30.Under the Rain

Under the tumult of raindrops, as a gorgeous flash of bluish lightning cut across the sky in a jagged line, Jane pulled Trent out into the middle of the street by the hand.
“But we’ll get wet…” he complained, a little smirk on his angular face, as her humidified curls were drenched down to straggly straightness. “…And dirty.” He looked down his nose at the muddy grass she had dragged him through, clearly disgusted.
“Yes we will. But it’s time that I take matters into my own hands.” Jane was clutching Trent’s fingers hard, she’d finally worked up enough nerve to do this, and it had better work out perfectly. “I’ve waited this long,” she murmured, turning he face away from his as her mascara began to run down the sheen of water droplets on her cheeks, “and I’m doing this my way.”
She pulled him and pulled him, until they came up beside the lake and he said, in a tentative voice, “Jane?” She ignored him, hauling the pair of them up the steps and out to the middle of the bridge, where they could see every drop hit the water that surrounded them. The pattering of furious precipitation filled their ears and hushed the neighborhood. No one in their right mind was outside. They were all alone. Then, abruptly, she withdrew her hand from his as if he’d burned her, and leaned against the railing, watching and listening to the torrents of water on water. She’d gotten them there. Now it was his turn to take charge. And so, she waited.
And Trent stood still, gazing at her back and her rhythmically moving foot as it swayed back and forth on a toe. And he thought.  So, why are we here? In the rain… It took him a good two and a half minutes of foot and back watching for the answer to dawn on him.
This was the moment.
She was waiting patiently, (at war with herself and angry) for him to spin her around and kiss her.
He took a deep breath, readying himself. And then, he told his hand to reach forward, to grab her arm and twirl her to face him. But he couldn’t get his fingers and wrist to move. How could it possibly be so hard?! Mattie hadn’t said it would be this hard. That was just the encouragement Trent needed. He was suddenly hearing Mattie’s demanding little voice turning cartwheels in his head.
“It’s been nine months, Trent, just get some balls and either kiss her or leave her already. Get on with your life!” Trent didn’t want to move on without Jane, so he forced his fingers to unclench, and he tapped Jane’s shoulder. But with so hard a downpour falling on her head, she didn’t feel him.
“Come on already! Life is waiting!” Mattie’s shrill instructions were battering the inside of his head too hard, he had to make them stop. He shook his sopping bangs from his eyes, and reached out again, grasping Jane’s arm and heaving her around to face him. A little apprehensive smile played around her lips, and her eyes looked even a little bit scared: mirroring his. But then she really grinned, and he felt his eyebrows raise and his resolve harden. Then he closed his eyes and leaned.
His lips met flesh, but not other lips’.
“Umm…Trent? That’s my forehead; I think you meant to aim for these.” Jane reached up a hand, stifling a giggle as she pulled his chin down and quieted them both in their first kiss.