And The Storm Rages On (Part 2)

You take a deep breath before you knock on the front door of the quaint bed an breakfast. The house had once been a southern plantation home. You close your eyes and mentally walk from the large entry way, up the stairs, and to one of the fifteen bedrooms. The door opens in front of you, you open your eyes and your aunt stares down at you. “Since when do you knock at a bed and breakfast?” You break into a large grin before pouncing on your aunt, wrapping her in a big hug despite the floured apron covering her. Your aunt peels you away eventually. “It’s great to see you too sweetie, lets get your uncle to carry your things upstairs.” She tilted her voice up the stairs and called out for her husband. “Sean?” Your Uncle Sean came down the stairs with his face stuck in a book. He mumbled a distracted “What do you need?” When he reached the bottom of the stairs. “Hi, Uncle Sean,” You try, seeing if he really is paying attention. “_____!” He picks you up in a tight bear hug. “Let me get your things.” He turns to his wife. “Did you call me for something dear?” You and you aunt share a smile. “No, go right ahead.” As soon as you’re settled in the large bedroom, you hear your aunt knock at the door. “______? I know you just got here, so you can say no if you like, but I really need some things from the store for dinner, would you mind?” You start to consider it, then you see the motorboat keys in her hand. “I’d love to!” You say with a smile on your face. She tosses you the keys and hands you a list. “Be back soon.” You don’t waste anytime, immediately bolting out of your room and sliding down the polished banister. You hear your uncle call after you as you start up the boat. “Better hurry, the sky’s looking dark.” You send him an acknowledging wave, and set off thinking….

By the time you reach the mainland, the sky has turned a dark gray. You tie the boat quickly and hurry to the grocery store as it starts to rain. The ringing of the doorbell was accompanied by a crash of lightning. The woman at the counter waved hello before getting back to her cleaning. You run a hand through your slightly damp hair and pull the crumpled list out of your pocket. As you paid for your groceries you watched the storm outside. It was still only drizzling but the wind and lightning were enough to take it to a full blown storm. The television droning in the background announced that the lake was declared off limits just before the cable went out. You groaned audibly, the bridge was on the opposite shore. “It’s going to be a long walk.” The cashier gives you a sympathetic smile as she hands you a receipt. As you step out of the building, you see a group of people taking shelter under the store’s awning. Two of them were talking to each other while the third paced off to the side while on the phone. “Can someone please explain to me why we had to walk back here?” One of them was saying. Another sighed impatiently. “Who knows, the sooner we can find a hotel the better.” The man on the phone started talking louder. “I can’t hear you, is there any other way around?”  There was a long pause. “Hello?” He dropped the phone back into his pocket. “Maybe there’s a phone inside.” You couldn’t help but interrupt. “Don’t bother, all the lines are down.” They turned to you then, all three of the young men wearing hoods and sun glasses, you almost wanted to laugh at them. “Look, if you need a place to stay, we have to room.” They exchanged uncomfortable looks. You cringe. “No, um, my aunt and uncle run the bed and breakfast, there’s no actual hotel here. And they won’t hear of you paying once they see how pathetically you all look like lost puppies left out in a rain storm right now.” They visibly relaxed, if a bit offended at your comment about their soaked clothes. “There’s just one problem.” The shortest one, who’s voice aged him around fifteen spoke up. “What is it?” You smile and bit your lower lip. “I came here by boat, and the sheriff closed down water traffic, but if you have a car we can swing around and cut over the bridge.” One of them, the only one wearing a scarf, smirked. “You need a ride home.” You laugh and blush slightly. “Yeah, I do. But in the very least I can promise a hot meal if I get these groceries back in time.” The phone boy grabs your wrist. “The car is this way.” Scarf-boy calls from behind as he starts to pull you away. “Kev shouldn’t we wait for…” He cut the other off. “C’mon, they don’t call you Danger for nothing.” You heard someone mutter, “He’s got a point.” Before the four of you were trudging through the mud. When you reach the car you see why they are stranded. A very tall tree had been knocked down across the town’s only road in that direction, barely missing their car. You cock your head. “That could have been painful.” The one called Kev continued the pull you towards the rather nice car. “You sit in shot gun.” He practically ordered.

Kevin seemed to ignore you as he got in the car, while the youngest smiled at your hesitance to get the car dirty. “Don’t worry about the car, mud can be cleaned.” You return the smile before climbing in the car. Kevin turns the car around and starts across town. Scarf-boy, for lack of better name to call him, was trying to find a radio station that worked with the radio remote. You look back and open your mouth to speak, but he cuts you off. “Yeah I know, it’s an electrical storm, don’t bother.” You crinkly your nose and nod. “Sorry.” In the heavy winds, Kevin managed to keep the car from swerving too much, and you made it across the bridge in almost total silence. The youngest caught your arm before you reached the door. “You’re sure she won’t mind?” You laughed. “Just watch.” You open the door and call inside and you wipe your feet on the mat. “Aunt Allison, I brought some strays home with me.” “Oh good,” She answers from the kitchen. “I need someone to set the table, and the tomatoes need to be sliced. Also…” You hear her stop mid-sentence from the hallway where you are rummaging through the closet. You smile, knowing she just found the boys standing drenched in her front room. “Dear Lord, you are all soaked, _____ can you get them…” “Towels?” You finish for her, walking in with an armful. The boys thank you as you hand them each one. You point to your aunt. “My Aunt Allison, and these are Kevin, Scarf-boy, and the younger one.” ‘Scarf-boy’ cocked an eyebrow and you shrug. “I had to call you something.” He shook his head and laughed. “It’s Joe, and he’s Nick.” “I like Scarf-boy better,” Kevin muttered so only you and Joe heard. Your aunt had already started talking again, though she is headed back to the kitchen. “When I saw how quickly the storm picked up I was so worried you wouldn’t make it. Your Uncle will have your head for bringing his boat back here in this.” You follow her, motioning the boys to follow. “I didn’t, they have a car so we took the bridge.” She glanced back at you. “The bridge will be washed out if it starts to rain too hard.” She hands you a bag of onions. “Boys! Wash your hands!” They all hurried to comply while you flashed them an I-told-you-so smile. “Chopped or sliced?” You ask, starting at the onions. Kevin and Nick headed to the dining room, while Joe stayed to slice the tomatoes. Now that his sweater was off, you could see his long hair hanging wet in his face. He pushed it away every few moments. You felt kind of bad for not letting him and the others change before putting them to work. Your aunt disappeared somewhere, and the two of you continued to work in silence. You wipe a few tears away as you continue to chop the onion in your hand. Joe lifts himself up on the counter and starts talking nonsense. “You may not know this, but I’m really quite a sentimental dog.” “What?” You ask. “I cry easily,” He says ignoring you. “Onions for instance, always make me cry.” You laugh slightly, which he takes as encouragement. The speaking changes to singing, catching you off guard. “I'll admit I split bananas, take Easter eggs and make them dye. But I never harmed an onion so why should they make me cry?” You were fully laughing now. He grinned broadly and hopped off the counter, taking a onion to dance with as he did. “Once I saw a salad dressing. My face got radish, my oh my.” You shook you head at the way he said ‘my oh my,’ with his hand on his cheek. “But I never harmed an onion so why should they make me cry?” “Would you stop?” You ask, trying to snatch the onion from him. As if to answer, his song became a little more intense as he stomped around the kitchen. “Potatoes I've mashed, and berries I've crushed,” He jumped angrily as if to illustrate the crushing and mashing. “I've made an arti-choke, and that's not all. I've also whipped cream, and beaten an egg. Yes, I've even made a melon ball.” He got down on his knees and held up the onion to implore its forgiveness. “Of all the things above, I'm guilty. If punished I would know just why. But I never harmed an onion so why should they make me cry?” He pretended to sob uncontrollably. “Oh why should they make me cry?” He wiped his eyes and spoke passionately. “This has been a Muppets moment, courtesy of Rowlf the dog.” He then stood and started to slice tomatoes as if nothing happened. You couldn’t help but just stand there with your hand over your mouth. After a long time of stillness you finally start to continue your task, turning to the carrots, now with a very interesting song stuck in your head.

Once the table was set, and the tomatoes were done, your aunt sent Sean to help them with their bags so they could be more presentable. You continued to help your aunt cook. They food was just finishing up in the oven, you were curled up on the couch flipping through one of the many magazines your aunt kept lying around for customers when you heard one of the guests scream. You bolt up and towards the scream. You find an eleven year old girl at the bottom of the stairs, staring up. “You’re Nick Jonas!” She screams again. You cover your ears at the noise and look up at Nick. He stood there not sure what to do, looking rather cute in dryer clothes, and hair that hadn’t been attacked by rain. Joe and Kevin came running from their rooms, until they saw what the screaming was about. Or rather they heard it, when the girl screeched again. “Oh my God! You’re all here!” You bring your lips inside your mouth in an attempt to hide your smile. So you hadn’t been sure when they were all wet and hiding behind glasses and hoods, but you hadn’t expected this situation. After a long awkward silence Nick waved. “Hi, I’m Nick.” The girl was practically dancing. “Please, please do the intro.” The boys looked confused. “You know, What’s up I’m…” Joe fingered his gray hat in confusion. You couldn’t help it anymore, you started laughing. “Hun, I think the ‘brothers’ would like to come down to dinner now.” The girl’s eyes widened even more, if possible. “They’re eating with us?” Her voice had turned from a scream to an excited whisper. You give her an exaggerated nod. “Yup.” She gave another squeal and ran off. You turned back to the boys, who were headed down the stairs. “How are the rooms?” Kevin smiled, taking your arm to lead you to the dining room. “Great, this is a great place.” You pull away somewhat hesitantly. “I have to help serve, but please find a seat.” You wave to the dining room door as you disappear into the kitchen. Carrying the chicken, cooked with your and Joe’s veggies, you fail at hiding a smile when you see the girl sitting quite star struck next to Nick. The boy made a valiant effort at conversation, but the girl was too speechless to talk. When you go to take a seat, Nick immediately stands to pull out the chair next to him and Kevin for you. You smile at him and whisper softly before taking a seat. “You want me to take our seat?” He smiles in appreciation. “Thanks, but I’m good.” As you eat, you can’t help but notice Nick’s polite responses to the girl’s frankly rude and prying questions. “So, are you still dating?” She asks, batting her little Junior High eyes. You shake your head thinking…

Besides the makeshift conversation between Nick and his new ‘friend,’ the dinner table was remotely quiet. Partly because the girl was making everyone else nervous, but also because your aunts chicken was really good. As were the mashed potatoes. After dinner, you start to clear the table. As you head back to the kitchen you notice Joe following you with a pile of dishes. You put yours down on the table and take the stack from him. “Excuse you, you’re not supposed to be helping,” You say, trying to shoo him out of the kitchen. He looks at you obstinately. “Why not? Just because I’m a Jonas Brother?” You roll your eyes at him. “Sorry Rockstar, no preferential treatment here, but you are a guest. And as a guest, you can’t help with the dishes.” “I helped with dinner,” He argues. “And don’t call me that.” You pause for a second before answering.

Joe hangs his head in defeat before retreating back to his brothers. You just start rinsing when Kevin walks in. “What can I do?” He asks, clapping his hands in front of him. You sigh and turn to him, not realizing you have a knife in your hands. “what is with you guys, go get some sleep you look exhausted, the place can run without you.” “It was just a question,” Kevin says, one hand up in surrender, while the other lowers your knife wielding hand Your Uncle Sean chose that moment to enter. He claps a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “Going to get some firewood since the storm hasn’t let up, mind lending a hand?” Kevin smiles smugly at you. “Love to.” You stick your tongue out at him before turning back to your task. That night, as you lie in bed wide awake. You finally get frustrated with jet lag and turn on your light. Reaching over to your things you pull out your: