NaNoWriMo Story Snippets

39. Excerpt from "Snowed In" one-shot

Another break from KINSHIP OF RINGS. We had lots of snow yesterday (and tons of drifts to shovel out from), so it felt like the perfect time to work on a "Seth and Becky get trapped in a snowstorm" request. Subject to editing, etc.

"Hey, Becks. Planning a vacation?" Seth had been walking to the parking lot, but he was surprised to see Becky still in Catering. Normally she and Charlotte left as soon as they could so they could avoid the worst of the traffic. He couldn't quite read her phone from his angle, but it looked like she was searching for flight times.

Becky shook her head, tapping her foot against her travel bag. "Nah. Charlotte just got a call from home. Ric's in the hospital again, so she's flying out right away. She's just in talking with Vince right now. So I'm just looking for flights to the next city. I know I could use the rental," she added before Seth could suggest it, "but it's snowing...."

"And you hate driving anyway," Seth finished. Becky's lack of driving skills was overexaggerated by the locker room, but everyone knew she was happy to let someone else do the driving between towns. "You can get a ride with me if you want," he offered. "Cesaro and I have been riding together, but he was going to ride with New Day. There's some special video game release and they wanted to go to one of the release parties."

"You're sure?" Becky stopped just short of grabbing her bag's handle. "You know you can't pass driving duties off to me."

Seth just shrugged. "That's cool by me. I like driving, and I'm used to the snow. Not a lot of snow in Ireland, I'm guessing?"

"No, thank god." Then Becky laughed as she closed her search window. "Why do you think most Irish people are so eager to get back home?" After checking her text messages quickly, she looked back up at Seth. "You're sure you don't mind?"

"Of course not. I'm going anyway, and it's always nice to have company. Besides, with as much as you talk," Seth teased, "there's no way I'll have to worry about falling asleep while driving."

"Fuck you too, Rollins." Becky's warm smile sobered when Charlotte started walking down the hall, pulling her bag behind her. "Hey, Char. Everything cleared?"

Charlotte's gaze was distant as she accepted Becky's hug. "Yeah. Good thing Carmella went for my leg in our match. If... if I can't be back for next week," she said, stifling a sniffle, "they'll sell it as an injury. It will give me some wiggle room, at least." Then she looked over at Seth. "Would you mind driving her? I don't trust her driving in the snow."

Becky put her hands on her hips in mock indignation. "I am not that bad of a driver! Honestly!"

Seth and Charlotte shared a knowing glance. "Becks, I've seen you hit barriers in an empty parking lot." A hint of a smile played at Charlotte's lips and she pulled a Starbucks card out of her wallet. "Here. Fuel for the trip. There should be at least thirty on there."

"You don't have to—" Becky stopped when Charlotte put the card in her hand and curled her fingers around it. "Charlotte, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. You go to your dad. Text me to let me know you got there safely and then you can let me know when you feel up to talking, okay? Love you."

"Love you too, Becks." Charlotte kissed the top of her head and stepped back. "Pray for him, okay? I know he's had a lot of things happen, but even the doctors sound worried this time."

"Of course," Becky replied, squeezing Charlotte's hand. Seth simply nodded; prayer wasn't really his thing, but even he could see the value in positive thinking. "Have a safe flight."

"Thanks." After waving to a few others, Charlotte started jogging towards the parking lot. She didn't share a lot of her private life with the locker room, so she wanted to leave before too many people could notice and ask questions.

Becky watched her friend go, worry making her eyes dark. "I hope he pulls through. I know he and Charlotte have their ups and downs, but they've been getting better." Then she glanced over at Seth. "Aren't you going to put on a jacket?"

Seth tugged on the strings of his hoodie. "This'll be fine. It's not snowing that hard," he replied. "Besides, you're the one who gets cold even looking at a picture of ice cream."

"What part of not a lot of snow in Ireland don't you understand?" Becky laughed. "My god, I remember seeing Canadians in Dublin wearing shorts and t-shirts when I was freezing in jeans and a sweater. Madness, I swear." Charlotte was long gone by the time she and Seth arrived at the parking lot, and she followed him to a rental SUV. "Did you want to stop for coffee before we head out?" She held up Charlotte's Starbucks card. "I know it's not to Cesaro's standards, but...."

"But it's probably the best we'll get for a while," Seth replied, "and they're one of the few places still open. Sure. There must be a drive-thru on the way out of the city."

The city almost proved Seth wrong, but he found a Starbucks just when they were about to leave the city limits, and they ordered two coffees each: one to drink immediately and one that hopefully wouldn't cool off too much. "Can you turn the heater up, please?" Becky asked, kicking off her shoes so she could bring her legs up onto the seat and wrap her arms around them.

"More?" Seth was incredulous. He had turned up the heat a bit when they first got in the rental SUV because he knew how easily Becky got chilled, and then jacked it again when they were in the drive-thru lane and he noticed her shivering. In contrast, he was practically sweating.

"Thank you."Becky curled around her coffee cup and inhaled the steam as if it would heat up her blood. "I hate winter so much."

Seth laughed. "It's only November. It's not even technically winter yet."