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𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑, despite the three alarms, each synched to a different ringtone, just couldn't bring herself to get out of bed.
She groaned, silencing the third alarm and rolling over just as her phone rang again.
RING .... RING .... RING
"What now!" she groans out of tiredness. Grabbing her phone from her nightstand she slides the answer button and puts her phone flush with her ear.
"Hey, are you coming in today?" The voice on the phone was calm, but Estelle shot up in bed, wide-eyed.
Shit. Shit shit shit shit!!
As a meteorologist for New York's local news station, Estelle was used to predicting chaotic storms, but not the kind that threw off her mornings. After growing up alongside her adventurous twin sister in Oklahoma, they both gained a fondness for weather, but especially tornados. After graduating side-by-side with her sister from Muskogee State University, Estelle decided to head east to become a weather forecaster for the news, while Kate stayed at home, chasing twisters with her friends and conducting science experiments.
Coming back to reality, Estelle replies, "I'll be there in—" she glanced at her watch, "twenty minutes!" And she hangs up the phone, taking a deep breath and pushing her hair off her face.
Forgetting her messy bed, Estelle rushes to get dressed, putting on a simple blazer and pants, fluffing out her hair, and applying some mascara and concealer to cover her dark circles under her eyes after having a late start this morning.
Frantically applying some lipstick, she pets her cat, Merlot, goodbye.
As her heels click against the cool New York pavement, Estelle rushes down into the subway, just catching her train in time.
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"Cut!"
Letting out a long-held breath, Estelle yanked out her earpiece and headed backstage. Another forecast done, another weather warning issued—it was a typical day in the life of a meteorologist, but today felt off.
As her heels click against the concrete hallway, she makes it to her desk, sitting down at her chair which remains the only clean part of her desk. Papers, makeup products, and pens seem to be taking up all of the remaining space on her desk.
As she crosses her legs on her chair, hoping to catch some chill time on her phone before she has to get back to paperwork, her sister's picture appears across her phone screen, accompanied by a shockingly loud Country song ringtone, making all of her colleagues stare at her.
She mumbles an apology under her breath as she rushes outside to pick up the phone.
"Hey!" Estelle answers, out of breath from rushing outdoors.
"Guess who was just in my office," Kate's voice crackled with excitement.
"Good morning to you too, drama queen," Estelle replied, smirking at the rising sun that was just now peaking over the high-rise buildings.
"Ugh whatever," Kate giggles, "No but seriously. You're not gonna believe me. Javi was in my office. Remember, Javi Rivera? From my storm chasing days?" She presses.
Silence stretched between them. Estelle knew that name, and the memories that came with it. Javi Rivera—Kate's storm-chasing partner, and the one man she'd barely spoken about since that day. After college graduation when Kate stayed back in Oklahoma, she was determined to finally test out her theories of being able to stop a tornado. On that exact day, Kate lost her friends, and the love of her life to a storm that she was committed to stop. The only ones to make it out alive were Kate and Javi.
Kate couldn't bear to stay in Oklahoma, so she packed up and moved to New York City to be with her sister, persuing a career as Operations Officer for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, forgetting her storm chasing days as if they were mere footprints in sand.
After taking a deep breath, Estelle replied, "Yeah, yeah I remember him. What is he doing all the way in New York?"
"He needs our help, tracking down twisters. What do you say?" She says with a smirk evident in her tone.
After contemplating for a moment, taking into consideration her job and her beloved cat, she ultimately makes the decision.
Estelle stood still, letting the cold wind whip through her hair. She grinned, her heart racing. "Let's fucking do this."
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authors note!
sorry this chapter is short, i just needed to establish this introduction and backstory. i also didn't think this was a prologue, so here we are!!
as always, let me know what you think& if there are any english mistakes.
