Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Driving into a tornado was like riding a bike—one of those things that you never forget how to do.
At least, that was what Tyler had said. Caroline disagreed.
After their little powwow in the back of his truck, Tyler and Caroline had informed Kate of the ecological repercussions of her science experiment. Caroline drew in tendencies and mannerisms from a class she'd once taken on psychology and persuasion—just to help Kate understand where she was coming from.
"It's a good idea," she'd said, nodding emphatically, "but the effect on surrounding areas would be catastrophic. And that's only if it works. If it doesn't..."
"It'll be dealing with tornado damage and super absorbant polymers," Kate had finished with an understanding nod, glancing between Tyler and Caroline. "I get it. So.. did you two just knock boots out in my front yard to get to that conclusion, or—?"
"No," said Tyler and Caroline at once. Caroline's cheeks flushed, but Tyler laughed so hard he damn near fell over.
They'd all three been on their way inside to Kate's kitchen to grab a quick lunch when Kate spared a prosperous glance off to the south, where the expansive open land gave her a brilliant view of graying clouds taking form a couple miles away. After a quick check on her computer to see how big the storm was going to be and an affirmative that they were only dealing with a little baby EF-1, the three of them loaded into Tyler's truck, and they headed off to do what Caroline had been so adamantly against all along: chase a damn storm.
"Holy cow!" Kate yelled over the wind, hopping out of the backseat of the truck and stumbling over to get a shot of the forming tornado. "It's so fast! Look how quick it is!"
Tyler jumped out of his driver's seat and watched the sky, a backwards cap on his head and flannel rippling in the wind like some sort of superhero. He put a hand over his eyes to block the sheaths of sun coming from above the clouds.
Caroline hung out the open door of the passenger's seat, one foot propped up on the step, an arm hooked around the door to keep her balance. She felt her ponytail whipping in the wind.
It was cool, watching tornadoes form. She'd never been in denial of any kind about that. The way the conditions had to be absolutely perfect, how the atmospheric pressure shifted almost instantaneously once a twister actually began forming. Especially the babies—EF-1s with nowhere to go except miles and miles of land. No houses in the way. No towns to be destroyed or families to be ripped apart. Those were the only ones Caroline could stomach watching. Otherwise her morals damn near choked her to death.
"It's perfect!" Tyler yelled, putting both hands on his head in shock. "It's—it's perfect! Look at that thing!Whew!"
"She's gorgeous," Caroline agreed from her spot above the truck, gazing up at the storm with a curious wonder. Then she nodded, resolute, and exhaled a short laugh. "She's totally gonna give us somethin'."
