If we could only look closer, each raindrop is a kaleidoscope. As I stroll, I imagine what it would be like if I could pause time, halt this watery offering, and peer through each one. Maybe it would be nice to relax within these raindrops and enjoy the gravity-driven journey to the ground; when I envision it, I can hear my inner self chuckling a little at the wild fantasy and just a little at my own nonsense, something I rarely do. Raindrops fall on the vehicles and each leaf where my extended fingers are washed. They'll soon join together to create the puddles, offering up an entirely new world of rainy-day entertainment. Maybe it is not normal to like a rainy day as much as I do, but who cares? "Normal," I'm fairly confident, that it is a made-up term.

The fact that the folks here walked everywhere was something I was unfamiliar with. There are no taxis or Ubers available. Although there existed a train, it simply only took you to another city. Before leaving the university grounds, I looked across at a row of neatly placed bicycles, debating if I should ride one rather than walk.

I'd rather not die today.

I soon opened up my umbrella and pulled out my phone from my pocket and opened up the Maps app on my phone.

Mmh, now where is this place?

I selected my destination and put on my headphones. As I only have one book, I only have one song: Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. This song brings my whole body motionless. It gives me hope that the bad times will pass.

Upon arrival, I stood in front of a tall grey skyscraper. I didn't feel intimidated by it, since I grew up in New York. They are like tall silver trees of geometry. I was escorted to the fifth floor and knocked twice on the hardwood door with a silver engraved metal plate.

Tod Butler - SIS

"Wolf Drewitt, what a pleasure to have you here in Bristol," a tall, skinny man with a grey suit said. "Take a seat."

"I can't stay long," I mentioned as I took a seat in a black leather office chair.

"I just want an update on Samantha Levine," he said as he took out two yellow files.

"You know, it's fucking weird to phone someone with no context and then hang up," I huffed as I crossed my arms and leaned back into the chair.

"My apologies, we received a police report from a suspected stalker that was handed in by Miss Levine," he explained, opening the two files.

"A suspected stalker? What's that supposed to mean?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Miss Levine stated that she has been suspecting someone is stalking her from her previous university and also now at Lawson University," he went on, tapping his fingers on his desk.

"Well, all I know about her is that she has no idea what personal space is," I stated as I glanced over his recently painted room.

"We just want to know if you noticed someone acting unusual in any way?" he asked, placing his pens neatly in a row.

"I thought I made it very clear that I'm not a glorified doormat anymore," I said with an angry look on my face. "I quit whatever I was doing last year and I'm not taking anymore 'jobs'."

"You were very good at your job, Wolf," the man smirked as he flipped the file toward me.

"I was a trainee. And I'm not involved with this shit anymore," I growled as I threw the file to him.

I stood up and grabbed my umbrella next to the chair, running my fingers through my hair quickly. Without a word, I left.

Thinking back to the times I used to work as an FBI trainee last year, I couldn't bear the stress that came along with the job. Falling back into my depression and anxiety over and over again is something I never want to return to. I've gotten hold of my mental health, but the trauma I have from my experiences is still eating at me.

The rain poured louder as I looked up at the sky. I contemplated staying inside until the rain passes, but decided to walk through the rain like the emo kid I am.

"Need a ride!"

I turned to look at a car parking next to me in the middle of the street, I didn't think twice and jumped into the car with little hesitation. It was the girl after all. Cars honked as she continued to idle the car in the street. She opened her window, hung her upper body out of it and yelled, "suck my dick!" She casually put the car in drive and drove off.

"Thanks for picking me up," I grunted as I pushed the seat back.

"What are you doing walking in the rain?" she said with a grin on her face.

Uh, walking? What else?

"Considering this city has no public transportation, I took my shot at walking," I explained with some annoyance in my voice.

"Where did you go?" she asked curiously.

"None of your business," I snapped as I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, Mr Grumpypants," she chuckled.

"Stop calling me that! I'm not grumpy. And it's a childish word," I huffed as I looked out at the window with the raindrops racing down.

"A childish word for a childish person," she smirked as she glanced over at me.

Now that was rude.

She swiftly parked the car at the designated parking spot and we both made a run for it, completely forgetting about my umbrella. We stood under a balcony to catch put breath quickly and then made a run to the girl's dormitory. She burst into laughter as we stood in the foyer-like room of her dorm. Despite her young adult years, her laughter was so pure and genuine, so childlike. It sounded like a tickle and a bounce to my ears. Her laughing was both a gift and a symbol of our increasing bond.

"Sam!"

We both turned around as we saw a guy in what looked like a speedo run towards us with the letter 'N' painted in red on his stomach. He looked like a hyperactive puppy, craving for desperate attention.

"Matthew!" Sam smiled amazing broadly as she jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his slender body.

Ugh, another couple.

"Hello, my beautiful flower blossom!" he exclaimed as he hugged her tightly.

'Flower blossom'? Jesus Christ.

"This is Wolf, he's Ben's roommate," she smiled as she introduced me.

"Matthew, good to meet ya!" he said with a youthful glimmer in his blue eyes.

"You look ridiculous," I said with a blank expression on my face.

He let out a half chuckle, trying to keep a smile on his face. "Uh, yeah some of my friends have painted each letter of our mascot on our stomachs for some school spirit before the Winter House Games," he explained pointlessly.

I just stared at him emotionlessly. What came out of his mouth was lacking excitement in my opinion.

"Well anyways, I want to see that!" Sam abruptly said as she broke the awkwardness between us.

"Cool, let's go, babe," he said as he swung his arm around her shoulder. "Uh, you can come if you want."

Why the fuck would I want to attend such mediocrity?

"I'm heading back," I said in a low tone and opened my umbrella as I walked towards my dorm.

They ran through the rain like two Golden Retrievers. It made me sick.