7.

~ It was hard for Norma to fall asleep with the heavy downpour of rain. The large room seemed to echo the sounds of the storm and wind unlike anything she'd heard before. In Florida, they had plenty of storms. Goliath like winds that would rock their mobile home to near tipping point. The trailer park always ready to flood if the rain kept up for more than a few days. The oppressive Florida heat seeming to go into overdrive and knocking lose all kinds of wildlife from the swamps and there were always calls for evacuations. They were nothing Norma couldn't handle; and they didn't make her afraid like this.

This rain was different. The rain here was heavy and loud. As though it were a monster who was growling to be let in. It brought with it a cold in the air as it pushed violently against the windows and Norma wished she had on another blanket. She and Fanny were so ill prepared for the weather here it was laughable. What was Fanny thinking when she brought them here? It wasn't enough to go west as far as they could, they had to go north to?

More than anything, more than another blanket even, Norma wished Caleb was there. Her older brother wasn't afraid of anything. During a heavy rain fall and flood back in Florida, Caleb hadn't been at all bothered by it. He'd wadded into the water that had pooled all over the trailer park and helped carry Norma and the other kids out so they could evacuate.

Norma curled into a ball on her side and smiled at the memory. Her brother, a tall, strong young man with the playfulness of a child, had smaller children on his back. Carrying all of them out in water that went up to his waist. He'd even gladly helped their neighbors carry belongings that were spared from the flood waters.

She couldn't picture that kind boy in the army. Where men in uniforms shouted at you for nothing until you broke. Caleb was far too simple for that. He only wanted to be loved. He wanted Norma to be proud of him and for them to always be like they were when they were young.

Norma hadn't realized the storm had now become white noise. The angry rush of rain pounding on the roof was hypnotic and she fell asleep without any effort at all.

~ She was back in Florida. Back in the trailer park that smelled of milk gone bad and the heat was so sticky and thick that no one could sleep with any covers on. Her room had been dark and she could tell she wasn't alone. Caleb had detached from the shadows smelling of sweat and something else she didn't know how to describe.

"It's okay, Norma Louise." he said with a slurred voice. He'd taken to drinking with their dad that summer and fighting a lot.

Norma could feel her body tense when her brother sank into the bed next to her; his big body curling next to her small one. His thick arms wrapping around her and his large hands grabbing at her breasts. Even before she could defend herself, his strong hands were moving between her legs and trying to maneuver inside her.

"No." she whimpered fearfully. She didn't want to make too much noise in protest. Their father was horrible when he was drinking and to find them like this would send him into a rage.

"Don't fight it." he murmured as she tried to force his hands off from between her legs.

~ Norma woke with a start and her dream faded away like smoke. She sat up and looked around her makeshift bedroom; half expecting Caleb to be there, trying to paw at her again.

She hadn't thought about that night in a long time. Had convinced herself it had all been a dream. She'd never spoken of it, not even to Caleb afterwards.

She could feel that same, dirty feeling he'd given her that night creep up on her again. She didn't know why it bothered her so much. She and Caleb were fond of hugs and had been close enough to share a bedroom. Still, he'd never touched her like that before. Never touched her much at all since she started to develop breasts. Certainly not in those places. Places a brother should never touch his sister.

Norma fought back the sicking feel the memory had brought with it. How she'd maneuvered out of his drunken grip and told him she'd scream if he didn't leave. How offended Caleb had been and told her she was acting crazy.

She hadn't seen her brother for a few days after that. Maybe it hadn't been real at all. But then she learned he'd joined the army. That he was leaving without saying goodbye; and it was all her fault.

Norma felt her stomach grow tight again. She hugged her knees to her chest and tried not to cry.

~ The rain still hadn't abated when Norma's alarm clock went off. Its' ring cut off a second after it started so as not to wake Fanny.

Norma hadn't slept much anyway. Between her bad dreams and the horrible rain, she felt lucky to have gotten any sleep at all.

The large room was cold and she could feel a current of arctic air rushing from the windows that were once so warm and inviting when the sun was out. Even closed, the large windows seemed to bleed cold air through their thin glass.

Norma hurried to the bathroom to wash her face and noticed Fanny was still snoring. Her body buried deep under her covers. Maybe a job would be good for her mother Norma reasoned as she rushed back to her little cove of a bedroom. It was thankfully just a few degrees warmer than the main room. Fanny was never good at keeping work before. She'd been a lousy waitress and an ever worse convenience store clerk. But most of that was because she didn't like to get up early. Insisting on staying up late to watch TV and then complaining it was impossible to get up when the sun rose.

She'd never tended bar before, but maybe she'd have a skill for it. Deep down, way deep down, Norma knew it wouldn't end well. Something would go wrong as it always did. Her mother was generally disappointing and there was no use pretending she wasn't. Fanny would find an issue and quit. Either she didn't get along with someone or their were accusations of theft or other things that weren't Fanny's fault.

Norma dressed quickly. Thankful for the foresight of buying thick socks. She pulled on her jeans, T-shirt and a purple sweater that felt perfect for a morning like this.

The rain was coming down in sheets now and she worried about having to walk to school in it. The big room was cold, so surely the weather outside would be even worse.

Norma brushed her hair back into a ponytail, shrugged on her coat and backpack before bravely marching down the stairs to see if she could make it.

It would be foolish to hope that that Alex would actually be waiting for her. Norma held no romantic illusions on high school boys or men in particular. She'd lived in overcrowded apartments blocks and run down mobile home parks that teamed with exuberant males of all ages. None of them were polite to their wives, girlfriends or even family members. They were the type of men who got drunk and started fights in the middle of the night. Ones who were always in trouble with the law and who scared Norma when she was little.

The rain was like a torrent when she opened the door. Her breath catching fast in her chest at the bone chilling cold. She fumbled to open her umbrella and could already feel the icy rain water splash rudely on her jeans and try to seep into her shoes.

'Now I know why everyone wears army boots to school.' Norma thought bitterly. She wished she'd had bought footwear that was less fashionable and more practical for the wilderness that was Oregon.

The walk to school was going to be absolute misery if the rain kept its' pace. She'd arrive late and drenched to the bone.

"Oh!" she said feeling the need to cry wash over her.

"Norma!" came a shout and, through the blinding rain, Norma saw a figure rush towards her carrying a black umbrella. The form nearly colliding with her as he rushed to her side.

"Alex!" she shouted back to him.

"I'm glad you came down early." Alex said a little breathless. His attitude wasn't at all troubled by the storm. "We should go now. I'll have to drive slow in all this."

"Do you think they'll cancel school?" Norma piped seeing now a torrent of rainwater rush the streets as though it was a river.

"No." Alex laughed. "It'll ease up before noon. Its' normal to have this much rain from time to time."

Norma could feel his hand go to her back and guide her to a car. He quickly maneuvered to open the passenger side door for her. It was something she'd seen in movies but never in person, and such a thing had never happened to her. Yet, she wasn't at all surprised that Alex had done it. It seemed natural for him to do this with her just now.
Norma sank into the safety of his car. A place that was warm and dry with the engine on and the heater turned up. She hated that her toes were already wet and cold from her brief exposure to the rain, but the forceful heat blasting on her now felt comforting.

Alex was quick to circle around and dive back into the driver side. Water still cascading around them and there seemed no escape from it.

"They can't have school with all this." Norma exclaimed in disbelief and she saw a smile bloom beautifully on Alex's face.

"You're really not used to this weather? Doesn't it rain in Florida?" he asked fastening his seatbelt and checking his mirrors.
"It's different in Florida." she said feeling the need to cry. "Everything's different in Florida."

She was trying hard not to sob but tears were coming and it felt like a bubble was inside her chest. A bubble of terrible homesickness that was finally being realized. She missed her home. Missed the hot, muggy weather and the colorful people. Here everything was cold, dull and unfriendly. Her fingers and toes felt like ice and everyone acted like such a life was normal.

"Put your hands on the heating vents." Alex ordered smoothly.

Norma sniffed back the urge to cry and let her hands rest on the wonderful dry heat that was blasting out.

"It just takes some getting used to." he told her backing out of his parking spot. "I've lived here all my life, I'm used to it. You'll get used to the cold to."

"I don't want to get used to it." Norma said trying to suppress the urge to pout like a child. She could feel herself calming down though. It suddenly seemed as long as they were safely in this car and together, everything would be okay. Alex drove slowly through the heavy rain fall. He said nothing at all as they maneuvered through the flooded streets that were more like well managed rivers at this point.
"Why did you come pick me up?" she asked once her fingers felt warmer.

"I told you I would." Alex said easily. His mouth pulling into a ghost of a smile before concentrating on the road again.
"I didn't…" Norma started to say but decided not to finish.

"I told you it would rain." Alex said with an actual smile this time. "You don't want to walk in this, trust me. They won't cancel school for it either. It really has to flood for them to do that, and even then, the high school is an evacuation sight."

"Oh." Norma sighed.

"You'll need rain boots." Alex said nodding down at her soaked boots that were no longer cute and fashionable.

Norma let out a sigh. She'd never get to like it here. This place was awful.

"Thank you." she said absentmindedly. "For coming to get me."

"You're welcome." Alex said as if it were nothing. Norma sensed he was hinting at something with the warm way he said it. As if he was about to ask her out or for something more specific since he'd given her a ride. It occurred to her that someone like Alex, a tall junior who now had her trapped in his car could easily overpower her and do what he wanted. She barely knew him and she'd been stupid enough to get into his car.

"Um…" Norma said feeling nervous. "I see the school now. You can let me off here."

"What?" Alex asked pulling a face.
"I should get out." she said reaching for her seatbelt.

"Would you let me park the car first before you jump out?" Alex asked curtly.
Norma slunk back in her set and saw the lot was a hazardous maze and he was trying to find a spot to park. She waited until the car was parked and Alex had unlocked the doors before trying to jump out.

She wasn't terribly coordinated with her new backpack and umbrella. She could feel herself losing the battle to keep the heavy rain off her while trying to gracefully exit the car.

Alex seemed to have no such trouble. He quickly skirted around and held his own umbrella aloft over both of them.

"We're going over there." he pointed to the covered walkway that lead to the gym.

Norma nodded and could feel his hand go to the small of her back, guiding her to the safety of the school. It felt comfortable and natural to have him do this. Even though she wasn't used to such attentions from anyone, let alone someone like Alex. No one ever looked after her like this except Caleb and she felt her heart break slightly at the memory of what it felt like to be loved and cared for by him.

Alex maneuvered her into the covered walkways and they were safely sheltered from the rain.

"Thank you." Norma breathed in relief and Alex was smiling as though they'd just won a race. "How often does it… do that?" she asked waving at the rain that was now so heavy, she could barely see the parking lot, let alone the village.

"In Oregon?" Alex asked with a smile.

Norma rolled her eyes.
"It's not forever." he promised easily. "Once summer is here, the sun comes out and it's nice. It's just the winters that are hard. Next winter won't be so bad; you'll be used to it by then."

"If I'm even here by next winter." Norma said without thinking.

Alex looked at her curiously and she realized he must find her very odd. A young man like him, who'd lived in the same small town all his life was so different from her. He'd always known where home was; always known the people here. It must be easy for him laugh off the bad weather to someone who wasn't used to it. Alex had never felt like a dispossessed refugee. Unsure of how long he'd stay in one place and always being in a strange world with nothing to keep you grounded.

She looked at him and his gaze seemed to be studying her. Trying to figure her out.

"We should go inside." she said motioning to the side doors that would let them into the school.

Alex nodded.