There was something soothing about a thunderstorm, the rain beating down on the roof, a flash of lightening chasing away the darkness, a crack of thunder breaking the eerie silence. I'd always found it to be comforting knowing that once the storm was over, the world would come to life again.

I made my way downstairs with the book I'd brought from home. There was nothing like curling up on a comfy couch with a good book and a cup of coffee while you listened to it rain. Alex was rushing around the kitchen as I poured myself a cup of the coffee she'd already made.

"Work?" I asked.

She nodded reaching around me to pour herself a cup of coffee, "Jay's comatose so Brie said she'd pick me up. She should be here any minute."

"So when are we going to get to officially meet this Brie?" I asked, taking a sip of the steaming hot coffee.

"I don't know. She said something about taking all of us sailing but I didn't think you guys would be interested." Alex replied. "Are you interested?"

It was my turn to shrug. I'd never been sailing before but it sounded like fun, "Why not? It could be fun."

"Well, I better go. I'll see you later, El." Alex added, tossing her cup into the sink and heading for the door.

"Bye," I called after her before making my way to the couch.

I curled up and flipped to the dog-eared page I'd left off at. I started reading just as a crack of thunder shook the house. I was completely lost in the book when Jay stumbled out of his bedroom. He grunted a greeting, drawing my attention away from the paragraph I was in the middle of.

"Rough night?" I asked. He looked like death warmed over. His hair was all over the place and his eyes were sunken and blood shot.

He nodded as he went to pour himself a cup of coffee. Unfortunately I had the last cup sitting beside me. I held the cup out towards him and he stumbled his way towards it.

"Thanks," he mumbled after drinking it all down.

"Did you have fun?" I asked.

"I guess. I drank a little, shot a little pool, flirted with a couple of hot blondes nothing big." he answered.

I rolled my eyes. Jay had a one track mind for blondes in short skirts. Just as the thought flashed through my head, a blonde in an incredibly short sundress came strutting out of Jay's room. She had her bra in one hand and her shoes in the other. At that point I was at a complete loss for words.

Jay followed my eyes to where the girl was standing a sly smile on his face, "Ellie, this is Becky…"

"It's Jessica," The girl corrected in irritation.

"Right, sorry. Ellie this is Jessica, Jessica this is my roommate Ellie." Jay finished not even flinching at his mistake.

"Hi," I said with a little wave. The situation was beyond awkward.

The blonde gave me a small smile before saying, "I need to get back to my hotel before my dad freaks. Give me a ride?"

Jay sighed softly so that only I could hear but he stood up and made his way towards his room anyway. He was back a few seconds later with a t-shirt, his hat, and shoes.

"I'll be right back, Red." he called back to me as he headed out the door.

I chuckled as I realized I should probably get used to strange girls walking out of Jay's room. I felt a funny twinge deep inside. It was similar to the feelings I always got when I was forced to watch Craig and Manny make out. I shook the feeling away and mentally attributed it to the fact that everyone was finding love, or something close to it anyway, but me.

Jay returned a short time later with fresh coffee and donuts. He handed me a tall, steaming cup of coffee and explained, "I figured we could use some fuel since it looks like we're going to be stuck inside all day."

I looked out the sliding glass door as the rain continued to fall before saying, "Thanks."

"I couldn't exactly let you starve now could I, Red?" he added, sitting the box of donuts down in front of me.

"Careful, Hogart. I may start thinking you're a good guy after all." I teased.

Jay chuckled, "As long as you keep it to yourself. I do have a reputation to protect."

"Right you're the juvenile delinquent, the bad boy, the criminal." I relied sarcastically.

"Which would make you what, Goth girl, a vampire, the basket case?" he asked.

It was shocking to me that he'd caught my reference to The Breakfast Club, my all time favorite 80's movie. Somehow I just couldn't picture him watching a Brat Pack movie. Then again I guess a lot of people would have said the same thing about me. I couldn't help it. After my Saturday detention with Sean I just kind of related to the movie.

I shot him a questioning look before he added, "What? Bender was cool."

I laughed because it was a typical Jay remark, because the whole situation was getting more absurd by the day, because I was genuinely having a great time, and because I hadn't laughed...REALLY laughed...in a long time. It felt good to relax. It was rejuvenating.

"You up for a game of pool?" Jay asked once I finally stopped laughing.

"Um, actually...I'm really bad at pool. Ask Sean. The one time he took me to shoot pool I almost gave him a concussion with the white ball." I replied with a grimace as the memory of Sean jumping out of the way flashed through my head. "It was really embarrassing."

I could tell Jay was holding back his snicker as he replied, "Come on, Red, you can't be that bad. I'll teach you."

Jay stood up and started towards the game room and I reluctantly followed. He handed me one of the pool sticks and started to rack the balls. I watched bewildered as his hands moved quickly shuffling the plain and stripped balls into the right spots. I said a silent prayer that I wouldn't completely humiliate myself or break anything as he removed the triangle and started towards me.

"Okay, Red," He started as he placed the familiar white ball on the table in front of me. He put his arm around me showing me how to position the pool stick the right way and where to aim. The room grew increasingly warm with his close proximity. His breath caressed my cheek as he gave me instructions. With one quick movement the balls scattered sending several into different holes. "See that wasn't so hard? Looks like you're Solids."

I bit my lip as he helped me with the next shot but by the end of the game I was sinking the balls without any help. I thought back to when Sean had tried teaching me, he'd quickly lost his patience and his temper especially after the cue ball went flying towards his head. I couldn't help but wonder what he would think if he could see Jay and me now.

"That was fun," I said, after losing the second game. "But would it have killed you to have let me at least come close to winning?"

"You wanted me to throw the game?" he asked, fanning shock.

"Not the whole game." I replied with mock defensiveness.

He motioned to the table before adding, "If you want to go again I'll promise to let you win."

"Nah," I replied. "It's not as much fun if I know you're throwing the game."

He laughed as he reached for my pool stick and placed it up on the wall rack with his. I leaned against the pool table and juggled the cue ball. I avoided looking at him as I asked, "How come you cheated on Alex?"

He licked his lip nervously before answering, "I don't know...I guess I just kind of got tired of getting the brush off. There was always something more important, like her job, or her student council commitment, her family. I was just tired of coming in second, which I know isn't an excuse so please spare me the lecture."

"No lecture," I replied sitting the cue ball down on the table then turning to look at him. "It sucks coming in second."

"Like you'd know." He shot back defensively.

"I do." I added, trying to keep my voice from quivering. "I was always second to Emma when it came to Sean and I'm second to Manny when it comes to Craig. It sucks but what can you do?"

He simply shrugged and I realized I'd probably taken the conversation a little deeper then he was willing to go. I smiled before asking, "What now?"

"Sorry, Red. I'm fresh out of ideas." Jay replied. "Want to watch a movie or something? I make some killer popcorn."

"Oh yeah?" I asked in curiosity.

"Oh yeah. I'm killer at taking the bag out of the box and tossing it in the microwave." he replied with a little snicker.

"Cute, real cute," I replied, following him out of the game room.

"Are you hitting on me, Red?" He continued to tease.

"In your dreams," I added.

"Every night," He replied in a way that left me wondering if he was just joking or if there was more to it then I wanted to believe.

We sat down on the couch with the bowl of popcorn between us and flipped through the channels looking for a movie both of us would like. He stopped flipping on the channel that was playing Final Destination and Final Destination 2. I'd seen the movies several times and had been dying to see the third one but had missed it while it was playing in the theaters. I grabbed a handful of popcorn and turned my attention to the television screen.

By the end of the second movie I had my legs stretched across Jay's and my head resting on his shoulder. He didn't seem to mind and I was completely comfortable. His hand was resting on my leg in a friendly way but I could feel the warmth of it spreading through my entire body. I picked up the pillow behind me and nailed him in the head with it.

"Hey! What the hell?" he sputtered trying to jerk it away from me. He finally gave up trying to grab the pillow and instead started tickling me.

"Stop!" I squealed trying to push him away as I laughed hysterically. I finally got away and rushed around the couch and out the sliding glass doors into the rain.

"Ellie!" he called after me stopping in the open doorway.

"What?" I asked, turning around to face him as the rain washed over me. "Afraid you're going to melt?"

"You are crazy," he replied.

"Come on, Jay. It's just rain." I said, holding out my hand for him to join me. When he shook his head no, I walked closer and grabbed the front of his shirt pulling him out into the rain. I looked up into his eyes and laughing said, "See? its just rain."

A moment passed between us that caused my stomach to do a flip flop. We stood there...the rain beating down on us, our eyes locked, mere inches apart. Something in the back of my head told me to kiss him but before I could tell it to shut up Jay flipped me over his shoulder and carried me back inside.

He sat me back down on my feet once we were back inside and I gently pushed him away with the palm of my hand. He caught my wrist gently and pulled me close to him. I looked into his blue eyes in anticipation of whatever was about to happen. He parted his lips but instead of pressing them against mine he simply asked, "What are you trying to do to me, Red?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I answered, taking a step back. I took a deep breath of the air that rushed between us before adding, "I better go get changed."

"Yeah," he muttered as I headed up the stairs.

I shut the bedroom door behind me then leaned against it. I didn't understand why I had wanted him to kiss me so badly. I was in love with Craig, wasn't I? I couldn't possibly be having feelings for Jay, could I? I groaned as I pulled my damp shirt up over my head and headed towards the dresser for some dry clothes. I blamed it on the rain, on those romantic scenes in old movies where the couple passionately kisses in the rain. It was nothing more than a daydream playing itself out in my head. It wasn't real. Jay and I would never happen. Somewhere in the back of my head, I knew I was falling. I just hoped I could stay in denial long enough to figure out what to do about it.