Rain has a way of making everything feel magical, and today, it truly was. I was hurrying across campus, umbrella wobbling in the gusts, when I saw him — Andre — standing under the library awning, soaked, hair plastered, grinning like the rain was his personal runway.
"You look ridiculous," I laughed, already feeling my chest tighten at the sight of him.
"Right back at you," he said, water dripping from his hair, eyes twinkling. "But I'd argue that I still look cuter."
I rolled my eyes, but my heart betrayed me, doing that fluttering dance it always did around him. "You wish, Puppy."
He stepped closer, brushing raindrops off my umbrella, his fingers lingering longer than necessary. My chest tightened — that familiar warmth spreading in that reckless, vulnerable way that Andre always seemed to trigger.
---
We walked side by side, sharing the umbrella, our shoulders brushing, fingers occasionally touching. Andre talked about his law classes, throwing in his typical lawyer jokes:
"Technically, if anatomy were a case, your heart would be the defendant — guilty of stealing mine."
I groaned, laughing, shaking my head. "You're ridiculous."
"Cute, you mean," he corrected, leaning in with that puppyish grin. "Only my Vivian gets to call me ridiculous."
I smirked, letting myself lean into him slightly, enjoying the simple intimacy. The rain didn't feel cold — it felt like it was wrapping us in our own little world.
---
We ended up at the small campus park near the dorms, rain dripping from the trees, puddles reflecting the grey sky. Andre stopped, turning to me with a rare softness in his eyes.
"You know," he whispered, "I've been waiting for this moment for a while."
And then he kissed me — soft, slow, a perfect, lingering brush of lips that made my heart swell so much I thought it might burst. When we pulled back, his forehead rested against mine.
"I love you," he murmured, voice warm and husky.
I blinked, almost breathless, unsure what to say, so I let my chest speak for me. "I… like you too," I admitted, letting the walls drop just a fraction.
He grinned, that relieved, mischievous glint back in his eyes. "Like me too?" he teased.
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Don't push it, Puppy."
---
The rest of the evening was perfect — laughter, teasing, quiet whispers, holding hands so naturally it felt like we'd always done it. Every time he brushed hair from my face, my chest fluttered. Every time he whispered a silly lawyer joke about anatomy or medicine, I laughed harder than I had in months.
For a few hours, it was only us. The past, the shadows, the missing months… none of that mattered. It was just me, him, and the rain — a little world of warmth, softness, and perfect vulnerability.
And then, as we were leaving, the world tilted.
A chill ran down my spine, one that had nothing to do with the rain. My stomach twisted, my chest tightened. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but deep down, I knew — something from before, something buried, was coming back.
I pulled my jacket tighter, trying to shake it off, but the feeling didn't leave. It was a whisper, a shadow, a reminder that the past I thought I'd escaped… wasn't done with me yet.
Andre noticed, of course. "Vivian?" he asked softly, voice tinged with concern.
I forced a small smile. "I'm fine, Puppy," I said, but even as I said it, I knew it was a lie. Something — someone — was waiting for me. And soon, I'd have to face it.
For now, though, I let his hand hold mine a little tighter, because at least tonight, in the rain, the warmth of his love was mine. For a little while longer.