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THEN !

THE FEAR OF NEVER COMING HOME is something Jackie Harding has always known. She became a storm chaser at the age of nineteen alongside one of her best friends. She used her first car, a pink Ford trunk, and turned it into a 'Dorothy' transportation to learn more information about tornadoes just like her parents did before they retired, and now work in their shared lab.

She never expected her first tornado to come alongside an annoying supposed Tornado Wrangler just starting this job, he was reckless, and Jacqueline loathed it. The Harding girl was just trying to get data on the upcoming EF4 and possible EF5 but nope she got stuck with Tyler Owens on her ass, an unknown storm chaser, and his buddies on the rise nearly killing her and her team.

Jackie was so close to grasping it, taking control of that tornado like it was her bitch before he swooped up and took, it using fireworks.

She got out of the truck, her friends following her with concern, "What the fuck were you doing?" The Harding girl pushed him, shaking with anger, "That was my tornado! My chance."

"Ooh country girl mad," He smirked unbothered by her anger, "You were lacking behind, I had the chance and snatched it from your beautiful little hands." Tyler cooed at her like she was a child.

Jackie breathed in and then out, her jaw clenched as Arizona and Carter held her back a bit to not swing at his annoying face.

"Let's go find another if I keep looking at this man I'm gonna get violent." She sighed before stopping at her steps noticing the wind shifting, grain blowing to the south, and the tornado coming right for them.

"We gotta get Dorothy set up now, Kate is on the other side of the state the winds are shifting." Jaqueline ran inside her truck contacting Javi to warn him of the possibility of an EF5 or 6 in his location.

"Come on! We gotta move the EF4 is gonna shift, it's coming for us!" She yelled to her crew and his, driving away without looking back leaving Dorothy in the growing darkness to get the data.

"Move, get in! We gotta find somewhere underground!" Jackie jumbled out on the radio to Tyler's truck looking out for him even though she didn't like him, she still was a good person.

"There's an empty bunker I saw earlier, drive like you mean it Owens!" She said into the radio turning away from the tornado, and pressing the gas moving as fast as the car could go.

The Harding girl glanced behind her noticing her group's van, and Tyler's little group following behind her dodging trees and cows.

"We got cows! Watch out for them, the bunker is to the right, be ready." Jacqueline commented, stopping her car in a ditch running towards the bunker opening it up, helping her friends get in and the others before joining in.

"You're welcome," She muttered to Owens joining her friends in the spacious shelter, chains locking the doors to the shelter so it didn't fly off.

"My ma better have dinner ready when we get back," Jackie sighed leaning on Hunter and watching the computer log the data, "Wait how high is that one? 50,000 feet Jesus Christ." She gasped, a smile on her face, "My parents are gonna let us do the project and grant us our Ph.D.."

Arizona grinned placing a hand on her shoulder, "Definitely your parents are like a god to the storm chasers with the data they collected." Carter nodded along agreeing with her while Brandy was testing out different models.

"Who are your parents?" Boone questioned confusion on his tanned face.

"Her parents here are the Harding's, the ones who created Dorothy, data to collect about Tornadoes it's changed the world!" Ari flaunted, while Lasso sighed embarrassed by the sudden attention.

"She's been chasing since she was what? Ten? With your dad right?" Carter grinned, messing with his rings and winking at Lily.

"Yes, so what?" She grumbled before stopping the storm slowing down, "Wait a minute."

The Harding girl stood up and unlocked the chains, opening the shelter door to see absolute destruction...What about Kate, is she okay?

"Does anyone have information about Kate?" She asked, glancing at her friend group, the tornado was bigger than any of them could anticipated, but what about Kate's attempt at taming a tornado?

"No, I didn't hear anything," Hunter cut in concerned, noticing her distress that now matched his for his cousin.

"I saw on the radar near where she was, it was picking up a possible EF5." Jackie bit her bottom lip, nervous about picking at her nails.

"Let's go, we gotta get out of here," Brandy cut them off before they could panic more, "Nice to meet you guys." She waved to Tyler's small group heading back into the black van filled with technical equipment.

"Fun meeting you, Princess," Tyler smirked, he was a little older than her and slightly taller too that didn't stop Jackie from almost swinging at his cheek before Carter gripped her hand shaking his head, the tan hat on his head moving with it.

"You're lucky, I ain't got the chance yet." Her southern drawl made his spine tingle, she was a feisty one, but Tyler loved a good challenge, especially a smart one.

"Maybe one day, Princess!" He chuckled, Boone, leaning on him joining the laughter.

Jacqueline rolled her eyes, jumping into the passenger seat of her truck ready to go find internet and space far away from that arrogant asshole.

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THE GROUP MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL, and there sat Jackie's oldest friend since she could remember, Kate Carter with her leg stitched up and getting checked on. The Harding girl held her tightly never wanting to let go, having heard the tragedy she experienced by one thing she loved the most.

"I came as soon as Javier told me, I'm so so sorry Katie, I can't fathom what you are going through," Jacqueline whispered in her ear letting her cry on her shoulder.

"I let myself be blinded by the want to get this grant and it cost their lives," She sobbed, clutching onto Jackie soaking her pink shirt.

"It's not your fault, Kate okay?" Hunter whispered watching the two, wanting to help her but didn't know how.

"But it is, it is my fault," Kate sobbed grasping Jackie like a lifeline, maybe storm chasing isn't her future anymore, no more tornado taming, no more finding different ways to stop the destruction, she needed to leave.

"Katie whatever you are thinking, it's not worth it, it's not what they would want." She sighed, running a hand through the Carter's girl's dirty blonde hair.

Silence filled the hospital room, taking in the words before slowly letting Jacqueline ago wiping her tears.

"I need time and space, I'm sorry Jack," Kate mumbled, glancing at her childhood best friend as she nodded leaving the room, leaving Hunter with her.

"Take all the time you need, I'm only a call away." She smiled, squeezing her hand before leaving and heading back to home.

Jackie never expected to hear from Kate again, or for her to join storm chasing ever again but the Carter girl always leaves her shocked even when she least expects it.

Now Jacqueline Harding will find a way to get under Tyler Owens's skin even if it kills her.

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ELLIE'S CORNER!
me publishing?? two things in one night it's shocking, the world is changing i'm on a grind also Kate and Jackie's friendship means the world to me, i fear this book is gonna be a hot mess of pain, chaos, and passion!  Jacqueline and Tyler are my pride & prejudice literally my entire inspiration.

word count: 1321 words