Chasing the storm

Chapter 14: The Breaking Point

(Sienna's POV )

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I was going to lose my mind.

The storm outside? The lack of food? The constant fear that we wouldn't make it?

Yeah, none of that compared to the absolute nightmare of being trapped in this gas station with Rowan Carter and Caleb Foster acting like a couple of overgrown toddlers.

Dinner was officially ruined because of their stupid fight.

Caleb was brooding, his jaw tight, his knuckles white as he picked at his food.

Rowan?

He was leaning back in his chair, smirking, arms crossed, acting like he didn't have a single regret in the world.

I wanted to strangle both of them.

Ava sighed beside Caleb, rubbing her temples. "You both need to stop."

"Tell him that," Caleb muttered, stabbing his fork into a can of beans like it had personally offended him.

I groaned. "Caleb, enough."

Rowan snorted. "Huh. That's new. Usually, I'm the one getting yelled at first."

I turned to him, deadpan. "Don't get too comfortable. You're next."

His smirk didn't waver. "Oh, sweetheart, I wouldn't expect anything less."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Great. So we're all just going to be miserable now?"

"Apparently," Oliver muttered. "Guess it beats starving."

Mia, who had been watching the whole thing like it was prime entertainment, finally spoke. "I hate to break it to you guys, but if we're planning on surviving this, you're gonna have to figure out how to actually work together."

Caleb scoffed. "Not happening."

Rowan grinned. "Yeah, no thanks."

I slammed my fork onto my plate. "I swear to God—"

Ava cut in quickly, her voice firm. "Okay, okay. Let's all just take a breath."

Caleb exhaled sharply. Rowan just grinned wider, because of course he did.

I turned to him.

"You're impossible," I muttered.

Rowan winked. "And yet, you still put up with me."

I clenched my jaw. "Unfortunately."

Caleb muttered something under his breath, shaking his head.

And then?

Rowan's smirk vanished.

"Say that again?" he said, his voice dangerously low.

Caleb looked up, meeting his glare. "I said—"

"Okay, we're done," I cut in quickly, shoving back from the table. "Caleb, go cool off. Rowan, go be annoying somewhere else."

Rowan's eyes flicked to mine, amusement flickering through them.

"Jealous, sweetheart?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Jealous of what?"

He leaned in, his voice dropping. "Of the attention I'm giving your new best friend?"

I scoffed. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet, here we are," he muttered.

I wanted to argue. Wanted to tell him he was being insane.

But before I could, Caleb pushed away from the table and stood.

"I'm done with this," he muttered. "I need air."

Ava groaned. "Caleb—"

But he was already walking toward the back of the station.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

Oliver leaned back in his chair. "Welp. That went well."

Mia chuckled. "This is better than TV."

I shot her a look. "Glad you're entertained."

She grinned. "You and Rowan have way too much tension for your own good."

My face heated. "There's no tension."

Rowan snorted. "Yeah, okay, sweetheart."

I turned back to him, eyes narrowing. "You think everything is a joke, don't you?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You don't? You've been glaring at me like you wanna murder me for, what, two days now?"

I crossed my arms. "I don't want to murder you. I just wish you had one ounce of self-awareness."

He smirked. "That's adorable. You think I care."

I groaned. "Why are you like this?"

His smirk faltered. Just for a second.

Then? It was back.

"Because it's easier," he muttered.

I blinked.

That… wasn't the answer I expected.

But before I could ask him what the hell that meant, Oliver clapped his hands together.

"Alright, enough emotional drama for one night. Can we actually plan something? Or are we just going to keep throwing glares at each other until the storm eats us alive?"

I sighed, dragging a hand down my face. "Fine. Let's plan."

---

We all gathered around the old map, the same one Oliver had pulled out earlier.

"The fire station is still our best bet," Oliver said. "It's not too far, and if we time it right, we might be able to avoid the worst of the storm."

Caleb had come back, standing near Ava with his arms crossed. "And if it's already been looted?"

"Then we go to the hospital," Rowan said, surprisingly serious. "They might have food, medical supplies—"

"And bodies," Mia muttered. "If this storm is as bad as it looks, people might've already tried taking shelter there."

Silence.

She wasn't wrong.

Ava shifted. "So… what's the move?"

I inhaled slowly. "We split up. Half of us go to the fire station. The other half checks out the hospital."

Rowan nodded. "Agreed."

Caleb sighed. "I don't like this."

"You don't have to," Rowan said. "Just don't slow us down."

Caleb's jaw clenched. "You're really asking for another fight, aren't you?"

Rowan grinned. "You say that like I wouldn't win."

I groaned. "Both of you shut up."

Mia snickered. "There she goes again, keeping the peace."

I ignored her.

"Tomorrow morning, we move," I said. "No fighting, no drama. Just focus. Got it?"

Rowan looked at me for a long moment.

Then?

He smirked. "Whatever you say, sweetheart."

I sighed.

This was going to be a long night.

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