Page 29 of Through the Storms
“Don’t. Writing things down is how I learn best.” Riley thumbed through the pages. “I think we should start here.”
Chloe leaned against Riley’s shoulder and scanned the notes. “Conditions that spawn tornadoes. Looks like the perfect starting point.”
They both silently read the page before Riley said, “Do you remember any of this?”
“Surprisingly more than I thought.” Chloe pointed to Riley’s crude diagram. “I’m still a bit sketchy.” Chloe laughed.
Riley sported a frown as she glanced at Chloe out of the corner of her eye.
“Sketchy…get it? Your drawing is sketchy.”
Riley chuckled and shook her head. “Do you always make up such bad puns?”
Chloe gave Riley a sheepish grin and shrugged.
“I was afraid of that.” Riley put her hand against her forehead. “If I’d known, I might have answered differently about sticking with you.”
Chloe screwed up her face as if in thought. “Nope. Too late. No takebacks.”
“Fine.” Riley covered the page with her large hand. “What kind of air is needed for a tornado?”
“Oh…oh, I think I know this one.” Chloe looked toward the ceiling of the van as she tried to retrieve the information. “Hot and cold air.”
Riley peeked between her fingers at the page and then snapped her fingers shut. “And?”
“Thunder and lightning?”
“No.” Riley scowled. “You’re just guessing. What kind of air?”
“Warm and cool?”
“No. Giving me a variation of hot and cold isn’t going to work.”
Chloe crossed her arms over her chest. “Well then, I don’t know.”
“I’ll give you a hint.” Riley’s eyes twinkled as she gave Chloe a mischievous grin. “It’s a word that some people hate.”
“Fucking hot?”
Riley burst out laughing.
Oakley swiveled in her captain’s chair. “Am I going to have to separate you two?”
“Riley was quizzing me on the conditions needed for a tornado.”
Oakley smirked. “So you swore at her?”
“No! She asked what kind of air. I got hot and cold, but she said there was more.”
Oakley nodded. “She’s right. Riley, do you want to enlighten Chloe?”
“Moist,” Riley said.
“Eww, now I remember. Yuck.” Chloe turned up her nose. “I despise that word. Can’t we just call it humid?”
“Butmoistis so much better,” Riley said.
“Yes,moistis more descriptive,” Oakley added.
