A Reunion on a Rainy Day

 Surprise was written all over her face.

 "You're here?"

 She honestly couldn't believe it. W-what was he doing here?

 "It's raining."

Said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like he was meant to be there. With her. He made a motion with the dark blue umbrella that was protecting him from the cold rain falling around him. She watched him from the porch, placing the book she had on the table. She really hated how happy she was to see him, chest blooming with warmth.

 "Traditions die hard I suppose."

 She nodded in agreement. When she looked outside that morning and saw the storm clouds and the darkening sky, she started making preparations.

 For one.

 But he was here now.

 "Umm do you want some tea?"

 He quietly affirmed as he stepped onto the porch, closing his umbrella and setting it down. In his usual spot. Right in the little indent.

She got up and headed back into the house. She hoped the brief time apart will let her calm down.

 "Hey Arin?"

 She paused in the doorway and turned over her shoulder.

 "Blueberry? With two spoonfuls of honey?"

She already figured that’s what he wanted. She hummed and continued on her way to the kitchen. As she was working around getting another kettle going, she looked out her window. He took his usual spot, staring out at the storm. The rain had picked up a bit, the sound of it hitting the roof louder than before. She let out a sigh as she pulled her hair into a loose bun on the top of her head.

 She was still taken a back to see the man. Why was he here? Did something happen between him and-

 She shook her head. She didn't want to know.

And if she was honest with herself, she had no idea why she was entertaining him. She shouldn't be making him tea. She should be kicking him off her porch, telling him to never show up again. Not after everything that transpired between them.

 It had been four months and he was just dropping by like no time had passed at all.

She willed her hands to stop shaking as she bit her lip. But if she was truly being honest with herself, she was glad he was there.

 That he remembered our tradition. 

That he hadn't forgotten about her. 

Her thoughts were broken by the kettle whistling at her. She worked fairly quickly, opening her cabinet to grab his mug.

It was the last thing in her house that belonged to him. Everything else had either been given back or tossed out in a fit of rage. But for some reason that ugly green mug got to stay around. She knew why but she didn’t want to think on it too much. Because at the end of the day, it didn’t matter.

Didn’t change anything.

"Here is your blueberry tea with two spoonfuls of honey."

He thanked her quietly as he took a comforting first sip. She could see him visibly relax, shoulders losing their tension. Arin took her seat again, tucking her legs underneath her. 

 "So how have you been? It's been a few months," he asked her, staring earnestly at her.

 She knows. She had just stopped crying a couple of weeks ago. She was more impressed that she didn't immediately start up again after seeing him.

 But she wasn't going to tell him that.

 "I've been fine," she replied evenly. "Cory keeps me busy."

 At the mention of her boss, he chuckled lightly. "Quite the character that one is."

 "Yeah," she said, trailing off the word. "And you? What's been going on?"

 "Ah nothing much. Just the same old. Rachel and I are in the process of moving into a new apartment so that's been a nice break from the monotony."

 Arin's chest clenched over hearing her name. Why did he have to bring her up? She was doing just fine without the reminder that she existed.

She didn’t respond as she filled her mouth with tea. The two fell into a silence, letting the sounds of rain fill the space.

He then completely turned to face her.

 "I uh- I miss you."

 Arin wished the words eased her mind. Made her feel better. Feel loved. But they only stood to make her feel even worse than before. He mistook her quiet and continued. 

 "I miss us. The time we used to spend together."

 He reached out and brushed some stray hairs from her face, causing her to shudder. Another thing he mistook as encouragement.

He gently clasped her cheek and turned her head to look at him. She refused to make eye contact. Because she knew she'd break if she did. Like she always did. So many times she told him no, don’t bother her, only for him to show up again. And she let him like the fool she was, thinking, maybe just maybe this’ll be the time he’ll stay for good.

And then he never does. Rinse and repeat the cycle goes. Maybe this time she’ll break it.

Ha not.

 "Arin? Do you miss me? Miss us?"

Of course she did. How could she not? He was her rock. Her strongest supporter.

Except everything was a lie. Everything he was, was a lie. She couldn’t believe anything he said. Not when he had been living a lie. But she couldn’t completely blame him. She was the idiot that fell for it. She thought he was hers. Little did she know that what she thought was hers belonged to someone else. For over a year.

Rachel.

The name left a sickly taste in Arin’s mouth, her stomach turning as she took a sip of tea. The warm feelings that she had before were gone in an instant. Now they were like her drink, cold.

“I used to miss you. Miss us,” she responded evenly, barely keeping the anger at bay. “Now I’m just wondering why the hell you’re here.”

Arin enjoyed the pained look on his face. Good. Now he felt just a tiny bit of how she did.

“Why would you wonder why I’m here? It’s raining and I lo-”

Dark brows rose. “And you what? Don’t you dare try to say you love me.”

She scoffed when she saw him look at her, brows knitting together. Here they go again.

“Of course I love you,” he replied, grasping her hands. “How could I not?”

Arin’s expression was incredulous. He really fixed his mouth to say that. He really couldn’t resist ripping her heart out of her chest. People that love someone don’t use them while they have someone already.

But that’s fine.

She didn’t say anything, just held on to her mug, grabbed her book, then stood up.

“You can wait out the storm out here, but when the next comes, don’t come back.”

Don’t look back.

“W-wait. Arin!”

Don’t. Look. Back.

“Arin.”

Do not.

“Goodbye David.”

It was going be a long time before Arin had him completely out of her system. But she was willing to let him go. For good this time.

And when the next storm came and he was nowhere to be found, she smiled.

And she cried.