Time Warp: Fear of the Storm pt1 (Everett)

[Gabriel James]

April 2009

Gabriel wasn't aware he could feel so... shitty. He had barely slept the night before, or the night before that. He hadn't be able to even speak about what had happened. Just the thought of it made him sick to his stomach. And he knew that Mikayla wasn't taking it much better - as evident by the storm whether that had taken over Pilot Ridge the past few days. Rain clouds came and went, almost like magic. Every time he heard thunder roll Gabe's heart broke a little more.

His best friend and roommate, Everett, had asked what was wrong, but Gabe insisted on shrugging it off like it was nothing. He hoped it was nothing. He hoped that he could somehow fix the situation he had gotten himself into. But with each day that went without talking to his (ex, he supposed) girlfriend, Gabriel's hope dwindled. He had slept with another girl, after all. It wasn't really his fault, but that explanation hadn't gone over too well...

Gabe lay on his bed, guitar across his chest, strumming at the strings lightly as he stared at the ceiling. Everett had offered to take Gabe out for a bit, sensing something was wrong, but the brunette of the duo declined, opting instead to lay in bed all day again, wallowing in self pity, trying to figure out what he could possibly do to fix things.

Gabe winced as thunder, once more, echoed out his window. He looked outside and sighed at greying skies. He hoped Mikayla was ok... He hoped Everett was ok, too. He was pretty sure his friend was walking downtown, and he knew that the blonde wasn't fond of lightning storms - not in the slightest. Gabe sighed, and set his guitar down next to his bed, then running his hands through his long, curly hair, sighing as he once again resorted to staring at the ceiling - another roll of thunder reaching his ears.

[Everett Lilien]

Everett knew that Gabe was going to mope. Not that Gabe loved comic book stores or anything, but he usually tagged along on Everett's trips to the store downtown just to have something to do. Besides, there was a music store a few blocks away, so he knew it was because his best friend was moping about his nasty break-up with Mikayla. Not like he didn't feel for his best friend. It hadn't gone down well at all and a lot of it had been due to Gabe's power.

He'd wandered around the store for hours and only purchased the comic books overflowing in his arms when he was told they were closing and he had to leave. He'd barely noticed the sky getting dark because he'd been so distracted by the shelves and shelves of comic books. Besides, Everett was easily distracted.

But as he left the comic book shop, he felt his hair start to stand up on end and he looked up at the sky and the dark clouds that had formed and felt a lump in his throat. Just his luck. He briefly wondered if Mikayla was making it storm. Why did it have to start now? Why couldn't it wait until he was safely back in his dorm to hide underneath his sheets with his comic books and a flashlight app on his phone? Now that was the life.

He took out his phone and quickly texted Gabe. It's stormed four days in a row. When will it end? I'm not gonna make it back in time before it starts. >.<

[Gabriel James]

Gabriel's phone vibrated on the foot end of his bed - far enough away that he couldn't simply grab it. He sprung up, and set his guitar aside in record time, and grabbed at the device. His heart rate only slowed when he realized that he'd been contacted by Everett and not Mikayla. He was a bit disappointed, but looked at the message anyway as he flopped onto his back again.

He sighed at his friend's message, feeling somehow responsible for the storm. It was what happens when you break a weather manipulator's heart, after all. Gabe's fingers hovered over the keys of his phone, trying to decide if he could come up with any solution. He couldn't.

I wish I knew how to make it stop Ev. The only one who wants it to stop worse than you, is me Gabe finally texted back, sure that it was a very true statement. Everett hated thunder storms, and rightfully so when you consider his ability. Gabe had learned that very early on in their roommate-ship. He never thought any less of the blonde, though. Everyone had their fears. Even though some would think that Ev's fear of a little storm was childish, Gabe knew that there was much more to consider than that in the electrokinetic's case. This time, though, Gabe was pretty sure the storm was making him feel worse than his partner in crime.

Where are you? Gabe added quickly, wondering if there was a shortcut Ev could take in order to make it back to Hammel before any real rain, thunder, and lightning started. Unfortunately exactly when that would happen was hard to predict. If Mikayla calmed herself down, it probably wouldn't happen at all.

[Everett Lilien]

Well, someone needs to tell her to make it stop raining! At least for my sake! His text might have come off slightly insensitive, but Gabe should know he was joking. I feel like I'm going to get fried alive out here. He sent that last message and then ducked into the twenty-four hour diner just down the street, the bell ringing as he pushed open the door. He stuffed his phone back into his pocket and tried to tame his hair, pushing it down with his hands, but he could feel the static electricity making it stand on end and he sighed, knowing that his permanant hair style looked ridiculous.

He stared out the huge windows as the rain slowly started to fall and he internally groaned at the sight just before his phone vibrated once more. Gabe was asking where he was. I went into a diner. There's no way I'm getting caught out there, Gabe. It's dangerous. I'm not taking any chances. But how long would the storm last? How long would he have to wait it out?

[Gabriel James]

Gabriel ignored the next few texts from his friend. Though he was aware that Everett was joking, his words stung just slightly. It was hard to completely get a joking tone across over text, anyway. He sighed, and grabbed his guitar again, setting the instrument on his chest and strumming a sad chord progression, humming to himself as the rolls of thunder grew louder and closer together.

He looked out the window after a loud crack of thunder made him jump slightly. He was worried about Everett... there was no doubt about that. And when he got the next text from his blonde best friend, he knew he couldn't just sit around and wallow in self pity when Ev couldn't even finish walking home. He clicked the reply button on his phone as he set his guitar aside and sat up in bed. Which diner? I'll come get you. Gabe offered. He had a car, and little to no fear of thunderstorms. If Gabe knew the storm would be over in 10 or 15 minutes, he'd make Ev wait it out. Problem was the emotionaly driven thunderstorm brewed up by his heartbroken Ex could last all night. There was no way to tell.

[Everett Lilien]

Everett felt as if he shouldn't have said what he did and followed with another text after his phone didn't buzz for a while. Sorry...this just sucks. He let out a sigh as there was another crack of thunder and the blonde jumped slightly, receiving a laugh from someone in the diner, a raspy one. Everett looked over to see an old man in a booth chuckling at his reaction. Ev's only reaction was a scowl as he made his way over to a table and sat down. A table far from any windows. He needed to stop thinking about what was going on out there, even if he felt so electrically charged that he could probaby fry the electricity down the whole block. So he picked up the menu and immersed himself in it and the thought of pancakes as his phone vibrated once more.

I don't want to be out in a car either! Actually, he didn't want it to storm at all, that would be helpful. It's the diner right on the main street in downtown.

[Gabriel James]

Gabe had already rolled out of bed, and thrown a pair of old chuck taylors on. He glanced at his phone as he grabbed his jacket, knowing that Ev wouldn't want to be in a car, but believing his friend might not have a choice. The storm could very well roll on until Mikayla fell asleep - and that was assuming the girl didn't have bad dreams.

Yeah, I don't care. I'm coming to get you. Gabe insisted. He wouldn't even give Ev the option to say no.

When Gabe found Ev was at a diner, though, he figured they could at least give it a little time, and get some dinner while they were there. We'll try to wait the storm out... order me choc. chip pancakes? Gabe texted back as he walked down the hall of the dormitory building. He threw up his hood, and stuffed his phone in his pocket as he traversed down the stairwell. It was starting to rain, and it was picking up as Gabe made his way to his car - Tina - but Gabe just kept his head down and accepted it. He unlocked his car and slipped in, started it, and made his way down to Main street. Keeping his focus on the road would be a nice distraction for a while...

[Everett Lilien]

Everett should have known that Gabe's response would be something like that. He set his phone down on the table in defeat to look at the menu, eyeing up the chocolate chip pancakes when his phone buzzed once more, showing a message from Gabe to order him some pancakes. That's more like it, he replied. Pancakes and waiting out the storm.

He didn't want to go back to the night in his bedroom when it felt like everything around him was going to explode, including himself. Holding so much electricity inside of you was dangerous, and Ev was still learning how to release it in a healthy manner that wouldn't hurt anybody. But he wasn't going to completely go outside to avoid the possibility of rain. That was just ridiculous. He'd never been someone to just sit in a room for hours by himself, not going outside. His power seemed to want him to be, though.

When the waitress came by, Everett grinned at her, despite his hair standing up on end, which surely wasn't making him any more attractive. "Two orders of chocolate chip pancakes. And no, they're not both for me. Someone's joining me." He felt a need to make that clear, although the waitress didn't seem to care and sauntered away with his order.