I don't even know what I was thinking.

I mean, okay, I know I don't like McDonalds. Jill from high school band asks me: Hey Mary, how's the sushi life treating you?

Then I have to remind myself that she let me copy off of her for the midterms, so I don't tell her that's a jerkface kind of thing to say. I'd take a picture of Ronald McDonald and send it to her, with a totally not-true caption.

'I wouldn't know, I hang out at McDonalds all the time, waiting for this cute Japanese guy to learn the difference between here and god damn Hagen Dazs. But maybe he's just jerking me around and laughing it up with Robert and Ken. They're always over in that one corner of the university laughing about something. So if one day you see me next to Ronald McDonald in a wedding dress…'

Then I actually laugh, because I'm picturing that clown in a dress. It makes me feel a little better...even though McDonalds is closed today and the next bus isn't coming for a half hour.

What kind of dumbass student majoring in Japanese doesn't know McDonalds is closed during Obon?

And it started to rain. Just my luck.

I cram myself underneath the narrow overhang by the front door, but the rain still blows against my legs. I can't help but pout; these aren't my favorite socks or anything, but they were a present from my host family. They're...sweethearts.

And they're out of town today. I wouldn't want to bother them, anyway...after I got ripped off buying two new watches, they got me a new one.

It's raining a little harder, now. Protective paranoia clenches my empty tummy, and I yank off my watch. Into my backpack it goes, right next to a red Steven Universe folder with my latest graded assignment from Yamashita Sensei. B plus...I can do better than that.

And I will. I'm done wasting time looking at dumb boys who can't even read a map.

I joke and tell myself it's that.

Now the rain's coming down in buckets. The streets get really empty when it rains like this.

I check my phone. I grit my teeth and stifle a scream, but I just end up sounding like a leaky boiling kettle.

Kettle. 急須. Kyuusu. Well, that's more like a teapot I guess. I can write the kanji alright, but it's sort of embarrassing that in my head I still use romanji to pronounce most words.

I need to get better. I...I can at least do this right.

In the meantime, my phone reminds me that I never asked anybody for help. Not in the last half hour. Six percent battery life left and all I see is my last stupid, happy, hopeful update.

'At Maku 'cuz it's just how I do! Good times and good burgers.'

I cringe, then I delete the update. I pretty much suck at social media...it all just comes out wrong.

I think too much. I...I hesitate. I keep waiting and...giving more chances to people.

My sneakers are soaked, and I can hear my toes squish-squashing against my wet socks. I turn around, wrap my arms around my backpack, and mash myself up against the door.

This stupid rain can get me wet all it wants, but I will not let my books and homework get wet.

Stupid rain.

Stupid Ronald McDonald sticker on the inside of the door.

...stupid Takeshi-san.

I'd like to sock them all in the face.

Well, rain doesn't have a face to sock. Oh, rain, um...雨. Yeah, ame.

I'd break a window punching McDork, here. Not really looking to get recruited by a biker gang. Or a trike gang, in my case.

I don't want to sock Takeshi-san, I guess. I just...feel like I do.

The thunder booms, and I start to cry. My cargo shorts are wet now, too. Nineteen year old transfer student cries over closed McDonalds, The Onion's top headline.

I shut my eyes and wait. It can't rain forever. I'll...wait.

I barely feel the warm hands squeezing my biceps. I don't see the umbrella held over me. My head is down and I'm just waiting.

"Mary, if you don't come with me right now...I'll stand right here and get soaked with you."

I open my eyes; I have to. The language nerd inside me actually blushed at hearing my name without the san.

Then the rest of me is blushing as I realize Sue-san came for me. I inch closer to her, underneath the umbrella. She doesn't budge. I look down again, suddenly not at all cold.

"How did you know…"

I won't ever forget the way Sue-san put her finger next to her nose, turned her head, and grinned.

"Call it my Mary-sense."

I'm done waiting. I'm done thinking...for now, anyway. We splash across the parking lot like children, stomping in puddles and kicking water everywhere. I'm an absolute mess, so even though I want to laugh, I worry I might just cry more. But that's okay, because Sue-san is laughing.

Her laughter lights up my insides like nothing I ever felt before.

Not even like when I broke the curve on the 101 midterm.

I flop into the passenger seat of her little Honda Fit, dripping like a soggy wildebeast.

I shiver sweetly when I feel the towels already laid over the passenger seat.

A third towel gets draped over the front of my also-soaked shirt. I muster the courage to look up.

'Where can I meet you?'

I hear Takeshi-san's words in my mind, but I don't have to force them out. They just float away, replaced by Sue-san's way better words.

"Where do you want me to take you?"

Her eyes are bright and water is just dripping all down her face...and all of a sudden it's too much. I have to look down again, down at my still-dry backpack. But I don't wait; not this time. I just say the first thing I feel. I don't really know what it is...but I really like it.

"ここはいいです."

'Here is fine.'

I'm done waiting.

But when Sue suggests we first hit up Hagen Dasz and then dry off while eating extra awesome ice cream, I can't help but agree.

Points for taking me to my favorite place ever? Takeshi, zero. Sue...lots.