This idea has been buzzing around in my head for weeks now. I'll just put a reminder out there that this is completely AU (Alternate Universe) so if people seem out of character, that's fine - if not, completely necessary for the story to progress.

I'll also put a note out there that I have little to no sympathy for the following male character. He's not my favorite. He's not . . . well.

Also, you may have noticed a lack of characters in the story properties on the last page. This means that:

A) You are one of the very few people who will read this story because of the lack of character information.

or

B) You read the reviews (when and IF they're posted) and absolutely ADORE the following character(s) so you decided to read this.

Either way, I welcome you.

I'm boycotting characters until Fan Fiction decides to finally put a certain character on the list. There's more info on my profile if that tickles you.

The following is a short story, with considerably short chapters. Chapters will be posted every few days-ish. Expect no more than ten chapters from this.

Enjoy ~

1

Rain

The building doors opened simultaneously to let the horde of people through. They all parted their own ways, some going with others, but they all took note as the sky turned gray. That was when a perfect summer's day turned into a perfect summer's nightmare. The temperature dropped greatly, the air was suddenly stiff, and rain began to pour down on the people – soaking those who were unfortunate enough to leave home without an umbrella today. The people started to run to their destination, holding their briefcases or purses overhead. One woman flocked to a bus shelter, leaning against a pole to open her purse and search frantically for her umbrella. She grabbed it, and noticed a sliver of sunlight on her shoe. The people looked up. For two minutes or so, the rain stopped.

People wandered out into the streets - some calling for taxis, others running – and the woman started to open her umbrella. She knew that the sun was only rearing its head to laugh and mock them. It would start raining any second.

And so it did.

Dark clouds engulfed the sun's warm rays, making people run for dear life once more. The woman was calm now. As the rain pelted down on the dry earth, she felt the sulfur-like smell of wet pavement enter her nostrils. It was a smell that took some getting used to, but a smell that she had come to enjoy. People whizzed past her like cars on a highway, some saying sorry, others were simply dashing past with no apology. The woman said nothing to those people, but on normal circumstances, she would have. Today, however, she was in a good mood.

A good mood was a good thing - a very good thing.

Just as she neared the cross walk, she eyed an empty alleyway that led straight to her home. Breaking away from the crowd surrounding her, she walked calmly down the street, not bothering to look back.

When the woman crossed to her street, she found something out of place. There was something that should not have been there. In front of the woman's apartment building, there was a lamp-post. There was a tall, black lamp-post, at least half the size of the building behind it. To the side of that lamp-post, the woman saw a man. He was leaning against it with his hands in his pockets, not caring about the world around him. Nor did it look like he cared that he was soaked. The woman had seen this man before, but she never found the time to formally introduce herself . . . or to tell him to scram.

She pondered what to say to him first, and then she made her way towards him.

"Excuse me," she said softly, "Can you please get off my property?"

The lanky man looked over at the pole he was leaning on. He lifted his shoulder from it and stood up straight. He was even taller now.

The woman tried her best to keep from rolling her eyes. Why did every city guy have to be so damn sarcastic? She meant for him to leave, but baby steps, baby steps.

"I hope you realize that you're soaked, sir," said the woman matter-of-factly. "This is going to turn into a thunderstorm soon, and I suggest that you get home and get dry now." Then she added, "While you still can."

"Don't need to," The man croaked. "I'll be gone before you know it."

"You're waiting for somebody, then?"

The man shrugged in response. The woman sighed. She pushed the umbrella towards him. "Take this."

He gave her a reluctant look, but took the umbrella from her. She headed up the stairs of the stoop and fiddled around in her purse before fiddling around with the bronze key. The door clicked open and she stepped in, paying no mind to the man behind her. He ran up the stairs and said, "Wait!"

The woman turned around. The man held out her umbrella towards her. She gave a weak smile and said, "Keep it. I have plenty more."

The man gave her another reluctant look, but shrugged and pulled the umbrella closer to him. "I didn't catch your name."

"The name's Pauline," she held out her hand.

"Waluigi," he said, but kept his hand to himself.

Pauline pulled her hand back. "I hope you get home safely."

He smirked. "Doubt it, considering I don't have a home to go back to."

A bolt of lightning pierced the sky and a roll of thunder followed quickly after.

I'd very much appreciate it if no one complained about the chapters being short. They're easy to write, and I'm trying my best.

Well, Criticism or not, all reviews are welcome!

- Great Mistake