Chapter 12 #2
JJ nodded along. She’d wondered if the lesbian gene ran in the family, but maybe not.
It didn't sound like Brooke was necessarily into women, as much as it was experimenting. Or, well, fun as she’d described it.
Not that JJ was interested in Brooke. This walking red flag was the epitome of the wrong woman for her, even if she was objectively beautiful. JJ was on a break from dating anyway.
The sun slipped behind the clouds again and this time the sky grew dark and ominous. JJ blinked. Where had that come from?
“Ah, Brooke? I think we need to head back down. That”—she pointed over Brooke's shoulder—“doesn’t look good.”
She’d barely finished her sentence when the wind picked up. Gentle at first, then a gust that swept across the top of the jagged rocks, picking up loose hairs around Brooke’s face.
“Yeah, we gotta move.” Brooke dove into her backpack and just as JJ went to question her, she pulled out a small fluro sack.
“What’s that?”
“Waterproof bag cover. Everything you need to keep dry, stuff it in here.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“I'm not waiting around to find out.”
Bags packed and zipped, they had just started the mad scramble across the top of the ridge when the first drops hit.
“Ow,” JJ said, a stinging sensation hitting her body. That was some hard rain.
“Oh my god. Is that hail?” Brooke’s eyes rounded. “Okay, this is crazy, we need to move—now!”
JJ stumbled on a loose rock. Brooke’s firm hand grabbed hold of JJ’s with assuredness, helping her up and along the path. The hail fell harder, large droplets of rain joining in on the downpour.
“It's going to get slippery. Don't let go of my hand!”
JJ barely heard Brooke’s shout over the roar of the wild weather. A clap of thunder bellowed overhead. Brooke was right: this was insane. They were on top of a mountain in the middle of a thundering hailstorm. JJ’s family would freak if they could see what she was up to right now.
“Remember what I said about pivoting?” Brooke shouted, wiping droplets of rain from her face.
“Yeah?”
“We’re pivoting!”
She understood Brooke’s words. Unplanned surprises. She might not like them, but right now, they didn’t have a choice.
Brooke held on tight, fingers interlocked with JJ’s as they dashed as fast as possible without risking slipping.
Reaching the top of the descent, Brooke stopped and turned to JJ. “I think running down will be our best bet. Use the edges and large rocks for grip, and step sideways where you can. I’ve hiked in wet terrain, but not during an active downpour!”
“Got it.” She squeezed Brooke’s hand back in response with a sharp nod.
Gone were the moments of appreciating the view, taking in fresh air and slowing time.
This was life on fast forward, like listening to an audiobook on double speed.
Every step was a calculated dance. Left foot on the rock jutting out, right foot against the bank by a tree root, repeat.
She wiped the rain from her eyes over and over to keep her vision clear enough to see her next steps.
Once past the steepest and rockiest section, they were able to pick up the pace.
By this point they were both laughing at the sheer craziness of the situation, running full pelt down a mountain hand-in-hand.
Brooke’s grip never faltered, any jerk, any slip, and she was there.
They may be opposites in some ways, but at this moment, they were completely in sync.
The hail had, thankfully, been replaced by rain, but the thunder still roared in the distance.
The trail opened wide—they’d reached the base—but it was no place to catch their breath.
Instead, they ran, and ran, and ran—all the way back to their over-the-top tent.
They only stopped once they reached the alcove of the deck.
Brooke released her hand. In the post-adrenaline haze, JJ missed the warmth and support.
No matter what was thrown at them, Brooke took it in her stride.
If it were up to JJ, she’d probably still be up the top of the mountain planning the best way to get down.
Even now, Brooke’s face was bright and alive from the rush of it all.
Cheeks pink and hair plastered to her face from the rain, her ponytail barely intact.
JJ wanted to take a sip of that energy, to have even a taste of it for herself.
“I can’t believe how quick that rolled in.” Brooke bent in half, hands on knees, catching her breath.
“Right! That was one of the most dangerous but exciting things I’ve ever done.” She had to give it to Brooke, today was no ordinary day. A far cry from painting and patching walls at home. Her body still ached, but this time from living on the wild side, a breach from routine.
JJ shook out her hair, running a hand through the top. She had to look like an absolute mess. She was about to comment on it when she caught the odd look on Brooke’s face.
Almost as though her eyes were roaming over JJ’s body. But that couldn’t be right, could it?