Firefly *Chapter 2*

As I had predicted, it started raining later in the day. At lunch time, it had only been a light drizzle, but in minutes it had become a relentless deluge. Everything was silent outside except for the occasional passing car and the endless, but pleasant, tapping of the rain against the roof, windows, and sidewalk.1

Several times I was caught staring outside that afternoon, watching as the rain came down.2

When the last bell rang, I was the first one outside, listening to the rain beating furiously against my umbrella. The majority of the students took their sweet time getting outside, but only a few moments after I got outside, I heard footsteps behind me.3

Devlin passed me without looking at me, sitting at the bottom of the school's front stairs. Within moments he was soaked, his clothes and hair clinging stubbornly to his skin, but he didn't seem to mind. He just continued to glare at nothing in particular.4

For a few moments it was completely silent around us, then
students began to trickle from the school, searching for their ride home, sometimes a bus and other times a parent's car.5

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to look at a wet, miserable looking redhead.6

"Hi, Nick." I smiled at him and he gave me the evil eye in return. "What? It's not my fault it's raining." I motioned for him to come closer, and he ducked under my umbrella, his body bent awkwardly. He took the umbrella from my hand.7

"You're too short," he growled softly.8

I pouted. "I'm not short. I'm vertically challenged."9

Nick grunted, but I could tell he was trying not to laugh. We were quiet for a while, then Nick pointed to a black car that had just pulled up onto the school's parking lot to our right. "That's my dad."10

"Okay," I said, smiling. "See you later, Nick. If you run fast enough, you might not get too wet."11

Nick made a face. "You're an evil little kid, you know that?"12

I made a face of mock hurt, then grinned and waved as he trudged sullenly down the stairs.13

By then, many of the students had left, and Devlin and I were one of the few students remaining. I hesitated, then approached Devlin, holding my umbrella over his head.14

He didn't turn to look at me, but his emerald eyes became focused. "What are you doing?" His wintry voice chilled me to my core.15

"Sharing my umbrella," I said quietly. He turned the full force of his eyes on me and I felt ice creeping into my limbs.16

"Look," he said, his tones clipped. "I don't need your kindness or your pity."17

"I'm not..." My chest was so tight I could barely breathe, let alone speak. I had never been affected this way by anyone. "I'm not doing this out of pity."18

"But you don't want to be near me either," he sneered. Devlin stood and I stepped back subconsciously. I felt tiny; he towered above me by at least half a foot. "You're afraid of me," he murmured. Lightly, he brushed his fingertips over my cheek, and I tensed.19

Devlin snorted. "Stay away from me."20

"I won't." What I said surprised both of us. His eyes widened for a fraction of a second, then his cold smirk returned.21

"Why not?"22

"Because you're sad."23

"What?" His face went blank.24

"Your eyes... are grieving." I couldn't think of a better way to put it, but what I'd said seemed to be enough. Devlin's cold exterior cracked. His eyes bulged, his jaw went slack, and his shoulders sagged. It was like I had peeled away all his layers and found a child at his center, bitter and frightened and depressed.25

"You don't... know what you're talking about." His voice was soft and desolate.26

"Devlin..."27

"You don't know anything!" he snarled harshly, suddenly. I flinched, a little gasp escaping my mouth.28

He shook his head as though he were trying to clear it, then turned, plodding off into the rain.29

As I stared after him, I came to a decision. I wanted to learn everything about him, to figure out what made him tick. And I was determined to see him really smile, if only once.30

If only I had known exactly what my mission would entail...