Chasing the storm

Chapter 13:

(Rowan's POV –)

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I didn't care.

I didn't.

Not about Caleb. Not about Sienna snapping at me. Not about the way she rushed to his side like I was the villain here.

I was fine. Perfectly fine.

Which is why I stormed to the back of the gas station, grabbed a half-empty water bottle, and definitely didn't slam it down too hard.

---

I wasn't sulking.

I was just sitting in the farthest corner of the gas station, nursing a bruised ego and pretending I wasn't completely done with the people in this room.

Sienna was still sitting next to Caleb. Too close, if you asked me.

Which no one did.

Ava was whispering something to her brother, trying to make him relax. Oliver was digging through supplies, tossing random food cans onto the table. Mia? She was still watching me like she had me all figured out.

I scowled. "What?"

She tilted her head. "Nothing. Just wondering when you're gonna stop acting like a jealous idiot."

I laughed. "Jealous? That's cute."

She smirked. "Oh, it's hilarious. Really. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were about to rip Caleb's head off for sitting near your girl."

I tensed.

"She's not my girl."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you glaring at him like he just stole your wallet?"

I opened my mouth. Closed it. No answer.

Oliver snorted. "Come on, man. We all saw the way you looked when Sienna ran to help Caleb instead of you."

I groaned. "I hate this group."

Ava sighed, finally looking up. "Can we not start another fight? We should be focusing on what actually matters."

Sienna nodded, setting down the can she had been inspecting. "Ava's right. We should be talking about how we're going to survive this storm—not Rowan's temper tantrum."

I scoffed. "I'm not throwing a tantrum."

"You're literally brooding in the corner."

I ignored that.

"Fine," I muttered. "Since we're talking about survival, let's start with the obvious—we're running out of food."

Oliver groaned. "Don't remind me."

Sienna frowned. "There has to be something left in the storage rooms."

Mia shook her head. "We already checked. It's mostly empty."

Ava crossed her arms. "Then we have to go back out."

Everyone fell silent.

The last supply run nearly got me killed.

The storm had only gotten worse since then.

Caleb leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "It's too risky. We need a better plan."

"Agreed," Sienna muttered. "We can't just wander around in the storm hoping to find supplies. We need a clear route. Somewhere safe to search."

I rubbed a hand down my face. "Then we need a map."

Oliver perked up. "I actually found one earlier. An old road atlas behind the counter."

He pulled out a worn-out, crumpled map and spread it over the table.

We all leaned in.

"Alright," Sienna said. "Where's the closest place that might still have supplies?"

Oliver tapped the map. "Here. An abandoned fire station, a few miles west. Could have emergency rations."

Caleb frowned. "That's a long walk in a storm like this."

I smirked. "You scared, pretty boy?"

Caleb rolled his eyes. "I'd rather not get blown away in the wind, thanks."

Ava cut in before another argument started. "It's a risk. But it might be our best option."

Mia tapped her fingers against the table. "If we go, we should split up. Some of us get food, others look for actual shelter. This gas station won't hold forever."

Silence.

She was right.

Outside, the storm still raged. The walls groaned. The power flickered.

We didn't have much time.

"Fine," I muttered. "We go at first light."

Sienna nodded. "Agreed."

Caleb sighed, rubbing his temple. "We better not die for this."

Oliver grinned. "No promises."

---

We finally sat down for dinner. If you could even call it that.

Canned beans. Dry crackers. Some weird meat that Oliver swore was still edible.

Mia took a bite and nearly gagged. "This is the worst thing I've ever eaten."

Ava sighed. "At least we have food."

Rowan smirked. "Could be worse. Could be Sienna's cooking."

Sienna narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

I shrugged. "Remember the time you tried making pancakes and nearly burned the whole—"

"Shut up, Rowan."

Mia giggled. "Oh, I need to hear this story."

"NO," Sienna snapped.

Ava grinned. "I kinda want to hear it too."

Sienna shot me a death glare. I grinned back.

Then, of course, Caleb ruined my good mood.

"You talk a lot for someone who almost got himself killed this morning," he muttered.

The table fell silent.

I turned to him slowly. "What was that?"

Caleb didn't back down. "You heard me."

Ava groaned. "Oh, god. Not this again."

Sienna sighed, rubbing her temples. "Can we not?"

"No, let's," I said, standing up. "Let's talk about how I actually got food while you sat here doing nothing."

Caleb stood up too, getting in my face. "And let's talk about how you nearly died for it, genius."

I scoffed. "Aw, what's wrong? Care about me?!

His jaw clenched. "Yeah, I really want to be the idiot who gets himself killed for no reason."

I laughed. "Says the guy who acts like some self-righteous hero. What's your plan, huh? Wait for someone else to save you?"

Caleb took a step closer. "Keep pushing, Carter. See what happens."

Oh, I was so ready to push.

But before I could, Sienna slammed her hands on the table.

"BOTH OF YOU, SIT THE HELL DOWN."

We both turned.

She looked furious.

Ava sighed. "Thank god someone said it."

Sienna glared at us. "I don't have the patience for this. We have bigger problems than your macho ego contests."

Caleb scoffed. "Tell him that."

Sienna turned on him. "No. I'm telling both of you."

Silence.

I exhaled sharply.

Fine. Whatever.

Caleb muttered something under his breath and finally sat down.

I smirked. "Aw, what happened to 'see what happens,' tough guy?"

Sienna kicked my leg under the table.

Hard.

I coughed. "Okay. Message received."

Dinner continued in tense silence.

But as I glanced at Sienna—at the way her fingers twitched like she wanted to strangle me—I realized something.

This storm?

Not the worst thing I'd have to survive.

Not when Sienna Vale looked like she was two seconds away from killing me herself.

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