rain silently.
She actually liked storms.
They drowned everything out.
Voices.
Thoughts.
People.
For once, the world sounded quieter.
"Well this is depressing."
Andrea glanced sideways.
Samuel.
Standing beside her with his hood pulled over his head.
Andrea rolled her eyes lightly.
"You always appear out of nowhere?"
Samuel shrugged.
"You always look miserable in weather like this?"
Andrea almost smiled.
"Maybe."
Samuel leaned against the wall beside her.
"You going home?"
"Eventually."
Samuel looked outside.
"You'll drown."
"I'll survive."
"Debatable."
Andrea laughed quietly through her nose.
Small.
But real.
Samuel noticed again.
Of course he did.
"You do that more now."
Andrea frowned.
"What?"
"Laugh."
Andrea looked away quickly.
"That's your fault."
Samuel smirked faintly.
"I know."
The rain kept falling heavily outside.
People moved around them loudly.
But somehow—
It still felt like they were alone.
"Andrea."
Her stomach tightened instantly.
Matthew.
Of course.
Andrea turned slowly.
Matthew stood a few feet away, rain dripping from his hoodie slightly like he had just come inside.
His eyes moved briefly to Samuel.
Then back to Andrea.
"Can we talk?"
Samuel straightened slightly beside her.
Andrea sighed quietly.
"About what now?"
Matthew looked frustrated already.
"Just… come here for a second."
Andrea crossed her arms.
"You can say it here."
Matthew's jaw tightened.
Samuel stayed silent.
Watching.
Matthew looked back at him again.
"Seriously?"
Samuel raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Matthew scoffed softly.
"You suddenly follow her everywhere now?"
Andrea's expression hardened immediately.
"Don't do that."
Matthew blinked.
"Do what?"
"Act like I belong to you."
Silence.
Sharp.
Samuel glanced at Andrea briefly but didn't interrupt.
Matthew ran a hand through his wet hair.
"That's not what I meant."
Andrea laughed quietly.
"It sounded like it."
Matthew stepped closer.
"You know what I'm trying to say."
Andrea shook her head.
"No. Actually, I don't."
Matthew looked at her carefully.
Then his voice softened slightly.
"You've changed."
Andrea stared at him.
"People keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
Andrea scoffed.
"Maybe I was always like this."
Matthew frowned.
"No."
Andrea's jaw tightened.
"You don't know me."
Matthew looked hurt by that.
"Yes I do."
Andrea laughed bitterly.
"No, you know the version of me you ignored for years."
That hit.
Hard.
Matthew's face shifted instantly.
Andrea continued before he could speak.
"You don't get to suddenly care now just because someone else does."
Silence.
Samuel looked at her quietly.
Matthew froze completely.
Because she said it.
Out loud.
Finally.
Matthew swallowed.
"That's not fair."
Andrea laughed again.
"Neither was everything else."
Rain hammered against the windows harder now.
The tension between them felt suffocating.
Matthew stepped closer again.
"I did care."
Andrea shook her head immediately.
"Not enough."
Matthew looked at her like he wanted to argue.
But nothing came out.
Because deep down—
He knew she was right.
Andrea exhaled shakily.
"You know what the worst part is?"
Matthew stayed silent.
Andrea looked directly at him now.
"I waited for you."
Matthew's expression cracked slightly.
Andrea's voice grew quieter.
"For years."
Samuel looked away briefly.
Giving her the space to say it.
Andrea laughed weakly.
"And you didn't even notice."
Matthew swallowed hard.
"Andrea…"
"But now suddenly you care?" she continued. "Now?"
Matthew stepped forward again.
"I didn't know."
Andrea nodded slowly.
"Exactly."
That word hurt more than yelling ever could.
Matthew looked destroyed for the first time since she met him.
And Andrea hated herself a little for still caring.
Even now.
Even after everything.
Samuel finally spoke quietly beside her.
"Maybe let her breathe."
Matthew looked at him sharply.
"This isn't your business."
Samuel's expression didn't change.
"She's crying."
Andrea hadn't even realized it.
Her cheeks were wet.
Whether from tears or humidity—
She didn't know.
Matthew saw it too.
His expression softened instantly.
Andrea wiped her face aggressively.
"Great."
Matthew took another step.
But this time—
Andrea stepped back first.
"No."
Matthew froze.
Andrea shook her head.
"I can't do this anymore."
Matthew looked genuinely panicked now.
"Andrea—"
"No," she interrupted quietly. "You had years."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
Andrea grabbed her bag tighter.
Then turned away.
Samuel looked at Matthew for one second.
Not smug.
Not victorious.
Just serious.
Then he followed Andrea out into the rain.
And Matthew stayed standing there alone.
Finally understanding something terrifying.
He might have lost her.
And it might actually be too late now.