AN: It's finally here! Welcome to Whirlwind. I hope it doesn't disappoint. It's definitely got a different feel from my last story, Gradual Healing. Bella's not the same, much more crass and comfortable with herself. This is set in Dallas, Texas, so it's got a southern feel to it. I hope that comes across well. I've lived in Texas all my life, so I didn't realize it'd be so difficult to write it. Livin it is one thing, but bein able to covey it in writing is a whole nother. Submit a review, and I'll send ya a sneak peek of the next chapter.
I plan to update once a week on Sunday or Monday. I'm goin camping this week so, it may be Monday before I get chapter one out. I love answerin reviews so send 'em my way. If you don't know why I did something, ask. I don't mind discussing it with you. Now, without further ado...
Official Summary: Best friends Bella and Alice thought they had everything. Living the good life in Dallas, Texas, they were successful, funloving, and ready to face the world. Now if only their love lives would cooperate! Alice is tired of being alone and Bella has given up on finding Mr. Right and settled for Mr. Right Now. What happens when a force of nature shakes their very foundation and pushes them to examine their lackluster love lives. So what if they didn't have the fairytale...nobody said they couldn't create their own fireworks and happy endings.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Prologue
Bella's POV
I sat on the couch, my laptop resting on my lap. My eyes were bleary as I stared at the screen. The scrawling lightening was making it hard for my eyes to stay adjusted to the glow of the screen. It clawed at the sky creating a hauntingly beautiful scene. The D Magazine article I had to submit the following day was being elusive. I needed to finish it before my tornado of a friend arrived. Once she tore through that door, all hell would break loose and there would be no concentrating on the piece. I checked the blue digital clock above my practically new 52' LCD flat-screen television. It was 6:47pm. Alice would be here soon, but I had time if I could just pound out something.
I was glad when Edward offered to drive her over. He was passing by anyway on his way to a nighttime shoot in Plano. We wouldn't have to worry about her car tomorrow when we went shopping. I couldn't wait to see what he photographed. His after dark photos were always gorgeous. I looked out the window to watch the heavy sheets of slanted rain and wind whip the trees in the front yard. I hoped he had better luck with the weather on location though it wasn't far from Garland so chances were slim.
I had the television on but muted. I was keeping an eye on it in case the weatherwoman came on the give any updates. She issued a thunderstorm warning earlier in the day, and Mother Nature did not disappoint. Currently, Dallas County was under a tornado watch. That meant conditions were favorable for a tornado, but there were no sightings yet. I wasn't too worried. Yes, I lived in Tornado Alley, but I had lived her for six years without a tornado.
I turned back to my article hoping to get it hammered out. A loud crack of thunder sounded causing me to jump. I checked the clock again. 7:04. She was supposed to arrive at 7:15. I glanced at the television to see the weatherwoman on the screen. I reached for the remote and unmuted the television.
"I repeat, a tornado warning has been issued-" A loud clap of thunder cut her off and reverberated through the room; the lights flickered and died.
The storm outside seemed to have calmed and quieted. The wind was a light breeze and the sky looked an odd green color. I sat my laptop aside and walked to the window. I looked outside and everything was eerily calm. The atmosphere felt statically charged as if waiting. For what I didn't know. Then a siren pierced the silence.
It took me a moment to realize it was the tornado siren, as I had never heard it before. My eyes grew wide as I looked to the west in time to see a funnel form and descend from the sky. A high-pitched whine started and the wind picked up again. I snatched my phone, the flashlight I had set out earlier, and my laptop. I grabbed a thick blanket and went into the hall closet.
I covered myself and frantically dialed Alice's number. I could hear the house groaning and things snapping. The phone had no signal. Glass shattered and things smashed into the walls. My breathing and heartbeat increased. Oh God. What's happening? The sounds were horrific and made worse by the inability to see what was happening. I heard what sounded like knocking and wondered what it could be. I thought about pressing closer to the door until I felt the house shift. I hovered into a corner and crouched as low as I could.
I'm going to die. That was the only thought running through my head. I felt things falling. They were so light I thought it was shoeboxes and clothes. Then heavier things started falling, but I didn't dare pull off the blanket and investigate. I couldn't tell if it was two minutes or two hours later when things calmed and quieted. Is it over? I was about to uncover and venture out to inspect the damage; that is, until I heard a loud groan, then crack, and froze. I extended my legs in front of me the adrenaline fading and making my body ache.
Without warning, something shifted, and I both felt and heard the ceiling collapse. Debris fell heavily onto my body. I covered my head in the vain attempt to protect myself, but there was just too much. It wasn't a chunk of the ceiling. It was the whole house. It collapsed in a cacophony of groans, snaps, cracks, and pops. The pain was instantaneous and severe. I felt a stinging sensation as something fell on my legs, then my breath was knocked out of me when I felt a piece of the house slam into my chest.
I tried to move, but my legs wouldn't budge; something pinned them down. I could feel something constricting my chest. It was getting harder and harder to breath. I panted shallowly praying for the oxygen I needed. I reached for my phone, but it wasn't there. I tried to scream, but I couldn't find my voice. Not like this. I don't want to die like this. I hadn't talked to Charlie in two weeks. I hadn't done everything I wanted to do. I hadn't told him everything I wanted to.
I opened my eyes, but it was dark. I don't know if my vision tunneled. I don't know if I could even see. I don't know if being trapped was real or my body was too weak to fight. I don't know much of anything after that first piece fell on me. I do know, it hurt like hell and it was too hard to breathe. I let my head fall back and closed my eyes.
