This one's a little short. I'm doing my best to keep the same writing style and feel as back then. You guys' comments really boost my spirits and help me to keep going with it. You guys have great ideas! :)

Chapter 4:

"Helen, were you able to help your injured friend yesterday?"

"Yeah, Mom. All their injuries got all better really quickly!" Helen replied with a smile as she got ready for school.

"That's great, sweetheart," Helen's mom smiled. She was always thankful for how caring of a child Helen was despite her own disability. "You make sure to them to be more careful from now on so they don't get hurt again, ok?"

"I will!"

-At school-

"How was your new friend yesterday, Helen?" Chris asked in a strangely amiable voice.

"Shadow was just wonderful," Helen replied, instantly on guard.

"That's great!"

Helen looked at Chris skeptically. "What are you up to...?"

"Nothing at all. I just really thought about what you said yesterday and decided not to bother you about it anymore. I'm sorry about before." Chris looked at Helen. "I hope you can forgive me. I won't make excuses for anything bad I said about Shadow. I just won't say anymore."

"Wow, that's... really nice of you, Chris. I accept your apology."

Chris smiled brightly. "Thanks a bunch, Helen! You're the best!"

Helen nodded slowly as Chris walked away.

Helen glanced out the window at the water pouring down from the sky, half her mind on the lesson. I hope it dries up in time for me to meet with Shadow today... We pinkie promised to be on time and everything.

She sighed.

"Something the matter, Helen?" came an adult voice above her head, causing her to jolt.

"Oh! No! N-no, nothing, ma'am." Helen refocused back to her schoolwork as a few snickers popped about the class.

"Worried about the rain?" Chris asked as he passed by her desk with some papers in his hand.

Helen didn't respond, she just glanced out the window again.

"You can't help it if it rains, Helen. None of us can control the weather." He shrugged as Helen remained silent and went on his way.

The rain didn't stop by the time school was over. In fact, it was coming down harder and harder. To make matters worse, just as Helen feared, her father came to pick her up from school.

She was withdrawn during the car ride.

"Is something wrong, Helen?" her father asked, turning to look at her as they stopped at a red light.

Helen shook her head slowly. "It's just... I really wanted to go to the lake today..."

Helen's father let out a murmur of understanding. "Maybe if the rain lets up before dark you can go out for a bit then."

"Mm." Helen could do nothing but agree to her kind father's suggestion and apologize to Shadow in her heart as she watched the windshield wipers swiped the water off the glass in layers.

Shadow looked out from his shelter under a tree at the lake being pelted by the rain. Most likely Helen wouldn't be able to make it today, not with this heavy rain making the ground all mucky. He had kept his promise, though, and would proudly tell Helen tomorrow when the rain held up.

A shifting in the wet grass caused his ear to twitch, and he turned to see a dark figure in the rain. He cocked an eyebrow. Helen? It couldn't be.

The figure was seated in a chair in the middle of the meadow in the pouring rain. It's head turned and waved excitedly at him.

That's not Helen... Shadow thought to himself as he came down out of the tree to get a better look.

The figure in the chair slid closer. "What's the matter, Shadow?"

Shadow jumped. Definitely not Helen.

The figure turned the chair to face him. "Won't you be my friend, too?"

Shadow's eyes widened at the sinister tone of voice, uncharacteristically frozen in place.

"Helen can't come out in the rain so she asked me to meet with you instead."

No, that's ok... I'll just meet her tomorrow...

"Let's have fun in the rain, together, SHAdoooooow!"

"No!"

The torrential continued long into the night.

Thanks so much for reading! I took your ideas into consideration and hope/plan to bring them out in the next chapter. What do you think happened? Thanks for your reviews, keep 'em coming! ^_^

~Cascadedkiwi~