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Brandon nodded. “Yeah, and I didn’t think it was so funny at the time. I was seven years old that time, and because the men’s and women’s bathrooms were separate, I couldn’t go in with my mom. She would have held me and been comforting. My dad just sat on the toilet, reading his magazine. I was quietly crying in the corner, because my brother was young enough to go with my mom, and I wasn’t.”
This time, Ashlyn’s gales of laughter really sounded. Everyone gave her either a disturbed or an annoyed look. Ashlyn turned back to Brandon with amused eyes. “I should have known that you had a fun childhood. You seem like the kind of guy who has weathered a few storms.”
Chapter Three
The group was in the bathroom for two hours before they started getting bored. The room was shaking more than ever, but Ashlyn was beginning to wonder if the storm was really as dangerous as Brandon had been saying. After all, this was his third storm, and nothing had ever happened to him.
“I don’t think I can stay in here any longer without some food,” Katy announced. “I am willing to risk myself if it means we have something to eat.”
No one protested. They just began shouting their orders.
“Chips!”
“There are grapes in the bottom drawer of the fridge!”
“Bring some spoons. I think there is ice cream.”
Katy nodded, leaving her blanket in a pile on the floor and pretending that she was listening to what everyone said. She looked around, and her eyes caught on Ashlyn. “Why don’t you come with me? You know, safety in numbers?”
Ashlyn had been thinking about volunteering for the mission anyway, so she was glad when Katy suggested the idea. Ashlyn extricated herself from Brandon’s arm and stood. “Good idea. With as much stuff as everyone is ordering, you’ll need an extra person anyway.” Standing felt good, and Ashlyn bent her knees one or two times to stretch them.
Brandon stood up next. “No, Ashlyn, you can’t go.”
Ashlyn gave Brandon an irritated look. She was her own woman, and she wasn’t used to taking orders from anyone. “I’ll be fine.”
She really didn’t want to have a spat in front of everyone. She could feel them watching her. She knew that any kind of drama between herself and Brandon would prove to be some sick sitcom for everyone else to enjoy.
Brandon gave her a stern look and took her arm gently. “I don’t want you to put yourself in danger.”
The house seemed to sway, and everyone froze or grabbed onto something. Ashlyn wondered if the stilts on which the house was standing would continue holding them. But, in her mind, if the stilts gave way, everyone in the bathroom would get just as hurt as she would in the kitchen.
“Thank you, Brandon, but we’ll be back in, like, five minutes. Seriously, it won’t take long.
Brandon finally let go of Ashlyn’s arm, and she fought with the bathroom door. The wind in the house was pressing up against the door, and it took the strength of both Ashlyn and Katy to force it open.
“Good gracious!” Katy said. “Who knew that a door could be that strong?”
The two girls take careful steps through the house. There was an occasional shudder of the floorboards, and the wind sounded terrible.
“Who knew wind could blow that hard?” Ashlyn asked as she tried to take a look out the windows. They were covered, and she knew enough to not get too close. If Brandon knew, he would kill her. “I bet it’s like 40 mph or something crazy like that.”
“It’s strong enough to do some damage,” Katy said. Her face was worried. “I’ve seen the news. I know what hurricanes can do. I’m really worried that we won’t make it out of this one.”
“You didn’t seem so worried back there,” Ashlyn pointed out.
Katy shrugged. “I eat when I’m upset. I knew if I didn’t get a bag of chips in my hand that I was going to go crazy.”
The house shuddered, and Ashlyn reached her hand out to steady herself on the kitchen counter. She misjudged the distance as the house shook again, and her hand kept falling and falling. It seemed surreal as her hand smacked into the ground. Ashlyn closed her eyes as she waited for the impact.
Something sharp pierced her forehead before her body hit the ground hard. She lay there, feeling a sharp pain over her eyes and wincing as she tried to keep from feeling dizzy. She felt Katy bending over her.
“Oh, Ashlyn!” was all Katy said. “I need to get you some help.” Ashlyn’s stomach seized up. How bad was it? She opened her eyes but immediately shut them afterward. A curtain of blood was falling into her eyes, and Ashlyn started to feel dizzy.
“Don’t leave me, Katy,” Ashlyn pleaded faintly. Katy came back quickly, too quickly, with Brandon. How were they moving so quickly?
“Brandon was already coming,” Katy said, sitting beside Ashlyn again. “Can you hear me?”
Ashlyn tried nodding, but the dizziness almost knocked her out, and Ashlyn suddenly knew that she needed to stay awake. “Yes,” she barked out like a hoarse seal.
