Heavy clouds piled up across the sky, layer after layer, dimming the light until the afternoon felt prematurely dark, as if a storm were waiting to break.
First graders were dismissed early. One by one, parents arrived to pick up their children, until only a handful remained. Two small figures sat close together on the steps near the school gate.
"Dad!"
The little girl spotted a familiar car pulling over. As the man stepped out, she jumped up and ran to him.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart," he said, lifting her into his arms and brushing his cheek against hers. "Dad's late."
"It's okay," she said brightly. "Can we get ice cream?"
"Sure," he laughed. "But we eat dinner first, or your mom will get mad."
Then his gaze shifted to the boy still sitting quietly where he was. He raised his voice slightly. "Hey, Nate, want to ride home with us?"
The boy lifted his head. He shook it.
"Thank you, sir. I'll wait for my sister. You should go ahead."
The man hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Be careful on the way. Looks like rain."
"Bye, Nate!"
The girl waved before climbing into the car.
Sixth grade let out much later. Noah sat on the steps by the school gate, his head bowed as he watched ants crawl across the concrete.
Time passed slowly.
Then the bell rang. Noise burst from the building as students poured out in clusters. Noah stood, craning his neck to search faces taller than his own, scanning carefully, over and over.
He couldn't find her.
Panic crept in. He pushed into the crowd, weaving awkwardly like a small animal lost among strangers, but still she didn't appear.
When the last students left and the grounds fell quiet, the worry finally swallowed him whole.
"Waited a long time, didn't you, Nate?"
Noah spun around.
Evelyn came running toward him, hair slightly damp with sweat, breath uneven. Relief washed over him all at once.
"You're late," he said, his voice small.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I had cleaning duty today. I ran over as soon as I finished."
"I waited forever…"
"Then I'll make it up to you with something good to eat," she said, smiling. "Come on, it's already late."
Home wasn't far, but for two kids walking on tired legs, it felt long. Unlike Lila, who was picked up every day, Noah's parents were usually busy with work. Even before his father passed the year before, they were rarely around.
The sky stayed heavy and gray. Evelyn hadn't brought an umbrella, and the clouds made her uneasy the whole way.
They were almost home when the rain finally came.
At first just a few drops, then suddenly a downpour.
They ran, arriving soaked through.
Evelyn dried off, changed into clean clothes, and ran warm water for Noah. She helped him get cleaned up, moving carefully, the way she always had.
She was twelve then, just beginning to learn about boundaries and differences, about what was and wasn't appropriate. Noah, on the other hand, was still young and innocent, trusting her completely.
"Evelyn," he said quietly, "can I try washing myself?"
She paused. "What's wrong? Feeling shy?"
"I'm six now," he said seriously. "My teacher says we should do things on our own."
She smiled. "Alright. When you're a little older. Maybe next year."
She continued helping him, attentive in the way only someone who had watched him grow could be, until her hands stilled without her noticing.
"Evelyn?" Noah looked up at her, confused.
"Nate," she said softly, "boys and girls are different. You know that, right?"
"Of course," he said. "I'm not dumb."
"So you can't just look at girls' bodies. And you shouldn't let girls see you like this either."
He nodded. "I know. But you're okay, right?"
She looked at his earnest face, so trusting, so sure of her. "With me, it's different," she said. "You don't have to worry."
"Why?"
"Because you're the closest person to me," she replied. "And you should listen to your sister."
…
Laura was often away on business. When Noah was little, he was afraid of the dark, afraid of the cold. On nights like this, he always sought out whatever warmth he could find.
The storm didn't stop after night fell. Thunder cracked across the sky, lightning flashing so bright it lit the room white.
"Evelyn," he whispered, clutching her shirt, "when will the rain stop?"
"Probably late," she said gently. "Don't be scared. I'm here. I'll protect you."
Another thunderclap shook the windows. He held on tighter, burying his face against her, his body trembling.
"It's okay," she murmured, stroking his hair. "I've got you."
Rain streaked down the glass outside. She wrapped her arms around him, shielding him from the noise, the world.
After a while, she leaned down and whispered near his ear, "Nate… I need to step away for a moment."
He shook his head, clutching harder. "Don't leave. I'll be good. Please."
"I'm not leaving you," she said softly. "I'll be right back. Can you let go for just a second?"
"I'm scared…"
She thought for a moment, then gave in. "Alright. Hold my hand and come with me. That okay?"
Slowly, he loosened his grip.
"I promised I'd stay with you," she reminded him. "Have I ever lied to you?"
"No," he whispered. "I'll listen."
She walked slowly so he could keep up. The lights were off, but she knew the house well enough.
She squeezed his shoulder gently. "Turn around for a moment, okay?"
He obeyed. When her hand slipped free, he gasped.
"I'm right here," she said quickly. "Just a moment."
After a few seconds, she took his hand again, talking quietly until his breathing evened out. When she let go this time, he didn't panic.
"All done," she said, leading him back. "See? I'm still here."
—
"Are you really not coming?"
"Evelyn, help me out here."
"After Nate graduates," Evelyn said calmly. "I promise. I'll go then."
"Deal. I'll double your pay. Bring Nate along too."
Evelyn paused. "About Nate… I actually hope he goes to grad school. Maybe even a PhD. Let him study more. I can afford it."
"You say you're his sister," the other woman laughed, "but you sound more like his second mom."
…
The voices filtered softly through the door. Noah, just waking up, could only catch fragments. He rubbed his eyes and climbed out of bed.
The rain had stopped. After a night-long storm, the whole city felt damp and freshly washed. Water dripped steadily from the eaves outside, and the old tree in the campus courtyard looked greener than ever.
The sound of the door opening caught their attention. Evelyn turned and glanced at him.
"You're up," she said. "Breakfast is cold. I'll heat it up. Go wash your face and brush your teeth first."
"Mmh…" Noah yawned, then noticed the beautiful woman beside her. "Oh—good morning."
"Morning, Nate," the woman said brightly. "You've grown taller. Come here, let me see."
She beckoned him closer, looking him over with interest. Her lips curved into an easy, charming smile.
This was Grace. Evelyn's graduate advisor and closest friend. Noah had met her a few times before. A year ago, she'd left the university to take over her family's company and had tried to recruit Evelyn with her. Evelyn had declined.
"You've gotten more handsome," Grace teased. "Plenty of girls chasing you now, right?"
"I—" Noah glanced instinctively at Evelyn. She was smiling faintly, watching him as if she were waiting for his answer. "Not really… I'll go get cleaned up."
He escaped into the bathroom as if fleeing disaster.
Evelyn put the breakfast into the microwave. Grace watched her back, her tone turning suggestive.
"A boy like him, freshly single… someone's going to snatch him up fast."
"He's a little slow," Evelyn replied lightly. "Someone more mature would suit him better."
Grace laughed. "What about me, then? He's sweet and obedient. I could take good care of him."
"No need," Evelyn said smoothly. "I can handle Nate myself."
"Oh? Calling me too old now? I'm barely over thirty."
"Nate's just in his early twenties," Evelyn said. "There's no rush."
By the time Noah came out, breakfast was reheated. He sat at the table, trapped between the two women as they took turns teasing him. Grace's personality was bright and unfiltered, and most of her questions left him awkward and tongue-tied. Without Evelyn stepping in repeatedly, he might never have escaped.
When he finally left, Grace leaned over the balcony railing, watching his figure disappear below.
"Still adorable," she sighed. "If only he were my little brother."
"With your personality?" Evelyn replied. "You'd bully him to death."
"I'm gentle too," Grace protested, then glanced at the time. "Alright, work calls. I'm heading out."
"I won't walk you out," Evelyn said. "Take care."
"Next time I come," Grace called back with a grin, "I hope you've already won him over."
…
Noah returned to the dorm. His three roommates were crowded around their desk, busy with something and didn't notice him at first.
Candles. Flowers. A brand-new suit hanging nearby.
"What are you guys doing?" he asked.
"Nate, you're back," one of them said. "We're prepping for Miles. He's confessing tonight."
"Maya again?" Noah asked.
"Obviously. That's why we say he's hopelessly devoted."
Almost everyone in their class knew Miles liked Maya. Nearly a year of effort, and he hadn't even held her hand.
At first, the roommates had helped him strategize, even had Noah ask Lila about Maya's preferences. Eventually, they gave up. Miles didn't.
"Perfect timing," someone joked. "Nate just broke up, Miles is about to get rejected. We'll all go get food after and talk it out."
"Nate probably doesn't need comfort," another added. "Two nights out late in a row… lost in Professor Evelyn's gentle care?"
"It was raining," Noah said flatly. "Joke all you want. Don't speculate about me and my sister."
He went back to his desk and pulled out his calculus homework. As Evelyn's favorite student, it was the one subject he couldn't afford to slack off in.
Growing up, she'd always watched his grades closely, helping him, pushing him. Thanks to her, he'd always done well.
Sometimes he messed around. Evelyn rarely got angry, and her punishments never changed.
Spankings.
He thought that kind of thing ended with childhood. Until the time he failed calculus.
"So you think you're grown now?" she'd said coolly. "That I can't deal with you anymore? Come here. Over my lap."
He was twenty.
At least she never let anyone see. Still, it wasn't the pain that bothered him. It was the shame. And she knew it worked.
"Nate," Caleb called out suddenly, "we need a favor tonight."
"What now?"
"Miles wants to confess while they're walking the track together. You'll need to pull Lila away."
"You're serious?" Noah frowned. "You're putting me on the spot."
"Come on," Miles pleaded. "I'll treat you."
Noah sighed. "Fine. Dinner's on you."
"Deal."
He turned back to his textbook, but his focus was gone. His phone was in his hand before he realized it.
A message typed out.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Deleted again.
Why could someone cling to one person for so long? Rejected again and again, no hope in sight, yet still unwilling to let go.
Almost a year.
What kind of feeling could last that long?
The last thing on his screen was last night's call log.
Lila was probably furious.
And he had no idea how he was supposed to talk to her now.