"Hey Cory." Topanga greeted her boyfriend. "Um, this is Rain, this is her first day at John Adams." She explained.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Cory Matthews."
"Rain McAllister."
"Rain's taking journalism this semester, but, I better be going to class too, so I'll talk to you guys later." She explained, rushing out of the room.
"So, how do you like school so far?" Corey asked, taking his usual seat.
"It's not as bad as I thought, everybody here seems to be really friendly!" Rain exclaimed.
"Yeah, people are really nice here....most people that is." Cory explained.
Rain only nodded in agreement. "So um, how long have you and Topanga been dating?"
"On and off since kindergarten."
Rain raised an eyebrow, that phrase still didn't sound right, "since kindergarten. " Since kindergarten, Rain had lived in seven different cities, and attended nine different schools.
Cory started again, interrupting Rain's thoughts. "That's also how long I've known my best friend, Shawn Hunter."
Rain looked up at Cory, and raised an eyebrow.
"You should meet him sometime." Cory finished.
"Yeah, maybe." She agreed. "...sometime."
Class started shortly after that. Rain had always been interested in journalism and writing, she was happy to be able to study it. The last school that Rain had attended, in Dallas was a small, Catholic school, with limited class options.
Rain's last class of the day was a study hall. After the bell rang, she took a seat next to a good-looking blond boy.
"Hi." He smiled. "Your new?"
Rain nodded, silently.
"I'm Daniel Phillips. I'm the captain of the JV basketball team." He explained.
"Rain McAllister and, I'm not the captain of any team." She joked.
Daniel smiled slightly. "So you don't do the sports thing?"
Rain shook her head. "Do I look like I do the sports thing?" She asked pointing to her pink hair.
Daniel shrugged. "Well, what do you do?"
Rain shrugged. "Nothing much, I guess."
"Come on, everybody's does something!"
To tell the truth, Rain was interested in a variety of things, such as art, and sewing, and saving the environment, but she wasn't one to lay it all on the table, after first meeting someone; not even small, insignificant facts about herself, let alone the secrets of her past.
"No, nothing really." She replied, in a voice bearly above a whisper. "Does everyone always talk in study hall like this?" She asked, trying to change the subject.
"Uh, yeah." Daniel confirmed, glancing around the room. "It's not really a class, you know? Most people only take it because they didn't want to take another elective."
Rain frowned at Daniel's passive attitude. "Oh."
He nodded, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the two acquaintances.
"So," Rain started again. "Is there any good place to eat around here?"
"Chubby's." Daniel answers, simply.
"Chubby's? Sounds like a dive to me."
"Well, it is, I mean, it used to be...well, you know how it goes. A lot of kids from school hang out there." The boy explained.
"Maybe I'll check it out." Rain mumbled to herself, as Daniel turned back to his desk, and took a magazine out of his book bag.
After the bell rang, Daniel offered to walk her home, but Rain denied, nervously explaining that she could find her way home on her own, and that she was planning to stop at the library on the way home, which wasn't exactly a lie. She had decided to go look for a pleasure book. After evaluating her first day of classes at John Adams High, Rain had concluded that school was not going to be a problem here.
Rain had always been bright. She never cracked a book, and still pulled A's, she could see that, nothing was going to change now.
After stopping off at the library, and picking up a collection of nineteenth century poetry, and a biography on Edgar Allan Poe, Rain realized that her lunch had worn off and that she was starting to get hungry. Remembering what Daniel had told her about Chubby's, she decided to check it out.
As Rain exited the Library, she pulled her jacket closer to her body, and slipped the home-made scarf that she had worn to school that morning, around her neck. It was colder than usual for January in Philadelphia, and it looked as if it might snow. Snow was something that Rain hadn't seen since she had lived in Chicago. Needless to say, she missed the fluffy white flakes, that fell softly to the ground; and the excitement of a Snow Day off from school, a day to sit by the fire and sip cocoa, forgetting about the problems that seemed to follow her where ever she went, almost haunting her.
Finally, when she found her way to 5th street, she noticed that boy again, Shawn Hunter! The more and more she ran into him, the stranger the feeling that Rain had about it. She could see in his eyes, a strange mixed expression of doubt, and confidence. The feeling of such angst intrigued Rain.
After a few minutes, of walking behind him, Shawn finally stopped, causing Rain to bump into him.
"Are you following me?" He asked, bluntly.
"No!" She exclaimed, avoiding all contact with his amazing, deep, hazel eyes. "Why, your not following me, are you?"
"I'm in front of you." He retorted, confused.
"Who are you anyway?" He asked.
"Rain McAllister. Today was my first day at John Adams." She explained.
"Oh, sure, I remember you. You were in Turner's English class."
She nodded.
"So where are you headed?" Shawn asked.
"Oh, I was hungry, and some guy in my study hall told me about this place, um, Chunkys?"
"Chubbys?" Shawn asked, laughing.
"That's it."
"That's where I was headed." He explained.
"Meeting someone?" Rain asked, curiously.
"Actually no, but don't tell anyone." He laughed.
"Well, if you want, I'll walk with you, so I don't have to follow you anymore." She smiled. "And if you want, we can sit together, so neither of us will have to be alone."
"Hey, who said I was going to be alone?" He asked, defensively.
"Um, nobody!"
"Sorry, I just ment that, someone will probably be there. I'm kind of-"
"Popular?"
"Yeah." Shawn shrugged.
"Good looking?"
"Sure." He replied.
"With, looks, a sense of humor, and an irresistible charm?"
"You left out great hair." He added, running a hand through his brown mane.
"So the only thing you don't have is modesty, right?"
Shawn frowned. "You were the one who said all of those things!"
"So I was." Rain sighed. "This the place?" She asked, as the two approached the restaurant.
"Sure is. Like it?"
"It has...character." Rain supplied.
"Yeah, right." She laughed.
Just as Rain was reaching for the door, Shawn pulled her wrist away, and opened it for her.
"What was that about?" She asked.
"I was just getting the door..."
"Oh, sure.' Rain nodded, making a mental note that she had to get used to the politeness of these people, otherwise she was going to start freaking them out.
"So, what'll it be?" Shawn asked Rain as they stood at the counter, ready to order.
"House salad, and a small water."
"No burger? No fries?"
"No thanks." Rain replied. "I'll go save us a booth."
Shawn ordered Rain's salad, and water, along with a double Chubby burger, with everything on it, a large order of onion rings, a large order of fries, and a large chocolate milk shake, for himself. After he had paid for, and received the food, he took it over to the booth that Rain had saved for them.
"So, what's with the health food, you on a diet or something?" Shawn asked, taking the seat across from the pink haired teenager.
"No, what's that supposed to mean?" She asked, defensively.
"Nothing! I didn't mean for you to take it the wrong was, I was just curious."
"Yeah well, that seems to be the trend around here." She mumbled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shawn asked, repeating Rain's earlier question.
"Are you mocking me?" She asked.
"No!" Shawn insisted, holding out his hands.
Rain sighed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to jump all over you. I'm just not used to people being this nice to me, that's all."
"Why?"
Rain shrugged. "I don't want to talk about it. But um, your best friend's girlfriend is Topanga Lawrence, right?"
"Yeah, you met her?"
Rain nodded. "I met her and Cory."
"Cool."
"Yeah, why aren't you hanging out with them, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Their my friends, but that doesn't mean that I have to hang out with them all the time, does it?" Shawn asked, taking a bite of his burger.
Rain smiled. "Nope, I guess not."
"So, what's up with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"The deal with your clothes, your hair, your...attitude?"
Rain chuckled slightly, and then looked up at Shawn. "You think I have an attitude."
"Only the most major one that I've ever come across in my entire life. Not that it's a bad thing." He shrugged. "I kinda like it." Shawn admitted.
"Really?"
"Yeah, sure, but your off topic, I asked you a question. What's up with- "
"My fashion sense?" Rain finished for him. Shawn nodded, and Rain continued. "I hate labels. I take more interest in a person's personality than in what brand they wear. I make all of my own clothes, so...this is me." She finished.
"Very cool." Shawn smiled. "And the hair?"
"Pink's my favorite color, but it changes every few months. I'm thinking of going jet black with some red hilights, you think?"
"I kinda like the pink." Shawn laughed.
Rain joined in. She had never met anyone with a real appreciation for her unique sense of style.
"You really make all of your own clothes?"
"Clothes and jewelry. I mean, I'll buy shirts, like this one, and add my own flare to it."
"Like the rhinestones?" Shawn asked.
"Exactly."
"Rain, do you think you might want to go out with me?"
"Go out?" She asked, blinking furiously, as she always did when she was nervous.
"Yeah, on a date? You know, catch a bite and a movie, walk around town."
"Um, I don't know." Rain hesitated.
"What, you got something else to do? Other guys asking you out?" Shawn asked sarcastically.
"That's not funny." Rain replied, narrowing her icy glare on Shawn. "It's not easy being new you know."
"Sorry." Shawn started slowly. "But, honestly, you've got that attitude, and then that whole sensitive new kid bit, you confuse me, and I guess I'm kind of attracted to the mystery."
Rain looked down. "You don't want to go out with me." She mumbled.
"What?" Shawn asked, placing his hand on top of hers.
"Don't do that!" Rain demanded, pulling her hand back.
"What?"
"Don't touch me!" She exclaimed.
"Why? I didn't mean anything!"
"Listen, your making me nervous...."
"Nervous? How? All I've done is express interest in you, and ask you out, is there something so terribly wrong with that?"
"No, it's just that- I don't know you."
"Oh..." Shawn trailed off. It suddenly occurred to him that maybe she had trust issues, maybe it would be better for them to get to know each other better. "Well, what do you want to know?" He asked, his tone more gentle than before.
Rain grinned slyly. "What do I need to know?"
Shawn leaned back in his seat and rolled his eyes. "That's exactly what I'm talking about! First you tell me not to touch you, and then you start flirting with me again."
"I'm not flirting." Rain protested, starting to laugh.
"Yes you are!" Shawn shot back.
That comment sent Rain over the edge, she threw her head back and burst into laughter. Shawn could only frown, confused.
"I'm sorry!" Rain said, though giggles. "It's just that, maybe you should relax a little bit, I mean I know I haven't been completely laid back around you so far, but your being ridiculous. Don't try so hard, just be yourself, most girls like that." She finished, finally able to compose herself.
"I just kind of figured that-"
"That what?" Rain asked.
"That you....aren't like most girls."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Cory Matthews."
"Rain McAllister."
"Rain's taking journalism this semester, but, I better be going to class too, so I'll talk to you guys later." She explained, rushing out of the room.
"So, how do you like school so far?" Corey asked, taking his usual seat.
"It's not as bad as I thought, everybody here seems to be really friendly!" Rain exclaimed.
"Yeah, people are really nice here....most people that is." Cory explained.
Rain only nodded in agreement. "So um, how long have you and Topanga been dating?"
"On and off since kindergarten."
Rain raised an eyebrow, that phrase still didn't sound right, "since kindergarten. " Since kindergarten, Rain had lived in seven different cities, and attended nine different schools.
Cory started again, interrupting Rain's thoughts. "That's also how long I've known my best friend, Shawn Hunter."
Rain looked up at Cory, and raised an eyebrow.
"You should meet him sometime." Cory finished.
"Yeah, maybe." She agreed. "...sometime."
Class started shortly after that. Rain had always been interested in journalism and writing, she was happy to be able to study it. The last school that Rain had attended, in Dallas was a small, Catholic school, with limited class options.
Rain's last class of the day was a study hall. After the bell rang, she took a seat next to a good-looking blond boy.
"Hi." He smiled. "Your new?"
Rain nodded, silently.
"I'm Daniel Phillips. I'm the captain of the JV basketball team." He explained.
"Rain McAllister and, I'm not the captain of any team." She joked.
Daniel smiled slightly. "So you don't do the sports thing?"
Rain shook her head. "Do I look like I do the sports thing?" She asked pointing to her pink hair.
Daniel shrugged. "Well, what do you do?"
Rain shrugged. "Nothing much, I guess."
"Come on, everybody's does something!"
To tell the truth, Rain was interested in a variety of things, such as art, and sewing, and saving the environment, but she wasn't one to lay it all on the table, after first meeting someone; not even small, insignificant facts about herself, let alone the secrets of her past.
"No, nothing really." She replied, in a voice bearly above a whisper. "Does everyone always talk in study hall like this?" She asked, trying to change the subject.
"Uh, yeah." Daniel confirmed, glancing around the room. "It's not really a class, you know? Most people only take it because they didn't want to take another elective."
Rain frowned at Daniel's passive attitude. "Oh."
He nodded, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the two acquaintances.
"So," Rain started again. "Is there any good place to eat around here?"
"Chubby's." Daniel answers, simply.
"Chubby's? Sounds like a dive to me."
"Well, it is, I mean, it used to be...well, you know how it goes. A lot of kids from school hang out there." The boy explained.
"Maybe I'll check it out." Rain mumbled to herself, as Daniel turned back to his desk, and took a magazine out of his book bag.
After the bell rang, Daniel offered to walk her home, but Rain denied, nervously explaining that she could find her way home on her own, and that she was planning to stop at the library on the way home, which wasn't exactly a lie. She had decided to go look for a pleasure book. After evaluating her first day of classes at John Adams High, Rain had concluded that school was not going to be a problem here.
Rain had always been bright. She never cracked a book, and still pulled A's, she could see that, nothing was going to change now.
After stopping off at the library, and picking up a collection of nineteenth century poetry, and a biography on Edgar Allan Poe, Rain realized that her lunch had worn off and that she was starting to get hungry. Remembering what Daniel had told her about Chubby's, she decided to check it out.
As Rain exited the Library, she pulled her jacket closer to her body, and slipped the home-made scarf that she had worn to school that morning, around her neck. It was colder than usual for January in Philadelphia, and it looked as if it might snow. Snow was something that Rain hadn't seen since she had lived in Chicago. Needless to say, she missed the fluffy white flakes, that fell softly to the ground; and the excitement of a Snow Day off from school, a day to sit by the fire and sip cocoa, forgetting about the problems that seemed to follow her where ever she went, almost haunting her.
Finally, when she found her way to 5th street, she noticed that boy again, Shawn Hunter! The more and more she ran into him, the stranger the feeling that Rain had about it. She could see in his eyes, a strange mixed expression of doubt, and confidence. The feeling of such angst intrigued Rain.
After a few minutes, of walking behind him, Shawn finally stopped, causing Rain to bump into him.
"Are you following me?" He asked, bluntly.
"No!" She exclaimed, avoiding all contact with his amazing, deep, hazel eyes. "Why, your not following me, are you?"
"I'm in front of you." He retorted, confused.
"Who are you anyway?" He asked.
"Rain McAllister. Today was my first day at John Adams." She explained.
"Oh, sure, I remember you. You were in Turner's English class."
She nodded.
"So where are you headed?" Shawn asked.
"Oh, I was hungry, and some guy in my study hall told me about this place, um, Chunkys?"
"Chubbys?" Shawn asked, laughing.
"That's it."
"That's where I was headed." He explained.
"Meeting someone?" Rain asked, curiously.
"Actually no, but don't tell anyone." He laughed.
"Well, if you want, I'll walk with you, so I don't have to follow you anymore." She smiled. "And if you want, we can sit together, so neither of us will have to be alone."
"Hey, who said I was going to be alone?" He asked, defensively.
"Um, nobody!"
"Sorry, I just ment that, someone will probably be there. I'm kind of-"
"Popular?"
"Yeah." Shawn shrugged.
"Good looking?"
"Sure." He replied.
"With, looks, a sense of humor, and an irresistible charm?"
"You left out great hair." He added, running a hand through his brown mane.
"So the only thing you don't have is modesty, right?"
Shawn frowned. "You were the one who said all of those things!"
"So I was." Rain sighed. "This the place?" She asked, as the two approached the restaurant.
"Sure is. Like it?"
"It has...character." Rain supplied.
"Yeah, right." She laughed.
Just as Rain was reaching for the door, Shawn pulled her wrist away, and opened it for her.
"What was that about?" She asked.
"I was just getting the door..."
"Oh, sure.' Rain nodded, making a mental note that she had to get used to the politeness of these people, otherwise she was going to start freaking them out.
"So, what'll it be?" Shawn asked Rain as they stood at the counter, ready to order.
"House salad, and a small water."
"No burger? No fries?"
"No thanks." Rain replied. "I'll go save us a booth."
Shawn ordered Rain's salad, and water, along with a double Chubby burger, with everything on it, a large order of onion rings, a large order of fries, and a large chocolate milk shake, for himself. After he had paid for, and received the food, he took it over to the booth that Rain had saved for them.
"So, what's with the health food, you on a diet or something?" Shawn asked, taking the seat across from the pink haired teenager.
"No, what's that supposed to mean?" She asked, defensively.
"Nothing! I didn't mean for you to take it the wrong was, I was just curious."
"Yeah well, that seems to be the trend around here." She mumbled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shawn asked, repeating Rain's earlier question.
"Are you mocking me?" She asked.
"No!" Shawn insisted, holding out his hands.
Rain sighed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to jump all over you. I'm just not used to people being this nice to me, that's all."
"Why?"
Rain shrugged. "I don't want to talk about it. But um, your best friend's girlfriend is Topanga Lawrence, right?"
"Yeah, you met her?"
Rain nodded. "I met her and Cory."
"Cool."
"Yeah, why aren't you hanging out with them, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Their my friends, but that doesn't mean that I have to hang out with them all the time, does it?" Shawn asked, taking a bite of his burger.
Rain smiled. "Nope, I guess not."
"So, what's up with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"The deal with your clothes, your hair, your...attitude?"
Rain chuckled slightly, and then looked up at Shawn. "You think I have an attitude."
"Only the most major one that I've ever come across in my entire life. Not that it's a bad thing." He shrugged. "I kinda like it." Shawn admitted.
"Really?"
"Yeah, sure, but your off topic, I asked you a question. What's up with- "
"My fashion sense?" Rain finished for him. Shawn nodded, and Rain continued. "I hate labels. I take more interest in a person's personality than in what brand they wear. I make all of my own clothes, so...this is me." She finished.
"Very cool." Shawn smiled. "And the hair?"
"Pink's my favorite color, but it changes every few months. I'm thinking of going jet black with some red hilights, you think?"
"I kinda like the pink." Shawn laughed.
Rain joined in. She had never met anyone with a real appreciation for her unique sense of style.
"You really make all of your own clothes?"
"Clothes and jewelry. I mean, I'll buy shirts, like this one, and add my own flare to it."
"Like the rhinestones?" Shawn asked.
"Exactly."
"Rain, do you think you might want to go out with me?"
"Go out?" She asked, blinking furiously, as she always did when she was nervous.
"Yeah, on a date? You know, catch a bite and a movie, walk around town."
"Um, I don't know." Rain hesitated.
"What, you got something else to do? Other guys asking you out?" Shawn asked sarcastically.
"That's not funny." Rain replied, narrowing her icy glare on Shawn. "It's not easy being new you know."
"Sorry." Shawn started slowly. "But, honestly, you've got that attitude, and then that whole sensitive new kid bit, you confuse me, and I guess I'm kind of attracted to the mystery."
Rain looked down. "You don't want to go out with me." She mumbled.
"What?" Shawn asked, placing his hand on top of hers.
"Don't do that!" Rain demanded, pulling her hand back.
"What?"
"Don't touch me!" She exclaimed.
"Why? I didn't mean anything!"
"Listen, your making me nervous...."
"Nervous? How? All I've done is express interest in you, and ask you out, is there something so terribly wrong with that?"
"No, it's just that- I don't know you."
"Oh..." Shawn trailed off. It suddenly occurred to him that maybe she had trust issues, maybe it would be better for them to get to know each other better. "Well, what do you want to know?" He asked, his tone more gentle than before.
Rain grinned slyly. "What do I need to know?"
Shawn leaned back in his seat and rolled his eyes. "That's exactly what I'm talking about! First you tell me not to touch you, and then you start flirting with me again."
"I'm not flirting." Rain protested, starting to laugh.
"Yes you are!" Shawn shot back.
That comment sent Rain over the edge, she threw her head back and burst into laughter. Shawn could only frown, confused.
"I'm sorry!" Rain said, though giggles. "It's just that, maybe you should relax a little bit, I mean I know I haven't been completely laid back around you so far, but your being ridiculous. Don't try so hard, just be yourself, most girls like that." She finished, finally able to compose herself.
"I just kind of figured that-"
"That what?" Rain asked.
"That you....aren't like most girls."