I don't own Xiaolin Showdown.
Raimundo sat on the garden wall with his nose in a book titled Rain's Times and Troubles. To the best of his understanding from the hundred pages he had read, it was the journal of a fictional sophomore in Crystal Lake Regional High School in New Hampshire. It told a story of her year through her eyes in the form of long journal entries. So far he'd gotten up to November; Rain was failing Algebra and had a C in World History class. Her best friend Clarissa had always been there for her and was desperately trying to help her get her grades up. Rai didn't know how, but he'd gotten sucked into Rain's story.
"Clarissa had me over today, trying to help me with history. Fat chance. She's got a good heart, Clar, but she just doesn't know when to give up and let me fall into the dark abyss of my own failure and depression…" Raimundo nodded as he read. "So anyway, like I was saying, we were going over the causes of the French Revolution and I can't help thinking 'Who gives a damn about this except the French?' and Clar says that 'It's important for our understanding of other races.' Since when is French another race? I'd like to know." Rai laughed and turned the page. "Uh, yeah. Here's where it gets awkward. Clar puts her notes in my lap to show me something and leans over and I can smell the perfume she wears. I didn't even know why she was wearing it but I knew that I'd given it to her a long time ago, eighth grade, I think. And it smelled really good, like better than it had when I bought it. And then Clar looked at me and asked if I understood what she said. And hells no I wasn't listening…my mind went blank. I didn't know what to think or what to say. Clar stared at me in her Clar-y way with her bright blue eyes." He skimmed forward a couple lines and almost dropped the book.
"Hey Rai." The Brazilian jumped and the book flew from his hands. He turned to see his cowboy friend Clay smiling at him.
"Uh, hi." He gave a little wave.
"Whatcha reading?" Clay picked up the book and saw the title and cocked an eyebrow. "Um, okay." He handed the book back.
"It's not mine!" Raimundo blurted out, "I took it from Kim." He took the book and looked down at the pages in his lap remembering what he'd just read. Clay sat next to him. The Texan leaned over and looked at the book.
"What's happenin'?" he asked.
"Uh, not much." Rai cleared his throat. "The girl, Rain, is with her best friend, Clarissa, who's trying to help her with her with history."
"Sounds borin'." Clay said looking at his friend, "No offence if you're enjoyin' it, but yeah." Rai suddenly felt like Rain staring into Clay's eyes. Bright blue eyes. He felt a blush come over his cheeks as he thought of what came next in Rain's story. Would he end up like her? No, no, that wouldn't happen. "Is somethin' wrong?" Clay asked. He put his hand down on the wall where Rai's hand was, but the Brazilian didn't move. He was froze; he felt like a character in a bad 'true life' story and that somewhere in the world, some girl was reading this and laughing at him or maybe she was sympathetic for him.
"Um, no." Raimundo finally answered after a minute.
"Oh, Alrighty then." Clay lifted his hand to get up, but Raimundo was quick to move his hand onto of that of his friend's and keeping Clay put. "Uh, Rai, I-"
"Don't leave." Raimundo said quietly. "I don't want to be alone." He leaned closer to his friend. Clay didn't back down, instead he come closer. Raimundo closed the small remaining space and their lips touched. Rai loosened his grip on Kim's book and let it fall. Now he really felt like Rain and Clay was his Clar.