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The constant drumming of the loud yet gentle rain put Terios at a dead halt. Neglecting to check the forecast on his second day of school was a mistake, because now he's stranded without any umbrella while not wanting to get his hair and clothes wet from the rain. All he's left to do is stand at the front entrance of the public school he so desperately wanted to be enrolled in for so long, watching raindrops fall and listening to the pitter-patter of them hitting the ground.
As he noticed something in his peripheral vision, he turned his head to look at what caught his eye. His gaze greeted Nick, someone who he shared a few classes with, the same person who stopped Ashura from picking on another classmate. Nick walked a bit past where Terios stood, with the latter's eyes following his motion as he opened his umbrella, holding it over his head. The tapping sound on the umbrella contrasted the one on the pavement, making Terios’s focus home in on the umbrella further.
Nick turned his gaze around to Terios. “Do you have an umbrella?” Nick inquired. Terios’s eyes widened at the unexpected question from the amiable person who stood before him.
That inviting, friendly demeanor somehow made Terios feel even more shy, a lump in his throat forming as he tried to respond, opting for a quick sway of his head and a hum indicating he didn't have one.
Nick looked between his hand and Terios, and held out the umbrella letting the rain fall onto him, the water soaking into his jacket, dampening his hair, and the droplets that rolled down his face. Terios took in every detail of the sight before him. “Here.”
“Wh– What?” Terios took a step back somewhere between confused and surprised. Why is he doing this? Terios questioned to himself, feeling his cheeks warm at the gesture.
“Take it.” Nick insisted, giving a friendly smile alongside the umbrella. He closely watched Terios, as if studying how he reacted, and it only furthered the weight he felt on his chest.
Terios felt his hand try to reach up, but he quickly shoved it back down. “I… Can't…” He mumbled; his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain. His mind and heart raced, the former trying to rationalize this kind gesture, the latter making it more difficult.
Nick laughed softly, the sound making Terios focus back on his movements, seeing how Nick picked up his hand and wrapped his fingers around the umbrella, forcing him to hold it with a smile before backing away into the open rain. “My house isn't too far away.” He had a wide, contagious smile as he spoke. “Besides, I like the rain!” Nick outstretched a thumbs up towards Terios, allowing time for the latter to notice the silver-colored ring on the former's middle finger on his left hand.
Terios’s grip tightened around the newly held umbrella, his mind racing to take in the form which now faced away. Terios didn't know why he paid so much attention to this random guy, but this random guy is the only thing on his mind now.
Nick slowed, turning his head around so his green eyes met Terios’s brown ones yet again. “Just remember to give it back to me! Okay?” He called out, before returning to his course home, his hair and clothes getting visibly wetter from the rain with each passing second. “See you later!”
“S… See you…” Terios managed to mumble out, his legs frozen in place. His brain felt like it'd short circuit, he could barely think or move, watching Nick as he jogged further and further into the distance.
“Chao?” Terios heard a chirp from his bag, picking up his newly acquired companion with one hand, which helped ground him. As the little ladybug resembling creature sat on his hand, it looked up at him with confusion, further indicated with the little question mark they put above their head.
Terios sighed softly, smiling down at the Chao. “That guy… is something else…” He muttered quietly, watching as the Chao clung to his thumb, trying to comfort him, or something. “Thanks,” he mumbled, setting the Chao back into his bag, then taking his fingers through his thick, messy hair, combing through it as a way to calm himself down. “Thank you…” He whispered again. “For the umbrella, Nick.” He looked into the direction Nick had gone, his eyes softening as he walked to the car that was waiting for him in the parking lot.
As he opened the door to the passenger side, he was greeted by Stone. “Where'd you get that umbrella?” He asked. “That doesn't look like any one that you have.”
“A… friend gave it to me.” Terios said, his voice blatantly unsure of his wording as he closed the umbrella, setting it beside himself in the car after he shook off the water.
“Friend?” The newly curious Stone asked. “Second day of school, and you've already befriended such a nice person.” He said, pulling the car out of the parking lot.
Terios hummed in acknowledgement, his gaze out the window. He watched the raindrops fall on the glass, his shoulders relaxing as they made their way down the roads, content with the silence, and the knowledge that maybe Nick really will be his friend.
One of his first friends.
Terios felt that unfamiliar feeling of blush returning. Damn you, Nick… Making me feel like this… He rested his warm cheek against his palm, with a soft smile gracing his face.