CHAPTER TWO

Every saturday morning, the sun gleamed with pride. Thaddeus sat astride the window watching as tiny rain drops trickled down the window pane, descending in the house through the tiny crack in the roof. It should have been fixed by their dad a some sunny months ago...

His thoughts flew out of proportion with the hard thuds he thought he'd heard on the weak door of his small house. Almost instantly there came a rapid second thud on the door. It was also as the first, if not harder. Whoever was knocking should be grateful Sarah was not home, it would...

"Who is at the door ?" Thaddeus heard Tonya's sleepy voice. The papers rustled under Tonya's lazy footsteps as she dragged herself from what seemed to be a closet converted to her room. "Didn't you hear the loud bangs on the door?" She said to Thaddeus who looked hypnotized by the falling drops of rain on the window.

Thaddeus sprang to his feet, speeding to the door to find Emily. "Err... Hi?" It was awkward, Thaddeus knew.

Shoulders drooping with a furious expression, she looked at him with anger and pushed past him. He blamed the rain. Emily was drenched and shaky. Maybe a pneumonia in two days, he thought as he shut the door. He heard Emily run eagerly to Tonya. Tonya had just stepped out from pushing her way through the lump of clothes that littered the room to sit on the bed.

"Let's go to the park" she began. "I hear there's a little party going on and guess whose party it is" She said with genuine enthusiasm in her voice.

"You know you can just tell me without having to stress my brain."

"It's Eric's birthday!" Eyes flinched open.

"No way!" Tonya sprung into her box and picked her two favourite gowns. "This or this?" Emily pointed at Tonya's left. "Right." She then rushed to the bathroom to make a quick brush and clean-up. She was dressed in five minutes.

Scribbling a quick note to her mom took two seconds:

"Mom we are heading to the park, see you later ma!!! Love you."

Emily, still trying to understand if it's a yes or no, stood in the middle of the room, confused.

"What's happening," She finally asked. "Tonya?"

"We are going, you moron!" She glanced at Thaddeus, he was now focused on his toes. "Thad we are going to the park would you like to come along?"

"Mhmm, I..."

 "Thad?" Tonya winked her eyes. She knew about Thaddeus' futile crush on Emily and she exploited it wisely.

"Alright let me change my clothes"

"I won't wait for long honey, hurry up"

It had taken him a moment and without a hesitation, he had galloped down the stairs after Emily and held her hand. He had a childish charm about him, no one feature made Thaddeus so handsome, though his eyes came close. People often admired his blue eyes, it had that softness about it. The gentleness in his smile, if it was of any importance, would be beautiful in any shade. He was skinny and showed a fine bone structure that was perfectly symmetrical.  If he was older, he'll probably be gracing the cover of magazines over his peer. It didn't help that he had a shy demeanor, he knew he'd outgrow it.

It was raining hard by the time the trio got back home. Everything was drab and wet, the rain had surprised them on their way to the park and had decided to stay, ruining the rest of the day for them.