CHAPTER ONE.
SNACK DUTY

If there were two things that everyone knew about KASSIDY LAINEY it was that she absolutely hated science. It was confusing and hard and every time she even looked at a science book she felt like her head was going to explode.

The second thing? Kassidy Lainey hated being called anything besides Kit. No one knew how the nickname started. She never explained it, but since the age of 10, it was the only thing that she responded to.

The truth was the origin of the nickname all went back to the Sapulpa Rodeo. Kit had been crowned Junior Rodeo Queen and was doing a lap on her horse. To her luck just as the cameras pointed at her she fell off, landing flat on her back in front of the entire crowd. Kit considered it to be one of the most humiliating moments of her life.

The moment of humiliation, however, didn't last. In fact, within seconds it slowly became a memory she would never forget, in a good way. Because when she was sitting at a picnic table, holding an ice back to the back of her head, a girl her age skipped up towards her. Her blonde hair was chopped just above her shoulders while she tilted her head and the first thing Kit noticed was the way she smiled. At 10 years old, Kit didn't understand the butterflies that filled her stomach but she took them as a bad thing which is why she had scowled at the girl asking what was so funny.

"I didn't say something was funny," the girl shrugged and sat next to her. "But you did fall off a horse into the mud," She giggled. Kit's eyes narrowed and she looked down at her boots. "Sorry didn't mean to laugh at you. I'm Kate." the girl- Kate offered her hand and Kit stared at it. When she didn't shake it, Kate pulled back and shrugged. "You going to tell me your name or I gotta guess?"

"Didn't you hear it when I fell? They said it real loud." Kit muttered the last part.

"Nah, I was distracted 'cause it's going to rain."

Kit narrowed her eyes confused. It wasn't even cloudy out? The sky was mostly full of stars.

"So what's your name? Or do I have to keep calling you First Aid Kit in my head." she giggled again and Kit sighed taking the ice pack off her head.

"Kassidy." Kate crinkled her nose and shook her head.

"I don't like it. I like Kit better."

"That ain't my name."

"It is now." Kate and Kit stared at each other. Kate with a bright smile on her face, and Kit with a scowl that after a few seconds turned to a little smile before Kate kept talking. Something about the rain, which sure enough showed up just minutes later- causing the rodeo to scatter when the sound of the tornado sirens was let out. Kit always wanted to know how she knew it was going to rain, but when Kate tried to explain it, the only thing she could feel was confusion.

After that day Kassidy Lainey became Kit and Kit became Kit & Kate. The girls found each other in school and grew up thick as thieves. Kate was the scientist who would one day save the world. Kit was the one who played the music like it was a soundtrack to their lives.

Kassidy Lainey was 10 years old when she met Kate Carter. She was 15 years old when she realized that she was in love with Kate Carter. And at 18 years old when Kate met Jeb? Kassidy Lainey realized that Kate Carter would never love her back.

....

Eventually Kit pushed her feelings to the side. It was painful but she realized that what really mattered was having Kate in her life. So when Kate showed up at a small country bar she was singing with a guy to set her up with? Kit figured 'Why not?'

That was how she met Connor Forbes. A small-town boy. When Kit met him she fell hard and she fell fast. Swooped up in the romance of it all.

It was her relationship with him that was how she ended up here. Sitting in the back of an old van, curled up in an old sleeping bag she'd stolen from her little brother. She had two days until the biggest performance of her life all the way down in Nashville.

Connor & Kate had conspired to get her out here, claiming it would help her nerves. It had taken a good 2 days for them to get her to agree - she wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of chasing a tornado. Still, she had agreed, under the condition that she could bring her guitar - a gift that Connor had gotten her for their first anniversary. She would stay back and play them music while they went off to "Tame a tornado."

She was half asleep when she heard Kate's voice coming loudly towards them. Amit stirred, pulling the sleeping bag tighter while leaning into Connor's grasp. His chin rested on the top of her head and his arms wrapped around her waste.

"Tell Kate to shut up," He mumbled tiredly into her hair. Kit giggled and shook her head, blinking as she tried to force herself awake. She moved to sit up but Connor pulled her back down. "No. I want 5 more minutes."

With a small roll of her eyes, Kit lightly whacked her boyfriend and sat up. She turned to press a kiss to his cheek before unzipping the sleeping bag as Kate spoke once again, this time she honked the horn while shouting a little louder. Connor raised the sleeping bag on his face and let out a string of curses. 

"Storms here, guys! Let's go." Kate's voice rang out and Kit moved, trying to keep up with her pace. It didn't work very well. "Guys, come on!"

Kit could simultaneously hear groans as everyone woke up. A grin made its way up her face and she moved, following Kate's lead while tearing the sleeping bag their friend Javi had on, off.

"I went way too hard last night." the boy spoke, he had sunglasses on his face despite having just woken up and Kit raised her eyebrows watching as he put the sleeping bag back on.

"This is why you don't drink the night before a presentation Rivera." the girl grinned taking the sleeping bag off of him once again. "Come on, let's go!"

She moved back towards the van, reaching into her backpack to pull out a sweatshirt she'd stolen from Connor. Technically he brought him for himself, but what were girlfriends for if not to steal your hoodies?"

She pulled on her boots and pulled the sweatshirt over her head, before turning to see Kate and Jeb recording.

"Don't make me laugh. Stop it." Kate giggled at Jeb who was grinning behind the camera.

"What are you doing Kate?" Kit called out, the grin on her face had widened and Kate sent her a look. It was clear she was still trying hard not to laugh.

"Today, our science team from The Tornado Tamer Project is out in the field, about to chase a storm southwest of us." Kate began her explanation, the evidence of a giggle still in her voice. She was pointing towards the gathering clouds in the distance, using it as an explanation.
"Our experiment is designed to decrease the moisture inside of a tornado to see if we can make it collapse."

Kit continued her listening on to the conversation. A fascination in her eyes as she tried to understand exactly what the team was saying. She wouldn't lie- sometimes she felt left out around the geniuses - but she could count on Kate to explain it to her in simpler terms later.

"Diapers!" Addy's voice entered the conversation and Kit giggled. The younger girl flushed as the camera was pointed at her. 

"What?" Kate's eyes narrowed a little, looking at Addy confused.

"Tell them it's the same stuff they use in diapers."

"Oh yeah." Kate turned back to the camera that was flipping between her and Addy quickly.

"It's non-toxic." The camera pointed at Addy again and this time she walked quickly across the camera, where Kit was holding a bottle of water and a protein bar for her. Snack duty. That's what Kit had claimed as her job when they convinced her to come out. They were here to do the science, she was here to bring the food.

Walking towards Praveen - another team member - Kit passed him a protein bar and peaked over his shoulder. She made a face while looking at the computer and then rested her chin on Praveen's shoulder raising her eyes at him.

"What does this mean?" She blinked with a tiny smile on her face, hoping he'd be willing to explain. To her luck, he chuckled before speaking.

"It means that the Doppler isn't picking up storms until the afternoon." Kit beamed immediately.

"Well, what do the scanners really know? Kate here's our storm whisperer. She knows all." She waved her hands in the air as if it was a spooky message before twirling around to go back to Connor.

Addy made a similar comment and Kit motioned to her showing that she wasn't the only one with that thought and Javi looked between them tiredly. The sunglasses rested on his face but you could still see the irritated look in his eyes. Kit waved at him a little and shrugged her shoulders. He popped three advils into his mouth at once in response.

The girl grinned a little more as she went back to the cooler, pulling out a Gatorade and some chips and tossing them towards Javi. Hangover food was the one thing she made sure to bring extra. She knew sometimes Javi went a little overboard.

"Yo Praveen," the boy in front of her spoke up, after sending her a rather grateful look for the snacks. "Dorothy's not a desk," maybe it was just because he was hungover, but Javi seemed extra irritated today. Honestly part of Kit assumed that it was due to how coupley Kate & Jeb were acting. Unlike Kit who had accepted a long time ago that her feelings for Kate wouldn't be reciprocated, Javi hadn't and he was still clearly pining for the blonde scientist.

Praveen shot Javi a lol and rolled his eyes, but listened and removed his laptop from the machine known as Dorothy. Kit knew what it was, she'd watched a rather interesting documentary on how it came to be once. It was the only way she knew anything about tornadoes without having to ask Kate.

Kit shook her head a little at the antics before turning to see Kate moving to grab the camera from Jeb. Instead, she stepped in and shook her head.

"Get in your video, Carter." The sandy-colored hair girl spoke. "It's your project." Kate smiled at her and jumped back towards the group that had gathered. "Okay." she nodded and pointed, signaling they could go.

"You know what today is?" Kate shouted.

"The day we tame a tornado!" The group shouted back before launching into cheers. Kit kept the camera on everyone as they cheered but Kate moved, grabbing the camera before turning it to face everyone, including Kit.

"What are we doing?" She called out one more time. The entire team understood and immediately spoke again, allowing Kit to join in this time.

"The day we tame a tornado!"

Kit stepped back from Kate and grinned at her while shaking her head. She then grabbed a protein bar and handed it to her. Kate made a face, she didn't like protein bars. "Eat." was all Kit said, looking sternly at her best friend, before she broke into a smile as her boyfriend walked towards her. His eyes fell down to his sweatshirt and he rolled his eyes before wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her towards his chest.

"Now what are you doing in that?" He teased looking down at her with a grin. She almost couldn't see his eyes from the way his cowboy hat fell.

"What this old thing?" She moved to twirl for him but he kept his arm around her and rolled his eyes. The grin didn't leave his face. "I just thought I'd borrow it. It'll let everyone in Tennessee know I'm taken."

She didn't miss the way Connor's grin turned into a smirk. She leaned forward and he met her halfway, their lips pressing together. It felt like fireworks every time they kissed. Kit had never had that in a relationship before.

"You're coming with us by the way," He let go of her waist and pulled her in the direction of the van they were taking chasing. Her eyes widened.

"What?" She pulled her hand back and he grinned, grabbing hold of her other one.

"Come on Kassidy, it'll be fun." Kit stared at him like he was insane.  He moved closer to her. "Last chance before you join the big leagues of country music." Her heart skipped a beat.

"Fine. but I'm bringing my guitar." He leaned forward and kissed her again, taking her face between his hands. She giggled a little more and then pulled back. Not before taking off his hat and resting it on her own. He stared at her for a moment and her smile widened. "Let's go cowboy." And within a second she was past him leaving him staring at her from behind, his eyes staring at her in adoration. 

"You stole my hat!" He jogged, following her.

"Yeah ain't there some rule about that?"

....

The wind was blaring through the windows of the truck. Kit was squished between Praveen and Addy, Connor had taken place on the floor, sitting casually as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

"Kate is as right, southeast winds are picking up."  Kit could tell, it felt like Lise was getting louder, especially with the windows rolled down.

"It's building up," Jeb noted.

Over her shoulders Praveen looked at Addy, giving her an odd look while explaining that the apparent "Mississippi Technique." wasn't a real thing.  Kit couldn't focus as at the same time  Kate picked up her phone.

Kit tried to hear it in both conversations. That only gave her a headache.

"Is everyone with you?" She zeroed in on Kate's phone call at the same time as Jeb, hearing Kate's mom Cathy, speak.

"Hey, Mrs. Carter!" Everyone spoke in unison.

"You have extra voices in there?"  Cathy questioned and Kate's smile brightened.

"Kit's here with us today!" Cathy chuckled over the phone.

"Well be safe! There's barbecue at the house when you're done." Kate hung up the phone and relayed the message to the team. Which again, resulted in cheers.

The clouds began to circle, forming into funnel clouds as Kit ignored the storm jargon that everyone else was saying. She didn't really pay much attention to any of it until Addy had grabbed her to bring her out the window.

"Addy what-"

"Just embrace it," The girl spoke taking a picture as Praveen chastised them to get them to come in. Addy eventually listened, which meant Kit - who was rather enjoying it - had to go back in to. She had a wide smile on her face and was still holding Connor's hat to her head.

It was seconds later that rain started and Kit looked out the window once more. She couldn't help but think about how pretty it was when the sky looked the way it did now.

....

Kit continued watching the sky even as they parked. They were talking about stuff related to the storms in the background, but she was more focused on the clouds. Did they always move this fast?

Her eyes continued wandering, as she walked over to where the team was setting up, arguing about whether they really needed the data or not.

"Look, look, if you make a tornado vanish with this," Javi pointed at the science projected. "But you don't get the data with this," He motioned to Dorothy. "Who's gonna believe it?"

It was a good way to think about it Kit supposed. If they wanted to be able to get a grant they needed the data.

"Fine, get us the numbers. Whatever we need to win a big fat grant." Kit chuckled, moving to pull out her guitar, strumming it a little as she listened to her friends. Connor stood next to her, arm around her shoulder, and watched.

....

Eventually, she put it away as they finished setting up the project. Kit was tempted to just stay back with Javi, but when Connor looked at her with his puppy dog eyes? She had to give in. Which is why she was now sitting in the same seat as before. Only this time she was headed into a tornado.

The more they drove into it, the more nervous Kit got. Her stomach was turning and the only comfort she had was Connor holding her hand.

"Uh, got a CAPE of 4,000, 100 knots gate-to-gate wind shear aloft," Praveen spoke as the drove fast.

"Come on." Kate pleaded looking at the sky.  "Give us a nice respectable EF1. I mean, EF2, we'll take it." God, Kit really didn't know why she was here. This felt so incredibly dangerous.

"Well, an EF2 would be too big."  

"You have no faith, Praveen." Kate grinned back at him and Kit shook her head.

"No, I actually agree with him," Praveen thanked her, motioning around them. Connor chuckled and shook his head.

The storm seemed to be getting bigger the more they drove. Kit watched as the anticipation in Kate's eyes grew and she smiled. She was terrified, but seeing Kate's fascination made it a little easier.

When suddenly debris started coming towards them, Kit squeezed Connor's hand. Her nerves were becoming more and more and when the next words left Kate's mouth, her eyes widened.

"It's behind us." The tornado- the tornado was behind them. Was that a bad thing? It was probably a bad thing, right?

"Should I drive faster?" Jeb asked and Kit so badly wanted to say yes. She didn't. This was Kate's project she couldn't make it about just a bad feeling she had.

"No, no, no. We've got to drop the barrels in its path." Okay, maybe she should have really asked her boyfriend or best friend what they were getting into.

Frankly, Praveen asking if they were going to see the path felt like a final straw for Kit. She couldn't say anything though, so she just clenched her teeth and swallowed harshly.

It didn't help that minutes after Praveen had said this, suddenly a hay bale came towards them. Smashing the window and causing Jeb to slam on the brakes and pull them to the side, leading off into a field. Kit closed her eyes and leaned back. A hand squeezed hers, and she opened her eyes to see Connor, but instead, it was Kate looking back at her with a supportive smile. Kit tried to smile back, but she couldn't.

"I didn't realize this was so fun," she managed to let out as they stopped. Her panic only grew when Kate moved to get out of the vehicle. She didn't want to move but when Kate ran back towards the barrels, Kit moved to follow. She wasn't going to let Kate go out there alone.
"Kate what the hell?" She shouted through the rain. Her hand was placed firmly on the hat she had on her head.

"It's spilling, hurry!" Kit looked at her friends before going forward to try and help.

"You can't lift it, you need some sort of leverage." Kit tried to say looking at them. She wasn't always the best at science but this one thing she knew.

At her words, Jeb moved and grabbed a broken piece of fence nearby. He used it, pushing underneath the barrels as everyone moved to lift it. They managed to get it up and everyone cheered. Kit shook her head a little trapped in a daze and Connor moved to wrap his arm around her.

"Nice job," he complimented and she rolled her eyes but laughed nonetheless. She leaned in towards him and smiled as Praveen undid the trailer from the van as Addy started Dorothy.

"We're clear," Praveen said and for a brief moment, everyone was happy. Until the clouds began moving faster and darkening as they did.
"We gotta go now," Everyone was in agreement as they filed back into the van. Panicking increasing the tension of the space.

For a second it felt like everything was going to be okay as the contents of the barrel lifted into the air. Kit watched in amazement as it happened, listening to the celebration.

"We did it, Kate!" Jeb glanced at her and Kate looked at him happily. Kit's eyes never left where the barrels had been. "Wait it's getting closer." Kate looked back and forth, panic filling her voice.

"But the polyacrylate should be active by now," Her stomach dropped. Fear was slowly growing.

"Holy Shit," Javi cursed and it grabbed everyone's attention. "This can't be right."

Kit tried to remain calm, she held onto Connor and Kate's hands. She took deep breaths, but nothing was working.

"Javi talk to us," Addy demanded, even fear hinting into her voice.

"Sensors just shot up 70,000 feet." The boy responded. Kit couldn't breathe.

"Uh, the... the NEXRAD velocity, is 200 miles per hour." Praveen chimed in.

"No what? That's impossible?" Connor moved to look at the sensors, but his hand didn't let go of Kit's.

"Unless it's an EF5," The world froze around everyone. Javi told them to drive. It didn't work There was too much rain and too much debris, so it was no surprise when they swerved off the road into a field, this time with no way out.

An overpass in the distance is what caught Praveen's eye and everyone stared.

"I thought overpasses were bad in tornadoes?" Kit spoke, her voice shaky as she looked at Kate.

"They're the worst." But it was the only thing in miles, of them. It was the only spot they had a chance at surviving.

The tornado came into view and Kit let out a gasp. She would've thrown up if not for Connor who was holding her tightly.

"This car's gonna fly," Jeb spoke and they all knew what they had to do, pushing to get out of the vehicle. The second she was out the door, Connor's hat flew off Kit's head. She didn't try to hold it on this time.

Javi was trying to speak over the rodeo, his voice full of worry and panic.

"Guys, you have to get out of there." When he got no response he slammed his rodeo down.

They tried running. The wind making it hard. No one even saw when Praveen was lifted by the winds.

Connor still had his hand in Kit's. He was holding it tightly and pulling them quickly as they ran. He kept glancing back at Addy, trying to reach for her too. When they got to the overpass, they climbed, the grip being nearly impossible because of the wind and the rain. Connor grabbed the bar and moved to pull Kit and Addy up. Kit held her place and urged Addy to go up.

"She's your sister," she called through the rain. Connor looked terrified, but all he could do was reach his hand out. Kit made her way, her fingers barely grabbing the bar and she too reached down just as Connor and Kate did, to try and get Addy up.

"Help me!" Addy screamed a terror Kit had never seen before. "Kate," she shouted, close to reaching her hand. And the debris came out of nowhere, knocking her away.

"No," Kit screamed and Connor was frozen, watching Addy be torn away. He didn't waste any time, moving to grab Kit and pull her up completely. His own grip was loose, but Kit was too distracted to notice. Until he was slipping away, his grip losing on the bar. Kit held his hand. She would hold it for as long as she could.

"I love you," Connor spoke and Kit felt tears in her eyes. She tried to hold onto him but he shook his head. "If you don't let go we both die," Kit refused and the winds grew faster as his grip lost completely on the bar and his hand left hers. She screamed once more and tried to reach out when suddenly a large piece of metal met her arm, slicing the top of it and suddenly, the feeling in her fingers was gone. My fingers were still there, but the feeling was gone. She pulled her arm back and tried to hold on tightly to the bar. Her arm stinging from the dirt flying into her open injury.

She didn't know if Kate was okay, or Jeb. Connor, Addy, and Praveen were gone. All she could do was hold the bar, trying to force herself not to sob. She tried to mumble a song under her breath, hoping it would help. But as the words to "A Little Bit Stronger" left her mouth quietly, her sobs began more. The wind was roaring and she could only sob, holding onto the bar as tightly as humanly possible, for as long as she could.

....

Kit didn't know how long it lasted. It felt like an eternity. Until the sounds of birds made her open her eyes. Her body ached and she still couldn't feel her fingers on her right hand. Her stomach still turned with anxiety even as she let go of the bar and slid down. There was nothing except garbage around. No people, no bodies, nothing. Kit almost would've thought she had died too, but then her eyes landed on a limping Kate in the distance.

"Kate," she tried to call out. Her voice was weak from the sobs and screams. "Kate," she managed a little louder until Kate stopped and turned her head. At the site of Kit, she broke into hears - still not making a sound. Kit made her way towards her, eventually collapsing into her and holding on. Kate didn't speak and neither did Kit as they leaned on each other. Neither of them would say anything. Kate's hand tentatively touched the large cut on her thigh, and Kit's hanging as the blood dripped down her wrist.

The police showed up and they were torn apart. Neither girl wanted to let go and tried to hold onto the other with the fear that if they were to let go- they two would be torn away from the tornado just as their friends had been. However, the paramedics were more focused on their injuries. Honestly Kit didn't even hear what they were saying. She couldn't, she was too busy thinking about the people they had lost. 6 of them went in, 2 of them came out.

....

Kit was unconscious for 2 days before she woke up. She tried to see Kate, but Kate took longer. When she did wake up, Kit was sleeping. Kate was out of the hospital and on a plane to New York within a month. She never told Kit goodbye.

Javi was there the whole time. The two of them working to get through it. Then Javi left, to the military of all places. Kit was mad, she had told him so. Told there were a million ways to find help without joining the goddamn military. He didn't listen and he was on the flight to BootCamp within the week.

It took Kit Lainey 1 year before she could use her hand again after the nerve damage caused by the tornado. It took her 1 month to figure out she couldn't play music anymore. And it took her 2 years before Kit packed up a bag and moved to Arkansas. A place where she landed herself a job and a new home. Kate never called her, so Kit left her alone. And Kit Lainey never made it to Tennessee.

....

note.
okay for the record i didn't think it was going to get this long. but it's at almost 5k words. no other chapter will be this long. do you prefer longer or shorter chapters?
this is just the beginning and i'm going to try and update every night until it's finished.
let me know what you think? do you want a chapter where kit meets the wranglers and joins them? or or do you just want me to jump in and have her already be apart of them?
let me know.

r.i.p addy, praveen, jeb and also connor. r.i.p connor, you were a great boyfriend and i'm sorry i killed you.

vote, comment. let me know what you think. idk, i hope you like this story!