(Not Proofread, Unedited, 5014 words)
Trigger Warnings: Discussions of trauma, description of a panic attack, mentions of eating disorders
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A/N: Only one chapter this week, I'm sorry
"Tyler, Hannah, this is Cathy Carter, Kate's mother," I explain as Tyler and Hannah climb the front porch stairs behind Fika and I. Tyler throws me an unreadable glance as he passes by me and heads into the foyer of the house, where all of us gather while I stand in the door. "And Cathy, this is Hannah Laurent, one of my partners and best friends, and Tyler Owens, a storm chaser from Arkansas who's been helping out with relief efforts for the outbreak."
"Oh, isn't that lovely?" Cathy coos, smiling at both of the newcomers in her home. "It's good to know that good people are still out there doing the work businessmen and politicians are too scared to do." Tyler glances at me again, this time with his eyebrows raised in surprise as his lips pull into a smile. I wink at him as Fika pulls against the leash, laying down at my feet.
"You have a lovely place here, Ms. Carter," Hannah admits, and Cathy's attention snaps to her specifically.
"You're French?" she asks without missing a beat.
"Yes, ma'am," Hannah replies with a nod. "Born and raised in Amiens."
"Never heard of it," Cathy teases, and both her and Hannah share a quick, happy laugh. "And you, Mr. Storm Chaser—" she turns her gaze to Tyler— "how did you get here? I mean, obviously you drove, but how did you meet Bonnie?"
"She and I did a cleanup together about a year and a half ago," Tyler recalls, looking over at me with a cocky smirk while I try and hide my amusement. "Needless to say, we didn't get along at first."
"Oh, Bonnie doesn't get along with anyone," Cathy lies, and I shake my head with a smile. "Such a brat, this one."
"Thanks, Ms. Carter," I say quietly, feeling comfortable with the woman's teases and jokes. She and I grew pretty close during the storm chaser brainstorming sessions mostly because neither of us understood any of it. Five years ago, the only one on this property that really talked to me on those days of urgent planning and number-crunching was Cathy.
"Alright, alright," Cathy mutters, shooing me out the door, "go give her a boost in her confidence. I've done all I can."
"What did you tell her?" I ask, stepping backwards out onto the porch as I wrap the end of Fika's leash around my hand.
"Last night I told her I loved her and missed her, and this morning I told her that I was still waiting on her to save the world," Cathy replies, and I press my lips together and nod. "I need you to show her she still can. Lord knows I'm not enough to convince her."
"Yeah, you're not the only one," I mumble, tightening my grip on the leash as I think about her and Javier being so excited when they first arrived.
How different it is now. Just a couple says later.
"I'll do my best, Ms. Cathy," I assure her, nodding slightly.
"Thank you, Bonnie," she replies.
"Tyler, Hannah, I'll be out in the barn if either of you need me," I call out to the others. They both wave goodbye before I turn and head down the front porch stairs and out into the yard. Fika is already pulling hard against the leash, practically walking me forward towards the old barn.
The barn where Kate is hiding out.
God, I hope this works.
The walk to the barn is one I've taken many times. Plenty of times with Kate, some with Jeb, a couple with Javi, but never by myself. Even when I was asked to go grab something or check something, I never walked out here alone. And I know that with Fika, I'm technically not alone, but without a hand to hold or someone to talk to, it feels like I'm all by myself.
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Don't Embarrass Me || Twisters
Fanfiction« I'm not some stupid college dropout anymore. I have a job to do, and you're not going to keep me from it. » /// All Bonnie Blake wanted was a weekend trip with her friends, but what she got was three funeral invites, one traumatized friend, an...
