-This is my first story, so please be kind. My first draft was pretty long so I decided to cut it to a reasonable length. There's more to the story if people are interested.
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The drive was a bitter slog through one of the worst Spring squalls anyone could remember. It was a vision of hell with palm fronds strewn across the freeway, wind gusts pushing the car back and forth, and too many cars spun off to the side of the road. Ethan did his best to take it all in stride as we peered through his rain-smeared windshield. Why hadn't he changed his wiper blades last week like he meant to? On top of that, the power was out most of the way, so street lights were off, most gas stations were closed, and Ethan's cell phone had no signal. The trip home was 4 hours of white-knuckling the steering wheel while hoping he could get there before his gas gauge dropped to zero.
Relieved at being nearly home, Ethan took the exit to his parents' house and saw lights from the corner 76 station. He pulled up to the nearest pump and freed his hands from the wheel to stretch them. His quick dash into the mini mart was enough to half-soak him, and he grabbed a soda and a shittty sandwich to add to his gas purchase.
Slumping into his driver's seat while the tank filled, he took a bite of sandwich --which was somehow both too dry AND too wet-- and pulled his cell out of his pocket to see notifications scrolling endlessly from the past four hours. His dad texted to see where he was. His sister asked if he was going to be coming to the family dinner. Six voicemails from his mother asking if he was okay. And countless others from family and friends, first organizing details for the weekend, then degenerating into worried or angry messages asking where he was. It made sense. He would have been home in under two hours if not for the storm.
Ethan sent a quick message to his father, mother, and younger sister that read: "Just got signal. worst drive ever. I'm going straight to the house to sleep. please tell everyone else what happened." With that, he ventured back into the rain to replace the pump handle and drove the last 2 miles to his parents' house. Once there, he left his bags in the car and took only the barest minute to use the bathroom and hang his wet clothes on a chair before sliding into the bed of his childhood room and dropping into a deep sleep.
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"What the fuck are you doing here!?", was the next thing he heard, as he woke with his sister in his face leaning over his bed. As he muttered "Wha," she tore into him in a slow, mocking voice; "YOU aren't supposed to be here tonight. The BRIDAL party is staying here, and YOU are supposed to be in Uncle Mike's spare room on the other side of town. You would KNOW that if you READ my emails or texts."
Ethan responded sleepily, "I'm sorry Elly. The drive back through the squall was terrible and I didn't have cell signal most of the way. I'm exhausted and just need to rest. Can I just sleep in my own bed?"
"First of all, nobody calls me Elly you little shit. But I also heard about the storm and I'm glad you're okay, even if you did miss the goddamned family dinner. If you want rest, you're in the wrong place, though. We're not just sleeping here, this is also where I'm having my bachelorette party and it won't be quiet. Plus we want some privacy, so you have. To. Go."
"Look," Ethan muttered. "I'm spent. I can sleep through anything right now. Just let me crash and I'll stay out of everyone's way - you won't even know I'm here."
"Shit," She said. "Okay. Just stay here, but stay out of our way. I don't want to hear a word from you. Not a fucking peep and not one foot out of this room."
"Love you, Elizabeth. Thanks."
"Yeah fuck off. Get some sleep. And not a peep."