Author's note: Well! It's been a ridiculously long time, for which I cannot apologise enough for. I am so sorry that I haven't updated in nearly 2 months, I've done exactly what I said I wouldn't do. However, I have now finished my exams so should be able to update more regularly, and also update my other fan fiction too. It's awful but I needed to re-read this whole story because I couldn't remember what I'd already written and what still was just in my head. I'm glad I left it where I did though, it's a nice chapter to get back into. I apologise in advance for the change in tone in this chapter. Just saying.
I have missed you all greatly, and am still blown away by the amount of reviews I have gotten without regular updates. You are all so amazing, and I couldn't do this without you. Thank you very much, I shall not be so incommunicado from now on I hope! – C xx
Chapter 21: Thunder and Lightning.
The rain began to fall heavier and heavier on top of the wicker umbrellas that the StarKids were seated under.
'When you go to a waterpark, you expect the water to stay in the pools rather than the AIR.' Joe Walker said, disgruntled. He was sitting on a towel on the floor, in the middle of the circle of sunbeds, leaning against the central umbrella pole.
Lauren had swung her legs underneath her and was lying down with her head in Brian's lap, seemingly asleep until the first flash of lightning reflected in her open eyes.
Julia and Darren were sitting to their immediate right. Jules had pulled out a notebook and was quietly muttering to herself and making notes, sketches and plans for another one of her amazing stories. Darren, with his arm around her, was reading over her shoulder and smiling at the look of concentration on her face.
Joey and Meredith were sitting facing each other, playing snap. The group was quite quiet for them, the storm had them on edge for some reason, put they couldn't quite put their finger on why.
Suddenly, the first, loud, crash of thunder exploded the air around them, and the whole group jumped. 'Woah, this is going to be a big one…' Darren said, worriedly staring at the sky as the rain swirled in torrents around them.
'Is it worth trying to get home, or shall we see if it blows itself out?' Jaime questioned, following Darren's gaze to the sky.
'May as well stay' mumbled Lauren from Brian's lap. 'I mean, everyone will be trying to leave and I really don't want to be driving in a storm again.' Brian could tell she was remembering the absolute terror that overtook her that night. Without thinking about the group watching them, he took her hand and squeezed it tight.
'I will never let anything like that happen to you again Lauren.' He said, leaning close to her. 'I promise.' He gave her a soft kiss on the forehead and she sat up to lean against his shoulder, burrowing her head to be closer to him as she fought her hardest not to cry at remembering everything she had told him, things that she had never told anyone before.
The group looked on at the pair quietly. They didn't interrupt the moment with sarcastic comments or innuendos, because they saw that there was a huge amount of emotion behind what each of them had said. Another flash of lightning woke them from their thoughts, which was followed more closely by a huge crack of thunder.
'The storm's getting closer.' Tyler noted. The clouds were forming thick and fast overhead, purples and greys all mixing into one, foreboding and powerful. The wind also began to pick up.
The boys decided to try and block the wind as much as possible. They took the towels and tied one end to the umbrella and weighed down the other end on the floor with rocks to make a canopy that acted as walls. This made it easier to be heard over the storm.
Now the group was dimly lit, and they all pulled the beds closer to create one continuous surface, cuddling together. 'Well, this is a little cosy, isn't it chaps?' Joe Walker said in an over the top British accent.
'I couldn't agree more old bean.' Lauren replied. There was a pause.
'Oh well done Joe, she'll be English for at least the rest of the storm now.' Joe Moses said scathingly to Walker. The rest of the group looked half annoyed and half amused.
'One is being very inconsiderate of thy feelings!' Lauren said imperiously, sitting up to stare at Moses indignantly. 'Would thou hadst me speak is peasant talk?'
'Lauren, American isn't peasants talk! You ARE American.' Jaime said, laughing her head off.
'Thou!' Lauren pointed at Jaime. 'Thou is impudent and wrong and ought be burned at the stake for such befoulities!'
'That's not a word, Lauren.' Julia said, not looking up from her notebook. Lauren stuck her tongue out at her while the rest of the group whooped and laughed.
'You're all so mean to meeeeeee!' She whined in her normal voice, while everyone cracked up again. There was another flash of lightning followed almost immediately by a rumbling clap of thunder.
'We're almost directly underneath the storm!' Jaime said, sticking her head out between two of the towels that made up the walls. One flew off of the umbrella and Meredith jumped up to run after it. She was just 4 metres from the wave pool when the lightning struck the water. The sizzling crack would have been audible from miles away, and Meredith slipped and fell to the ground, but only for a second because Joey has run after her the instant she had left. He swung her over his shoulders and ran as fast as he could back to the sunbeds.
Everyone was in shock, how had this happened? Just a second ago the group had been laughing at Laurens comedic genius, and now one of their best friends was lying on a bed, unconscious. The group dried her off as best they could and Tyler ran over to alert one of the lifeguards.
'I don't think she was actually electrocuted. The small shock wave and the fact that it was slippery caused her to fall over and hit her head pretty hard, that's what knocked her out. It's not good but it's better than her actually having been electrocuted. She needs to get to hospital though.' They group thanked the lifeguard and between them carried Meredith back to the van. Joey refused to let go of her at all. As they got in the minibus, the skies began to clear again and the sun made it's way out, illuminating the water droplets on Meredith's face. As the boys laid her out over the middle seats, Joey climbed in and rested her head on his lap. He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss.
'I'm not sure that towel was worth it' Meredith mumbled, opening her eyes slowly and smiling up at Joey. It was all he could do to not pull her into the tightest hug possible.
'Yeah, maybe you're right Mer.' He said. 'Just, don't ever do that to me again.'
'I'll try not to.' She winked, then grimaced as she tried to move. Joey stroked her face.
'You're safe now, and I'm not going anywhere.'
'Good' Meredith said, before slipping back into unconsciousness, a smile on her face.