Heavy rain slaps hard against the pavement as we quicken our pace, searching for shelter. The droplets feel warm on my skin, reflecting the July heat. I glance at my phone for the time, noticing the glowing moon bouncing off the rain puddles as we pass them. It is far too late and I know I should be getting home, but all I can think about is hiding from the rain.
We dance in and out of shops, restaurants, gaining shelter for moments before moving on. Most of the shops on the strip are closing, and the restaurants too upscale to allow two wet teenagers dripping inside their doors.
Continuing on, we laughed out loud in the quiet streets as we splashed through dark puddles, yearning for a dry cover.
We finally approach a large building, grey and looming. A parking garage. With few cars in sight, we hurry inside, running down the slanted drive into an empty underground lot. Spotting a small door at the far corner of the lot, you grab my hand and pull me towards it. We slip inside, pulling the heavy door tightly shut behind us. Now safely enclosed in the stairwell, our bags fall to the ground and I shed my sweater, flinging it at the bottom of the staircase. You sit on the concrete steps while I brush the soaking hair from my eyes and bend over to squeeze the water out.