A/N: This is just a quickie, so you don't have to worry about my incredible ability to ramble. I just wanted to remind everyone that this is not going to be another long story like Thunder, and it won't even be as long as Dance With Me. It's probably going to end up being, MAX 4 chapters, and that's including the prologue. This means we're already on chapter 2, so we're half way through! Yay! The storyline is sweet and simple, so please no requests later on about extending it or even making this a trilogy. Let me tell you now: it's not happening. Besides, Thunder and Lightning go together - there's nothing else to really title it anyway lol.
They stared at each other, pleasant smiles lighting their faces. It had been so long since they'd last seen each other, yet the air surrounding them was not one of awkward discomfort. The soft tinkling of the rain, along with the occasional sigh of the wind, created a simple melody that seemed to define the moment just right. It was almost as if the elements knew that something important was about to take place. When a low rumble of thunder echoed across the sky, Jake seemed to snap out of whatever spell the woman in front of him had placed him under and moved to take the box from Miley's hands.
"Here, let me carry that for you." Returning to reality as well, Miley protested softly against his offer.
"Oh, you don't have to do that…" A small smile slipped onto Jake's face as he shook his head.
"I'm already wet anyway, it's not a problem."
He took the box from her arms and their eyes snapped to each other's when their hands brushed together. A faint tinge of red crept onto Miley's cheeks and she was unable to believe that he could still evoke such a reaction from her after so many years. Trying to brush off the feeling, she handed him the box fully and smiled graciously at him. He returned the smile and quickly darted back out into the now heavier rain to deposit the box in her car's trunk.
Miley's eyes glanced down at her still tingling hands and desperately prayed for them to stop. She couldn't start getting worked up about Jake Ryan again – that was just bad news in the making and she knew it. They had broken up for a reason, hadn't they? It was because of distance, sure, but it was obviously a sign from a higher power that she and Jake were not meant to be together. This was something Miley had accepted a long time ago, despite her heart saying otherwise.
Another rumble of thunder boomed loudly in the sky, signifying that the storm was beginning to reach their area. She looked up to see dark storm clouds and jumped slightly when a flash of lightning cut briefly across the sky. Noticing that Jake was coming up the porch, she held the door open and allowed him inside, shutting it once he had entered.
After locking the door, she turned around to see a very wet Jake taking off his jacket and couldn't help but catch her breath at the sight. The rain had caused his clothing to stick to his body, outlining every muscle in his back and rear. His hair was plastered to his forehead, letting off large droplets of water that slipped down his face and neck. How had he managed to become even more handsome after all these years?
She knew that her face was flaming red once more and she tried to control it as she took his coat and placed it on the coat rack.
"Jackson still has a few things left in the house if you want some dry clothes to change into. I swear that he's not as disgusting as he was five years ago," Jake chuckled lightly at her comment before waiting for her to continue, "If you still remember where it is, you can run up and get them while I make us some coffee if you like." Jake smiled softly at her, causing her to blush lightly once more.
"Yeah, I still remember where it is. And coffee would be great."
Miley nodded and quickly turned away from him, unable to keep the heat from her face, and went to the kitchen to start the coffee. Jake's lip curled upward slightly in a goofy smile and he couldn't help the rapid beating of his heart as he watched her bustle around the kitchen. She was still the same woman she was five years ago, yet she was not. She had grown into a stunning woman and it was hard for him to keep his eyes off of her.
Remembering his task at hand, he quickly went up the stairs and headed towards Jackson's old room to fetch dry clothes. As he peeled off his wet clothing, he couldn't help the flashback of memories of his time with Miley all those years ago. He had loved her so dearly back then, and he was almost positive that he still loved her now. When he returned home for the first time in five years, he knew he had to see her again, at least for old time's sake. He thanked God that it was she who answered the door – he had feared that she didn't live here anymore. Seeing her again seemed to have jumpstarted his heart in a way no one else had since their relationship ended. He knew it had to be a sign; that after five years, Miley Stewart still managed to make his knees weak, his stomach flutter, and his heart palpitate at one hundred miles per hour.
Emerging from the stairs, he saw that she was just finishing pouring the coffee into two large mugs and was exiting the kitchen. She smiled warmly at him as she handed him his steaming cup and he felt his heart beat a bit faster. Miley led him to the couch and sat down, patting the seat next to her. He joined her and took a sip from the mug, sighing blissfully as the hot liquid slid down his throat and warmed his chest. He watched as she wrapped both of her hands around her mug and closed her eyes as the warmth spread into her fingers.
She looked so beautiful.
Miley opened her eyes and looked at Jake, who was watching her with a peculiar gleam in his eyes, one she hadn't seen in years. Her heart began to race as feelings and memories hidden long ago suddenly resurfaced and swarmed her mind. Trying to find a way to control herself, she decided to start a simple conversation.
"How've you been, Jake?" Glad that she was presenting an opportunity for distraction, he quickly latched onto the question.
"I've been doing pretty well, thank you. I recently got back from Paris – thought it was time for me to come home and see my family and friends. France is great, but it's not Malibu," he took another sip from his mug before continuing, "And you? How have things been here? Your family doing well?"
The two talked for hours, catching up on each other's lives and sharing laughter over stories of their past. Miley told him about her father and brother, as well as Lily and Oliver's lives after graduation, while Jake told her about his family's. They were enjoying each other's company, forgetting that they hadn't seen each other in years. The coffee mugs laid abandoned on the table, long forgotten during their conversation. Miley decided that they needed to be washed before the coffee permanently stained them and moved to grab both mugs. Jake, wanting to help, also reached for the mugs at the same time and their hands touched once more, sending currents of electricity running through their veins. They locked eyes at the spark, neither wanting to look away from the other's intense gaze. Green stared into blue and the world seemed to stop for them again.
A bright flash of lightning lit the window shades and a large crack of thunder boomed outside the door, before the lights went out and the entire house plunged into darkness.