Astral: Founded (Astral Book 2)

Chapter 5

As I was driving in the foggy road of the bottom of Weatherhill, the rain began to worsen. We thought it would fully subside by the time we get moving from Hawk Pines but we thought wrong. The news was right all along, and it was even worse than earlier. Fog started to build up in the steep driveway of the mountain, and to intensify the atmosphere, there were no other vehicles passing by except for ours. The wind started to get heavy, trees began to shake side by side, and rocks started to get winded across the road. Brent told me I have to be careful, so I did what I was told. Weatherhill's not until approximately an hour, and the group was starting to get bored. I kept thinking of issues to be talked about but all that goes in my mind is this heavy rainfall being poured at us in this foggy steep road.

I said to myself that maybe this is a sign that we should start heading back, but I realized that at first, even though we have known that the rain's going to be bad, we were not stopped.

"Rain's a bummer, am I right?" Brent tried to initiate a conversation.

"Yeah, we know. But, don't think about going back now. Look how far we've gone! How many more hours 'til we reach the top of Weatherhill?" Jess asked me.

"About an hour. I'm sure that it won't last longer than that."

"Since when were you an expert navigator?"

"Stop it with the tease, Jess." I responded to her.

Jess began to talk and talk about random things and as I was looking down the pedals, I suddenly remembered about the art materials for the project.

"Hey, Jess, I just remembered that you didn't answer my question earlier at Amana. So?"

"Umm, what question? Don't be ridiculous. You know I tend to forget stuff."

"Did you bring the art materials?!"

"That again! Oh my goodness, Rose! When will you ever shut up about those materials, sis? Oops, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I so love you, sis. I'm really sorry. Do you forgive me? We still have a lot of gossip to talk about."

"Jess, you're turning back from the question again."

"Okay, okay. So... I..."

Jess kept us waiting for about three minutes before she finally answered.

"I don't know. Why don't you check my bag? I think I put those there."

"Just say it, Jess. You didn't bring them, did you?"

Brent hurriedly checked Jess' bag and started to spread her things all around. Upon investigating, the art materials were not there.

"I KNEW IT! JESS! How could you do this to me? You know I can't fail this subject! I've already garnered too much failing grades last semester. This was suppose to be my comeback season, Jess! Rose! Why didn't you remind her?"

"YES! I did not bring the art materials! Surprise! Are you happy now, huh? Are you? There! I said it."

"Jess, what have you done? You know I can't be mad at you for long but Brent's my boyfriend, and I want him to graduate with flying colors. I even agreed to be on this trip with you two because I know that you will do this project! I admit that I want to cuddle with Brent, but I was expecting that we'll do that after! That's why we were having a conversation earlier before we ate lunch."

"I didn't even want to do this project! By the time I heard Brent's 'romantic' surprise for you, I immediately agreed 'cause I wanted to have a break from stress! There have been tons of school works these past few months and I was beginning to get exhausted. Aren't you thankful that we'll be able to have some fun with nothing to worry about?" Jess started to get pissed at us for being mad at her.