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Chapter One. Bets On Losing Dogs.
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If one listened close enough, they could hear all the secrets whispered by the temperamental winds of Oklahoma. They carried the stories of Tornado Valley, reporting all the newest gossip surrounding the unpredictable weather outbreaks. Since she was old enough to stand up Lola Grimes positioned herself in the path of the breeze, translating all the wind had to say to those who did not understand. It was her second language.
The humming this morning was one she had heard a hundred times before, raising familiar goosebumps across Lola's skin; a storm was brewing in the distance, a tornado soon to form. Lola examined the dark clouds through the lens of her camera, capturing the moment of calm before the storm. It was a gift given to her by her father the day she defied her mother's wishes and packed up to attend university. Storm chasing was passed down for generations in her family. The Grimes enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, but Lola craved more: she wanted to tame the tornadoes.
"That's the one." Kate Carter stood behind her, leaning over to perch her chin on her best friends shoulder, eyes analyzing the same group of dark clouds. The inseparable duo had barely slept the night before, too excited for what could be the beginning of scientific history to close their eyes. They had been working on this project for years, and now everything was finally coming together.
Like young school girls they giddily ran back to their four friends who were fast asleep in the makeshift beds of their shared vehicles, high off anticipation as they began the process of waking them all up. Kate started with her boyfriend, Jeb, while Lola faced the hardest challenge of all: waking up Javi Rivera.
"Wake up sleeping beauty," Lola cooed, pulling Javi's thick blanket off his body and dropping it on his head, exposing him to the chill air.
He groaned at the sudden action, trying to cover his face before Lola would begin taking photos of him with drool trailing down his face and use them to blackmail him up. "Five more minutes," he grumbled.
