A/N:  warning: lame attempt on humor again, so probably not funny.

Disclaimer: song title: Through the rain  Artist: Mariah Carey

Chapter 5: Garden Festival 4: Through the rain  Accident 5: The rain

They called her the Cat.  Hair like the sun, the darkest eyes ever seen, blue.  Mysterious, the kind of girl a guy could fall for, literally.  But a cat…  Great balance, sneaking around quietly.  No guy touched her without asking first.  Someone had, someone learned (his lesson).  A cat can scratch your eyes out.  Lucky for him it wasn't too bad.

She was Catherine Walters.

~^~^*^~^~

Catherine was walking around Balamb Garden, trying to find something to do.  It was a sunny day, no cloud in the sky.  She reached the front gate and all of a sudden it started to rain.  One lousy cloud right above her head, the only cloud in the sky, the sun still shone.  She hated water, just like a cat.
"I hate rain!" she jumped up and down out of frustration.
~No wait!  I don't hate rain… I'm afraid of rain!~
She started screaming and ran back into Garden, hysterically. The cloud following her and staying right above her head.  Even when she was inside, the rain still fell down, only on her.  She was still screaming.  Everyone looked stunned when she ran by, chased by a rain cloud.

Catherine couldn't see.  She kept running with an arm before her eyes, till someone grabbed her arm to stop her.  He pulled her close, into his coath, shielding her from the rain.  She was crying on his shoulder.
"Shh… It's ok, my lil' Kittycat.  The rain will stop.' He whispered.
She looked up into his blue eyes and smiled.
"Thanks." She gave him a kiss on his lips, which made him blush a bit.
"Uhm… No prob… I guess…" he stammered.
She giggled.
"What's wrong?  Cat got your tongue?"
"Yeah, actually… she did." And he kissed her.

The rain slowly stopped and he pulled away.  Catherine giggled again.
"You liked that?" he grinned at her.
"Yep!"
"Why don't we go to your dorm and get you out of these wet clothes?"
"Naughty, naughty." She teased.
He took off his coath and putt it on her.
"Here.  This'll keep you warm and stop (most of) the guys from staring, till we reach your dorm."
"Thanks again." Cat smiled at him.

***

"You wait here.  I'll go take a shower."
"Ok, I won't go anywhere."
"I'm sure you won't."

***

The hot water was coming down on her body.
~This feels like rain…~
A terrified look on her face, she let out a small cry.
A knock on the door.
"You ok in there?" he asked a bit worried.
"This feels like rain." She cried.
"You want me to come in?" Irvine asked carefully.
"Maybe…" A trace of doubt in her voice.
He slowly opened the door.  Catherine had her back towards him, still crying softly in the shower.  Irvine quietly removed his clothes, stepped in the shower and putt his arms around Catherine, pulling her close.  She slowly stopped crying, feeling more comfortable near him and rapped her arms around him.

…

***

She was sitting alone in the secret area in the middle of the night.  Cat thought about today, about the guy who was sleeping in her room right now, and she sang:

"When you get caught in the rain
With nowhere to run
When you're distraught and in pain
Without anyone
When you keep crying out
To be saved
But nobody comes
And you feel so far away
That you just can't find your way home
You can get there alone
It's ok
What you say is

I can make it through the rain
I can stand up once again
On my own
And I know
That I'm strong enough to mend
And every time I feel afraid
I hold tighter to my faith
And I live one more day
And I make it through the rain

And if you keep falling down
Don't you dare give in
You will arise safe and sound
So keep pressing on steadfastly
And you'll find what you need to prevail
What you say is

I can make it through the rain
I can stand up once again
On my own
And I know
That I'm strong enough to mend
And every time I feel afraid
I hold tighter to my faith
And I live one more day
And I make it through the rain

And when the rain blows
As shadows grow close
Don't be afraid
There's nothing you can't face
And should they tell you
You'll never pull through
Don't hesitate
Stand tall and say

I can make it through the rain
I can stand up once again
On my own
And I know
That I'm strong enough to mend
And every time I feel afraid
I hold tighter to my faith
And I live one more day
And I make it through the rain

I can make it through the rain
And I live once again
And I live one more day
And I can make it through the rain
(Yes you can)
You will make it through the rain"

"Wow, Cat!  That was fantastic.  Would you, please, please, sing it on the Garden Festival for me?  Please?"
"Sure.  Why not?"

Garden Festival Program:

1. Quistis Trepe – Ice Queen
2. Seifer Almasy – She hates me
3. Irvine Kinneas – No one knows
4. Catherine Walters – Through the rain