Page 38 of Afflicted

"No you wouldn't. It's lonely." Lincoln looked out of the windshield at the rain and I followed his gaze.

Lightning flashed across the sky followed by a crash of thunder a few seconds later.

"Do you think..." I began.

Lincoln turned back to me with an eyebrow raised expectantly as I hesitated.

"I'm probably being crazy but... isn't this storm a bit... much?"

"Are you worried about hurricanes?" Linc asked. "It's a bit too early in the season for that. And there weren't any warnings on the news."

"Yeah I guess. It's pretty intense though." I wondered if I should just swallow my pride and head home. If the storm wouldn't break I'd have to walk back in it later or call my mom for a lift or I might even get stuck at Ryan's.

"Any reason you're still sitting here?" he asked with a smile. "Won't the Quarterback be waiting?

"He's got a name you know."

"I'm sure he does. But I won't hold my breath for an invite to the wedding so I don't think it matters... unless he manages to knock you up at prom-"

"As if!" I swatted him on the arm and he laughed.

The rain continued to batter the truck and I considered my options. If I went home it would be as good as letting them win the argument and I refused to move into the city for the isolation trial.

"Thanks for the lift," I said as I prepared to dash for Ryan's porch through the downpour.

"No problem."

"Would you mind waiting until he answers the door?" I asked. "Just in case he isn't home."

"Sure."

"Thanks. See you later." I opened the door and leapt out of the truck, flinging it closed behind me. I ran up the front steps and took cover in the porch as I rang the doorbell. I waited for nearly a minute before I heard footsteps approaching.

Ryan opened the door and looked at me in surprise.

"Hey," he said with a huge grin. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Oh I thought I texted you?" I asked innocently as I ducked under his arm to get out of the rain. I turned back to look at Linc, raising a hand to wave goodbye.

"See you later Katy!" Lincoln called before blasting the horn and driving away.

I waved at the retreating truck even though I doubted he could see me in his mirror through the rain.

"What was he doing here?" Ryan frowned, leading me inside.

"He took pity on me and gave me a lift," I said, pointing at my saturated clothes. "Any chance you've got something dry I could borrow?" I was so cold that I was beyond caring about what I looked like and would happily wear Ryan's clothes so that I could feel warm again.

"Yeah, come on up. We've got the house to ourselves." He caught my hand and I followed him up to his room. I'd never been to his house so I didn't really know what to expect but everything that we passed seemed very… tidy. If I had to bet on it, I'd guess his mom might have a bit of OCD.

"Won't your mom be angry if she catches us upstairs?" I asked.

"She'll be at work all day so we won't be interrupted." Ryan smiled at me shyly and squeezed my hand a little tighter.

His room was pretty much what I'd expected. Blue walls were plastered with various sports posters and a large TV sat at the foot of his double bed. It was tidier than I'd have thought it would be though, especially knowing he hadn't been expecting me.

He crossed the room to his dresser and rooted around before handing me a pair of navy sweat pants and a white t-shirt.

"I can put your things in the dryer once you're changed," he offered. "The bathroom is straight across the hall."