Jade liked rainy days. She liked the gray skies, the pounding of drops against the windows and roof, the feeling in the air, she liked seeing the rain fall from her bedroom window and the cookies and milk her mother would bring her. But at school, Jade liked rain most of all because it meant recess was inside. She liked playing outside in the playground, but there was something about getting to play inside once in a while.
As she heard the soothing sound of the rain hitting the windows, she watched as Cat concentrated on their patient. She stuck out her tongue as she attempted to remove his funny bone without buzzing. Once she accomplished the task successfully, she grinned triumphantly. Jade smiled and took her turn. She too gave it all her concentration. "Can I play with you?"
BUZZ. She failed. She frowned and looked at the girl who had interrupted them. Vega. Cat was nodding but Jade still responded, "No."
She already shared a desk with her, she didn't to share the game, too. Especially when this was her time with Cat. "Oh," said the olive-skinned girl.
"Yes, you can," Cat said nicely, looking up at the standing girl.
Jade shot Cat a betrayed look. Cat knew Jade didn't like the girl, she hadn't been shy about it. Tori smiled at Cat and sat down, disregarding the fact that Jade didn't want her there. "I don't want to play anymore," Jade said and dropped the tweezers on their patient.
Cat looked sadly at her, but then brightened up and asked, "What should we play then?"
"Hide," Jade said, looking pointedly at Tori.
"Hide and Seek you mean," said the girl.
"No. Hide," Jade retorted.
Tori frowned and mumbled how they couldn't play that in the classroom anyway. "Let's play with the Legos," Cat offered.
Cat loved playing with Legos. "I don't want to play with you," Jade said to Tori, as bluntly and honestly as any young child does.
She looked hurt but didn't say anything. "I do," Cat said nicely.
She smiled at Cat and it gave Jade a funny feeling in her stomach she didn't like. "It'll be fun, Jade. Come on," Cat said smiling at her.
Jade didn't want to but she figured she could just ignore the meddling girl. "Okay," Jade managed. They traded the Operation game for the Legos and sat on the floor building spaceships, houses, castles, cars and other figures.
Jade looked at the intruder and frowned, then she looked over at Cat and smiled at her concentrated face and tongue that was sticking out once again. They all jumped when they were startled by the loud thunder. Cat looked frightened. She couldn't see out the window since the blinds were drawn, but she still stared at them worriedly. Before Jade could sooth her, another loud noise broke through the sky making Cat jump again. This time Cat scooted over to Jade and wrapped her arms around the other girl's left arm. She buried her face between her arms and Jade's.
Jade loved rainy days.
