And then..it was over.
Nick threw the blanket off himself and stood up. Barely a tree stood standing. The house was in ruins as were the barn and everything else. It was then, Nick realized Taylor wasn't beside him anymore. "Taylor?," He called out.
'Oh no..where is she?! She was right there..I know she was!,' He thought as he started moving around.
Taylor opened her eyes to see the still gray skies above her. 'What happened?,' she wondered trying to sit up.
A sharp pain shot through her leg and she laid back down in the rubble. A peice of wood was covering the lower half of her bady. She looked around for Nick and saw him stand up.
"TAYLOR!!!," Nick screamed.
Taylor raised herself up as far as she could. "Nick!," She called waving her arm.
Nick turned at the call of his name and relief washed over his face. He ran as fast as he could to her. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know..get this off of me."
"Okay..," Nick nodded.
He lifted the heavy peice of wood off of her. "Now, can you move?," He asked.
She nodded and moved her leg. He helped her get up but she almost fell. "Okay..I guess I can't move..my knee really hurts.."
"You might of twisted it..we gotta get out of here..," He said putting an arm around her waist so she could stand better.
"Ya think? Umm..where's the house?"
"I think this is what's left of it..," He said looking around.
"Oh no..what about the others??," She asked worriedly.
"I'm sure they got to some place safe..we better start walking though..there's no neighbors for miles.."
She nodded and tried to stand up. But it hurt too much. Nick hoisted her up on his back, so he was giving her a piggy-back ride, and started to talk.
Nick was right, the others had found a safe place. Only the tornado didn't hit where they were. Kevin was in the first car, along with Marie and Howie. Behind them were AJ, Brian, Jane and Alicia. They were driving as fast as they could to Kevin's place. No one knew of the damage. AJ was in the backseat freaking out, "What if it did hit there and they didn't know?"
"AJ, calm down. I'm sure if it did, Nick and Taylor got in the basement in time..," Brian said.
"I hope so..I won't forgive myself if she's hurt.."
"AJ..just calm down.."
AJ nodded and looked out the window worriedly. Jane, who was driving, started to slow down. "Looks like theres a barricade up ahead guys..," She said.
AJ leaned forward, "Shit! We gotta get back there!"
Jane nodded and watched as Kevin talked with one of the police officers.
"Look, we really have to get back there. I live there and two of our good friends were at home when the tornado hit.., Kevin said to the police man.
"I understand that sir, but we can't let anyone through. There's trees and powerlines down. We're sending a car through as soon as its clear though.."
"So there's no way I can get me and my friends back there?"
"Not at this time..you're welcome to wait here and maybe go out on the car when its clear though.."
Kevin nodded and pulled the keys from the ignition. He got out and walked to the other car. "We can't get through..there's trees and powerlines down. He said we can maybe go out with a car when its clear..," He said leaning in the window.
"But, didn't you tell him about Nick and Taylor?," Alicia asked.
Kevin nodded, "Yeah..but we can't..all we can do is wait.."
AJ put his head in his hands, this wasn't happening..not now..not ever.
"Nick? Are you tired?," Taylor asked as they, or Nick, continued walking.
"Not really..I'm actually okay..you're really light..," He replied.
"Well..least I know I'm not fat.."
"You're not..are you sure you aren't hurt 'cept for your kneee?"
"I'm positive..umm..Nick, do you know your arm is bleeding?"
Nick stopped momentarily and looked at his elbow, he must of scrapped it somewhere. "So it is..its not that bad..we gotta keep going.."
"Shouldn't the police or someone send out some kind of car to see if people are alright?," She asked.
"Yeah..they should..hey, there's the road!," Nick exclaimed.
"Really?! YES!"
"Now we're rollin'!," Nick smiled as they walked on the semi-clear road.
Taylor rested her head against his shoulderblade and silently prayed that the others were okay.
An hour had nearly passed and the others were all sitting on or near the cars. The roads still weren't clear and AJ was about to rip off someone's head. Alicia leaned against Howie. "I hope they're alright..," She said quietly.
"Me too..I overheard one of the policemen say that they found two people dead.."
"Oh no.."
"Yeah..but I'm sure it wasn't Nick or Taylor. They had to of gotten to the basement.."
"I hope so..," She sighed and leaned back.
AJ leaned down and rubbed his face. Brian put a hand on his back, "Don't worry man, I'm sure they're alright.."
"I hope you're right Bri..I can't stand to live without her..and Nick is one of my best friends...I wouldn't know what to do without him cracking jokes all the time or Taylor telling me to take off my sunglasses..."
Brian smiled a little, "You really do love her, don't you?"
"You have no clue.."
"I've never seen you act this way Bone..its a new side of you.."
"I guess I've sorta changed..god, how much longer?!"
"It'll be soon AJ..don't freak now.."
AJ nodded and sighed.
Nick finally stopped to take a break, they had been walking for over an hour. Taylor leaned against a still standing tree. "Damn its hot..," Nick said wiping forehead.
"Yeah..it is.."
"You okay?"
She nodded, "As okay as I can be.."
"We'll be okay Taylor.."
She nodded again, "I know.."
Nick put her back up on his back and started walking again.
A policeman walked over to where AJ, Kevin, and Brian were sitting. "We've got a car ready..two of you can come if you'd like..," He said.
Kevin looked at Brian and nodded at him. They knew AJ would go anyways. They walked with the police officer to the car and got in. They drove past the others and the other cars and down the road, looking for any sign of people.
"Where's his place at anyways?," AJ asked Brian.
"I dunno..its all..so flat.."
AJ nodded, "How could anyone survive this?"
"Don't know.."
AJ leaned forward to the policeman, "Do you know what catagory the tornado was?"
"The radio said it was either a F-2 or F-3..
"Damn.."
Brian glanced out the window at the flattened trees and houses.
The policeman started to slow the car down, "There's some people walking.."
AJ and Brian both turned their attention in front of them. "Holy shit! Thats Nick!," Brian exclaimed.
The car had come to a complete stop at this point. "Taylor's behind him!," AJ exclaimed opening the door.
Nick and Taylor saw the car coming a long way back. "Is that a car?," Taylor asked pointing.
"Hell yeah it is!," Nick exclaimed.
Taylor smiled, "We're saved!"
Nick laughed, "Finally!"
AJ and Brian came running from the car. Nick put Taylor down and hugged Brian(author's note: guys can hug! lol). AJ hugged Taylor tightly. "I was so afraid I'd never see you again.," He whispered in her ear.
"Me too..I've never been so scared in my life.," She said.
He kissed her with all he had. He started to walk away, and for a split second, she forgot about her knee and tried to walk. Nick caught her just before she fell. "Whoops..I forgot..," She said sheepishly.
Brian smiled and hugged her, "You okay Taylor?"
"I think so..are you guys okay?"
"Yeah..the others are waiting back there.."
The policeman walked over with a smile, "So you're the two they've been worrying about..You two okay?"
Nick nodded, "I'm fine..she may of twisted her knee though.."
The policeman nodded, "Let's get you all in the car and we'll get you to the hospital.."
Brian and AJ helped Taylor into the car. Nick sat up front while Taylor was in betweem AJ and Brian.
When they got back to where the other's were, many hugs were exchanged. AJ rode with Taylor to the hospital in the ambulance that was waiting.
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