Here is the fourth chapter. I hope you have as much fun reading it as i had writing it.
It will be helpful to read the previous chapters first.
Comments are always appreciated. They go a long way in motivating me to continue to add chapters.
*
"You ready to go?" I asked as I took a final sip of my coffee.
Kimberly was wiping her mouth with a napkin. She nodded to me and I got the attention of the waitress. I paid the bill and Kim and I stood up from the diner counter and made for the exit. As we stepped outside we were immediately greeted by a whirling gust of wind. Kim squealed as the swirling wind blew up her white linen dress, raising the material to briefly reveal her yellow bikini cut lace panties. I lowered my hands, wrapping them around her waist, trying to hold down Kim's dress.
"I've got you, I've got you," I whispered, as I attempted to save Kim some embarrassment as a group of high schoolers walked past us, giggling as they made their way into the diner.
Kim held onto me as we walked over to the pier. Staring down, we watched as the waves rushed in violently.
"Wow, I've never seen it that rough," Kim commented.
Her hair was whipping round her face, the wind was really picking up.
I stared up to the overcast skies,
"Come on, we better get going before the rain comes," I stated.
We made our way to the car, just as a few drops of rainfall began drizzling down.
When we entered Kim's apartment, Adam and Summer were on the couch watching television.
"Have you guys seen this?" Adam asked, directing our attention to the television screen. There was a newscast on about the impending class one hurricane bearing down on our area.
"I thought they said it was going out to sea?" Kim asked.
"Yeah, but it took a last minute turn, they said the really bad stuff will be here by tomorrow afternoon," Summer explained.
"Hey do we still have those boards in the storage locker?" I asked, turning to Adam.
"Yeah, they're there."
"Is it enough for both apartments? It's only like two windows a piece."
"Yeah it should be, we should get down there and check," Adam replied.
I picked back up my car keys and turned to Summer and Kim,
"Okay, Adam and I are gonna board up our apartment, we'll be back to do yours after. You two should gather up some supplies and put them in one place, water, flashlights, some food."
"Okay, you two be careful out there," Summer warned as Adam and I walked out the door.
Adam and I returned an hour later, having boarded up the windows in our apartment. It was getting into late evening so we were in a rush to get the girls' apartment done. We walked in the door, toting the wooden boards in through the living room. Kim and Summer were in the kitchen packing away some supplies they had picked up.
"Classes are cancelled for the next two days," Kim informed, "It's up on the university website," Summer added.
Adam and I got down to work, quickly boarding up the windows throughout the apartment. Summer turned on the lights as the rooms now became dark. She handed Adam and me some bottles of water as we finished up with the last window.
When we were done, the four of us sat in the living room and had a quick dinner, some sandwiches Kim and Summer had whipped up.
"Do you guys have enough food here for four, for the next couple days?" Adam asked.
Summer nodded her head affirmatively.
"Well you wouldn't mind if Matt and I camped out here for the couple of days would you?"
"Babe, are you suggesting that Kimmy and I need two big strong men around to keep us safe during a storm?" Summer jokingly asked.
"Not at all," I interceded, "It's just that I'd feel much safer with you two protecting me," I joked, wrapping my arm around Kim's waist and pulling her close to me.
The table broke out in laughter,
"Okay Matty, you two can stay," Summer said with a smile.
After dinner Adam and I made a quick trip back to our place for some clothes and toiletries. When we returned, the four of us gathered in the living room and watched a movie.
XXXX
The next morning I awoke to the sound of torrential downpour outside. I couldn't actually see anything due to the boarded up window but the sound alone was enough to know it was pretty bad. Kim was still sound asleep as I sneaked out of bed and into the bathroom. I threw on a t-shirt and wandered into the kitchen.
"Hey Matt, want some waffles?" Summer asked from the kitchen.
"Sure Sum, Adam still asleep?"
"Yep, he'll be up in a bit though."
I sat at the kitchen counter, smiling at Summer as she set down a plateful of waffles infront of me.
"Looks like it's pretty bad out there," she stated, directing my attention to the television behind me. I took the bottle of maple syrup she was holding out and arched my neck to catch a glimpse of the storm coverage.
"Coffee or juice?"
"Juice is fine," I replied as I ate a mouthful of warm waffles.
"Thanks Sum," I stated as she set down a glass of OJ for me.
Adam came wandering in as I was getting done with my plate of waffles. Kim was soon to follow. They sat at the counter and I helped Summer serve them breakfast.
After breakfast, the girls washed up while Adam and I satisfied our curiosity and ventured outside to get a firsthand view of the storm.
"So how is it out there?" Kim asked as Adam and I bustled through the door.
"Pretty rough Kim, there was a down tree out in the parking lot," Adam replied.
Being stuck inside, the four of us lounged around the living room getting some class work done. We were all startled by the loud booming sound of thunder that felt as though it shook the entire apartment. The lights flickered but remained on.
"Wow, I better get lunch done incase we lose power," Kim announced as she made her way to the kitchen.
"What are you making Kimmy?" Summer asked from the couch.
"Ohh just some chicken panini," Kim replied from the kitchen.
"Want some help?"
"No thanks sweetie, I'm okay."
Summer, Adam and I had taken a break from work and were watching the news. The scent of grilled chicken filtered through the apartment and caught Adam's attention.
"That smells great Kim," he commented.
"Thanks Adam, another five minutes and they'll be ready."
After lunch, Adam and Summer cleared the table. There was another loud boom and thunder and the lights suddenly went off. The entire apartment went dark and silent. All that could be heard was the pounding rain and swirling winds outside. I immediately felt Kim's hand grab mine and smiled to myself.
"Holy shit, I can't see a thing," Adam commented.
"I've got the flashlights over here," Summer stated. There was the sound of cupboards opening and closing. Then a bright light, shining on Summer's face. She handed the flashlight to me and switched on another.
We gathered on the couch and chatted in the darkness, deciding to save the batteries in the flashlights.
In the evening, we decided to retire to our rooms, hoping that and an early night sleep would mean waking up to the power being back on in the morning.
"Be careful if you guys light any candles," I warned as Adam and Summer left for their room.
"Okay Matt," Summer replied before closing their door.
I was about to follow Kim into her room when my phone rang,
"Hello?. . . .Hey sis, yeah we're okay, no power though. . . .Yeah, we're all at Kim's apartment. . . .Okay will do, tell Kelsey hey for me. Bye, love you."
