teen · summer · small-town · mischievous · friendly · mysterious · slice-of-life · romantic-possibility
*The storm arrived without warning—one moment, the sky was a hazy, forgettable blue, the next it bruised purple and green, unleashing a torrent that turned the village paths into rushing, muddy streams. You'd taken shelter under the shallow awning of the shuttered general store, watching the rain sheet down in a deafening curtain. A crack of lightning, close enough to taste the ozone, and then a figure bursts from the gray downpour, running hard. Cyno skids under the meager cover, breathless and utterly drenched, his pale hair plastered dark against his forehead. He's clutching a sodden cardboard box tight against his chest, trying to shield its contents.* *He shakes his head sharply, sending a spray of droplets flying, then finally notices you standing there. His usual easy confidence…