When the rain hit it was just passed sunset and passed their curfew. Sara and Rainey were soaked head to toe and were chilled to the bone in minutes. The storm was moving to the east of them but the threat of getting struck by lightening was still at their doorstep.
"We need to get out of the rain!" Sara shouted over the thunder.
Rainey shivered. "I know. Let's run over to the school. We can stand under the overhang for the car-riders."
A blue smile crossed Sara's lips. "Sounds good to me." She chattered.
The girls made a run for it and managed to get there safely. They huddled together near the locked doors for warmth and watched the rain.
"I think we should have run away another day." Sara whispered.
Rainey smiled. "Chicken. I never thought a little rain would scare you from an adventure."
"First of all, it's a storm and I am not chicken; just smart."
Rainey laughed. "Sare you are so chicken."
Another eye roll. "Whatever. How long has it been since we ran away from home?"
Rainey looked at her watch. "Six hours, a new record."
"Do you think our parents are mad at us?" Sara frowned.
"Mine? Hell no. Yours; definitely."
Sara noticed that Rainey's parents didn't like having her around much. Her mother was the nicest person in the world and was probably upset despite what Rainey said. Mrs. Davis was always the kindest person to Sara, and was like a second mother. Rainey's father was another matter. He was mean, or so Sara heard. She never really met him in the three years she was friends with Rainey. Rainey didn't like to talk about her family much but then again neither did Sara. "Well," Sara said. "If we are going to do this right, we need a place to sleep for the night."
"I was hoping you weren't going to leave me." She smiled.
"I would never leave you behind. Come on. I know how we can get in the school." Sara stood up and ran into the downpour of rain until she came to a window along the side of the school.
"It's the window to the girl's bathroom. I can fit through if you can give me a boost." Sara stared at the window then back to Rainey.
Rainey looked up at the window. "Is it open?"
"It's only held closed by a latch and I can slide a stick in to unhook it." Sara looked on the ground for a sturdy stick then held one up. "Perfect."
"Are you sure you can fit?" Rainey asked looking at the hole in the wall.
"Yeah. I climbed through the last day of school when I got in that fight with Jamie and his brutes for teasing some six grader."
"Why did you climb out of the window?"
"Brad Thompson hit me in the stomach and was going to beat the crap out of me."
"You ran?"
A devilish smile spread across her lips. "Well I ran after I punched him in the face."
Rainey giggled. Sara really was just a kid. "Okay. Let's get you up there." She intertwined her fingers to form a step for Sara to jump up. Sara unhooked the latch with the stick and opened the window.
"Give me a boost." Sara called down. With one solid push Sara was in the bathroom. "Now go to the front doors, I'll let you in." She called out.
Rainey ran as fast as she could reaching the door before Sara did. Sara unlocked the door and dutifully held the door open for her.
"Oh that's better." Rainey said loudly as it echoed off the bare walls. With squeaky shoes they explored the school.
"This place is creepy without all the people." Rainey called across the lunchroom. They decided to explore it first since it was closest.
"It's peaceful." Sara answered but stopped when she heard a bang. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"The door opened and closed."
"You're hearing things Sara. If anything it's the wind."
"No. The wind was blowing to the north." Sara said confidently. "I am sure."
"I forgot, you're a walking compass and barometer." She teased.
Squeaky footsteps neared the cafeteria and this time both girls heard it. They looked at each other. Rainey mouthed the word run and they both took off through the cafeteria doors towards the main hallway.
"Not so fast!" A young officer shouted as he caught Sara around the waist. Sara struggled while Rainey began to kick the cop in his shin.
"Let her go you pervert!" Rainey yelled.
"Get the other one Gary!"
The other officer, Gary, came jogging down the hall and grabbed a good hold of Rainey. "Now let's just settle down." He yelled over their shouts.
Sara stopped kicking and was released back to the floor. Rainey on the other hand was still held back by Gary. It must have been the swearing of every word imaginable that made her seem more hostile than Sara.
"What are you two doing in here?" Gary asked calmly.
Rainey and Sara shared a glance. "It's hard to stay dry in a storm." Sara hissed angrily.
Gary looked at his partner then back to Sara. "Sara Sidle right?" He smiled. "Your parents are worried sick about you. And who is your friend?"
"Larraine Davis." Rainey spat. "And if you don't let me go..."
He dropped his hands from Rainey's arm and shoulder. "No need to get upset Larraine Davis and we don't need your mouth." He said sternly.
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.
The officers looked at each other then back to the girls. "Do you two realize that you just broke into the school and it's illegal?" Neither girl said a word. "Well this is what we can do. We can take you two home or we could take you to prison for trespassing. What will it be?"
"We can walk." Rainey said coldly.
He smiled. "I am glad you agree that prison it's the right place for two teenage girls, but we will escort you home in the patrol car. You're parents would have us fired for allowing you to walk in this storm."
Sara sighed in defeat and grabbed Rainey's hand. It wouldn't have lasted long anyway. "Let's go Rainey." Rainey also released a heavy sigh and squeezed Sara's hand for comfort. They knew they were in big trouble.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'll call you. Pick up please." She whispered to Sara then she was gone as the officer escorted her up the path to her front door.
Rainey's father answered and even from so far away, Sara knew he wasn't happy. She let her head fall to the head rest. Her parents weren't going to be to happy either. She was going to be in big trouble. The officer climbed back in.
"Good guy." He said lightly. "He seemed really thankful that we brought her back safe."
"Yeah the way she acted, you thought she was going to be in trouble."
"Well you know parents. They are grateful now and angry later." He turned to look at Sara. "You ready to go home Miss Sidle?"
Sara just stared out the window at the rain. Something didn't feel right and something wasn't making sense. Her brow knitted as the gears turned.
"Something wrong?" Gary asked.
She shook her head. "No."
The car ride home was dreadful. Sara felt sick and confused. Her thoughts, even at her age, were bothering her. She didn't even realize she was home, because she was so deep in thought. As soon as she stepped out of the car she was assaulted by her mother's hugs.
"Sara Sidle what were you thinking?!" Her mother was upset, but relieved that Sara was okay.
"Hey dad." Sara said looking up at the tall man standing behind her mom. His eyes were warm but his eyes were always warm for Sara.
He frowned down at his daughter. "Hey Sara." He said in a gush of relief.
"Don't talk to her like she did nothing wrong. Sara I want to know what you were doing breaking into a school."
She shrugged. "It's hard to keep dry in a storm."
The officers laughed breaking some of the tension. "Same thing she told us ma'am. Well we better go, our job is done. Have a good night ma'am. Sir. Miss."
"Thank you officers." Mr. Sidle called out to them as they ran to their car.
Mrs. Sidle shook Sara's shoulders. "Now you, young lady, have some explaining to do. You were with that girl weren't you?"
Sara perked up at the mention of Rainey. "My actions had nothing to do with Rainey mom."
"I don't want to hear it Sara. I tell you to have fun and be a kid, not a convict!"
Sara's father put an arm on his wife's shoulder. "She's been through enough, you can yell at her tomorrow babe." Mr. Sidle then put an arm around Sara. "Go up stairs and get some dry clothes on and I want to see you in bed when I check on you." Sara looked at her watch and was about to note that it was still early for a summer bedtime. "No buts." He said sternly. She gave up and dragged her tired body upstairs.
After a shower, which she took the liberty on adding on to her orders, she lay in bed looking at the ceiling. She waited by the phone to make sure she was the first to pick it up before her mom got a chance to; she wouldn't permit a phone call from Sara's accomplice in crime. Sara smiled to herself, it was fun though. The phone rang and made her jump. She fumbled with the receiver.
"Rainey?"
"Sara I need your help. It's my dad..."
Sara heard the sound of someone picking up the phone. "Hello?" Her mother said picking up.
"Sara please." Rainey pleaded. Her voice was tainted with fear and Sara was worried. Something was very wrong.
"Larraine Davis, I suggest you hang up right now or I will have a talk with your parents." Mrs. Sidle's booming voice almost shook the phone.
There was a sudden dial tone as Rainey disconnected the call. Sara soon hung up too. She stared out her window that was near her bed and absentmindedly played with the necklace Rainey gave her. She jumped up and threw on some clothes. Rainey needed help and Sara had to get to her and she knew her parents would not allow such an adventure. She grabbed her raincoat and climbed out the window and down the lattice sheet outside her window. The rain slowed to a sprinkle which allowed maximum speed for the seven block journey inland to Rainey's house.
tbc...