Hurricane

Chapter 2

It took the group of friends thirty minutes to gather all their things and pack it all into Ethan's borrowed sedan. They'd all be lying if they said they weren't terrified of crashing the luxury vehicle or leaving a scuff on the pristine black leather seats. Elijah's mind raced with all the expletives and face contortions Dr. Ramsey could throw their way if something befell his property.

With four hours and twenty six minutes until high tide Becca programmed the navigation for Naveen's riverhouse and the friends carefully made their way through the torrential start of the storm and out of the city.

The ride was relatively silent as they drove with caution. It wasn't until they made it onto the near-empty highway that someone spoke the looming question in the air.

"Are you and Ramsey back together?" Sienna asked from the backseat. 

Becca's eyes widened.

In the commotion she didn't even think of what this excursion would look like to those outside of her and Ethan's secluded little bubble. Becca herself didn't even know what they were. They spent time together outside of work, sure. But does that mean they've been unknowingly dating for the last few months?

What she did know was that Ethan Ramsey and Rebecca Lao were not officially dating, not now and never were. 

Becca looked straight ahead at the disappearing road before them, mulling over her next words carefully.

"We were never together," she dismissed so eloquently and added for good measure, "And we're friends." She habitually bit her lip in hopes they'd stop the inquisition.

"Bec, he gave you his car." Elijah piped in, his grip on the door handle loosening a bit as his thoughts were moved from the impending doom.

Elijah and Sienna were the only two friends who had an inkling of what had perspired between Dr. Ramsey and Dr. Lao - they did in fact catch the former sneaking out of the apartment one morning last year. Ever since the two kept Becca's secret and gleefully watched the two doctor's interactions with a new and keen interest. 

Becca was quick to retort, "How else were we supposed to get to Naveen's?" 

Sienna tried to stifle a giggle at how uncomfortable her best friend had become, "He also asked you to stay with him at Naveen's."

"He also said you guys could come. He's concerned, is all." Becca explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. To her this situation wasn't as weird as they were making it out to be. If Ethan and Naveen were in a pinch of course she would lend a helping hand. The two older diagnosticians had become staples in her life over the last year and a half, and although she knew hospital politics meant most colleagues couldn't comprehend their bond she was hoping her friends would. With a definitive nod she added, "Friends helping friends in their time of need."

Elijah egged once more, "So there's nothing between you?"

"We're not dating, no."

What was between us?  Becca thought to herself.

Mutual respect? Definitely. An unconditional affinity for the other? Surely. Was it time to finally define their intentions? The jury's still out.

With a mischievous gleam in her eye Sienna knew this was going to be a very informative and eye-opening experience for everyone.

***

After an hours drive and missing the hidden driveway nearly twice the group of friends finally made it to Naveen's cabin. The rain was still consistently falling in large punishing splatters and the sky above loomed darker than before. The river was higher than she'd ever seen it, yet still so calm and accepting of the bullets colliding at its surface.