Something Like Rain (Something Like... Book 8) Read Online Free Page A

school. Parking in the east lot as he always did, he marched across the campus, ignoring the bell and the students who poured out of the buildings. When he reached his destination, he put the towel and bottle on the bleachers, then did the minimum stretching exercises before heading to the track. He wanted to be in motion before the first people showed up. William managed to run a full lap before anyone did. Holly, Lily, and Abby. Other students were with them, no doubt having heard the news. Jared and Kelly didn’t arrive until his second lap. Kelly sat in the bleachers. Jared remained standing. William ignored them and focused on running. Another lap. And another.
    Already he was feeling the pain. As intensely as he exercised when he swam, he knew the water provided a softer environment and minimal impact. Here William’s feet collided with a hard surface every step, the vibrations jarring the muscles and bones in his legs. He focused on maintaining a steady rhythm as long as he could. Already many of his peers had gotten bored and wandered away. Kelly and Jared remained stationary. They didn’t rush out to meet him, or try to tackle him to stop him from running. In fact, when he risked a few sly glances in their direction, he saw Jared looking distraught. Kelly, on the other hand, remained disarmingly cool, his narrowed eyes tracking William’s progress. He didn’t seem braced for action. There wouldn’t be a fight today. The spectators had decided as much too, everyone except William’s friends having left.
    Time to prove he wasn’t an easy target. William slowed to a walk, then headed directly to the bleachers where he had left his things. Kelly was standing now. Despite how nervous this made William, he did his best not to acknowledge either guy, pretending they were of no consequence. He drank from his bottle, looking their way only once to make sure they wouldn’t attack. Jared was frowning, Kelly glaring, but they hadn’t moved. William threw the towel over his shoulder, then walked away, joining his friends.
    Lily was the first to speak. “What exactly just happened?”
    William shrugged. “I guess they weren’t in the mood for a fight.”
    “Who can blame them?” Holly said, taking his arm. She pulled away as if burned. “Ew! You’re soaking wet!”
    “Gosh, I wonder why,” Abby murmured. Then she added, “I’m glad there wasn’t a fight.”
    “I wouldn’t have minded seeing them get their asses kicked,” Lily said, “but that was an impressive display.”
    “Super cool!” Holly agreed.
    Abby nodded. “I don’t think they’ll mess with you again.”
    William would have sighed in relief if he hadn’t been panting. Hopefully his friend was right and this whole mess was finally over.
    * * * * *
    William reclined in his bed, watching the television across the room. Currently he was tuned to Cartoon Network. After his demonstration at the track, he had taken a shower, which was pointless since a client needed her yard raked and bagged. He hurried to finish the job in the dwindling sunlight, and by the time he made it home for dinner, he was seriously exhausted. Now sleep was calling to him as he stared almost unseeing at the bizarre programs of Adult Swim . He was too tired to think, the events of the day forgotten. At least until his mother knocked on the door, entered the room, and brought it all up again.
    “Your father told me what happened,” Kate said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
    William felt betrayed. His father had promised to keep it a secret! Kind of. William lifted the remote to mute the television and didn’t say anything.
    “I’m so sorry you were bullied,” his mother continued.
    Okay. So far she didn’t seem angry that he had skipped class. Maybe his father had kept that part quiet. “It wasn’t so bad,” he said. “It’s not like I got hurt.”
    Kate pursed her lips together. “Your father also shared the advice he gave you. If you believe fighting with