ain't no love [tyler owens]

four

The rhythmic smack of tennis balls echoed across the sun-drenched court as Riley's racket connected with pinpoint precision. Sweat glistened on her brow, her light brown ponytail swinging with each powerful serve. The Oklahoma heat shimmered in waves above the asphalt, but Riley barely noticed, lost in the familiar dance of footwork and timing.

"Come on," she muttered, bouncing the ball twice before tossing it high. Her muscles coiled, ready to unleash another blistering serve, when a familiar voice cut through her concentration.

"Riley! Hey, Earth to Riley Carter!"

Riley's swing faltered, sending the ball sailing short and straight into the net in front of her. She sighed as she turned, squinting against the sun to see Addy waving frantically from beyond the chain-link fence. Her blonde hair was escaping its messy ponytail, and she practically vibrated with excitement. 

The scowl on Riley's face dropped a little, her lips twitching upwards as Addy threw herself over the chain fence, instead of just walking around to the gate at the opposite side of the court.

"What is it now, Addy?" Riley called back, unable to keep the hint of amusement from her voice. Her best friend's enthusiasm was infectious, even if it was often ill-timed.

Her eyes sparkled with the manic gleam that Riley had come to associate with imminent danger... or as Addy called it, scientific discovery. Before Addy could even tell Riley why she was interrupting her practice session, Riley spoke again.

"Addy, I'm kind of in the middle of something here. Coach says if I nail this serve, I might have a shot at..."

"I'll cover for you," Addy interrupted, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she stood in front of her. "I don't know, say you got, like, food poisoning or something. Please, Riley? When's the next time we'll get a chance like this?"

The wind picked up, carrying with it the faintest rumble of distant thunder. Riley closed her eyes, feeling the shift in the air, the electric charge of an approaching storm. When she opened them, a hint of that hidden warmth had crept into her expression.

Storm chasing wasn't her vice - it had always been her sister and her friends'... but Addy was right. They were nearing the end of tornado season and she did love the enjoyment of sitting in the back of the truck as they shredded across soil and the laughs that came from her friends when they got to see their coursework play out in front of their eyes.

Riley hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening around the tennis racket. 

"You know, most people run away from tornadoes, not towards them."

"Most people are boring," Addy retorted.

She glanced back at the court, then at Addy's hopeful face, and finally at the darkening sky. With a resigned sigh, she nodded.

"Fine, but you owe me big time," Riley said, unable to keep the small smile from her lips. "Let me grab my stuff."

Addy let out a squeal of excitement, practically bouncing as Riley jogged to the bench to collect her gear. By the time she'd thrown her stuff into her court bag, Addy was already halfway to the parking lot, her lanky form practically vibrating with excitement.

"Now hurry up, Riles! Mother Nature waits for no one!"

As Riley jogged to catch up, she couldn't help but smile. Little did she know, as she climbed into Addy's beat-up truck, that this was one of the last times she'd do that.