Special Chapter 1

Hello!

So I didn't think ahead of time what they would do during winter break... so here is a special chapter? This will be all for the break time, next chapter will pick up back at the start of a new spring semester! To be honest I'm just lost on what to write for a break and leisure time between the characters because I already have a picture in my head on what I want to happen later (I promise I will deliver, please forgive🫶🏻). On another note, college is actualy in session right now, so I will be sacrificed to the god of music and whisked away into my own personal hell (the practice rooms) (I promise you I love it.) Being a music major is not for the weak and unfortunately I am hanging on by a microscopic thread. I've run out of already written chapters, so I'll try my best to keep writing despite college work; unless I decide nothing I do can benefit my grades and resort to writing here instead of trying to fix it. That or I drop out! Alright! Enough of that. Enjoy!

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"You have to wear something warm. Back in the closet! Get!"

Lykes floor was littered with clothes after many failed attempts at picking at outfit almost no one would see. Rain sat on the bed, judging everything that Lyke came up with, which was mixtures of T-shirts and hoodies paired with shorts or sweatpants. Everytime Rain sent him back to put on something else, claiming he would "Get sick from the cold" or "Freeze to death".

"Why don't you just call Olive? Why are you forcing me into the closet?" Lyke whined.

"Just let me pick something out. It wouldn't hurt."

"You're even worse than me at dressing."

"I like the red sweater. It's nice and thick. You could also wear these," Rain pointed to a pair of jeans.

"That doesn't look good."

"Of course it does. Try it on."

"Are you going to get dressed?"

"I'll get changed real quick while you put that on," Rain smiled.

"Go. I'm not putting those jeans on though."

Rain groaned loudly as Lyke spoke over him, "Are these okay?" He laughed.

"Just put it on. I don't even care anymore. I'll go get changed too."

A few minutes passed by as Lyke waited for Rain to come back. When he did come back, there was only silence... and then the loudest laughter Rain had ever heard. As Lyke watched Rain walk in the room, his eyes were immediately drawn to the crude sweater he was wearing, a horrible mixture of colors.

"What is that," Lyke said through tears, "Has Olive ever seen this? What is that?"

"It's the only sweater I had. I was going to wear a coat over it and zip it up," Rain replied.

"I'm calling Olive."

"Please don't. She'll bury me alive."

"Just quickly. Please?"

The facetime call connected before there was any answer.

"Hello?" Olive voiced rang out.

"Is it okay if I show her? I won't if you say no." Lyke held the phone to his chest so all Olive could see was darkness.

"Yes," Rain smiled, "It's not that serious."

"Okay!" Lyke said excitedly, "Hey Olive! So we are going out to see lights together right? Rain made me go through my entire closet picking out an outfit," Lyke showed the pile of clothes before setting down the phone. "It took a half and hour to choose this and then he goes to change because he 'already picked out his outfit' and he walks in wearing this," Lyke laughed as he pulled Rain into frame.

"WHAT IS THAT?" Olive erupted into laughter, "How are you going to put on that after everything? Wait I need to screen record this."

"It's the only sweater I have! I need to be warm too," Rain finally defended himself, "Are you going to let me wear a tshirt?"

"A coat won't cover this mess so you might want to."

"Is there a back?" Olive asked, giggling.

Lyke grabbed Rains arm and spun him around.

"Oh my god," Lyke laughed uncontrollably, almost on the floor, "Spin around."

Rain obliged with a sigh.

"Rain what is that? Is that a reindeer?" She asked.

"It was supposed to be."

"That's not a reindeer at all!" Lyke could barely contain himself.

"My mother made this!" Rain said laughing.

"No she didn't. I've seen your mothers artwork and that's not it." Olive ended his accusations.

"That's something only a mother could love," Lyke added, "Did you make this?"

"I did make it, okay? I was trying to be artsy," He smiled.

"You should take it off. I'll give you a sweater that's too big on me," Lyke paused.

"What?" Rain asked.

"Is it... backwards?"

"Huh?"

Lyke flipped the tag out of the front of Rains shirt and again started laughing.

"I thought it would be better to hide the reindeer so I put it on the back!"

"You should have just worn it inside out," Olive argued and laughed.

"Alright," Lyke finally threw a sweater at him, "Get changed quickly. It's going to get late. Olive," Lyke turned towards his phone, "Does my outfit look good?"

"Yeah you look fine. Why are dressing up anyways? It's dark outside," She asked.

"That's what I said before he made me take out my entire closet. You're helping me put this away you know," He said to Rain.

"I would have helped you anyways," Rain yelled back.

"Hurry up!"

"Hellooo, Sunshine," Rain walked back into frame, "Ew what are you doing here still?" He said looking at Olive, "Do I look okay?"

"Thanks to him. Now go. I'm busy. Lyke? Text me later and burn the sweater. Bye bye!" Olive said and hung up.

"Don't touch my sweater," Rain warned.

"I'm not going to! Now move." Lyke grabbed his shoulders from behind and pushed him out the door.

In the darkness, the stars glittered like the lights lining the houses and yards. They could see each others breathe as the cold bit their cheeks but they continued walking despite it. Not many words were shared between the two, Lyke leading the way, admiring every light individually as if each one was precious in its own regard. As for Rain, the only light he could stare at was the one in front of him. Every time he caught a glimpse of Lykes smile in the soft lighting, something inside him healed. It was obvious that the simple experience of looking at the colors, neon, soft or bland, was also healing something within Lyke as his eyes scanned through them. If Rains eyes could take pictures, he thought he would want to capture that moment to keep close to him.

"It's snowing!" Lyke said softly, looking at the sky.

Rain had been so distracted by what was in front of him that he didn't see the white speckles piling on the ground. As he held out his glove covered palm, snowflakes layed themselves gently on the black yarn.

"Look here," Rain ran to Lyke, palm outstretched, "Look at the snowflakes."

"No two are the same, just like they said," Lyke gasped.

"Have you never looked at snowflakes like this?"

Lyke shook his head still staring down at the glove. The intricate and beautiful designs of the seemingly innocuous white clusters sparkled as the lights reflected off every ice particle in its form. How is it that something so small can have such unique beauty that no two will ever be the same, Lyke thought to himself. He always looked at snow as a nuisance simply looking pretty when freshly fallen on trees and the ground, but looking more closely, it was much more than that.

"Theres a lot more to snow that I thought," He said softly.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" Rain smiled at his mesmerized face.

"Yeah. I wish I could keep it, but it melts so fast."

"Of course you can't keep it. Pretty things don't always last forever," Rain paused, "But hopefully you do," He whispered so Lyke couldn't hear.

In the soft light, Rain pulled out his phone and finally took a picture to capture the moment snowflakes laid on Lykes dark hair.

"What are you doing? Did you take a picture of me?"

"I did because you had snowflakes in your hair," Rain reached up ruffled his hair gently, "Your cheeks and nose are all red. You need a scarf."

"My face gets red so easy in the cold, I hate it."

"Why? I think it's cute."

"As if," Lyke hid his face.

"Are you shy? Look here," Rain laughed wrestled with Lyke trying turn his head towards him again.

"Stop! Stop it. Can we go over there?," Lyke pointed to the dark playground across the street.

"Not today. We should head home before you get sick from the cold."

"Why would I get sick and not you?"

"I don't get sick."

"Yeah right. Come on then, let's go home." Lyke once again walked in front of Rain who was frozen in his tracks.

All he could think about is how much he would do for Lyke happiness. As Lyke realized he wasn't being followed, he turned around beneath the light of the faint lamppost. His rosy cheeks had snowflakes for freckles and his long eyelashes turned white as the snow piled.

"Are you coming?"

"Yeah."

(Back at home)

"Ohw," Lyke shuddered and dove onto the couch, "It's so cold. Oh so cold."

Rain threw a blanket on top of him.

"Here. Do something about it instead of complaining."

"Don't be mean," Lyke pouted.

"I'm sorry.

"Oh! You remember that show we were watching? Want to watch again? Please," Lyke begged.

"I don't even remember what episode we were on."

"The episode where she starts ignoring him. Just like you did to me," Lyke looked away with a sly smile on his face.

"Hey. I said I was sorry."

"I'm joking with you. But that's really where we ended.Don't you remember that they made up? Just like we did, too."

"I remember," Rain sat down next to Lyke on the couch, "Do you think they'll get together soon?"

Lyke looked at Rain whose eyes were locked onto him.

"I don't know. Maybe they will."

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