Chapter 41

Dark clouds slowly began to crawl over the blue sky above the Homes' house. What started as tiny teardrops falling from the clouds soon evolved into bullets that bombard the house, grass, and the entire area. The sky roared with thunder as the lightning danced around its bedding, occasional bolts escaping to kiss the earth or anything that seemed to be in its way. As the rain smacked the windows and swiftly danced in the wind, the pleasant earthy smell of petrichor filled the Home and Amay's nose.

Amay's crimson red eyes watched from inside the house through the front door as the rain splattered against the earth. She could hear the rhythmic tapping of the shower much clearer as she focused on the noise. The smell caused her to take deep breaths before slowly exhaling to savor each moment. The rush of the cold breeze kissing her skin caused goosebumps to form on her arms and legs as she watched.

"It's been forever since I've seen rain," Amay spoke as she couldn't take her eyes off the show. "I forgot how pleasant it is. Would you not agree, Lucas?" Amay asked, trying to look back at him.

"It has been over a month since we got a full-on rainstorm. Now hold still." Lucas agreed with her but needed her to stay still as he combed her hair. He let out a sigh as he was still beating himself up over the second part of their deal. "Never thought I would be a butler for a full day," he thought to himself as he continued to comb Amay's long red hair.

"Be careful with that." She ordered him as she felt him pulling her hair."Remember, you're not trying to scalp me." She said as her hands gripped the stool, she sat on.

"I guess we are even then." Lucas reminded her. When he took a shower this morning, he noticed his back stung from the water. A look of horror covered his face when he discovered imprints of where her claws dug into his back. A long sigh left his mouth as he was glad it wasn't bad.

Amay didn't say anything as she lowered her head, trying to hide her blushing face. She remembered making him comfort her and then waking up in his soft arms. "So embarrassing," she thought to herself. She couldn't believe she cried herself to sleep not just in front of him but in his arms.

Lucas could see that he had upset her and sighed. "Shit. I better fix this before she makes me do something stupid." He thought to himself as he realized she technically had power over him. He stopped combing her hair as he realized there wasn't much else to do since Amay's hair was naturally straightened. One thing he noticed was how really soft it was.

"I'm finished." He told her before taking a step back.

As he said that, Amay put her fingers into her hair and fluffed it out into the way she naturally has it. She then hopped off the stool and onto her feet with a light thump.

"Thank you-" she said, stretching her body and allowing her tank top to slightly rise. "I would do it myself, but I thought, why not have you do it." She explained while turning back to give him a smug smile.

"I feel really honored." Lucas sarcastically answered while rolling his eyes.

"Glad to hear it. Most men would die to be able to touch my hair. Hell, most would kill just to smell it." Amay curved her smile as she began to boast about it.

"I doubt it," he whispered to himself. He then watched as Amay's eyes glared at him for a moment. "Right. Super hearing." He said, slapping his hand against his forehead as he remembered.

A devilish smile came across Amay's face as a new idea came to mind. She let out a sinister giggle as she began to let it grow. "Oh, Errand boy. I request your assistance."

Lucas swallowed hard. He didn't like that look on her face. "What is it?"

"I wish to go out and play in the rain," Amay said as she pulled him by the arm and began to drag him towards the opened front door.

"Amay, please let's rethink this. I don't want to get sick." Lucas began to beg and pled about her decision. Yet, he was helpless when she pulled him onto the semi-dry wet porch. He came to a dead stop when his socks got a little wet.

"Damnit, Amay. Stop!" Lucas said, putting his foot down.

Amay came to a stop as droplets of rain hit her head. She still held onto his hand as she turned around with anger in her eyes. "Or what!" She outright told him. "Are you going to stop me?"

Lucas looked her in the eyes. He could feel his anger begin to rise. Lightning danced in the sky above them and was followed by the clap of thunder no more than a second later. He wanted to say something to her but quickly backed down and broke contact with her by avoiding her gaze.

"Tsk," Amay let out as she dropped his arm. "That's what I thought. Go back in the house and be scared. I'm going to have fun in the rain with or without. " She told him before turning back around to face the rain. A deep frustrated sigh left her mouth as she looked forward. "You need to stop letting your doubts and fears dictate your life. Or you're going to remain a coward in the eyes of others."

Lucas could do nothing but listen to her words. He balled up his fist as he wanted to tell her he wasn't and take a step forward. But he didn't. He let out a sigh and took a step back away from Amay. The lighting above them faded into the clouds as Lucas didn't do anything.

Amay didn't turn around, but she heard him back down. She let out a sigh before sticking her hand into the wet rain. She felt bad for telling him how it was for a small moment, but she knew he needed to hear it. So, she looked forward into the rain and leaped into its wet embrace.

A gasp from the sudden cold and wet rain escape her mouth. She started to giggle and laugh as she couldn't believe how much she had forgotten how the rain felt. She quickly pushed her hair out of her face and took a step further into the shower. Amay felt so alive in it that she could do nothing but laugh and jump in a small puddle. She did a small twirl before dancing as she embraced the moment.

"The smell and feeling are so overwhelming," She thought to herself as she continued to dance in the rain. Amay enjoyed every moment, even when she accidentally slipped and fell on the wet grass. Instead of complaining or crying, she just giggled as the rain fell on her face.

When she got to her feet, Amay turned back to the house to see if Lucas was still watching or waiting for her help to join in. However, to her honest surprise, he wasn't. She stopped playing and just looked at the door. Her smile faded as she realized she was alone she was. She looked down at her dirty feet as the once pleasant feeling became a bombardment of heavy droplets. While the rain was cold, she didn't realize how freezing it was. The sudden boom of thunder made her jump as it didn't want her as well. She just stood there in the freezing shower as the rain fell from her face like tears.

A few minutes had passed as Lucas silently sat on the couch watching some cartoons. It was his go-to thing when he had nothing else to watch. He heard Amay come back a while ago, but she just went upstairs without a word. Lucas couldn't help but feel guilty for just leaving her by herself. He felt like he should have stood up to her, but like everything else, he backed down. "I guess I haven't made any progress," he thought to him as he just watched the TV.

Lucas looked out of the corner of his eye and then fully turned his head to see Amay standing in the doorway. She was wearing one of his shirts, and from what he could tell, she was only in her underwear and shirt. They both didn't say anything to each other but only glared. Amay then came towards the couch and sat on the opposite side, further away from him.

They sat there intensely in silence as they watched the same show. Then Amay initiated the conversation.

"Why didn't you join me?" Amay asked.

"I don't like being cold or wet," Lucas told her. He heard her make a sound with her mouth that caused him to let out a sigh and turn his attention to her. "Problem?" He said, feeling annoyed by her.

"Oh, nothing. Just find it funny; you keep finding excuses to back down on something." She smirked as her red eyes dilated and focused on him.

Lucas tensed up a little as he let out a deep exhale. "I didn't back down....I just don't like confrontations." Lucas said as he could feel his chest tighten up as he found an excuse to make himself feel good.

"Oh, is that what you're calling it now? However, the word you're looking for is being a coward." Amay told him.

"At least I'm not scared of the dark." Lucas retorted back. Before he knew it, Amay was nearly in his face in her true form. Her eyes dilated as she stared daggers into him. Lucas could feel her finger stabbing into his chest.

"And who the fuck do you think you are? You're a coward that's afraid of his own shadow. You allow people to walk all over. YOU ALLOW YOUR OWN FRIENDS TO FIGHT YOUR BATTLES FOR YOU WHILE YOU DO NOTHING. YOU ARE PATHETIC!" Amay roared in his face.

Lucas did nothing as he could feel his anger begin to rise. Each time she jabbed him with her finger, he could feel his muscles tighten. Lightning began to build up in the thunder clouds above the Home's house as his anger rose.

"Get out of my face, and take it back." Lucas angrily told her.

"Then make me!" Amay growled at him and dug her finger into his chest before shoving him.

The moment she shoved him, something in Lucas suddenly snapped. As the lightning bolt came down to the earth, Lucas grabbed Amay by her shoulder and shoved her backward onto the couch. Pure shock covered Amay's face as she didn't expect him to place his hands on her. She noticed that the pressure he applied wasn't trying to hurt her but keep her in place. When she tried to say something, Lucas's voice stopped her like the sound of the thunder outside.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP. JUST SHUT UP. DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW I'M A COWARD? DO YOU NOT THINK I FEEL GUILTY FOR ALLOWING MY FRIENDS TO STAND UP FOR ME? DO YOU THINK I DON'T FEEL THIS URGE TO WANT TO STAND UP TO EVERY LAST MOTHERFUCKER THAT GAVE ME HELL?"

He then loosened his hands off her shoulders as he saw a terrified look on her face. Tears came to his eyes as he started to continue.

"I feel all of it. I know I'm a coward. I know I'm pathetic. Each day I felt like my life was a sick joke....I didn't know I could continue it more. " He said as he looked at her. His tears landed on her face as she didn't say anything to him. "And then you appeared...You made me want to change. To do better. To be better. That is why I'm trying to stand up for myself...To prove to myself that I don't have to rely on other people to fight for me. To be somewhat like you." He confessed to her.

His words caused Amay's eyes to dilate, making themselves more prominent. Her slanted irises pulsed as she just looked up at him. "He....wants to be...like me.." Amay thought to herself as she saw a similar look in his eye. It was almost like that night, but it was much kinder. Before she could say or do anything, Lucas kissed her. She was entirely caught off guard and was surprised when his tongue was trying to ask permission. Without thinking, she allowed him entrance.

Lucas pulled himself away from her lip, bringing a trail of their shared saliva. He realized what he had done, and his hand began to shake. "I...I'm sor-" he was about to say, but Amay placed a hand on his face.

They looked at each other for a moment. Both of their hearts began to pump faster as they began to breathe much heavier and felt their tense build. Lucas watched as Amay adjusted herself before leaning down to kiss Amay again. She allowed him to do so. Her hands played with his hair while his hands nervously touched her body as they shared a passionate and intimate moment. They stopped only to catch their own breath and softly laughed at one another. As the sound of rain continued and grew louder, so did their views on one other.