The rhythmic smack of tennis balls echoed across the sun-drenched court as Riley's racket connected with pinpoint precision. Sweat glistened on her brow, her light brown ponytail swinging with each powerful serve. The Oklahoma heat shimmered in waves above the asphalt, but Riley barely noticed, lost in the familiar dance of footwork and timing.

"Come on," she muttered, bouncing the ball twice before tossing it high. Her muscles coiled, ready to unleash another blistering serve, when a familiar voice cut through her concentration.

"Riley! Hey, Earth to Riley Carter!"

Riley's swing faltered, sending the ball sailing short and straight into the net in front of her. She sighed as she turned, squinting against the sun to see Addy waving frantically from beyond the chain-link fence. Her blonde hair was escaping its messy ponytail, and she practically vibrated with excitement. 

The scowl on Riley's face dropped a little, her lips twitching upwards as Addy threw herself over the chain fence, instead of just walking around to the gate at the opposite side of the court.

"What is it now, Addy?" Riley called back, unable to keep the hint of amusement from her voice. Her best friend's enthusiasm was infectious, even if it was often ill-timed.

Her eyes sparkled with the manic gleam that Riley had come to associate with imminent danger... or as Addy called it, scientific discovery. Before Addy could even tell Riley why she was interrupting her practice session, Riley spoke again.

"Addy, I'm kind of in the middle of something here. Coach says if I nail this serve, I might have a shot at..."

"I'll cover for you," Addy interrupted, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she stood in front of her. "I don't know, say you got, like, food poisoning or something. Please, Riley? When's the next time we'll get a chance like this?"

The wind picked up, carrying with it the faintest rumble of distant thunder. Riley closed her eyes, feeling the shift in the air, the electric charge of an approaching storm. When she opened them, a hint of that hidden warmth had crept into her expression.

Storm chasing wasn't her vice - it had always been her sister and her friends'... but Addy was right. They were nearing the end of tornado season and she did love the enjoyment of sitting in the back of the truck as they shredded across soil and the laughs that came from her friends when they got to see their coursework play out in front of their eyes.

Riley hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening around the tennis racket. 

"You know, most people run away from tornadoes, not towards them."

"Most people are boring," Addy retorted.

She glanced back at the court, then at Addy's hopeful face, and finally at the darkening sky. With a resigned sigh, she nodded.

"Fine, but you owe me big time," Riley said, unable to keep the small smile from her lips. "Let me grab my stuff."

Addy let out a squeal of excitement, practically bouncing as Riley jogged to the bench to collect her gear. By the time she'd thrown her stuff into her court bag, Addy was already halfway to the parking lot, her lanky form practically vibrating with excitement.

"Now hurry up, Riles! Mother Nature waits for no one!"

As Riley jogged to catch up, she couldn't help but smile. Little did she know, as she climbed into Addy's beat-up truck, that this was one of the last times she'd do that.

___

Riley leaned against the Storm Par van, her eyes watching the horizon as she intently tracked where the tornado was forming. Javi, her sister and most of the Storm Par team were out in their separate cars with the scanners that would supposedly help them to create a 3D scan of a tornado forming.

She didn't care for the science of it. She still wasn't really even sure why she decided to come along with Javi and Kate. A piece of her wanted things to go back to how it had been... but being here with them both was just reminding her of everything she'd lost.

When they'd rushed to take off after the tornado, she'd opted to stay back with the monitoring guys and instead set up camp where lots of the amateurs were parking up. She wasn't sure if she was glad or more anxious about being out of Javi and Kate's sight after the last time they'd all chased a tornado together.

Her eyes flickered over the screen on the inside of the van. EF1.

Riley's gaze drifted from the horizon to the small cluster of vehicles nearby. Amateur storm chasers and weather tourists had gathered in the same spot, their shared excitement interesting her. Among them, three figures caught her eye - ones that she recognised as having arrived alongside Tyler.

She'd done enough research while waiting for Kate and Javi to decide what storm to chase to know a little about them all now. 

The tall, lanky man with a little hair was Dextor, Tyler's main scientific expert. Beside him, a shorter, muscular woman with intricate tattoos snaking up her arms and a frayed cowboy hat - that was Dani. Riley was sure she'd seen Dani at the rodeo before, on one of the many nights she worked the bar. The third girl with the dreads was the one controlling the drone that she'd seen Tyler's crew use - her name was Lily.

Riley studied them subtly, careful not to draw attention to herself. Dexter was practically bouncing on his toes, his hands flying as he gestured wildly towards the forming funnel cloud. His eyes were wide with a mixture of awe and barely contained glee, like a kid on Christmas morning. Dani, by contrast, appeared calmer, but Riley could see the telltale signs of excitement in the way her fingers tapped rapidly on her radio, her eyes darting between the pair beside her and the sky.

Their enthusiasm was infectious, spreading through the gathered crowd like wildfire. Riley found herself unconsciously leaning forward, her own heart rate picking up as she watched the distant clouds churn and darken.

The wind picked up, whipping Riley's hair around her face. She tucked a strand behind her ear, her eyes never leaving the spectacle before her. The tornado was growing, its funnel widening as it carved a path across the open field.

As Riley observed the trio, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of something – nostalgia, perhaps, or a ghost of the enthusiasm she once shared with Addy. The way the crew members leaned into each other, finishing each other's sentences and sharing knowing looks and cheers of excitement, reminded her of those carefree days before everything changed. 

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as a familiar red truck came into view, kicking up dust as it raced across the field towards the tornado. Riley's had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes as she recognised Tyler's truck, its custom storm-chasing equipment glinting in the light. 

"There he goes!" Dexter shouted, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. "The crazy son of a bitch is actually doing it!"

As the group erupted in cheers, Dani's gaze swept across the gathered storm chasers, finally landing on Riley. Their eyes locked, and Dani's expression shifted from excitement to curiosity. She took a few steps closer, her cowboy hat threatening to fly off in the strengthening gusts.

"Hey there!" Dani called out, her voice carrying over the wind. "First tornado? You're in for one hell of a show!"

Riley felt her stomach twist, memories flashing before her eyes – the roar of wind, the crack of splintering wood, Addy's scream cut short. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet Dani's gaze.

"No," Riley replied, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "I've seen enough in my lifetime."

Dani's smile faltered, picking up on the weight behind Riley's words. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a deafening crack of thunder shook the air around them. The tornado had touched down fully now, its massive form throwing debris high into the air.

Riley's eyes darted back to Tyler's truck, now alarmingly close to the twister's outer edges. The red paint was barely visible through the swirling dust and debris. Her heart raced, not with excitement, but with a familiar, suffocating fear.

"Holy shit," someone in the crowd breathed, and Riley couldn't help but agree. It was a breathtaking and terrifying sight – the tiny red speck of Tyler's truck juxtaposed against the massive, swirling tower of wind and destruction.

Tyler's truck had disappeared into the outer fringes of the tornado, swallowed up by the swirling debris cloud. For a heart-stopping moment, there was no sign of him. Then, just as suddenly, the red pickup burst through the other side as fireworks exploded from inside the tornado.

A cheer went up from the assembled storm chasers, Dani and her crew whooping and high-fiving each other. But Riley remained silent, her eyes fixed on the spot where Tyler had vanished into the storm. Her fingers unconsciously traced the outline of the scars hidden beneath her long-sleeved shirt.

Dani made her way back to where Riley stood, her eyes bright with leftover adrenaline. 

"That was something else, wasn't it?" she said, grinning widely. "Tyler's got balls of steel, I'll give him that."

Riley nodded noncommittally, her eyes still fixed on the horizon where the tornado had disappeared. She could feel Dani studying her, curiosity evident in her gaze.

"Listen," Dani said, her voice softer now. "A bunch of us are gonna tailgate the motel parking lot later. It's kind of a tradition after a big chase like this. Why don't you join us? First round's on me."

For a moment, Riley was tempted. The invitation stirred memories of late nights at college bars, sharing pitchers of beer with Addy and excitedly recounting their storm-chasing adventures. She could almost taste the cheap beer and hear the jukebox playing country hits in the background.

But Addy was dead, and that was nothing to celebrate about.

"I appreciate the offer, but it's not really my thing," she said, her voice steady despite the emotions churning inside her. "I'm more of a quiet night in kind of person these days."

Dani looked surprised, her eyebrows knitting together.

"Really? But the way you were watching the storm, I thought for sure you were one of us. A chaser, I mean."

"I used to be," she admitted. "But things change. People change."

"Well, if you change your mind, we'll be there till late. It's always good to swap stories with fellow storm enthusiasts."

As Dani walked away, Riley felt a familiar ache in her chest. She watched the group of chasers laughing and recounting Tyler's daring stunt, their excitement palpable even from a distance.

Life sucked.

____

The ride to the motel was pretty awkward. 

Kate and Javi hadn't managed to put their scanner down in the right place in time, and they'd not been able to get a complete scan. She could tell from the instant that she saw her sister that it had been her fault, and the way Javi was clearly annoyed but trying not to show it only confirmed her belief.

Looking at the way guilt was present all over her sister, and her hands were wringing together subconsciously, Riley knew that she wasn't the only one stuck five years prior as soon as that tornado had gotten closer today.

Riley sighed, leaning her head against the cool glass of the van window as they pulled into the motel parking lot. The excitement from earlier had faded, replaced by a heavy silence that hung over them like a storm cloud.

"Haven't we stayed here before?" Javi asked, trying to break the tension as he pulled the truck into one of the dirt parking spots. Kate smiled, chuckling as her eyes swept across the building.

"Yeah, we've like stayed in every motel in Oklahoma, Javi," Kate replied, her voice not fully as firm as usual. Riley eyed her from the backseat before they all started to exit.

Trucks were parked in a loose circle, their tailgates down and coolers open. The smell of grilled burgers wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of rain-soaked earth. Riley stepped out of the van, her boots crunching on the gravel. 

"Remember we used to have Addy check in?" Javi continued, Riley's chest clenching a little. "And later we'd all sneak into the room so we could save ten bucks. And we'd have Addy do it..."

"Cause she looked so sweet," Kate finished, laughing lightly at the memory.

"Hey, you wanna hang out later?" Javi asked, almost forgetting that Riley was standing right beside them. She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at the way he was staring at Kate like a lovesick puppy despite not having spoken a word on their drive there.

"Ummm, I'm really tired but maybe another time, okay?"

There was a bit of an awkward silence again.

"Yeah, no biggie, I'm gonna go check the rest of the team in," Javi muttered, not meeting anyone's eyes as he turned and headed towards the motel office.

Kate lingered by the van, her fingers tapping nervously against her thigh. Riley recognized the gesture – it was something Kate had done since they were kids, whenever she felt guilty or anxious.

"Hey," Riley said softly, breaking the silence. "It's not your fault, you know."

Kate's head snapped up, surprise etched across her features. "What?"

"The scan," Riley clarified. "I saw your face when you got back. It's not your fault it didn't work out."

Kate's shoulders sagged, the tension visibly draining from her body. "I just... I froze up, Riles. When I saw that funnel cloud forming, all I could think about was... was..."

"Jeb, Praveen," Riley finished for her, her voice barely above a whisper. "And Addy."

"And you," Kate added, taking Riley by surprise for a moment. Seems it wasn't just their dead friends that had been haunting Kate at night. "I thought I was past this. I thought I could handle it, but..."

Riley stepped closer, hesitating for a moment before pulling her sister into a tight hug. It felt strange – they hadn't been this close in years.

"It's okay," Riley murmured, feeling Kate's arms tighten around her.

The moment was over as soon as it started. Kate pulled back, tugging at the sleeves of her borrowed Storm Par jacket as she reached into the truck and grabbed her satchel. She smiled gently at her sister, pausing as if she wanted to say something else but instead turning on her heel and heading towards the rooms.

Leaving her alone in the parking lot.

She found herself wandering towards the group of storm chasers. Their energetic chatter grew louder as she approached, and she could see Tyler at the centre of it all, regaling his audience with the tale of his close encounter with the tornado.

"...and then, just when I thought I was done for, I punched it! Drove right through that sucker like it was nothing!" Tyler's voice carried over the crowd, followed by impressed whistles and cheers.

Riley hung back, observing from the edges of the group. She couldn't help but notice how Tyler's eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light of the parking lot, his entire being radiating with the thrill of the chase.

"Hey, Riley!" A familiar voice called out. She turned to see Dani waving from the center of the gathering, a beer in hand. "Changed your mind?"

For a moment, Riley considered walking away. But something in Dani's friendly smile made her pause. Maybe it was the loneliness of the past few years, or the adrenaline still coursing through her veins from the chase, but she found herself taking a step towards the group.

"Just for a little while," she muttered (mostly to herself) before making her way over to stand beside Dani and Lily.

"So, what changed your mind?" Dani asked, leaning against a nearby truck.

"Guess I just didn't feel like being alone with my thoughts tonight."

"Glad you made it," Dexter told her, Riley almost jumping as she hadn't noticed the man had came to stand beside her, Dani and Lily. "What'd you think of Tyler's stunt?"

Riley took a sip of her beer, buying time to formulate a response. "It was... impressive," she finally said, her tone carefully neutral. "And incredibly dangerous."

"That's Tyler for you," Lily butted in, talking to Riley as if they were old friends and not complete strangers. "All guts, no fear. But he knows what he's doing. Usually."

As if on cue, Tyler's gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Riley. His eyes widened slightly in recognition, and he excused himself from his admirers, making his way over.

"Well, well," he said, a cocky grin spreading across his face. "If it isn't the mysterious Riley Carter. Didn't expect to see you here."

Riley met his gaze steadily, refusing to be intimidated by his bravado. "I could say the same about you. Most people would be happy just to survive a close call like that."

Tyler's grin widened, seeing she'd taken his bait.

"Where's the fun in that? Besides, my followers eat this stuff up. You should see the views rolling in already."

Riley arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sardonic smile.

"Ah, yes. Nothing says 'responsible storm chaser' like risking your life for YouTube views."

Tyler chuckled, leaning against the truck next to her. "Hey now, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. The rush is indescribable."

"I'll take your word for it," Riley lied, taking another sip of her beer. The cool liquid helped soothe the heat rising in her cheeks, whether from the alcohol or Tyler's proximity, she couldn't say. 

"Come on, Carter," Tyler prodded, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't tell me you've never felt that thrill. The wind whipping around you, the sky darkening, knowing you're witnessing something raw and powerful?"

Despite herself, Riley felt a familiar tingle of excitement at his words. Memories of past chases flashed through her mind – the electric anticipation, the breathless wonder. She pushed them away, but not before Tyler caught the flicker of emotion in her eyes.

"Ah-ha!" he exclaimed triumphantly. "I knew it. You're not as immune to the chase as you pretend to be."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, cowboy. There's a big difference between appreciating nature's power and driving headlong into it."

"Maybe," Tyler conceded, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as he leaned in a little closer to her with a smirk. "But where's the line? When does healthy respect become fear? When does caution become cowardice?"

Riley and Tyler failed to notice the other three storm-chasers roll their eyes and walk away from them. They'd seen enough of Tyler to know that they didn't want to stand and listen to him when he got like this.

"And when does bravery become recklessness?" Riley shot back, his words hitting a nerve. "When does the thrill-seeker become the fool?"

Instead of being offended, Tyler's grin only widened. 

"Now we're getting somewhere! I knew there was fire beneath that cool exterior. Besides, I'll have you know I've got a degree in meteorology. The stunts just make the science more palatable for the masses."

"Right," Riley drawled, taking another sip of her beer. "Because nothing says 'serious scientist' like driving headlong into an EF1 tornado."

"EF2, actually," Tyler corrected, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "And I'll have you know, that 'stunt' provided some invaluable data on wind speeds and debris patterns."

"And what about the real-life consequences?" Riley challenged, her eyes flashing. "What happens when some kid tries to copy you and ends up in the middle of an EF5?"

Tyler's grin faltered for a moment, a flicker of something deeper passing across his face.

"Alright, " Tyler said, his voice softening slightly as he changed the topic, knowing that he'd clearly hit a nerve again and not in a good way. "Why don't you tell me what brings a seemingly thrill-hating woman like yourself to a gathering of adrenaline junkies and weather nerds? And don't tell me it's because your sister or those Storm Par nerds dragged you out here - you don't look like someone who is easily told what to do."

Riley hesitated, caught off guard by the genuine interest in his tone. Maybe it was the beer, or maybe it was just nice to speak to someone who didn't know her tragic backstory.

"I... I used to be kinda into this stuff. Storm chasing, I mean. Back in college. Well, I wasn't really into it but my friends were... which kind of did make me into it I guess."

"Used to be?" Tyler prompted, his full attention now focused on her. "What changed?"

For a moment, Riley considered brushing off the question. But something in Tyler's expression made her pause. The cocky grin was gone, replaced by a look of genuine curiosity.

"Life happened," she said finally, her voice quiet. "Sometimes the storms you're chasing catch up with you."

They stood in silence for a moment, the sounds of the party fading into the background. Riley found herself studying Tyler's face, noticing for the first time the faint lines around his eyes that spoke of more than just laughter.

"I should probably head back to my room," Riley murmured, suddenly not wanting to be surrounded by strangers. "I'm sure I'll see you around."