Hey, yeah. I am so sorry, I can't come to the prom! I had an emergency! I am so sorry. Maybe next year?

Seen ✓ 8:56 p.m

Eli frowned at his phone screen, the deafening music around him making it even harder for him to take in the news properly. He ran a hand over his now sweaty hair and let out a loud sigh. He looked up and saw Laurent Hills from his year get crowned the homecoming king.

He looked back at his phone screen, a sudden sting of tears welled up and he hastily wiped his eyes away and abruptly stood up from the table, he had spent the five loneliest hours of his life at.

The homecoming king made his speech and the dancing resumed. Eli had to battle his way to the exit. He let out another tired sigh when he saw that it was raining. He still had two hours more till his parents come to pick him up. He could ask them to pick him earlier but he didn't want to ruin their date night.

However, he did not want to go back to the crowded gym, where there were sweaty bodies dancing and loud music and a huge ugly reminder that his date stood up to him.

Speaking of date standing up.

Eli looked at his lock screen and frowned at the beautiful girl with soft curly red hair. She had her arms around Eli's shoulders and was leaning her head against his. They were smiling brightly at the camera.

He and Vega had been dating for almost a year now and this was not the first time Vega had stood up on him. He pursed his lips as he stared at the outing rain.

She didn't even come to his birthday party.

Of course, Vega always had reasons to not come but it no longer felt like a coincidence when she kept missing dates and special events. And as calm and patient Eli was, he had started to grow tired.

His tired green eyes gazed at the raindrops. He pushed up his round glasses that were slowly slipping from his nose and took another deep breath.

He was really tired.

Eli took a step into the rain and felt it's icy cold drop touch his hot skin and trickle down. He did not stop. Eli continued walking in the rain. And stopped at the open ground in front of the gym building. He stared at his now ruined formal shoe. Tears dropped from his eyes as he let out a distracted cry and sat on the wet ground. He held his hair and continued sobbing from frustration.

He wouldn't take it anymore.

Eli wouldn't take the uncertainty of being with Vega anymore. He was tired of guessing if she was angry at him or not. He was tired of being the only one trying so hard it practically looked like he has this silly teenage crush on her. He was tired of awkwardly laughing off whenever Vega ignored him when he greeted her during lunch.

Or maybe it was him. Maybe he did something wrong that made Vega upset with him.

He is the problem.

Laurent Hills would feel his cheeks hurt from smiling too much tonight. He thanked the people who were congratulating him for getting crowned the homecoming king. He walked to the snack table and took a deep breath as he took off his suit jacket and loosened his tie.

He gave the punch bowl a dirty and ran a hand over his hair. He looked around, every student was busy dancing and the teachers were talking amongst themselves.

"I need a smoke," he muttered to himself and made his way to the exit. He again started smiling as the students he passed on the way patted his back and loudly congratulated him.

As Laurent reached the exit, the harsh rainfall which resulted in the cold hair felt amazing against his hot skin.

He smiled to himself and covered his head with his suit jacket and was ready to make his way to the car and smoke a cigarette or two. However, he noticed a figure sitting on the floor.

Laurent frowned and squinted his eyes in the rain, where the person was sitting. Laurent was going to leave the person alone but realized he wouldn't take the guilt of the person ending up with pneumonia.

"Hey!" He shouted over the downpour.

When the person did not respond, Laurent cursed under his breath and ran towards the person.

"Hey, dude," Laurent called again, "This is really not a good place to act like you are in a sad movie and crying in the rain. You can seriously get—"

Eli looked up to see who was shouting at him. When Laurent and Eli looked at eachother, Laurent stopped his rant.

Laurent had no idea how long the boy with Harry Potter's glasses had been sitting in the rain but his hair was dripping and his suit looked like they went for a swim.

Laurent stretched out his hand.

"Come on."

Eli slowly raised a shivering hand and took Laurent's hand. They felt big against him. They wrapped around his hand and the fingers reached till his wrist. Before Eli would comprehend anything he was pulled up from the ground.

"Come on, rain boy!" Laurent shouted over the rain and started walking with his hand still holding Eli's.

Eli looked at the boy who had a suit jacket over his head that looked like a nun back from here wouldn't help have a small smile around his face.

Their feets sloshed through the wet grounds. They practically ran to the school building and before Eli could wrap the situation around his head, Laurent and he were walking through the empty school halls.

"This place looks creepy as hell," Laurent muttered as their footsteps echoed in the dark hallway. They stopped in front of a locker. Laurent let go of Eli's hand to open it. That was the only time Eli finally organised his thoughts.

He watched Laurent pull out a duffle bag from the locker and close it. Elie was confused and locked around but before he could get his doubt out in the open, he felt Laurent's big hands hold his and again walk.

They were inside the boy's changing room. Laurent pushed a towel against Eli's chest and looked around his duffle bag. He pulled out some spare clothes.

"Take a shower," he instructed, "And wear them. I don't have any spare underwear though…"

Eli suddenly felt hot on the tips of his ear as he picked up the spare clothes Laurent and picked out.

"This will do!" He squeaked and hurriedly stepped inside one of the stalls.

Laurent shook his head at the unknown boy and sat on the bench.

"What are we doing in the rain?" Laurent asked, "Acting out the kissing scene from the notebook?"

"No…" Eli said through the sound of the shower.

Laurent just smiled and pulled out his phone. His date was looking for him but he just ignored the message and scrolled through his phone until Eli was done.

Eli came out of the stall wearing a hoodie too big for him and a pair of shorts that went past his knees.

"My clothes are too big for you," Laurent said and passed Eli a plastic bag for him to put his wet clothes in.

"Thank you," Eli said quietly and took the plastic bag.

"No problem," Laurent muttered. He looked down and realised Eli was barefoot.

"Ah, I don't have any spare shoes," Laurent said.

"No it's okay!" Eli hurriedly said, "I am already borrowing your clothes."

"Are you gonna go home?"

"My parents will be picking me up at eleven only." Eli answered.

"Well, if you don't mind you can stay in my car with me," Laurent offered, "Or go to the dance."

"In clothes four times bigger than me?"

Laurent smiled, "You are making it seem like I am a giant."

Eli smiled, "Staying in the car sounds so much better."

"Let's go then!" Laurent said and pulled out an umbrella from his duffle bag, he handed it to Eli and said, "You are holding it."

"Okay?" Eli said, with a confused expression as Laurent took his bag of wet clothes and put it in his duffle bag.

Laurent placed the duffle bag over his right shoulder and looked at Eli.

"Let's go."