Thanks so much for sharing part of your day with this story. I hope you enjoy it. xoxo

A/N - This is my first attempt at Gleggie. So, I would love to know what you think, and how I'm doing with it.
This is a companion story, to my Bethyl fic, Like Yesterday. If you aren't a Bethyl fan, no worries. You don't need to read Like Yesterday to enjoy this one.

Now, I hope you brought your umbrella. It's raining cats and dogs!

Head down against the rain, clutching a stack of text books to her chest, Maggie made her down the sidewalk. Muttering under her breath. "Goddamn it Randy. You're such a jerk. Trying to shove my hand down your pants. Like I'm going to jerk you off right there in the school parking lot. Just to get a ride home. You've got a lot of nerve. I should have flattened you. I should have keyed your car. Or kicked you in the nuts. Thinking I'm going to just… Ugh. You make me so mad." Grunting, as her foot caught on a two inch shift in the cement. Sending her flying. Her textbooks sliding from her arms to land in the puddles. Her purse popping open, as it hit the ground. The contents scattering. Both hands landing palm down on the pavement, her knee skinning as she skidded across the concrete. "Shoot." Her auburn hair sticking to her cheeks and the back of her neck, she sniffed back the start of tears as she rubbed a scraped palm. Almost missing the sight of another hand reaching down to pick up one of her books.

Looking up from under her soaked hair, she spotted rolled up jeans in penny loafers, on a mostly dry young man holding her three ring binder. "What… Who are you?"

His black hair quickly becoming flattened to his head. He blinked at her. Stuttering, as he started scooping up more of her books. "I saw you fall and thought…"

Sniffing. Sort of cute. In a dorky kind of way. With the rain still running down her cheeks, and one knee pressing against the pavement, Maggie gave him a half smile. "Yeah. I should have been paying more attention." Her eyes widening as she saw him kneel to scoop up the things that had fallen from her purse, including two large kotex pads. With a half gasp, she snatched them from his hands. "I got…" Feeling her face start to warm against the rain, she glanced at him. His face seeming frozen in space, his mouth half open, his hand still out.

Jerking his hand closed, then picking up a blue folder that was dissolving in a puddle. "Sorry. I…" Even with his head down, Maggie could see his ears and the side of his face turning red.

Really cute. "It's okay." Silently they managed to pick up the rest of her things. All the while Maggie was discretely scoping out his face. A different look, but… I like it.

With all her books collected, he stood up. And grabbing her elbow, he half hauled her to her feet. "Well, I guess that's it then."

"I guess so. Thanks for helping me with my books and..." Looking around with a start, Maggie realized she didn't recognize where she was. "What street am I on?"

"North Elm. I think the rain is getting worse. You want to come sit on the porch until it lets up a little." His head tipping back a little, he waved his thumb at the open porch on the red brick house they were standing in front of.

Juggling her books with one hand, Maggie tried pushing her hair back out of her eyes. She could feel a warm trickle of blood starting down her calf, from where she skinned her knee. Nodding a half nod. "Okay." And obediently followed him up to the porch. Where there were three metal folding chairs leaning against the house. Waiting, and watching, as he pulled a towel from an upside bucket that was apparently being used as a table, and wiped the rain spatters from one of the chairs.

Shaking the back, he stepped away from the chair. "Here."

Sinking down on the metal seat, one hand smoothing the back of her dress. Her eyes flicking up. "Thanks." Balancing her soggy books with one hand, her other covering her bloody knee, Maggie tracked his movements from the corners of her eyes.

"Welcome." His adams apple bobbing, he grasped the back of another metal chair. Dragging it across the concrete pad of the porch, so it was a couple feet away from her. Then sitting, without bothering to wipe the rain off. Leaning forward, his hands hanging between his knees. Staring straight ahead. After a couple quiet minutes, the silence becoming louder, he croaked out. "I'm Glenn. Glenn Rhee."

Glenn. A smile forming, Maggie turned her head, facing him. "Nice to meet you, Glenn Rhee. I'm…"

"Maggie Greene. You're Maggie… I…" His gaze going skyward, in an 'I am such an idiot, look.

At the sound of her name, Maggie's smile faded. Her fingers tightening around her books. Slowly pulling them to her chest, her feet shuffling, she slid forward on her chair. Her muscles tensing, like she was ready to bolt. "How do you…"

With a smile that kept fading out, he was gesturing towards the corner with his hand. "I've seen you at the market. I'm a clerk. I've rung out your moms groceries a few times. And… I…" His voice faltering as face colored. "I make deliveries. You have a farm, right."

"Oh." Her bottom lip pushing up in concentration, she stared at him. "I don't remember seeing you."

"You're always busy. Talking. To your mom or sister or somebody." His voice back to normal, pleasant. Not nervous sounding at all. "You had a horse a couple weeks ago."

"Oh. So, how come I never see you at school?" Can't be that much older, maybe not any older than I am. His face looks smooth. Wonder if he shaves. Maybe he's younger.

His hands bouncing against his thighs, like he was practicing playing the drums. "I graduated last year, before we moved here." Reaching up to run a hand through his hair, he abruptly started looking around. Spotting a ball cap laying upside down on the floor, he snagged it with one hand. Pulling it on, smiling from under the brim. "So, why are you walking in the rain? Instead of taking the bus or something?"

"Pfft." A flash of anger warming Maggie's insides, again. "My almost ex-boyfriend was being a jerk, and I decided to walk." Never getting in his car again. Acting like I owe him something. Just for taking me home. He can get himself off at the drive-in.

"Oh." Glenn's narrow eyes getting even narrower for a moment. "Almost ex, huh."

Firmly ducking her chin, Maggie smiled back at him. "Yep. This time tomorrow, he will definitely be my ex."

Glenn fidgeting in his seat, looking like he wanted to say something that he couldn't quite get out. "So um…"

"Glenn." A short, stout woman poked her head out. Glancing at Maggie for a long moment, then turning to Glenn. Hurling out a stream of words. Speaking in a language Maggie didn't understand, but she understood the tone. She definitely wasn't happy to see Maggie sitting there.

With a start, Glenn jumped from where he was sitting. His eyes darting from Maggie to the woman standing in the open screen door. Holding up his index finger, he followed her inside. With the door banging against the frame, Maggie held her breath. Tipping her head in the direction of the door. Trying unsuccessfully to hear the muffled conversation inside. Only a couple of minutes passed, then Glenn was back on the porch.

Shifting his feet slightly, Glenn looked at Maggie for a moment, then back at his feet. "So, my mother said she'll give you a ride home."

Tsking. Mom will give me a ride. You had to ask your mom. Nope, I don't think so. Maggie pulled her books into her chest. Scooting to the edge of the metal chair, she slowly stood up. "That's okay, I'm just going to start walking. I can…"

His hand darting out, closing around her arm. "No, no. Let us take you. I'll ride along. You can sit in front. I told her I would take you home, but she's…" His voice trailing off.

Swallowing, Maggie, looked down at his hand on her arm. Until he let it drop. "I don't want to put your mama out. The rain is letting up. Thanks for letting me sit here, and helping me pick up my books."

"Okay. Let's go." The grey-haired lady pushed her way out onto the cement porch. A thin red cardigan over her dress and a plastic rain bonnet covering the grey bun on top of her head. Looking up at Maggie, expectantly.

"Mother." Glenn was stepping between his mother and Maggie. "This is Maggie Greene. Maggie, this is my mother. Mrs. Rhee."

Her eyes never leaving Maggie. "You should not be here. Sit in front. Glenn will sit in back." And she started down the steps.

Her knee throbbing, Maggie turned to Glenn. Her voice a stage whisper. "That's your… I think I'm just going to walk."

"No, she's a good driver. She's a little…" Shoving his hands in his pockets, he glanced towards the street. Then looked back at Maggie. "Next time I'll give you a ride."

Her smile returning. "What makes you think there's going to be a next time." Next time. Eeeehh.

Glenn looked like he didn't know whether to smile or let his face twist with concern. "I guess I'm just hoping there is." Then she was following him off the porch, to where his mother was sitting in the driveway, with the engine running.

On the drive to the farm, Glenn and his mother exchanged a couple sentences in another language. Maggie half turned in the front seat to glare at Glenn, where he sat behind her. Waiting. For him to translate.

His face looking miserable. "My mother said it's too dangerous for me to talk to you. I'm supposed to tell you not to come back."

"Oh." Dangerous. Does she has a big dog in the backyard. Maggie turned back around, to look out the front window. Her eyes sliding to the side, to look at Mrs. Rhee. The rest of the ride to the farm was in silence.

Pulling into the end of the drive, Mrs. Rhee gave her a thin, closed smile. Well, it was like a smile. Probably just glad to be rid of her. Maggie opened the door, climbing out. Leaning in, she pulled on a smile. "Thank you for the ride, Mrs. Rhee. It was nice meeting you."

As Maggie backed away from the car, Glenn unfolded himself from the backseat. Leaning towards her for a second. "After you dump your boyfriend tomorrow, you should come by the five and dime." And he was dropping down into the front seat. His mother already starting to rev the engine. Aggressively letting them know, she was ready to leave.

Maggie mouthed the words. "We'll see." Then started her soggy slog up the gravel drive.

~:~

Friday morning, all thoughts of Glenn disappeared when Maggie spotted Randy waiting for her in his beat up heap, at the end of the drive. Sliding his arm around Maggie's shoulders, and pulling her across the seat into his side, as soon as she got in the car. Pressing a sloppy kiss to her cheek. Mumbling, "Can't wait for Saturday, Doll Face. Just me and you. The backseat. Finally going to…"

Wrenching her face away from his. Maggie's eyes rolling. "Be late for school again. Come on, Randy. Let's just go."

The school day passed quickly. Sitting through her last class, Maggie started mentally making plans for what she wanted to do that night, and more importantly, Saturday. Ever since they had started going steady, her and Randy had been going to the drive-in on Saturdays. And now he was getting so pushy, down right demanding. He'd been hinting for three weeks that it was time for them to "do the deed". Now, this was the last weekend the drive-in would be open for the season. This Saturday was 'It'. Maybe this week we should go somewhere else.

"Ssss. Maggie. You in there? Hey." Randy's best friend leaned across the narrow aisle, tapping the top of her desk with his pencil.

Her face scrunching in agitation, head down, she hissed back at him. "What?" Next time I get caught talking, I'll have to do detention. Jerk.

As she watched, he leaned back in his seat, rubbing his crotch and making crude gestures. Mouthing 'You and Randy. Saturday. Yaaaaaah.'

Her face flaming, Maggie sank down in her seat. Pulling her book up in front of her face. Grateful the girl in front of her was tall enough to hide behind. Oh my gosh. Talking to friends about… That's it, we're done.

After the last bell, Maggie collected her sweater from her locker, and started towards the exit. Stepping outside into the sunshine, Randy was on her. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, almost pulling her off her feet. His wet lips pressing up against her cheek. Mumbling. "Hey Doll Face."

With an elbow to his side, Maggie shoved him away. "Stop it, Randy." So grabby. All the time. With a swift movement, she pulled his yarn wrapped class ring from her finger and shoved it in his stomach. "Here. I can't go out you anymore."

Randy's arm dropping, he scrambled to catch his ring as Maggie kept walking. "Wait. Maggie wait." His ring secure, he took a couple jogging steps to catch her. "What are… You can't just..." His voice dropping to a low rumble. "Break up with me in the parking lot."

"Yes I can." Raising her shoulder, Maggie leaned to avoid his hand, which was reaching for her arm. Determinedly not looking at him, her voice raising. "I don't want to go steady with you. I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to do anything with you." She stomped towards the hole in the fence, which opened on to Main Street. Picking up speed as she walked. Crossing her fingers that he wasn't following her. Which of course he was.

Bending down a little, Maggie slipped through the hole in the fence. Turning enough to see Randy grab on to the top of the fence. His face twisting into something ugly. How could I have thought I wanted him. A shudder moved through her, as she turned towards the five and dime.

The entrance bell jingling when she pulled the five and dime door open, Maggie slow walked past the first aisle. Then the second and third aisle. Feeling the eyes of the clerk following her, Maggie glanced over at the register. And kept walking. What am I doing? I should just go back and catch the bus. Maybe Lori hasn't left yet. What made me think… Combed back black hair, one piece loose and hanging in the front, caught her eye. It's him. Glenn. He came. Her steps more purposeful, she headed towards the record section. Slowing, she made her way down a row. Pausing to pick at records from different bins. Trying not to hurry, too much. Until she was directly across from him.

Flipping through the 45's in front of her, Maggie's fingers began to waver. Wonder if he saw me. Maybe he was kidding. What am I doing here.

"Hey. You came." Glenn's voice so quiet, for a moment Maggie thought maybe it was only inside her head. But raising her eyes, she saw him looking at her, over the 45 he was holding.

Pulling in her smile, before it became a full on goofy grin Maggie looked down at the record bin. "I need something new to listen to. Any suggestions?" Her head still bowed, she raised her eyes.

"Um." Maggie watched from over the top of the records, as his tongue poked out against his lower lip for a second. Then lifting a 45 from the bin, he smiled across the bins at her. An easy smile, that made her smile back. "How about, Unforgettable by Nat King Cole."

Her hands resting on the top of the records, Maggie gave up all pretense of looking through them. "That's one of my favorites."

"So, um, you want to go somewhere? Where we can talk or…"

Nodding. "I do."

Glenn slid the record back in the bin. Lowering his head he gave a glance towards the front of the store. "Go on out, and start walking south. I'll be around in a couple minutes."

Hesitating. He don't seem pervy. "Which way is south and why can't I just walk out with you?"

Their eyes meeting, Glenn chuckled a little. "South, away from the school. And, it's just better if you don't."

Her fingers flicking through the tops of the records, voice light. Teasing. "This part of that daaan-gerous thing."

His shoulders shifting from side to side, making his head bob. "Sort of. Actually… Yeah."

With a nod. "Okay. See you in a couple minutes." And with a last look at Glenn, hope I'm not making a mistake, Maggie left the five and dime, heading south.

And, they're off.

.

Thanks for reading. If you loved it, please leave a note in the box. And if you hated it, pm me. :)
xoxo