You and Gaby stood in the middle of a quiet North Carolina trail, the towering trees above providing a canopy that did little to shield you from the sudden downpour. Rain pattered against the leaves and splashed onto the ground, quickly turning the dirt path into a muddy track.

“Well, this wasn’t part of the plan,” Gaby said, laughing as she pulled her hood over her head. “We should’ve checked the weather!”

“I thought you did check,” you teased, trying to shield your face from the rain with your hands.

The rain wasn’t letting up, and soon you were both completely soaked. Gaby, ever the athlete, didn’t seem to mind. She held her arms out and spun in the rain, laughing like a little kid. “Come on, Jake! It’s just water!”

“Easy for you to say,” you grumbled, looking down at your now-soggy sneakers.

Gaby rolled her eyes and grabbed your arm, pulling you out from under the meager shelter of a tree. “Live a little! This is fun!”

Reluctantly, you joined her, splashing in the puddles forming on the path. The rain was cool and refreshing, and before you knew it, you were laughing too. Gaby picked up a handful of wet leaves and jokingly tossed them at you, starting a mini water fight.

By the time the rain began to ease, you were both a mess—muddy, dripping, but grinning from ear to ear. “Okay,” you admitted, “that was kind of fun.”

“Told you,” Gaby said, bumping your shoulder with hers. “Now let’s find somewhere dry before Mom freaks out that we’re drenched.”