Juvia was standing on the school steps, listening to the pitter patter on her pink umbrella. Each droplet echoed a solid plunk, like a knock on a door asking to be let inside. Not here, she'd silently answer, the corner of her eye catching shadows of the rejected water through the pink fabric. The droplets slid down and fell away from the umbrella's edges, causing a small stirring in her stomach.

Juvia has to stay dry, she tried to tell it in thought, she would be going home soon.

Half of the first grade stood with her, scattered in groups around the steps, huddling underneath their own umbrellas. They chattered and bragged and gossiped to each other, making good use of the free time before their parents arrived. In the school yard, stood a handful of younger students, those dismissed earliest, but whose pick up had not yet arrived. Juvia did not know any of them, as they weren't in her grade, nor did she have any younger siblings. She glanced back at the gates, through the crowd of adult faces, remembering some as parents of so and so.

She did not talk with any of the other classmates, or rather they did not talk to her. Still, she could here some of them muttering things. The group of girls on the steps above were making plans to go swimming in the town over, one of them saying the weather would not be so gloomy and wet. At these words, Juvia shifted her umbrella to block the sight of her and distracted herself with watching parents and guardians sweep off their children.

Some families held hands as they left through a second set of exit gates. Some adults just listened and smiled as their kid showed off a new art project. Some patted their child's head. A few were unhappily dragging kids brave enough to have temper tantrums in front of the whole school.

Juvia wanted any of it, all of it.

When all the parents of her class had come through, leaving four remainders and Juvia, they were shuffled to the yard with the other students, and the second grade was brought out. This process continued for a while, with each grade. The yard pile diminished too, as late apologetic parents finally showed. Juvia kept patient and silent, mesmerized by the parent and child scenes, wondering just what it must feel like to have someone's attention. Not that she never got attention, just, there was something different between hers and the other school children.

Finally, dismissals ended, and barely a classroom's number was left still waiting. It was then that the check in line teacher noticed Juvia. He frowned in confusion, and called her out amongst the crowd. At the beckon, the little rain child cringed, but she stepped forward anyways.

"Juvia. You shouldn't be staying around when school's ended, it's rude to children whose guardians are late." The teacher admonished. "You have permission to check out yourself, now go home."

It was true. Juvia was lucky. She had a special note that said it was ok for her to leave on her own. She did not have to wait around for or rely on anyone to come for her. Yet, she liked watching the other children and their parents. She learned a lot about families that way

There was heavy weight on her shoulders, and Juvia could just tell that the rest of the yard was looking at her. Her classmates, the younger students, the older students: they were probably wondering why the strange rain girl had stayed late again. There was no easy answer to explain it; Juvia just did it because it was something she preferred. The show was over now though, there wasn't a steady stream of parents anymore. And even though the last delayed pickups were some of the best to watch, the teachers did not want her sticking around.

Hitching her backpack a little further up on her shoulder, and straightening the umbrella over her head. She nodded to the man, and wished him a good evening. She was lucky, Juvia reminded herself. Few children in her grade were allowed to just leave whenever they wanted.

Still, as she walked through the gates, her free hand was moving, clenching and unclenching, as if looking for something to take in its hold.

Thank you for the first review! Let's get some more Juvia on . :)

Also, as I do not know Juvia's parents' situation (I read somewhere that they are deceased, but there was no information on how or when) I tried to keep vague on that subject. This alludes to a lack of family bonds in her childhood, but doesn't actually say whether Juvia's parents are in her life or not.

Enjoy!