Rain Check

Brighton had spent eighteen years being everyone's favorite daughter.

She made honor roll.

She babysat without complaining.

She cooked dinner when her mom worked late.

She helped with homework, cleaned bathrooms, and practically co-parented her younger siblings.

Everyone praised Brighton for being "so mature."

What nobody realized...

Brighton never got to be a kid. This was her last year before she got out! Before she went off to college and started her own life FINALLY.

Brighton hears her siblings engage in chaos as she pens her summer bucket list. Brighton has 1.5 months before she was off to Spelman and she was determined to do things she wouldn't allow herself all her life.

Brightons' Before College Bucket List

1) Get my license

2) Get a piercing

3) Kiss a boy in the rain

4) Stay out all night

5) Finish a margarita

*One Month Later*

Brighton has taken life by the horns! She started the summer with getting her license which made the rest of the list easier to accomplish. Weekend of the license, Brighton and her best friend, Ciara went and got belly piercings for their 18th birthday. Brighton mom was pissed but Brighton the rebel couldn't care. Unfortunately, the finishing of the margarita went hand in hand with the stay out all night goal. Brighton and best friend (clearly these two need a chaperone) decided it made sense to get margarita mix and a ton of the cheapest mini tequila bottles because a clerk in a corner store didn't card them. Brighton and Ciara went back to Ciara house a day that her mom was staying at her boyfriends house, emptied all the mini bottles, ice and margarita mix in the blender. Neither of the girls had drunk before so it was all fun...until it wasn't. Brighton spent her victorious all nighter on the cool floor of Ciara kitchen floor swearing she would never drink again. Now on the last thing on the list...Kiss a boy in the rain.

Brighton was a hopeless romantic but she didn't have time to date all these years. Between school and raising her mothers kids, she couldn't even fathom adding a boy into that so she really had no prospects. I mean, she had the normal teenage boys that try to hump everything walking but Brighton had no one she could easily get any kiss...let alone one in the rain. She did have a crush on a guy that worked in the market down the street. In the spirit of being free, Brighton convinced herself to go get in her car, drive to that market, grab some cookies and marched right to his line. There was two people in front of her so she was slowly losing her nerve until finally she's standing right in front of him. He looks up smiles and says how's your day? Brighton tongue tied and turning red just blurted out...CAN I KISS YOU IN THE RAIN....he looks up from what he was scanning, stares at Brighton, look out the window and says "but it isn't raining"

Brighton let out a half giggle, half snort and runs out the grocery store. She feels her face turning red as she hurries to start her car and forget this moment ever happened. Brighton was able to avoid this store for 4 whole days when her mom INSISTS she has to go to this particular store because they have the jalapenos she likes. Brighton pulls up to the store, turns off the car and stares at the clouds hoping, wishing, and praying God and her grandparents loved her enough to make sure that young man she embarrassed her self in front of was not there. They let her down, cause front and center was the cute cashier Darin and he noticed her immediately.

Bright side is if he is on register than she could get in and out avoiding the obvious. Brighton slowed her pace and headed to the cereal aisle. Might as well grab a few things for the kids while she here. Brighton gets lost in cereal choices and podcast and doesn't even notice Darin walking right towards her. He hands her the box of cereals, she clearly was struggling to get. Brighton comes out of her daze to say thank you and soon as she notices who it is, she lets out a nervous giggle. Darin lets out a hearty chuckle and says "How'd you know i didn't have a girlfriend?" Brighton cheeks start to flush and she stutters. Darin cuts her off " I'm joking. but you didn't give me the chance to answer. Can I at least know the name of the young lady I may or may not be kissing in the rain?" Brighton takes a deep breath "I'm so sorry for that. My name is Brighton. Just act like it never happened" Darin smiles " no take backs...Brighton. and nice to meet you" Brighton feels her cheeks brighten. Darin smiles. " That was actually brave of you. Most women just wait for the men to come to them. I like a woman who goes for what she wants. Too bad, its not raining" and he turns around and walks off. Brighton thinks to herself " I knew i should have just went to Whole Foods" and turns the other way. Brighton manages to get out the store without embarrassing herself even further. That last thing just wouldn't be checked off. But 4/5 isn't bad odds right?

Brighton is sitting on the bed, scrolling mindlessly trying to ignore her siblings bang on her door insisting on noodles... when she gets a notification. Darin Whitten asked to follow you. Brighton pops up. "Gasp! how did he find me? what could he want? " she thinks. Brighton decides she can't immediately answer his request. Shes embarrassed herself enough. So, she goes to make the noodles for her siblings, make herself some shrimp, scroll the group chat, text Ciara to let her know the news and THEN approve his request. Can't let him think she was just waiting on him. Brighton shakily presses accept and follows back. Before she could soak it all in, Darin sends a message "Forecast says there's a 30% chance of rain tomorrow" Brighton lets out a hearty laugh and responds "now may be my time to shine...well not" Darin goes on to finally ask the dreaded question " so...what made you ask to kiss me in the rain" Brighton sits up. She wants to take a moment to think about this answer so she doesn't sound cheesy and desperate. She sends Ciara a screenshot. " What do i say?" Ciara bubbles immediately pop up " LOL. The truth girl" Brighton take a breathe and goes to respond. This is what she has been working towards. Her confidence. Her independence. Her voice. "here goes nothing" she thinks. Her response was "sigh, dont make fun of me but i have a bucket list. I am going to Spelman in fall and i just want to loosen up and live a little. One of the things was kiss a boy in the rain" Darin immediately reads and responds " What else is on the list? and congrats on Spelman" Brighton lets out a sigh of relief. That wasn't THAT bad. "1) Get my license

2) Get a piercing

3) Kiss a boy in the rain

4) Stay out all night

5) Finish a margarita

ands thanks!! i'm so excited."

Immediately Darin responds "What are planning on studying? "

"The goal is double major in psychology and pre law. want to be a forensic psychiatrist"

"Oh wow, want to read minds huh?"

Brighton laughs. It was so easy talking to him . It went on for weeks. Forecast jokes, vents about customers, questions about college and dreams talks. Turns out Darin was working at this store to pay his tuition that isn't covered. Brighton even spent a few lunch hours with Darin at the store Spent time on the bench out front, people watching and indulging in her homemade turkey sandwiches. Sometimes even talking bout if Darin could get down to Atlanta one day. She couldn't believe one word vomit day got them to such a easy and deep friendship and he never even brought up the list again.

Now here we are the night before Brighton leave for school and it is harder than she ever imagined. Brighton is packing up the last of her things and making mom a chart for the kids important notes and dietary request. Darin is at work so they decided after that Brighton and Ciara would go over his house for a end of summer/Brighton is leaving horror movie marathon. She couldn't believe summer came to a end so fast but this was the perfect goodbye. All of a sudden, Brighton phone is ringing nonstop back to back and it's Darin. Brighton answers "What's wrong" Darin sounds like he's smiling "everything cool, i just need you to come to the store real quick" Brighton looks as the phone. " why" you're off soon and me and Ciara meeting you. what do you need" Darin responds "man aint you suppose to be spontaneous or something. come on" and hangs up the phone. Brighton laughs to herself "That boy so weird" and she grabs her keys to go see what he wants. As Brighton starts her car she notices the sky is kinda gray. She groans "i know it bet not thunderstorm. messing with this dang boy" She heads toward the store and the rain manages to keep itself contained until she parks and slowly the raindrops start to fall. Brighton looks around and realizes she left her umbrella so she tries to speed walk to the door and she walks right into Darrin chest. He looks down at Brighton in a way she never seen before. She didn't know how to respond. he lovingly pushes her out of the grocery store walkway, look her in her eyes and gave her a long deep kiss...as the rain slowly fell on both their heads. Brighton peels away and reaches in her pocket. Grabs a crumbled piece of paper. cross out Kiss a boy in the rain...and looks back up at Darin