The Weight of Rain by Mariah Dietz Page B

transpired today. It becomes a laugh that makes me cough. All afternoon humor has been at the very bottom of the emotions that I’ve been experiencing, but suddenly retelling my story to Charleigh is making me want to laugh and let the awkwardness of the afternoon fall like the rain.
    “Where did you see him?” she asks, leaning closer to me.
    “Oh, you’re going to freak out.”
    “Tell me!” she cries, sitting beside my small stool, on my bed.
    “I’m trying, patient one.” Charleigh scrunches her nose and purses her lips. She wants to tell me off, but her need to hear about my seeing him again is outweighing her retort. My lips climb into a grin before I shake my head to clear my thoughts. King’s wide eyes return to my memory, and with it, so does a frown and the embarrassment I’ve been treading all evening.
    “He’s Kashton’s brother. Mercedes’ uncle.”
    “ You’re lying !”
    I shake my head again. “He came right before I got off. Apparently, he lives with them.”
    “He lives there!” I can tell by her tone that she thinks this is just as horrible as I do.
    I slowly nod in confirmation. There really isn’t anything to say.
    “What did he say?” she asks.
    “Not a lot.”
    “Then how do you know he thought you were stalking him?”
    “He asked how I found him.”
    “What did you say? Did you tell him he was impossible to find?”
    “No! Kash got home. And do you want to know why it was impossible to find Bentley?” My head cocks to the side. “It’s because it’s not his real name.” My voice is raised to express just how ridiculous this all is. “His name’s King.”
    Charleigh’s eyebrows soar up her forehead and she stares at me for several long seconds. “His name isn’t Bentley?”
    “Nope.”
    “People are named King? I thought that was like American pop culture that brought this wave of strange baby names?”
    “His brother’s name is Kash, Charleigh.”
    She wrinkles her nose and smiles faintly. “What’s worse is they’re starting to grow on me and become normal names.” She throws her head back and shakes her long dark hair before looking back to me. “That really doesn’t sound like he thought you were stalking him though, love.”
    “You should have seen his face, Charleigh. He was not expecting to see me. And then I left and he followed me outside and down the driveway and said he wasn’t trying to accuse me of stalking.”
    “You never tell someone you aren’t trying to insinuate something! It automatically says that you are!”
    I nod several times in agreement and she closes her eyes again, releasing a loud sigh. “So, are you telling me that Mr. Stars is just like all of the rest of the wankers?”
    “He’s a dude. The Y chromosome is crafted with the art of being an asshole.”
    “No, no. Not all Y chromosomes. Boys are wankers. You need to find a man .”
    My lips slide into a smile without me being able to consider it. “I don’t need a man. I need to get some sleep because I have a test tomorrow in math that I’m predicting I’m going to fail.”
    “I’m so angry though, Lauren. Aren’t you mad? He was so great, and then you find him and he’s…”
    “A wanker, I know,” I say, standing up from the small seat that is far more uncomfortable when I’m not lost in creation. “I didn’t expect to see him again, so I don’t think I’m all that disappointed. I’m more dreading going back and having to possibly face him again.”
    “That is going to be awful.”
    “Not helping, Charleigh.”
    “Sorry! But it is!”
    “I’m going to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “What about the wine and donuts?” Charleigh asks, standing from my bed.
    “Allie probably needs them more. I stopped in to say hi to her earlier, and she’s acting like a maniac. Carbs and alcohol will do her good.”
    “You might find carbs and alcohol to be beneficial as well.”
    “Not tonight. Thanks.”
    “Tomorrow, then?”
    “Yeah, sure.”
    With