28*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Like the Rain Falls
Katrina sighed as the bell signaling the start of first period rang. "My life will never change," she thought, "it's my last day of 8th grade, my last day of middle school and my life hasn't excelled past the boring state it was this time last year."
She flew through 1st period exams with ease, being smarter than average. While waiting for others to finish, Katrina daydreamed peacefully of magical worlds, such as the ones she read about in Harry Potter books, as the golden streaks in her pale brown hair caught the light, bringing the teacher's eye to rest upon her.
Katrina's peaceful figure intrigued Mrs. Clotskey, leading her to think that no matter how misleading her appearance is Katrina just isn't average. She was the out-crowd and the in-crowd at the same time.
Aroused from her dreamlike state by whispers, courtesy of her classmates, Katrina looked up to meet Mrs. Clotskey's gaze. Showing a smile, Mrs. Clotskey returned to her work. Confused, Katrina pondered the and almost completely ignored the bell, had it not been for her best friend, Emma Lynn's ramblings about next period exams. "Elle, you're my BF and all but, shut up." She just laughed. "Loosen up, Kat! It's the last day of school!"
They skipped the rest of the way to their lockers earning curious glances from students of lower grades. "Well lets just thank God Jody is in our next class, he can help me fight for my sanity." Kat said referring to her other best friend. Elle just laughed.
When they walked into the classroom, both girls were surprised to see a blur of jet black hair as Jody swooped down onto ended knee, as if to bow before them and he spoke, "My fair Lady Katerina Nicole, will you do me the pleasure of being my dance partner?" in a false majestic voice. Kat dropped her books on her desk, nearby with one swift movement, and came back to curtsy before him. She pulled him up by the hand he had offered her, and spun him once around before laughing in an equally false tone, "It would be my honor, Jordan Daniel." Her bell like laughter rung out at the usage of their full names as they waltzed, tangoed, twirled, and dipped around the classroom.
Sensing her question he spoke before her, "Mr. W said our exam would be to demonstrate our culture in some way, this being a world cultures class and all. Since that is kind of hard to do on your own, he made it a partner test. I figured we could be partners saying as we go to the same church and all. We can either sing or dance, that being what we learn most at church."
"Alrighty, I'll take you up on the partnership, but lets dance not sing."
"Awwwwww, come on Kat, you have a great voice!"
"Are you saying that because I really can sing, or because you really want to?"
"You can sing! ..and I really really REALLY want to sing!" Jody confessed, putting on a puppy-dog face.
Kat just couldn't resist it, "Oh alright! What did you have in mind?"
"YES!" He exclaimed doing his infamous happy jig.
"Alright class, settle down," Mr. Wahire pleaded, walking into the room, "and am I correct in assuming that Kat and Jody are partners?" He added with a knowing smile.
"Correct-o-mande, Mr. W!" Jody laughed causing some to giggle, "We are going to SIIIIIINNGG!" he added in his 'opera' voice.
"Fair enough. Now for those of you who don't know, for your final examination in this class you will pair up with someone and together find a way to show your culture at the end of class. Now lets get started, you have 25 minutes to work."
Kat turned to Jody to see him pulling a couple of sheets of paper from his books. "Whoa there, what do you think your doing?!" Jody looked up and smiled at her and then kept pulling until he had a decent pile of notebook paper on his desk. When he looked up and saw that Kat's mouth was agape. Jody looked her seriously before bursting out laughing.
"Gees, Kat! Thought you would have known me better that that. I was just joking!" He laughed while hastily stuffing the paper in his binder, still cracking up about his 'little joke'. Before Jody could pull out the real two sheets of songs Kat had tackled him to the ground. "You little devil!" She shrieked.
Soon enough though Jody, being the bigger and stronger person in this case, managed to restrain her within his arms and lap.
"That wasn't funny!" She pouted leaning her head on his chest with a sigh. Jody was till shaking with silent laughter, though, so Kat leaned a little harder causing them to topple over backwards.
Mr. Wahire cleared his throat while smiling down. Kat tried to wriggle her way out of Jody's grasp, but he held her firm, causing her to look like squirming bait. "Jody!" She shrieked, and he released her, letting her scramble up. Kat dusted herself off as Mr. Wahire chuckled to himself and Jody just lay there on the ground. "Oh get up you!" She laughed while offering him a hand up. He pulled himself up and just plopped down seconds later with the real song papers in hand. Kat then dropped down into his lap to see what he had chosen. "I'm surprised you have a printed version of the tenor and soprano parts of 'I Can Only Imagine' and 'Shout to the Lord'. Should I be?" Kat asked dryly, turning around to face him. "Well let's just say I came prepared due to notification." Jody replied with a sly smile. "You cheeky thing you!" She exclaimed with laughter. After that they got down to business until.
Until Kat suddenly fell silent, then without warning she ran to the window, dodging various people around the room. Jody just smiled and followed her path, more slowly that is, eyes on her the entire time. That was, of course, until he saw her tremble, and he was off as fast as he could to her side (not that he had to go far). Jody scooped Kat up in his strong arms and sat there to watch the rain with her.
Mr. Wahire was heart-warmed every time this happened, even though it had been happening since it rained the first week of school. That day Kat had started whimpering and when she could no longer control it, Kat had sprinted to the window while Jody explained and volunteered to take both their notes from the window with her. Most students snickered when this happens, but he thought it was sweet and not to mention adorable to watch.
The rain mesmerized Kat. She just couldn't explain what it's like to sit there and know rain is falling without being able to watch it. Kat loves to lose herself in her thoughts while sitting in Jody's arms. The real reason he was there is because sometimes the thunder scares Kat, but when in his safe arms nothing can harm her. Jody also loves just sitting with Kat. No one could believe the calming effect Jody had on her.
Kat's favorite part about the rain is watching the clouds form and seeing the first raindrops fall. Then she just watches it with nothing in her world but the persistent rain, Jody and herself.
~*~*~
After awhile Jody caught Mr. Wahire's eye and learned that it was almost their turn to present. He then brushed a strand of Kat's hair out of her eyes and gave her a gentle shake to receive her attention. Reluctantly, Kat came to her senses. She turned around to hug him thankfully before standing up to brush herself off, and offer him a hand up.
~*~*~
Jody used her offered hand to pull himself up, his goofy grin in place.
~*~*~
Taking their seats they noticed that, given the time frame they had, they would only have time for 'I Can Only Imagine.' 'Oh well,' thought Kat, 'I never really wanted to sing much in the first place.'
As they stood up in front of the class to present, Emma offered an encouraging smile. "Alright," started Kat, with a quick glance at Jody, "this song is called 'I Can Only Imagine' by Mercy Me."
Together they sang, in perfect harmony with each other. The entire class gaped at their ability.
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
Yeah, I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine Yeah, I can only imagine
I can only imagine I can only imagine I can only imagine Yeah, I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine
They both sang out, true and full. You couldn't have heard a more serene and beautiful sound. Students gaped at their ability, although Elle seemed not at all surprised since she had heard them sing so many times before. Even Mr. Wahire was quite shocked to think how well they went together.
Both Kat and Jody were flushed because the effort of showing everyone their all had left them out of breath.
Jody was currently trying to read what Mr. Wahire was writing, while Kat was nervously glancing around the room. Then, before she knew what was happening, Kat blacked out.
Jody barely saw it out of the corner of his eye. He only just caught her in his arms.
Mr. Wahire saw this and nervously told Jody to take the unconscious Kat to the clinic.
At the clinic, Kat woke up just after the nurse put a cold compress to her head. The nurse told her she was free to go. Mr. Wahire instructed them to stay outside in the hallway so that Kat didn't need to worry about becoming claustrophobic or something. Jody stayed out with her and they talked to the Michael, a kid who had been sent out of the class across the hall.
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