Rain Rain Go Away | #ONC2021

Chapter One

"Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

Chelsea's bouncing enthusiasm was enough to make me lose my breakfast, one I had purposefully yet to eat because of our upcoming morning flight. I'd only just woken up thirty minutes earlier, trying my best to cherish the last few moments of rest I'd be able to have in my bed before she whisked me away to an unknown hotel on a foreign island.

Not that I didn't want to go on vacation—in fact, of the three of us, I was the one who probably needed it the most with the hours I'd been putting in at my firm. So when Chelsea called me up a few months ago suggesting we take a trip, I was more than willing to spend the money on first-class tickets to an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean.

What she didn't tell me at the time was that Jason was joining us.

Jason, my best friend throughout high school who ceased talking to me when he wanted to take it to the next level while I was in the middle of finals and entrance exams. Jason, who was always just a call away, who refused to talk to me after graduation when I told him I wanted to focus on my career instead of a relationship. Jason, who I expected would want to be anywhere but where I was...

Or maybe Chelsea lured him in just as bad as she conned me.

But we weren't kids in high school anymore.

I was in my first year of law school.

Chelsea was a veterinary technician.

And Jason...

I hated I had no idea what Jason was doing.

I hated myself for never asking Chelsea, either.

While I went away to school, they both remained local and stayed in touch. She was somewhat cognizant of what had happened between Jason and me the night of her graduation party, but she never asked for details and we never really spoke about it afterward. All anyone knew, Jason and I just had a falling out...

After all this time, even for me, the details were foggy, and I often found myself trying to focus on something else than the past between us.

Hopefully this week away together could be some sort of clean slate. We were older now— and allegedly more mature. There's no reason we can't spend the time together reforging some of those broken bonds.

"So, where's Jason?" I heard myself ask as I rolled my suitcase to the foyer. "Sleeping in the Uber?"

"Oh." Chelsea's energetic demeanor dropped. "He's meeting us at the airport."

"He didn't want to be woken up by you?" I offered.

"More like he didn't want to be stuck in a car with you." She frowned.

So much for being more mature and moving on.

I tried not to let Jason's blatant preference for solitude sting as I forced a smile. "I hope he realizes he won't be able to take his own plane."

"Don't think he didn't consider it." She let out a sigh.

"I just can't believe he's still holding a grudge from high school," I commented, shaking my head in disbelief.

The disbelief was written on Chelsea's face. "You really think that's what this is?"

"Yes?"

"C'mon, Sam... you know better than that. I know you're a smart woman."

"My intelligence should have nothing to do with Jason's decision to keep his distance from me. Besides, it wasn't my idea to invite him along."

"No, it was his."

I blinked. "But you just said—"

The sound of a horn blast from out front cut our conversation short, as it seemed our Uber driver was quickly losing his patience.

"Let's get going or he won't want to stop to let us get coffee." Chelsea picked up my backpack as I rolled my suitcase, locking the door behind us.

At least she had her priorities straight.

***

It had been years since I last saw him, but even from the back, I'd recognize Jason Stenson.

He was watching a television high on the wall broadcasting a weather update showing a swirl of what appeared to be a tropical storm projected to be moving dangerously close to the Caribbean.

"Stop pretending you didn't see us coming through security," Chelsea teased as she rushed past me to wrap him in a hug from behind.

Jason let out a breath as he supported her weight, slowly turning around to face me.

I gave him a small wave. "Hey, Jay."

"Hi Sam," he said, barely the hint of even a smile before he turned his attention to Chelsea, all but clinging on his back.

"Stop watching the news—you know it's bad for you."

"Start watching the news and you'll realize we're going to be flying into a storm," he corrected.

"Shh," Chelsea hissed, jumping off Jason's back. "If you say that too loud, Samantha won't even get on the plane."

"You say that as if I haven't been tracking it for the last week," I reminded her as I closed the distance between us.

Jason had changed little in the last few years since I've seen him. His brown hair was tousled as if he had also just rolled out of bed to catch his ride, and he wore his glasses instead of contacts over his deep blue eyes. He looked taller, if that was possible, and definitely stronger by the cords of muscle wrapped around his arms beneath his shirt. The edges of a black-ink tattoo peeked out beneath the hem of his right sleeve, but he turned back to the television before I could ask about it.

"She may have been right to do so," he said, almost as if forgetting I was standing right behind him. "And if we had booked a flight any later, there wouldn't be a plane to get on. They've all been grounded for the rest of the day."

"Because of the rain?" Chelsea's tone was incredulous.

"Because of the tropical storm."

"Oh please, Jay." She slapped him playfully on the arm. "You know a little rain never hurt anyone.

"Famous last words, Chel."

I cleared my throat, attempting to remind either of them I was still there. "Rain or not, maybe we should make our way over to our gate so that they don't think we're a no-show and give our seats away to someone who got bumped."

Chelsea's jaw dropped. "They'd do that?"

"Let's not wait to find out," Jason murmured as he shouldered his backpack. He gave me the slightest glance out of the corner of his eye before he playfully shoved a still-shocked Chelsea towards the direction of our gate.

This was going to be one of the longest flights of my life.