Disclaimer: This story is about teenage males in love. Or at least, it will be eventually. If this is something you find offensive, then please do not read it. If you are under the local legal age to read these stories, then go somewhere else. Please do not reproduce this story without the writer's written (or typed) permission. This story will eventually contain a romantic relationship between two high school boys.
Note: This is my first attempt at a serious story. Constructive and positive feedback is welcomed. Flames will be ignored. Yes, there is no sex, yet, but give it time.
Chapter 1
Do you know what the best feelings in the world are? I'm sure you know your own, but to me? I love to walk in the rain. Especially if I can walk by the river. That makes my world perfect for a few short minutes. Nights like that are what help me think about the things I can't figure out. Why are we so wrought with problems? Why do my parents not fight? Why is my hair red? You know, little, unimportant things.
I suppose I should tell you who I am. My name is Randall. I don't answer to Randy, or to any variation of my name other than Rand. I like Rand. It fits me. I'm 16 years old, five feet four inches, with an average body, and a mop of wavy red hair that hates to obey me. It'll obey anyone else, but it hates listening to the head it sits upon. I'm a sophomore in high school. I have a license. The license itself is a special case. My dad is in the military and quite often out at sea, and my mom hates driving with a passion. She's German and still has to think when she drives, because everything is backwards to her.
I had just gotten off the phone with my best friend, Rene. She and I have an interesting bond. We always know what the other is thinking and doing. We get a kick out of it, though it freaks most of the other people in school. We don't care. We're not exactly the popular kids, anyway. We're the intellectuals. The freaks that actually understand what the teacher is talking about. The ones who will go far. Yeah... I believe that.
That's when the rain started. Smiling happily, I told her goodbye. I grabbed my waterproof discman and hit the door. Mom stopped me with a mild attempt at scolding. "You shouldn't go out in the rain, you'll get sick."
"Mom, I've NEVER gotten sick."
"Well, you might. But, you're going to go do what you want to do anyway." She said it playfully, but there was still the urging of motherly care behind it all. I couldn't help but grin as I went to the door.
"I'll be back before my curfew. I promise." I offered her my closest approximation to a winning smile that I could muster. Considering the weather, it was fairly good. I glanced in the CD player and then walked out.
Promising to be back by curfew still gave me several hours to enjoy the night, as curfew was five hours away. Stepping into the rain, I smiled. The cool drops felt amazing. Unfortunately, I'd have to get in my car for a bit first.
We lived ten miles from the river. I wasn't about to walk that far, but I made it there in good time. Before I got out of the car, my shoes came off. This particular sandbar was always clean, so I wasn't worried. Stepping out of the car, I pressed play and turned my face skyward. I felt like my smile would split my face in two.
I took my shirt off and laughed. Very few people understand exactly what the rain means to me. Each raindrop feels slightly different. Each splatter feels like a soft kiss from an unseen lover. If I had the nerve, I would have stripped myself completely. Unfortunately, this was a public place and I didn't have the balls to do so.
I walked out into the sand, letting the music kick in. When the right song hit, I lost myself in the music. I danced like I've never danced before. My body was alive with emotion and the charge of the rain.
As my body began to grow weary of it's exertions, the tempo of the music shifted. I thanked my own intuition for knowing the right song for the moment. The song was perfect. I sat down and began to sing with the music.
"From the air I see your loneliness. You carry on despite your fear. Inside a box you keep your sanity, and it will never seem clear to me."
Time froze when I opened my eyes. I was not alone on the beach. Standing ten feet ahead of me was a boy about my own age. He had black hair and amazingly clear blue eyes. I had never seen him before. He was a little taller than I, and still fully dressed. His clothing was rather nice, and could have come out of any number of catalogs... much better than my own attire.
It wasn't the clothing or the face that hit me, though. It was his eyes. I could practically feel the pain in them. If it weren't for the rain, I'd swear he was crying. The song continued. Unable to stop, so did I.
"Over the hills the light it flows, it shows the angels laughing. But where is the love that we're supposed to find? Lost in a maze of games so very dark and overwhelming. Lost in these thoughts that seem to rule my mind."
The clouds began to break. The rain slowed drastically. I could feel his eyes burning into me, seeing something that I could not. I wanted to reach out and touch him, to hold him, to assure him that everything was fine. I didn't have any clue as to why I felt that way.
"A simple spell cast is broken, true. The force of life decides to bend. You lay below the sacred stormy skies, and you were at the end for me."
His eyes stayed on me as I sang. It was as though something in my own song was calling out to him. Was it the lyrics of the author? Was it my voice? I didn't know. All I knew is that it was helping him. He seemed to calm as I watched.
"Over the hills the light it flows, it shows the angels laughing. But where is the love that we're supposed to find? Lost in a maze of games so very dark and overwhelming. Lost in these thoughts that seem to rule my mind."
The clouds seperated, allowing a beam of light to filter out. It was one of those you normally see from a distance, the ones that illuminate a place far away with light that seems to come from the gods themselves. This time, however, it was centered on him.
"Don't close and I won't be denied. A dagger thrust into my chest. You claim yourself to the victory, but it is I who will rest in peace."
The other boy looked down, clasping his hands tightly to himself. I was frozen in the place I sat, unable to do anything more than watch and sing. It was a living hell for a few moments.
"Over the hills the light it flows, it shows the angels laughing. But where is the love that we're supposed to find? Lost in a maze of games so very dark and overwhelming. Lost in these thoughts that seem to rule my mind."
On the repeat of the final two words, my voice cracked. I heard a broken sob before he turned away from me. His feet slapped against the sand as he streaked from my view. By the time my wits caught up to me, he was gone too far for me to have a chance of finding out who he was.
I snapped out of my own reverie and drove back home in silence. Mom greeted me at the door. A look of confusion stood out on her face.
"What happened? You usually stay out later."
"I... I don't have a clue." That's all I could stammer before I trudged up the stairs and collapsed into bed. My dreams must have been strange, because I woke up as tired as I was when I went to bed.
Rolling over, I glanced at the clock. An hour before the alarm would have gone off. Despite the time, I decided to go ahead and try to make myself feel better. I turned on the computer and scanned through my email and my livejournal. Unfortunately, it was all the standard shlock I recieved every day. Jokes from Rene, gaming stuff from Jim, and a lot of whiny journal posts assaulted my eyes. I still haven't figured out why I added some of those drama queens to my friendslist.
After breakfast, I made my way to school. My usual parking space was open, and I claimed it happily. Within minutes, Rene was piling into the passenger side.
"Random!" Her familiar nickname penetrated the air of my strangely quiet car. She paused. "Ok, what's up? The ultra-pensive expression... the lack of music... something's in your head."
"Huh? Oh, I guess I just forgot to turn on the music."
"I don't buy it. You NEVER forget music. You live for music, dude."
I couldn't help but grin at her. "Nah. Just something strange happened like that. And before you get worried, it's nothing TO worry about. It was just... strange. That's the only way to describe it."
Rene sighed. She started to speak, only to be interrupted by the early bell. Climbing out of the car, we headed towards our seperate classes. The day passed too slowly. There was too much in my head to concentrate on classes, but... that worked out well, considering my own unique learning style.
Being in a progressive school, the teachers understood that no two people learned exactly the same way. Me? I cannot give my full attention to the subject at hand, or I forget everything. If I split myself between the lesson and a book, or sketching, I could pick up anything. The pensive expression on my face told them that my mind was nearly full, so I would learn well. Thank the gods for small favors.
Fourth period came along. I took my fourth period as a library helper. The librarian, Mrs. Twilo, knew me well and loved having me there with her. She was a unique and interesting woman, one of the few adults that I trusted implicitly. I sat in her office, attaching checkout pockets to the rear covers of some new books when the intercom buzzed.
"Hey, it's Rand. Mrs. Twilo is out in the library. Need me to get her?"
"Hi Rand. Could you tell her to come down to the office for a few moments, please?"
"Sure thing."
I hopped up and made my way out to the library to tell her of this.
"Oh, that's right. It IS Friday, isn't it? We have a new student. He'll be coming up here during fourth periods to work with you." Mrs. Twilo smiled brightly.
I mock-groaned. "But this is MY time." The grin on my face gave away the fact that it really didn't bother me. "Lemme guess. I have to train him?"
She nodded and took off down the stairs. I went back to my business with check-out pockets. After a few minutes, I was lost in the song in my head at the moment when her office door opened.
"Rand, this is Jamie Lane. He's the new student."
I stood up, extending my hand while keeping my eye on the pocket I had just glued before shutting it quickly. As I turned around, a squeak came from my throat as I caught myself staring into clear blue eyes...