Thunderstorm

Chapter 2: Broke Down

Steph was sitting in Laurel Park alone. She was supposed to have met her date there, but the girl stood her up. Steph sighed, "Why does this always happen to me? This is the third time in a row! And all with different girls!" The grey, cloudy skies matched her mood at the moment. Steph sat sulking at being stood up, but also wondering what could be wrong with her that makes all the girls stand her up. She was so deep in thought that she hadn't noticed the rain falling. That's when thunder shook the bench she was sitting on and scared the girl. Steph hurried to her car to escape the rain that continued to fall harder with every step she took. Once inside the car, Steph inserts the key into the ignition and turns it. Nothing happens. "Ugh!" Steph groans and she hits the steering wheel. "First, my date stands me up. Then it storms in LA. And now my car won't start! What else could happen today?" She decides to call her friends Bria and Chrissy to see if they can pick her up. She picks up her phone only to realize it's at 1 percent battery and she doesn't have a charger with her. Just then Steph notices a girl sitting on a bench just a few feet from her car. The girl has her knees pulled up to her chest and a worried expression on her face. "Why is she just sitting out in the storm?" Steph asked herself. Steph couldn't leave her out in the weather so she flings the car door open and runs toward the girl.

"Hey, why are you sitting out in this terrible storm?" Steph asked the stranger when she approached her.

"Oh!" the girl said as Steph startled her. "Uh well I'm new to LA and sort of got lost while walking around. My phone died or I would have called an Uber."

"Well my car won't start, but please come sit inside out of the weather. It's dangerous out here, plus you could get sick." Steph said as she motioned girl towards her car. "I'm Steph," she said once they were both inside the car.

"I'm Erica," the other girl replied. "Nice to meet you, and thank you for letting me sit in your car. I'm freezing."

"You are very welcome. I'm sorry I didn't notice you sooner. I was too busy being mad at today's events." Steph replied.

"It's okay," Erica reassured Steph.Their conversation continued as they got to know each other. With both of theirphones dead, the girls had no way of knowing how long they had been sittingthere. But the rain had stopped, the clouds cleared, and the moon was shiningbright on Laurel Park.