oneshots oneshots oneshots... thanks, NEON CLOUDS, for beta reading this. I changed it a bit, you might wanna read this again...

..:Willa:..

BOOM! Crack.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the rain pounding the side of the living room, of Wayne's apartment. No- No, bad idea. Bad, Bad idea. Not the rain- BOOM!

My eyes shot open. "A-And not the thunder, either!" I whispered, inaudible, as to not wake up my friends sleeping peacefully, spread out among the two bedrooms. We'd been living in Wayne's house for a few days, trying to keep the Overtakers' focus away from our own homes, as the girls of the Nash house had barely made it out of the house before Jeannie, Amanda and Jess' room- and only their room- had burst into flames. We'd decided our families needed to be safe, thus removing ourselves from our own houses.

I clapped my hands over my ears, squeezing my eyes shut as hard as I could. I pressed my palms into my ears, trying to block out the thunder.

It felt like I was drowning. My eyes hurt, it was hard to breath. My brain felt like it was expanding in my skull; my heart beat harder than if I had just run a marathon. My muscles felt weak- I was just too worried, too anxious.

BOOM!

Josh ran through the door, soaking wet from the rain.

"Willa?" He yelled. No answer. "Willa!?"

"J-Joshie?" Answered my four-year-old self from under the table.

"Wills, what're you doing under there!? Have you been there the whole time!? I went crazy looking for you! I thought I lost you! Mom and dad would've flipped!"

"I-I'm sorry Joshie." I had muttered, the beginnings of waterworks forming in my eyes.

"Ah… it's okay. It's alright, Wills." He whispered. He coaxed me out from under the table, pulling me into his lap. "Why are you under the table, Willa?"

"I-" I cringed as thunder boomed. "I'm scared." I whispered.

"Well." He laughed, his 15-year-old self much wiser. "A little noise and water never hurt anyone."

And I believed him. We sat and watched the storm for a while, me in his lap. I rested my head against him after a while, fell asleep, and woke up magically in my bed, the sun shining through my window.

The lights flickered. Power outage!?

"O-Oh no… No!" I whispered. I jumped off the couch, waiting.

I know. It was kind of ridiculous for a sixteen-year-old girl to be so terrified of a storm. It's not like I'm crying my eyes out under the table, or anything. No. Just nervous. That's what thunder storms make me- anxious and nervous. There was just worry and guilt in the back of my head. That's all.

Worry… And guilt…

I took a deep breath. I hate storms. Hate storms.

Something behind me creaked, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. The lights went out.

"No…" I whispered. Maybe now I should wake someone up-no! Don't be ridiculous!

I sighed, sat back down, and put my had in my hands.

Just breathe. Just-

"Ah!" I shrieked as I felt something on my back. Immediately a hand was over my mouth. Overtakers? My pulse rushed, and I pushed the body away from me as hard as I could.

"Shhh, Wills. Willa, it's me."

The hand slid off my mouth.

"F-Finn?" I mumbled, still shaking. Really- he could've given me warning. I hugged the blanket that now covered me- he had placed it around me; I guess that's what brushed against my back.

"What are you doing up?" He said, sliding onto the couch next to me.

"I should ask the same thing!" I shot back.

"Thunder woke me up. I saw light coming in from around the door in here. And I decided to check it out." He stated simply. "Your turn."

I sighed.

"Couldn't sleep." I muttered, simply.

The darkness hung in front of us for a while in silence. No, I wasn't afraid of thunderstorms. I just… I just didn't like them, okay?

"Any reason?" He finally whispered.

"N… No, not really. Just not tired, I guess."

"Hm." He said. Once again, the silence took over.

Not that it was awkward, or anything. I mean, I'm pretty comfortable around Finn, I think. We'd been through a lot. Maybeck's cool, but I don't… relate to him in the same way, I guess. Don't get me wrong, I love him; He's my brother. But we don't have too much in common. And then Philly- well, that's just always awkward, you know… Since… Yeah.

But Finn I could talk to, easily, and he comes to me for advice a lot, and it's just comfortable.

"Wills."

"Mh-hm?"

"You sure you're okay?"

"Never better." I mumbled.

He sighed.

"You should get some sleep, Finn."

"So should you."

"You're impossible!"

"I know you are, but what am-"

"Finn."

"Yessss?" He laughed.

I sighed, shaking my head. I walked over to the window, looking out at the ominous park. As lighting illuminated it, I backed up a little. Wouldn't want the OT's knowing I'm here. Yeah, that's why I won't stand near the window. Sure.

Finn was still staring at me.

"Finn-"

"Willa."

"Yes, Finn? What do you want?" I snapped.

.Finn.

Maybe four a.m. wasn't a good time to talk.

"Do you want me to wake up one of the girls, or-"

"No!" She said. "Really, Finn, it's no big deal. Go back to sleep!"

She was lying. But what was bugging her!?

"Willa, don't be like that. Come on, what's wrong?"

Thunder boomed, and she cringed.

"You're afraid of thunder?" I laughed, unintentionally harsh.

"No! I'm not! Leave it be, okay?"

"Look, it's not weird or anything. I'm afraid of heights. And snakes."

She looked up at me.

"What's the worst it could do, break your eardrums?" I teased.

"Finn. I'm not afraid." She snapped, with such anger I shut the hell up.

Great, I said something wrong.

"What's it that's bothering you, then?" I asked, sincere this time.

"Nothing!"

I put my head in my hand, sitting for a while. I could just give up. Go to sleep. That'd be easy. But that wouldn't be right. Willa's sat with me countless times and given me advice on everything: girls, life… School. You name it. Though, she might bite my head off if I tried to help.

"Well, do you want to watch TV or something?"

"Power's out. Go to sleep, Finn."

"I can't. Not tired."

She sighed.

Thunder shook the house again, and I put a hand on Willa's back. She was shaking. So I slid closer, cautiously putting an arm around her. I could tell she wanted to fight it at first, but, on second thought, she let herself relax. She rested her head against my shoulder, and I leaned back, resting against the back of the couch. We both knew- nothing going on here. Willa's like a sister to me. I had Amanda and she had Philby, sort of.

So, Willa's afraid of thunder. That's kind of… strange. Willa's strong, brave… it seemed weird such a small thing upset her. But as the house shook once again, I could tell she was fighting back tears.

"Shhh… Relax…" I whispered. She gripped my shirt, gritting her teeth. She was tense. "Willa, take a deep breath."

She did.

"Okay, again. Breathe in, breathe out." I tried to keep my voice as low and soft as possible. This, both unfortunately and fortunately, was not the first time I'd dealt with crying girls.

She nodded a little, and we sat in silence for a while. She buried her face in the crook of my neck- I realized we must look like a couple, but neither of us care, really.

Thunder boomed; she jumped. What could possibly…

Then I remembered something- back on that stupid island… She had gotten lost in a thunderstorm. She probably convinced herself she was going to die. Fell down a cliff and lay, broken and bloody, at the bottom- maybe she was remembering that? Some kind of post-traumatic stress?

But I remember Amanda mentioning that Willa didn't like storms before that. So maybe, that was the deciding factor? The straw that broke the camel's back?

I realized her cool breath on my neck had gotten softer, more even and rhythmic. She had stopped hyperventilating and crying, and she hadn't moved in a while. She was asleep. I looked down at her.

"What is wrong, Wills?" I sighed.

I scooped her up- slowly- bridal style and walked down the hall, to where Amanda was sleeping. It was only a twin bed, but she'd definitely make room for Willa. Neither of them was too big.

I pushed open the door.

"MMmh… Hullo?" I heard.

"Manda?"

"Finn.. whatreya doin it's like-" BOOOM! Thunder cut her off. "S'like three a.m."

"Yeah… do you have room for one more in that bed?"

"Mmm.. Finn?" she laughed.

"Not me, for Willa. I found her on the couch and she fell asleep."

"Sh'dsn like thnderstmms…" Amanda's sleepy voice mumbled. Translation? She doesn't like thunder storms. Then, she shifted. "Sure, put'er ri-there…" (Sure, put here right there).

I put Willa next to her, and went back towards the door.

"Night, Manda."

"Mhmm.."

I smiled, and turned to leave. My foot had other plans, however, because I tripped over something and went down hard.

"Good goin'."

"Thanks." I whispered. I grabbed the item I had tripped on and walked back into the hall, shutting the door.

A sudden 'HHHuummmm' was heard, and the lights flickered on again. Oh. Power's back. I looked down at the item in my hand. It was a black, hard-cover novel Willa had been reading- the 5th Wave- an alien book. I opened to the page where a bookmark stuck out of. Hm.

The book seemed okay. If you're into that whole 'reading' thing. I took the book mark- page 245, I have to remember that- and studied it. It was just an old, folded piece of newspaper. It was probably nothing. But my curiosity got the best of me, and I opened it up.

December 15th, 2002

"Man, 42, Dies On County Road."

Why is this her bookmark?

'Orlando mourns a tragic loss during this weekend. Kyle Angelo, 42 years old, skidded off of Straw Way…

My heart stopped beating for a second.

Angelo?

I put my back to the wall, sliding down into a sitting position.

I read on.

"…skidded off Straw Way, colliding with a tree. Angelo died immediately, his five-year-old daughter and fourteen year old son sent to the hospital in near critical condition. His car was unable to gain traction on the wet road, due to what some refer to as 'the thunderstorm of the century'. Luckily, the two children had been wearing seatbelts, unlike Mr. Angelo, so their lives had been saved. Memorial service will be held…"

Oh my god… I'm such an ass, making fun of her for being afraid of storms!

Well, I knew what was wrong now, I just… That's terrible…

…

"Finn?"

"Mh."

"Finn!"

I jumped. "Page 245!" I took a breath. "Oh.. Uh, morning. I must've fallen asleep."

I looked up to meet the soul-less eyes of my human alarm clock, but instead found teary, warm, chocolate ones.

"Willa?" I whispered. It was light out; I must've fallen asleep in the hallway.

"Why.. Why did you go through my things?"

Her voice sound choked-up, wavering just like Amanda's on the rare occasions we fought. Immediately, a pang of guilt echoed through my chest. Willa crouched in front of me, a bit hunched. Her eyes were red and puffy; she was biting her lip.

"Wh-What?" was all I could manage. But then I looked down, and saw: in one hand was her book, the other… the opened piece of newspaper. "I'm sorry… Willa, I was just curious…"

She bit her lip, her eyes squinting and flooding with tears.

"Willa, I am so sorry." I whispered. We both knew I wasn't just talking about snooping anymore.

The dams broke and the waterworks began. She buried her face in my shoulder and started sobbing, and immediately I could tell she'd been holding it in for a while. For years.

I hugged her, kissed her head, and tried to hold her together as she fell apart.

…

Ah, Filla for the Winn! Ha, get it? Kay… a little darker. But do ya like it?

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Filla friendship everything.