Thunder

Chapter 16

Several days have passed since my first date with Ryan. I can honestly say I had a great time, at least until Dr. Carson called me. Once we left the bowling alley, I went for a flight in the cool night air outside of town to clear my head. Other than that, I haven't gone out as Thunder since. Luckily, there hasn't been much need to go out as Thunder anyway. After all, not much happens in Iowa, usually.

Today, my normally quiet town is bustling with people. It's July 4th, Independence Day. Tons of festivities happen all around town every year, starting off with the parade that passes right by my house. Lawn chairs, blankets, and people line the streets. Children race to collect the candy being tossed out by the people standing on the floats; my little sister is among those children. My mother and father sit in lawn chairs in our yard. I'm a short distance away from them, along with my friends who normally hang out at my place or Caitlyn's during the 4th of July since the two of us live in town. The usual gang is here: me, Caitlyn, Greg, Chris, Angela, and Kathryn, along with Ryan. His brother is next to my parents, talking about who-knows-what.

"What are we doing after the parade?" Kathryn asks.

"Well, I'd suggest swimming, but..." I smirk at Greg, making fun of his 'fear' of swimming. He responds with a glare.

A float decorated with muffins and other baked goods goes by, sponsoring the rebuild of the bakery that burned down last month. A boy stands on the float throwing muffins out to the crowd.

One muffin comes our way, but Kenzie reaches it first, adding it to her plastic bag full of candy.

"I want a muffin!" Angela whines.

"Why don't you go after the float and get one then?" Chris suggests sarcastically.

"Okay," Angela agrees, being her usual blonde self. She chases after the float, dodging the children collecting candy, shouting, "I want a muffin! I want a muffin! Give me a muffin!"

The rest of us laugh at her goofiness. Eventually she comes back our way. "I didn't get a muffin..." She frowns. Kathryn gives her a sympathetic pat on the back.

The parade ends, and we all go inside to cool off.

"Do you guys need anything?" I ask my friends as I get a glass of water for myself. The only person who speaks up is Caitlyn, who makes herself at home here often enough that she gets a glass of water on her own.

Relaxing for awhile in the living room, I sit on the couch with Ryan to my left and Caitlyn to my right. Chris & Greg sit on the smaller couch, Kathryn takes the recliner chair and Angela ops for the floor.

"Do you remember everyone's names, Ryan?" Kathryn asks.

"Um..." He looks at me, pretending he has to think of my name. "Kyleigh?"

"You'd better know my name by now," I joke. He, I, and a couple others laugh.

Continuing around the room, Ryan guesses, pointing at each person, "Caitlyn, Angela... Kathy?"

"Kathryn," she corrects.

"Right, Kathryn. Chris, and... um... I don't know who you are," he has to admit when he reaches Greg.

"I'm Greg."

"Greg wasn't at the pool party because he is scared of water," I say.

"I am not!" Greg argues. "I was just busy that day."

"You've been busy like all summer, though," Angela says.

"Well, yeah. I have been busy."

"With what?" I question. Certainly you haven't been busier than me. Try living a double life sometime.