Author’s Note: OMG. Shoutout to this story for finally being done. It only took me like FOREVER to finally complete it. Anyway, I hope the ending is satisfying to everyone tuned in to the story. I had to kinda rush it a bit to move on. Thanks so much for reading this and sticking with it though! Life can be hectic and the current state of my country has really made me lose faith in... essentially everything. So, I went on a writing binge to dissociate. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did! Don't forget to leave a comment! 🫶🏾🩶
(Friendly reminder, YOU DON’T HAVE PERMISSION TO COPY MY WORKS ANYWHERE.)
Storm Chaser! Reader x Meteorologist! Jake
Synopsis: You and Jake are exes. Everyone in the storm chasing sphere knows this. You both split up when Jake decided to give up storm chasing for meteorology… and the hot meteorologist who hung off his arm. Three years later, he finds his way back to doing what he loves most, storm chasing. And that would’ve been fine. You wouldn’t have cared. If not for the storm chaser sphere being relatively small. Meaning, you would have to interact with your ex once again. Especially since everyone knows no one is quite as revered with storm chasing as the two of you. What starts as Jake getting back to what he loves turns to snarkiness, bitter insults, and competition for the best content. Another wild card in the mix? Jake is still irrevocably in love with you.
Content: Angst, reminiscing, minor character deaths, injuries, distraught reader, regretful Jake, yearning Jake, douchebag Jongseong but he is redeemed, head strong reader, depictions of trauma, inaccurate depictions of meteorology and weather patterns, tornado related circumstances, found family
Storm chasing is something that you love. Duh, that was a given. What you did not love, however, was the distraction that suddenly decided to come in the form of Jake Sim. After your encounter with him upon his arrival the other day, he’d been in your line of sight consistently. As if it wasn’t something that could be chalked up to coincidence, but rather on purpose.
For example, catching meals at Big Al’s while planning your travels throughout tornado alley for the storms rolling in. Als was a legendary hot spot, being a central location for pitstops. You knew this. But it was becoming increasingly concerning that Jake and Jay’s crew would happen to be there at the same time as yours. Every time. Like clockwork. And it made it no better when your ex-fiancé would breeze in and immediately catch your eye. Then he’d give off such an impish smile when he realized he had your attention. And it’d only get bigger the further you brushed him off. As if it were some sort of game.
The next instance, you bumped into him in the motel parking lot when getting ready to walk across the street to the little convenience store. Why? Because you needed pads. Running out since the end of your last cycle. And if that run in hadn’t been annoying, it definitely became embarrassing when Jake decided to accompany you; latched on like a child drinking its mother’s milk.
“Fancy meeting you here.” He initiates conversation cheekily. Immediately, you roll your eyes. Not keen on conversation.
“What’re the odds that we’d run into each other?” He asks as your feet crunch across the gravel of the parking lot. You still refuse to respond. Instead, focusing on the task ahead, which was to cross the street without getting hit. Jake however, seeing that you aren’t playing into whatever act he’s trying to put on, glances at you, then across the street at your targeted destination. You can practically feel when the cogs start turning in his head as he formulates a plan.
“Oh! Are you heading to the store? What a coincidence. So am I. I’ll walk you.” It was at this moment that you had reached the pinnacle of your boiling point. Whipping around to cuss him out, you come directly face to face with the man you once loved. He startles at the fire in your eyes.
“What. Do you think. You’re doing?” You hiss. His eyes roam over your face momentarily before a languid smile appears on his face.
“I told you. I need to go to the store, and we just happened to run into each other on the way.” Jake is such a liar, full of so much shit. And he knows that you know this, because he is trying to remain oh so serious about the statement that he just made. But his fucking shimmery eyes and the smirk tugging at his lips give him away. You would know. You spent many years prior analyzing his face.
You step close to him in a threatening manner. He does not move, standing his ground whilst looking at you with something akin to the fondness that comes with familiarity. Something horribly ugly settles in the pit of your stomach. Oh no, absolutely not. Whatever this is, you are intent to put a stop to it. Permanently. “Sim, do you think I’m stupid?”
His eyes flutter prettily with the boyish smirk on his face. “Not at all. I think you’re the brightest person here.” That… compliment does things it should not to your stoic heart.
“Stop it, Jake. I’m serious. I don’t know what you think this is, but I can tell you what it’s not. We are not friendly. We are not fond of each other. You have your… side gig. And I have my job. Nothing more, nothing less. Whatever you and Jay are up to is not my business and not my concern; vice versa. Do what you came to do and leave.” You are about to turn away before he whispers the unspoken truth lingering between the two of you.
“Is it wrong if I want to see your face and be around you?” You don’t have the heart to tell him yes or no, instead substituting them for, “Stay away from me.” You turn back to the street and barely have time to react before Jake pulls you back from the edge of nearly getting plowed down by an eighteen-wheeler barreling down the county road.
“Jesus, maybe I should accompany you to the store.” He gently chides. You shake off the adrenaline of almost meeting an untimely demise and march to the store with a golden retriever in tow.
Jake apparently still had not learned the art of shutting up in the time since you’ve been apart, yapping about in your ear. God, he was so insufferable, jumping from topic to topic like an amped up fifth grader with a penchant for not being well-versed in reading the room. “So, my senior colleague Heeseung basically had to reassure me that going on the air for the first time was easy. Admittedly, it was very cool of him. What was not cool was me nearly barfing on his thousand-dollar suit.” He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck.
You hum disinterestedly, wondering when he would actually shut up. “Who would’ve thought that Jake Sim was a loser in wolf’s clothing.” You mutter under your breath. Evidently, he hears you, laughing at the phrase.
“It's ‘a wolf in sheep's clothing.’ And right? I’m normally so charming and cool, but apparently guys like me get nervous too.”
You didn’t have the bandwidth to tell him that he was always a nervous wreck since meeting you, not willing to re-hash old wounds. Instead, you walk down the aisle, basket in hand looking for the pads. Just as you spot them, Jake's hand reaches up and grabs them for you. You freeze, somewhat irate but wondering what the fuck was happening. “Honey Pot lavender scented, extra-long with wings. Right? That was the one you always used when we were together.”
Your face burns hot with something similar to rage and embarrassment. “Give me that.” you mumble, snatching the item from his hands and sauntering off to the water bottle section.
You lose the tall, golden retriever-like male following you for a few short minutes. You sneak off to check out, hoping he had simply read the room and disappeared. But that theory is immediately disproven when a masculine, veiny hand reaches out in front of you, adding pain medicine and chocolate covered pretzels on the conveyor belt. Ignoring your oddly weird attraction to his beautiful hands, you turn over your shoulder to look at the owner of said hand. Jake smiles back at you sheepishly before nodding back to the conveyor belt.
“I know you like to tough it out on your period, but I don't like seeing you mask pain when your cramps hit. Also, I got some chocolate covered pretzels to help soothe since it’s what you always liked during that time of month.” You say nothing, staring back at him with a surprised expression on your face. He smiles gently now, a hint of genuine fondness softening the edges. Why on earth had he remembered that about you? Who carefully catalogues all of their ex’s preferences in the recesses of their mind when they’ve actively been dating another woman for years now? It’s odd, strange in the way it makes your heart, and your stomach, do backflips off each other like a Tony Hawk skate quest.
“Miss?” The cashier questions. “Are you ready to pay?” The interruption snaps you out of whatever romantic comedy type of energy was sizzling in the air. You were absolutely not falling for this shit. You were stronger than that. Going to pull your card out of your wallet, Jake beats you to it, handing over a twenty-dollar bill.
“It’s on me.” He tells the cashier. “Keep the change.” Then he’s turning to stare at you with a serious longing that rivaled Tarzan’s yearning for Jane. Horrified, you hightail it out of the store and back across the road before Jake can catch up to you.
The previous run in had caused such a sense of confusion in you that you don’t even pay him the energy he thinks he is owed when he runs into you the third time. That encounter had been at Al’s diner too. You were doing some late-night planning by yourself, mulling over fries and a milkshake at aerial photos of the week’s projected weather patterns. That’s how Jake found you, cooped up tightly in your booth. It is not lost on you or him that this is the booth you both spent countless times together back when you were engaged.
“This seat taken?” He slides in across from you.
“Do you have nothing better to do with your time?” You mumble, hardly sparing him a glance. This makes Jake chuckle a bit, entertained by the way you constantly brush him off.
“Spending time with you is the best use of it.” This statement finally pulls you from your contemplation, forcing you to look up at the man who once broke your heart several times over.
Squinting your eyes, you give him a once over. His hair is lightly damp, more than likely from a recent shower if the slight flush of his face is anything to go by. He wears a pair of loose shorts, slides, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. He looks casual, comfortable. On his face, rests his prescription frames. Something stirs in your chest. You always liked when he wore them. “You never change. Do you?”
He regards you with a somber smile. “No, not really.” From there, you both sit in silence, albeit awkward. Jake slides one of the satellite images towards himself.
Several minutes go by as you’re writing down observations of potential scenarios in the data shifts. Jake is adamant to break the silence.
“I broke up with her, you know."
“Who?” You ask with faux curiosity as you shovel more fries into your mouth. You know who he’s talking about, but you refuse to give him the satisfaction of knowing the ins and outs of his very public love life since breaking things off with you. Sighing, he gazes at you softly before the name tumbles from his mouth. “Mandi. I broke up with her before I came here.”
A puzzled expression crosses your face at the news. “Sorry? Or congratulations?” You reply, once again, in confusion at the sharing of his personal life outside of the old one he had with you. “Why are you telling me this?”
The man across the table squints in disbelief at your disregard for what he just said, instead grabbing another cluster of fries and dipping them in ketchup as you continue with your review of your perfectly laid out notes. “You know why.” He rebuts, frustration ebbing into his voice.
You pause, it now being your turn to squint at the attitude he is seemingly giving you. “Are you… upset?”
“Of course I’m upset.” He tosses his hands in the air with exasperation, as he slumps against the seat of the booth.
“Because you broke up… or got broken up with? It happens.” You shrug, purposely being obtuse.
At this point, Jake is ready to pull his hair out by the roots at your nonchalant behavior. “Because you're pretending not to care.”
You pause, really taking him in. He looks distressed, upset with words he wishes you would say. Words you know you will not say. “I don’t have to pretend.” Then you’re grabbing your things and throwing a twenty on the table before booking it as far as you can from the man who still makes your heart beat fast. You don’t get far before a voice to your left stops you.
“What’s that all about?” Turning, you find William staring at you before nodding back at Al’s establishment where Jake still lingers at the space you had inhabited a minute prior.
“What?” you play dumb. William doesn’t play into it.
“Why is Sim all over you?”
“He had a question about the weather.”
William regards you coolly. “And since when do you give advice freely to those associated with the Pooper Troopers?”
You snort at the brazen nickname your crew had dubbed Jay’s group. “I don’t. Clearly you saw that I walked away.”
“Yeah? And how long ‘til he corners you again and you cave?” Okay, that was disrespectful. Was William saying he didn't trust you? Diplomatic smile turning into a glare, you shift back into boss mode. Letting William know you were not someone to be trifled with.
"I know what he’s doing, William. And I know what I’m doing. I can handle myself just fine. Do not question me when it comes to my decision making if you do not know the sacrifice it takes to lead. Have a good night. We get up bright and early tomorrow. I suggest you go to sleep.” Without giving him a chance to respond, you slink up the steps of your building and slip into your room.
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Evidently, however, William did not have a good night, contrary to your directive the previous evening. No, instead, he had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Waiting for someone to light the fuse you had hoped to put a damper on. How do you know? Well, because he was currently in the motel parking lot about to start an all-out brawl with Jay’s crew.
"What'd you say?” William yells across the lot as Sunwoo and Keeho hold him back. Jay stands smugly by his group’s vehicles, hands in pocket like he wasn’t purposely trying to goad the other man.
‘Great, what a wonderful start to the day.’
Locking the door to your motel room, you give yourself a moment of reprieve before walking headfirst into this disaster. Taking the time for observation, you deduce that Jay’s crew are a bunch of stuck-up jerks with worms for brains. They laugh and jeer as your crew tries their hardest to calm William down. Judging by the chaos, they weren’t faring well. Out of the corner of your eye, something shifts into your field of vision. Glancing over, you find Jake at the gate of a Trooper truck. But he is not watching the scene. He’s watching you.
‘Must’ve been waiting for me to walk out of my room.’ You grumble mentally. Squaring your shoulders with determination, you waltz down the stone staircase. Jake slyly slinks his way towards the commotion at the same pace as you. You clock that immediately and decidedly choose to ignore it. Jay notices you the second your foot touches the ground.
“Y/N, tell your dog to stand down.” Jay replies back coolly, referring to William. Fucker, he probably noticed you the moment you stepped out of your room actually.
“Who the fuck you callin’ a dog buddy?!” William, once again amped up, tries to fight his way out of Sunwoo and Keeho’s hold. Both men grunting with exhaustion having to physically exert themselves over nonsense. In the background, Eliza and Nimsey both look on with concern and frustration. This was getting out of hand, and it was pissing you off. If you didn’t reel this in soon, it would be an even bigger headache later. Especially if William actually did manage to land a punch. It might even turn into a lawsuit.
Walking up to them, you firmly place your hand on William's chest, forcing him back. You hear a scoff behind you as you do it. One hundred percent certain it is Jake who makes the sound. He had weaseled his way right beside Jay the moment you breached the threshold of this storm. But you had no time to be concerned for his feelings. You had time for none of this actually. Rough weather was coming in the next hour or so and these men were having a pissing contest in the parking lot to see who had the bigger dick.
“William, back up.” You command gently. As the guys push him back up against one of your crew’s vehicles, Nimsey and Eliza reach over to rub his shoulders. Hoping to calm him down before he can be set off again. Turning back to the terrible twosome, you watch the smirk deepen on Jay’s face. You were entirely too close to slap him for him to continue being this smug. And Jake knows it too, judging by the way he steps forward to say something. But you are not in the business of tomfoolery, instead, cutting him off before he can get the chance. Addressing your old colleague, you fix Jay with a stern stare.
“I do not appreciate you stomping around sticking your chest out thinking you can boss around my crew just to get a reaction out of them. They don’t answer to you, they answer to me. And if you give me another command like that, I won’t hesitate to put you in the place we both know you deserve to be by now. Six feet under the ground.”
You know the last sentence you utter is harsh. You can practically see it when Jay’s jaw ticks at the finality of your words and the double entendre of what you meant. All three of you were supposed to be dead really. From the actions of your own doing, no less. It was cruel, you know. But whatever would get the point across was okay with you. Your crew is not to be picked on. You can handle whatever he throws your way. But your crew is off limits. Your words seem to do the trick, seeping into his psyche and getting under his skin.
“Bitch.” Is all he mutters before turning away. Jake still occupies the space where Jay used to be. He stares with furrowed brows for a few seconds before stalking off to find the other. You let out a breath you had no idea you were holding. God, you really hated being the bad guy.
You turn back to your crew the moment whispers pick up behind you. “Boss, you were so cool just now!” Sunwoo states with a thumbs up.
“Of course she is.” Nimsey replies. “Sexy, smart, and badass. We hit the jackpot with this one.”
“I wanna be like you when I grow up.” Eliza gushes softly. You giggle at the antics before directing your attention to William who stands petulantly beside Keeho.
“Uh ohhh,” the sassy male mumbles under his breath before moving over to the rest of the crew.
“You, come with me.” You mutter, before hauling William off behind Big Al’s.
“Explain yourself.” You demand softly.
“What’s there to explain? Jay’s crew is full of a bunch of pieces of shit. Someone said something crude. I responded. Simple as that.”
“No, it is not as simple as that, William. They’ve been like this since you came onto the Wranglers team. Nothing has really changed. So, what exactly is it that set you off this morning?”
He is silent for a moment, before mumbling out an excuse. “It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it.” You lean against an abandoned aluminum tin. “I got time.” You didn't. But that was beside the point.
After several moments, he finally caves. “I’m frustrated! Alright?! It infuriates me to know that this guy used to be your friend and has now aligned himself with a bunch of misogynistic pricks who look down on us because they don’t think a woman can be in leadership. It doesn’t help that he brought that Jake guy back either when it clearly bothers you. They claim to have been people who cared about you, and this is what they’ve reduced themselves to?! Snide comments every chance they get?! Slimy behavior?! It’s petty. I don’t understand how you let them get away with it without retaliating.” He huffs in anger.
William’s words are a lot to unpack. In actuality, he is right. Jay’s new boss is a misogynist. A proud one at that. And he had supplied Jay with an all-male crew who thought similarly. There were always crude remarks thrown your way, and unfortunately, Jay let them. But there is history there, you couldn’t necessarily hold his hand to the flame.
“Well… Jay has his reasons.”
“Oh, what? Like being an asshole?”
“No, Y/N, seriously. You are so much better than this. Better than him. Why do you let him get away with that crap?”
A moment of silence passes between you two. “Why do you care?” You inquire softly.
“Because…” It's like the wind is taken out of his sails the way he mutters it.
“Because what?” You demand quietly. William gives you a strange look before grabbing your face and kissing you. It takes you a second to register before pushing him off of you.
With a level head, you deal him a truth he needs to face. “William, you need to cool it. This is inappropriate. I am your boss and you are my subordinate. I love you. I care about you, I really do. But not like this. I have only ever had platonic feelings for you. Please do not jeopardize that by letting your own intentions get in the way.” You shake your head in accordance with your words so that the message hits home for him.
Tongue in cheek, William nods his head in anguish. “Yeah, I know. I figured. Sorry boss, I overstepped. It was wrong of me. Won’t happen again.” Then he turns and saunters off to who knows where.
Sighing deeply, you head back the way you came from when something stops you in your tracks. There, leaning against the back of the building is Jake. He stands, hands in his pockets with a guarded look on his face. He had just watched your crew member kiss you. Walking up to him with exasperation, you give him a once over.
“Can I help you?” He gazes into your eyes for a moment before flicking them towards the direction William left in.
“Not your business.” You grumble, footsteps crunching against the gravel as you make your way back to the front of the building towards your team.
“Everything dealing with you is my business.” You come to an abrupt stop before spinning on Jake, finger in his face as you push him up against the side of the establishment. He grins humorously at the notion of getting under your skin. Asshole.
“My whereabouts and personal relationships have nothing to do with you. They’ve had nothing to do with you for the past three years. That is approximately one thousand ninety-five days and twenty-six thousand two hundred and eighty hours. Would you like me to do the math on the minutes and seconds?”
“I’m sure you’ve already calculated that though, right?” He smirks knowingly.
“Fuck off, Sim.” You take several steps back in the direction you were headed when his words force you to stop once again.
“Ohh~ back to the last name again huh? Ironic, isn’t it? You almost had that same last name.” Appalled, you turn back around and stomp over to him.
“Is it your job to piss me off? What the hell do you want from me?”
“You’re one to talk.” He growls. “Do you make a habit of letting all of your colleagues kiss you like that?”
Okay, what the hell? What is he insinuating with that line of questioning? Is he calling you a common whore?
“What’s it to you? It isn’t any of your concern what I do and how I spend my time. You broke up with me—”
“And I regret it.” Silence encapsulates you. “I regret it, alright?”
Gingerly, you remove yourself from his space, needing a moment to regain your composure after this whirlwind of confusion. “You’re being unfair.”
“I know!” He explodes, before continuing softly. “I know, Y/N. And I’m so angry because I’m jealous. I lost out on three years of knowing you. And other people got to know you in my place.”
“That’s a personal problem, and it is unfair of you to dump these emotions onto me as if my plate is not already full.”
“I know,” he whispers forlornly. “It’s childish how much I can’t stand the distance between us when you are standing right there.”
Speechless and breathless. That’s what he has rendered you after his admission. Truth is, you had wondered how life would play out if you ever reunited. But so afraid to read the truth, you never gave too much thought about the script. Not wanting to entertain your role in the plot. But this… this is far more than you could’ve imagined. And it boils your blood to know that Jaeyun thinks he can waltz back into your life like he didn’t derail all your dreams and aspirations. “Well then, sounds like you have some maturing to do.” You turn to leave.
“I’m still in love with you!” He blurts out desperately.
“Three years Jake!” You scream back at him furiously. “We’ve been broken up for that long, and you never reached out to me. Not even once! I waited, at one point. But by year two you had moved on with your new, pink Barbie. And I gave up on you. Three years. You don’t love me.”
“I watched all of your content you know. In all those years, I never once stopped thinking about you. I love you, Y/N. I really do.”
“Congratulations. It means nothing to me. And in case you didn’t realize, dating someone new while simultaneously still thinking about your ex is a shitty thing to do. Grow the fuck up.”
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Brushing off William and Jake had been awkward to say the least. That day, while traveling to the first destination, the tension was so palpable, you could cut it with a knife. Sunwoo tried to crack jokes, but they didn’t land quite right in the moment. Eliza also kept to herself, her crush on William dampening due to knowing he liked you. It irritated you to know this was occurring within your group. It’s not like you were robotic. You could understand emotion for what it is, and its need for release. But this was a job, and you had long since stopped letting emotional decision-making rule your life. The dramatics needed to be retired swiftly.
The plus side of the day had been your crew being able to lay eyes on an F2 tornado forming in a cornfield during a sunset. It was at a distance, far enough away from civilization not to cause loss of life. It was beautiful and reminded you of why you started storm chasing in the first place.
“She’s real pretty, isn’t she boss lady?” Nimsey murmurs beside you.
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That night, it is pure coincidence the way you stumble upon Jay and Jake’s conversation. You had been walking from the motel to Al’s to help him and his wife close everything down in preparation for the storm. The orange county road lights engulfed you in a warm ambience as your feet crunched against gravel. That’s when you pick up on low murmurs on the side of the motel. Slowing, you come upon Jay, who is leaning against the building having a smoke and Jake, who stands with frustration emanating from him.
Normally, you would’ve kept walking, not at all concerned with either man after the crap they’d been putting you through all week. However, something he says brings you to a halt.
“I really need this, Jake. My career is on the line, man. Bang PD is pressuring us to come out on top of the Wranglers. To do that, we need better ratings to knock them out of contention. That’s why I brought you in. No one is better at this than you. You’re the only one who can usurp Y/N and knock her off her high horse.”
Jake huffs lowly at this. “What the fuck do you want me to do, mate? I’ve been out of the game for three years. I’m not so sure I’m gonna be much help this weekend when the major stuff comes in. Besides, how do you think Y/N is gonna feel? This is her career too.”
“You can’t seriously still be hung up on her after what she did. I don’t care about how she feels, I care about my job. Anyway,” He flicks ash from his cigarette. “You’re already helping out more than you know. Your presence alone has already been a distraction for her. She was a bit slower today than usual when picking up the trajectory of that F2. Even if you feel a little rusty, you still have some use there.”
You are floored to hear the nature of this conversation, jaw on the ground at the mere thought of their sabotage. Rage simmers beneath your skin, more volatile than ever at the betrayal. So, that’s what Jake had been up to? Had there been nothing genuine about the interactions? Was it all a ploy staged by Jay to mess with you? Stepping out of your hiding spot, you make yourself known and ask those very same questions.
“Better ratings to knock Storm Wranglers out of contention? Distracting me?” You question, as you repeat what you’ve overheard. Both men jump back in surprise.
“Y/N—” Jake states hesitantly, before you cut him off.
“Are you both… discussing ways to sabotage my group? Is that what this is?”
“Y/N, it’s not what it looks like.” The Australian man tries to reach for you as you take several steps backward. While he has the decency to look concerned, Jay looks unfazed.
“So what?” He asks, flicking the nub of his cigarette before pressing it into the ground with his foot. “Everyone knows Wranglers and Troopers are the best channels for covering and tracking bad weather. Your crew just so happens to have slightly better ratings. And my boss offered a large sum bonus if we could surpass you with our coverage on the storm of the century. That’s why we brought Jakey back.” He cups your ex-fiancé on the shoulder. “He’s the best there is. Putting our collective heads together, I figure we can beat you out for the top spot.”
“Jesus, Jay.” Jake mutters in disbelief at his frank attitude.
The man in question shrugs. “What? She wanted to know the truth. Besides, she already heard everything anyway.”
You stand in shellshock at the blow Jay delivers with this news. He truly didn’t care at all, years of friendship between you two having fallen to the wayside ages ago. So, all along they were crafting this devious scheme. Your eyes land on Jake whose face begins to crumble at the shattered look on your own. That guilty expression was confirmation enough. “All this time, your gestures came with a price. You were just using it as a tactic to distract me?”
Jake begins to panic as the emotion once lacing your voice is now replaced with raw emptiness. “It’s not like that—”
Jay interjects. “He came back to do a job, Y/N. What did you expect? It’s just business. Besides, I figured you owe us this.”
Jake growls at Jay in frustration for his harsh words and cutting him off. But you pay no mind, instead homing in on Jay’s specific word choice. “Owe you this? How does that even correlate, Jongseong?”
“Consider it atonement of sorts.” He replies smugly with no regard for his haughty demeanor.
“What exactly do you think I need to atone for?”
“You know.” His words are said with finality that leaves no room for debate. You know. All three of you did. Jay never really forgave you for the danger you lured him into. You can’t say you’re surprised. You can’t say you blame him. Still, doesn’t mean it didn’t sting any less.
Nodding your head numbly, you face the reality of the situation. “So… you think sabotaging my group and surpassing us is owed to you because of a mistake I made in the past? Wasn’t that score settled already? Haven’t I repaid my debt to you?” Shock, you are just in so much shock at the turn of events of the night. At odds with Jay, a man you once regaled as your friend, and Jake, your ex-fiancé, all over again. The universe has a sense of humor, that’s for sure. But you aren’t in the business of being amused. More so hurt by this wall of confrontation.
“Since when have you repaid that debt?” Jay questions bitterly. “Is it that half assed apology you gave by throwing a couple hundred bills at outstanding medical expenses? Or is it the bullshit excuse you gave for not formally apologizing to me when our paths crossed again?”
“I was respecting your wishes since you told me never to speak to you again!” You exclaim in confusion.
He scoffs at that. “I’d hardly consider anything repaid.”
You pause, gaze running over his unimpressed form. Then, you glance at Jake, who looks away with quiet culpability. “Do you agree with those sentiments Jake?” The silence that greets you is enough for you to pick up on the context clues in his lack of response. “Right. Okay.” Then you’re nodding your head and getting as far away from them both as you can before blowing your top. Behind you, you hear a groan as Jake berates his colleague.
“There were better ways you could’ve said that, Jay.”
“She’d find out eventually.” You hear his deep voice rumble as you continue your trek. Several feet away from the barn behind Al’s establishment, you hear footsteps behind you. ‘Surely that’s not—’
“Y/N, wait.” Jake calls out to you. You most certainly do not wait, trudging onwards towards your destination, needing some silence to sit, cry, and contemplate. The whole nine yards.
“Just let me explain.” He calls out again. Geez, he was such an insufferable individual. He truly didn’t know when to stop. You keep walking, grumbling under your breath with irritation. Who did this guy think he was? What did he and Jay take you for? Do they think you’re a punk? Do they think you’ll roll over and take this disrespect? You needed to get to that barn ASAP so you could punch some hay. It was better than the assault charge you’d catch punching Jake.
“Can you just stop walking away from me!?” He exclaims. This gives you pause that reignites the rage in your bones. You round on him with fury.
“Funny how you’re against walking away when it concerns something that benefits you, but you had no problem walking out on me three years ago!” It is said with such anger that it momentarily leaves you breathless with anguish. “Or did you forget about that?” You finish heatedly.
He stares at you with a look bordering on sorrow mixed with shame. “Not without reason. And you know that.” He whispers pleadingly.
And you did. Your lip wobbles with repressed emotions from a lifetime that seemed like eons ago. “I know, Jake. You both are right. I fucked up, and you,” you emphasize this by digging your finger into his chest, “walked out on me. Leaving me to pick up the pieces of my brokenness by myself. You walked away,” you whisper. “That day was final. So, don’t waltz back in here thinking you’re owed the liberty of demanding something from me. Especially when you and Jay teamed up to sabotage me. Back off.” You turn to escape once again.
“Do you think it was easy?!” He shouts after you. Your hunched shoulders tense up at his words. “Y/N, you— you almost got us killed. Almost got yourself killed, and it's like— you didn’t even care!” He clutches at his head in frustration trying to brace himself through the eye of the storm of this disastrous argument. “If you don’t care about yourself, then how the fuck are we supposed to expect you to care about anyone else!?”
“You think I don’t know that?!” You scream back in desperation. Tears obscure your vision as you turn back towards the man ripping gashes into your heart by hammering into old wounds. “I know Jake! I messed up. I almost got us killed. Jay almost died because of me! You— you got hurt protecting me. I know!” Your throat bobs as your voice trembles.
“And I live with that. I live with that selfish person that I used to be. I live knowing that no outside influence ruined what we had other than the actions of my own damn self. I am tormented by it daily. And it eats me up inside.” You chuckle with sorrow.
“You know, most people think monsters are tucked away underneath a bed or hiding in a closet. But not mine. They’re hiding right here,” The palm of your hand presses firmly against your chest. “Waiting for any opportunity for me to make the same mistake again. Do you know how difficult it is, keeping a calm facade every time my crew goes out and chases a storm? Do you know how scary it is to worry whether I’m leading someone to their death? Everything is contingent upon me. And sometimes I have sleepless nights worrying if I'm gonna screw it all up again by putting one of them in harm's way. I live with that Jake, not you. And certainly not Jay. So, don’t talk to me about what’s easy and what’s not when it’s not your bedside that guilt chooses to stand beside at night. Do not come here arguing semantics.”
Jake’s facial expression is utterly wrecked when he looks at you. Tears dance in his eyes as he addresses the reality of what you’ve said. “I didn’t know it was like that for you.” He mumbles.
“How would you? A lot happened over the years. The version of ourselves that we once knew ended a lifetime ago. It’s in the past. We hardly know each other now.”
“No, don’t do that.” He mutters gravely, reaching for your hand. You pull back and away from him. “Y/N, don’t say shit like that like it’s final.”
“It is. I made that decision, you made that decision, and Jay made that decision. Let it go Jake.” The conviction in your voice gives off a sense of finality, as if you’ve already adjourned the meeting within yourself. “You guys have this elaborate plan. Don’t let it go to waste. Do what you came here to do. Help Jay get his views, surpass me, and stop living in a fantasy.” Then you’re slipping into the barn to cool off for the night.
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By Friday, you are worn thin with sadness, anger, and frustration. But you reel it in for the sake of your team. They needed you and were counting on you to be of clear and sound mind so that you didn’t lead them to danger. So, like the mature person that you are, unlike the other two idiots, you tame your emotions and get to work. Leaning over the hood of a jeep, you lay out a map for your crew to see.
“According to Eliza’s satellite imagery and Keeho’s data, we’re looking at a potential storm surge to the west, which could produce a supercell strong enough to drop an F3 tornado. William, as the navigator, I think the best course of action would be to take highway 35 north, then get off on interstate 135. We can stop and get some gas on highway 70. Between Topeka and Salina is the general location this thing looks like it’ll drop.”
“Sunwoo, make sure that the camera is charged. You’ll be the eyes and ears for the viewers. Nimsey, stay alert and ready to notify proper channels when we lay our eyes on this thing. People are counting on us to keep them out of harm’s way.” Both parties nod their heads at you. “Eliza Thornsberry,” everyone giggles at the nickname. “As our resident meteorologist, I need you to keep me updated on any fluctuations of the doppler radar. You too Keeho, notify me if there is any surge in the data.”
“Alright, suit up. We take off in fifteen minutes.” Saluting to you, everyone goes to their respective posts as you meander back inside Al’s for a bathroom break. Stepping out, you come face to face with Jake, who holds up a styrofoam coffee cup.
“French vanilla decaf. Your favorite.” He chews his lip anxiously as you analyze him and the drink. You've come to the conclusion that Jake sim is, in fact, a very slow individual. Having enough of his theatrics in this rip off version of a Shakespearean romance, you step around him and out of the doors of Al’s establishment. Al simply shakes his head as you walk by, disappointed in the "what ifs" between his favorite couple. Stepping outside, you are immediately on alert. Hair on the back of your neck standing up at the spirit of intuition that comes over you. The bell dings behind you before Jake’s footsteps shuffle to a stop beside you. He is still holding the coffee cup.
“Look, I know this doesn’t make up for what I did or the time between us. But Y/N, I really am sorry. And I’m trying to make it right but—”
You hold up a hand to stop him, completely ignorant to whatever spiel he is spewing. “Jake, shut the hell up for a minute.”
His mouth snaps shut immediately, eager to please you by following instructions. In the back of your mind, you have the right idea to snort at him, following your command like a puppy. But there are more urgent things to focus your attention on. Like the fact that there is a shift in the wind. You don’t really know how to describe it; you never really could anytime you had an inclination. All you know is that as a kid, you were sensitive to any slight fluctuation in the weather. And that would alert you that there was a disturbance somewhere. Like right now. The wind has slightly banked east.
“Sim, what’s the hold up!?” Jay calls out from his cohort several feet away. Jake signals him to hush as he watches the slight ticks in your face. You were reacting to something in the atmosphere.
“Eliza,” You call out as you rush to the jeep. “Check the radar.” She does as told, Storm Troopers start hooting and hollering immaturely at the urgency in your voice.
“What’s all the fuss about sugar tits? Getting all worked up over nothing?” One guy whistles.
“I’d like to get her worked up over something else!” Another calls crudely. You hear a commotion before glancing over to find Jake gripping the collar of the guy’s shirt, pressing him up against the side of the vehicle.
“Watch your fucking mouth talking to her like that.” He mutters dangerously.
“Enough.” Jay calls out, glaring at the one who started the issue.
“Let me the fuck go, Sim.” The guy hemmed up spits out. You are brought back to the situation at hand when Eliza calls out to you.
“It still looks the same, boss. Winds are picking up showing that a system is forming in the west. Still right outside of Topeka.”
Looking at the radar with your own eyes, yes, it does indicate that. But your instincts are telling you to go east. Almost as if grandma is whispering it in your ear. ‘East baby. There’s a whole lotta good you could do there.’ You say as much to your crew. “There’s a shift in the wind. Air pressure is fluctuating. The numbers may say west, but my gut is telling me this thing is gonna rotate, mimic a drop, pull back, and let loose further east. We need to be going that way.”
The Storm Trooper crew starts laughing again at what you say. But Jake has the decency to tell them to shut up. Jay nods his respects to you. Knowing good and well that you had a keen talent for this field of work. And that was that. With you calling the shots for your crew, Jay calling the shots for his, and several other minor crews in tow, everyone races towards that direction.
Gunning down east of highway 40, a notification pings that rotation has in fact been reported just north of Fayetteville and is currently picking up. Right in the direction you indicated. The system had changed paths as you predicted.
“Seriously, guys.” Sunwoo calls out to the livestream audience behind the camera. “Our boss is the best! She can pick up on shifts in weather patterns within minutes. Sometimes before technology does!”
Pulling off the side of a state road, twenty minutes later, you watch as a waterspout merges into an F3 tornado. Exclamations of grandeur ring out at the magnificence of the beast as it roars across the road into a surrounding field. Passenger cars all stop to watch the scene as a silo is destroyed in the distance. Several cows are herded up in the funnel of the windstorm. Everyone winces at this. That totally sucks for the animals and the owner of the farm.
--------------------------------------------------------------
After the thrill of the day, everyone pulls up to a bar for drinks, reeling at the close encounter. "God, you were so cool today showing those stupid Pooper Troopers up!” Nimsey chuckles over her beer.
The table cheers at this. From your peripheral, you can see Jake watching you with a sad smile on his face. ‘Probably reminiscing about the times he’d be right beside me at the end of an excursion.’
“Yeah,” you reply. “But it wouldn’t have been possible without my totally rad crew.” The Wranglers cheer to that.
Excusing yourself momentarily, you step outside for a dose of silence. Taking in a deep breath, you look up at the heavens, whispering a quiet thank you to the spirit of your grandmother. In your opinion, she always looked out for you even up there. Staying out for longer than intended, it’s no surprise Jake finds you like this. After all, he’d been locked onto your form all day, like a hawk.
“You did good work today.” You don’t even make a move to physically acknowledge his presence. Instead, continuing to face forward into the night.
He chuckles at the cocky retort. “Right. You always do.” He repeats quietly. You feel his presence behind you before he says anything else. The ghost of his breath brushes against the skin of your neck.
“You always look so fucking pretty when you’re out there. Eyes lighting up with a spark of adrenaline when you’re chasing storms. It’s gotta be the equivalent of the Seven Wonders of the World. How can you get more beautiful with time?”
Your eye twitches as the man makes declarations of a dramatic sort. Was he auditioning for an early 2000s rom com? “What is your problem?” You question, finally meeting his eyes as you round on him.
“I have a crush on you; a nerd one and a romantic one. I can’t help it. I like how knowledgeable you are about severe weather. It’s always been my favorite thing about you.”
Jesus, Jake Sim was gonna be the death of you waxing poetic about your penchant for geeking out over weather patterns like he wasn’t engaged to you for over a year, and like he hadn’t tossed you aside three years prior. “Are you concussed somewhere? What part of stay away—”
Just then, a panicked voice cuts you off. “Boss! Weather Service just issued an alert for the nearby counties. They said there’s more thunderstorms rolling in.” Keeho heaves, pushing past the double doors of the bar’s entrance. This puts you on alert. Data suggested that the weather wouldn’t pick back up until the morning. Evidently, that belief was wrong.
“What?! Jesus Christ. Alright, round up the crew. We’re back on duty!” Within ten minutes, your crew is mulling over Weather Service alerts and doppler imagery at what appears to be a minimal storm front on the horizon.
“This doesn’t look too bad.” Nimsey states brazenly. “I mean, it’s barely capable of producing minor winds.”
“Yeah, but the Weather Service wouldn’t have issued an alert.” Sunwoo chimes in.
“It’s just a thunderstorm warning. That shouldn’t be too serious.” William responds.
Keeho snorts. “Of course, you would say that, William. You just navigate.”
The four of them continue to bicker as you analyze the data in silence. Eliza picks up on the shift in your energy. “Y/N, everything alright?” The rest of your crew pauses at that, eager to hear your perspective. You were a pro at this after all.
You hear what she asks, but don’t really register the question, dialed in to something else entirely. “Boss?” She whispers once again. That snaps you out of your reverie.
“What’s wrong?” Sunwoo questions apprehensively.
Whipping your head around, you tune in to the nature of your surroundings. The wind is light, just like Nimsey said. Not even a minor wind brisking by… that was the first indication that something was afoot. The wind was entirely too light. Almost eerily so. Even the animals— ‘the animals.’ The realization slaps you in the face much too late.
“Do you hear that?” You mumble, with paramounting concern budding in the atrium of your chest.
“Hear what?” Liza softly comments back, honed in on your alert frame.
“It’s quiet. Too quiet. Even if it’s nighttime, we’d still be able to hear something. But the birds, even the crickets… they aren’t chirping.”
It is only then that your crew realizes what you say to be true. In a chaotic animal kingdom, where the sound of nature always persists, there is simply nothing right now. Only stillness, as if being in a sound vacuum. And that’s the haunting part of this entire debacle. It shouldn’t be that way. Your blood runs cold at the knowledge you’ve just shared with the group, goosebumps scatter across the flesh. There was only one predominant reason for why this could be, why nature would lay in silence, as if waiting for the climax of a plot. A predator was on the horizon. One formidable enough to scare even the top of the Midwestern food chain into silence. Something big was coming.
“Keeho, I need you to show me live, raw data of the numbers. ASAP.” He pulls up what you requested, hovering over your shoulder as you recount the data. The numbers are surging, rapidly. Faster than you’d ever seen before. There was only one storm in this region that had produced a supercell massive enough to conjure a behemoth that quickly. That town still had yet to recover economically over a decade later.
This let you know it was serious. The storm blowing in wasn’t a minor one. No, this storm was capable of producing 300+ mph winds. This… was an EF5.
Horrified, you immediately get into gear. “Nimsey, you need to alert the Weather Service and tell them to bump that thunderstorm warning up to a tornado watch. In thirty minutes, that needs to be upped to a warning. Because I guarantee there’s gonna be a drop within that same timeframe. Shortly after that, they need to issue an emergency. This outbreak is going to be violent, and it’s gonna potentially level several neighboring communities in the vicinity.”
Not one to question your orders, the woman hops right to it. “Everyone else, do what you’ve been trained to do.” They nod their heads and check the cache, stocking up on medical supplies and water in preparation for the groundwork that will need to be done during survivor reconnaissance.
You were not one to play around with intuitive feelings. You knew that what you predicted was exactly correct. Evidently, others were not keen to heed your warning. In the timeframe of discussing scenarios and outcomes, Troopers had stepped out of the bar piling up around their vehicles. The entire conversation with your crew had been overheard. Guffaws ring out at the orders you’d given your team.
“The little girl seriously thinks this is gonna be a violent one, lads!” One guy jeers.
“It’s barely gonna break an F2!” Someone else yells.
“This is what happens when you put a woman in charge,” a burly guy snorts. “She’s over here calling the shots when she doesn’t know a damn thing. We’ll prove it though, won’t we boys?” They all cheer him on. Jake, who had listened in on your session, fumes beside you.
“Say that shit again. I dare you.” But you stop him before he can size the other male up. Instead, coming to your own defense.
“Are you that fucking stupid that you’ll let your misogyny get in the way of what’s actually happening? There are thousands of lives at stake over what could potentially be a disastrous situation. And you’re standing around pussyfooting about tryna measure dicks to see whose is the longest. Mine is, by the way!”
Whistles and chortles ring out at your outburst. “Ohhh, the little lady must be on her time of the month.” They mock. You nearly cock your fist back and take a swing. Instead, you funnel all that rage into a warning.
“You think you’re so high and mighty because you’re a man? You think gender is what makes you top of the food chain? You think you’re some type of apex predator in the grand scheme of the animal kingdom because you got a dick between your legs? That's unfortunate." You pout mockingly. "Most predators recognize other predators. But you? You don’t even scratch the surface. Predators don’t boast, they don’t announce themselves. They move with carefully calculated stealth. Something you are incapable of possessing because you are not intelligent enough. Your primitive brain is malnourished, starved out by the parasite of misogyny lodged into your thick skull. You are not an alpha male. You are at the bottom of the food chain, waiting for scraps while your own fellow man sells you out for a chance at the top too. You’re all pathetic, despicable. Desperate to prove yourselves. When you’ve just proven what a liability you are.”
Stunned silence cloaks the crowd as several faces swelter up with fury. “What the fuck did you just say, you bitch??”
The butch one steps into your space. Jake, and Jay surprisingly, both flank your sides ready to knock the guy on his ass if he tries anything. “Problem?” William murmurs behind you with Sunwoo and Keeho in tow. Everybody was ready to swing, including yourself.
The burly man seems to take the hint, eyeing you all down momentarily before scoffing. He directs his gaze to Jay. “Look at you, defending this bitch. And you call yourself a leader.” He spits at Jay’s shoes. “Come on fellas. Let’s go catch ourselves a ‘nado!” He hoots. The rest of Storm Troopers jeers in a rowdy cacophony before taking off in their respective vehicles.
“Wait.” You startle with realization, just as tornado sirens go off around you.
“Shit!” Keeho shouts before rushing back to analyze the radar. “Boss, it’s not looking so good. There's a visual of a tornado a few miles from… here…” his voice cuts out as he stares at something beyond you in the distance. Just then, the wind around you finally picks up. Turning, you all lay eyes on the massive leviathan descending upon the horizon. This thing accelerated in development quicker than predicted.
“Oh no.” You whisper, as you watch the taillights flicker in the distance where Jay’s caravan just departed. “Jay, while I really wanted to knock the snot out of that guy, I’m not keen on watching him get swept off the face of the earth. He is going directly into the path of that tornado, and I do not think he realizes it. You need to tell them to pull back.” You address your former friend urgently.
“They wanted to go. Let them go.” Stubborn, he is oh so stubborn. And it pisses you off because now is certainly not the time to be.
“Jay, come on man.” Jake urges next. “They’re gonna die out there.”
“Call it off Jay! Seriously. I know what it’s like for people to be put in harm's way because a call wasn’t made to pull them out. Don’t be like me. Make the call.” He acknowledges you with understanding. After all, there was too much history there to not figure out what you had meant. Groaning with frustration, Jay dashes to the remaining Storm Trooper vehicle and hops on the radio receiver.
“Troopers. Do you copy?” Static is heard on the other end of the line. The rest of you continue to watch as their headlights get smaller and smaller in the distance. Doom settles heavily in your stomach. “Troopers. Do you copy?”
Finally, a gruff voice picks up. “What the hell do you want Park?”
Jay sighs in relief. “Erman, you need to get those guys out of there. You are leading them to their death. There is a massive EF5 heading directly towards you and it is not slowing down!”
The man on the other end grunts. “That ‘nado ain’t that huge. Besides, it’s not really moving much at all. It’s more of a cloud if anything. I don’t know what yer talkin’ bout!”
Jay nearly rips his hair out in frustration. “Erman, it looks like it’s not moving because it is HEADING DIRECTLY TOWARD YOU! The reason you can’t see it much is because its dust wrapped! Which is even more dangerous! Seriously, get the hell out of there before you get killed!”
“Quit yer yappin’, Park!” Another voice calls out. “We no longer take orders from you.”
“That would be correct.” A third voice you hadn’t heard before chimes in. Jay’s face grows ashen as the person on the other end of the line speaks. “I’m very disappointed in you, Jongseong. No matter, though. We’ll handle this once you get back. For now, you’re cut from the line.” Just then, the frequency screeches before cutting out. Everyone winces at the feedback that reverberates. Jay sits in silence, shoulders drooped.
“Jay, what does that mean?” You question, anxious at how this is going to end.
“It means,” he starts quietly. “I’ve been vetoed out. That voice you heard… was my boss. He cut me from the chain of command. They listen to him now. Nothing I say will stop this.”
“This is a suicide mission!” Nimsey exclaims.
He grips the steering wheel with anger. “I know.” He whispers gravely.
“No,” you shake your head in denial. “That can’t be it. There’s gotta be another way…." Suddenly, you get a bright idea that might be risky but could save their pea-brained lives. “The radios.” You turn to the ones in your vehicle. “What’s the FM frequency, Jay?”
“What’re you gonna do?” He questions.
“Just because he blocked transmission to your radio, doesn’t mean he blocked mine.”
Within a minute, you are on the same channel frequency as the Troopers, 011.30 FM. “Requesting to speak to Bang PD.” You command into the receiver. There is static on the other end. But you know the fucker can hear you.
“Requesting to speak to Bang PD. Answer damn it!”
A deep voice chuckles on the other end. “Jongseong must’ve given you the private channel to tune in to. You must be the girl, the one who commands the Wranglers. I would say it’s nice to meet you, but that would be false pleasantries.”
You do not have time for this. “Cut the crap, old man. I don’t care about any of that misogynistic bullshit when you’re leading your crew members to their demise. You need to pull them out, or else they die and their blood is on your hands!”
He chuckles once again, almost as sinister as Darth Vader in Star Wars. Very juvenile on the villain scale if anyone were to ask you. “I don’t take orders from little girls.” You growl in frustration.
“Listen here you fucker—” Just then, voices from the new de-facto Storm Trooper leaders cut in.
“Don’t listen to nothin’ she says, boss! We got eyes on the storm! I—’s a beaut— way— she— ‘nado—”
Their frequency cuts out. “Hello?” Bang PD calls out.
“Boss.” Sunwoo calls scarily calm as you turn back to the scene in front of you. The radio cut off because it is already too late. A high-pitched wail rings out as the feedback reverberates. Just then, bloodcurdling screams are picked up on the radio.
“BREWSTERRRR—” Then, silence. In the distance, all five cars are sucked up in the spout crushing together like an aluminum can at the force of the winds. The pile of metal is launched further away as it drops to the ground in an explosion. Gasps and cries of horror rip from everyone’s lungs.
“No.” You whisper, watching the men fall victim to the tornado’s wrath. You slide down the side of your jeep at the casualty. Your body trembles as your hands shake. “No.” You whimper, as tears obscure your vision.
“Baby,” a voice whispers pityingly in your ear before you are wrapped up in strong arms. At the feeling of solid protection, you succumb to your emotions. Body wracked with sobs, you proceed to bawl, reliving the trauma from losing your grandmother and the mistakes you made with Jake and Jay.
“I told you to stop them,” you wail, as the person holding your fragile form rocks you comfortingly.
“I tried.” Jay whispers back at you several feet away, tears wetting his own face.
“You should’ve tried harder.” You hiccup, face falling into the junction of Jake’s, who you now realize is holding you, neck. The storm lightens in the fifteen minutes it takes for you to gain your bearings. But it is far from over. Brushing yourself off and cleaning your face from the panic attack still lingering in the sinews of your veins, Nimsey makes another horrifying discovery.
“Y/N… the storm… it’s surging back up and heading further east…”
“East?” You question. “How far east?”
“Like southeast… right on top of Beaumont.” Your blood chills at the revelation. Near you, Jay and Jake both tense. They know just as you do exactly what that means.
“That’s Gramps’s stomping grounds. Isn’t it?” Keeho asks.
“Yes.” You gasp out fearfully as you pull out your phone to warn him. The phone doesn’t even ring, indicating bad cell service. “We need to go now! The town hasn’t had time to update its infrastructure. Gramps told me last week they have yet to replace the siren system. It could be too late if we don't warn them!”
“Shit.” Jake exclaims. Piling into the two vehicles shared between your groups, your caravan takes off. Jake hops in the vehicle with you, holding your hand as William floors it in the direction of the town you grew up in. You pay no mind to the intimacy, knowing Jake is doing everything in his power to comfort you while also trying to find comfort within himself. After all, Jake loves your grandfather just as much as you do.
In your vehicle, is William, Jake, and Nimsey. In Jay’s is Eliza, Keeho, and Sunwoo. Out the window, greenish lightning ripples across the otherwise dark sky. That never bode well in situations like this. Forty-five minutes outside your destination, Jay radios in. “Y/N, Weather Service confirmed a tornado has touched down with wind speeds of 298 mph. It’s expected to level the town.” He relays gravely.
Your heart somersaults erratically as distress builds up. “William, step on it!”
“I’m trying, gorgeous.” He grits out with determination at your hostile command.
Jake grips your hand tightly at that, irate at the term of endearment. You truly did not have time for this. There were more pressing matters to be concerned with than your ex’s crippling jealousy. Ripping your hand from his, your knee bounces with a mix of adrenaline and fear. You can’t lose Gramps. Not now. You wouldn’t be able to make peace with this. It was much too soon. You still had wounds that never fully healed after the loss of your grandma. Surely the universe wouldn’t be so cruel as to take him the same way too.
“Hey,” Jake whispers out to you, as he rests a hand upon your knee. “It’s gonna be okay. We’re gonna make it out of this.”
“Promise?” You whimper tearfully.
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By the time you arrive in Beaumont, everything is blown to smithereens. It looked like a warzone had opened a six-mile-wide scar on the earth. “Geez.” Nimsey mumbles, holding on to you to provide a source of comfort.
Your knees nearly buckle at the magnitude of the catastrophe. This was the town you loved, the town you grew up in, and the town you told your grandfather you wanted to get married in. It was your favorite place, your safe haven. And it was practically gone. Nearly erased by a malevolent storm. Reality crushes you. You know the type of damage weather like this can produce. You’ve seen the aftermath; you’ve lived it once before. But seeing it again in your hometown… It really breaks your heart.
Taking to the streets with Emergency Services, survivors help to locate other people in need. Your crew volunteers to provide aid as you, Jake, and Jay race through town on foot to your childhood home. Everything was such a mess, it was hard to tell which way was the correct path. At a crossroads breathing heavily, you turn every which way trying to locate some type of landmark that will put you on the right path. Just as your chest starts to heave with anxiety, an elderly male voice calls out to you. “Y/N?”
The breath rips from your lungs. Turning slowly, you come face to face with your grandfather, who is clearly in good spirits and alert. “GRANDPA!” You shout before barreling into his arms.
“Oh,” he chuckles as you make contact, wrapping his strong arms around you. “There you are. My sweet, sweet baby.”
“Gramps.” You sob into his shoulder. “I was so scared. I thought I lost you, and I couldn’t do it again. A tornado already took Grams and I couldn’t lose you either.”
He pats your head softly. “Even at your grown age, you’re still so fragile.” He jokes. You pull back with a pout as he pinches your cheek. “You know your old man. I’m not going down without a fight.”
“But the sirens. You said they hadn’t got updated yet.”
“That’s true,” he says, stepping back a little to observe you. He smiles cheekily at your maturity. “We hadn't secured the funding quite yet. But I learned a lot from you over the years. And I immediately sensed it when the air shifted. I had my handheld radio. They mentioned the tornado that had hit northwest of here. I figured it was only a matter of time. Anyway, I told the mayor last week we needed a contingency plan in place. Seeing as you’re highly rated in storm chasing and the YouTube,” you chuckle at the way he says it. Such a fuddy-duddy. “He listened pretty easily to what I had to say.”
“Simmer down, big guy.” You giggle wetly as grandpa sticks out his chest with bravado.
“We got as many people as we could to safety. All thanks to you.”
“I'm sorry. We didn’t have a livestream going for this one, so we weren't much help. I was too busy worrying about you.” You mumble dejectedly.
“Your existence helps enough.” He reassures. “All those weather preparedness and weather alert videos on your channel were the talk of town hall. Everyone knew what to do because of your advice. You’re more help than you know kiddo.” A fresh batch of tears stream down your face at the words of encouragement.
“Thanks Gramps.” You sniffle. He takes you back into his arms, rubbing your back gently.
“There, there.” He mumbles lovingly. That’s when he notices the two figures behind you. “Oh! Jaeyun? Jongseong?”
“Hey, old man.” Both men bow their heads to him in respect.
“Oh, nonsense,” he waves the gesture away. “You don’t have to do that with me.”
“Grandpa, that’s part of their culture. You know that. Stop being difficult.” You chide gently. The elder just pinches your cheek again as you huff endearingly.
“Never thought I’d see these two kids again. Rough trip, boys?”
“It was decent enough.” Jake states with conviction, eyes gazing at you lovingly.
“Huh,” Gramps looks between the both of you, reading into something he should not. It doesn't help that you look at the ground bashfully. “Well, Jongseong. Why don’t we go over there and help those nice ladies out. Ms. Minnie from the bakery has been missing you ‘round here.” He strategically pulls Jay away, leaving Jake with you.
He chuckles coyly, rubbing the back of his neck much like he did the first time he asked you out. “He has a really young spirit for such an old guy.” He cracks a joke.
“Yeah, he keeps me on my toes.” You reply softly.
“I bet.” It’s quiet once again as you stare at one another with the history between both of you. “I love you.” He blurts out suddenly.
“Jake,” you groan tiredly, worn out from an eventful day that is still not over yet.
“No, listen.” He holds his hand out for you to hear him. “I get it. I ditched you like a coward three years ago instead of actually going to therapy and talking it out with you. I got a new girlfriend along the way. I know, asshole move. But I really do mean it when I say I watched all your content. I’ve always silently supported you because I believe you can do amazing things. You help people. You change lives. And I still wanted to hold onto whatever part of you I thought I deserved. Which is minimal, I understand. I broke up with Mandi months ago. We weren't a good fit. And despite the life I built without you, it was still lacking in some capacity. So, when Jay called me back out here, I didn’t hesitate to quit my job and pack my bags. Because I was eager to see you again. On the way out here, I finally had confronted an unspoken truth. I never stopped loving you. And I desperately wanted you to reciprocate that when you saw me. But I understand too much time has gone by and things change. I know you don’t return my feelings. But I was pathetic enough to hope. You deserve better than me. I sincerely hope you find that one day.” He squeezes your hand, before letting go. “I’m gonna go help the others look for survivors.” He only gets several feet before you respond.
“Why are you always walking away from me when it’s the opposite of what I want?” He pauses, hesitantly turning back towards you. “Do you really think you’re the only one who doesn’t know how to move on? The moment I saw you again, my heart leaped. Then I got so angry at the thought that I could no longer have you because you belonged to someone else. Jake, it has always been you. That has never changed. I just wonder how long you’ll keep walking away from me until it turns into finality.”
“No, baby.” He rushes back to you. “I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry. I shouldn’t have walked away before and I certainly won’t now. Tell me to stop and I will." He holds your palm up to his chest. His heart beats in tandem with yours underneath the flesh. "Tell me I’m yours, and I promise I’ll stay. Forever. We can work on this, if you let me come home to you.”
“Jake, I—” Suddenly, a metallic clang rings out before a stream of water showers over the both of you like summer rain. Now drenched, you both turn to the culprit which happens to be Gramps and Jay. The latter holds a wrench, standing beside a fire hydrant.
“Did you just… bust open a fire hydrant to create a dramatic scene in knock off rain?” You question disbelievingly.
“Sorry,” Gramps calls out. “We just wanted to speed this up a little!”
“Yeah, don’t mind us.” Jay states. “But you both should totally kiss. Definitely a nice romantic scene to talk about at the wedding.”
“The wedding?” You question gobsmacked. Jake just chuckles, leaning his head onto yours. You turn your head back towards him, catching his eye.
“They’re so silly, I love them. But I love you like my entire soul is ablaze, and the only thing to quench it is a kiss from you. Baby, you gonna help me put out that fire?” His eyes glint mischievously.
“You guys aren’t slick." You grumble, sealing the deal with a kiss.
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Later on, as you’re helping with cleaning efforts, grandpa sidles up to you. “So… you and Jake, huh?” He questions, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Grandpa.” You interrupt his insinuation with a giggle. “Can you not?”
Sobering up from the silliness of it all, grandpa regards you with a warm, knowing stare. “I always liked that boy. I think your grandma would have too.”
“Yeah,” you mumble softly. “I always did too.”
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