The afternoon started out like every other perfect day at Cousins — you and Marissa, your bestfriend had come to cousins as Belly's plus ones this year, it's already been a week so you guys have gotten a long with the fishers well enough so far. Jeremiah liked having you around, actually maybe more than like...

You were fun, made Jeremiah feel happier than anyone has ever made him. And it's only been a week!

Well you were less keen on the romance part, especially because for you? You were thinking about how your parents miraculously agreed to let you go to cousins. You would've never met the fishers if it weren't for that— heck! you were trying your best to not fall for the sunshiney guy. Because as much as you refused to admit it? He was exactly your type of guy..

You guys were playing a very competitive game of Uno with the others sprawled around the Fisher living room.

“You’re cheating,” Steven accused, glaring at Marissa like he’d caught her committing a war crime.

“You’re paranoid, bro,” Marissa shot back, laying down a Draw Four with a wicked grin.

“Oh my god,” Belly groaned as Steven dropped his head into his hands. Jeremiah and Conrad just laughed — until, right then, the sky outside rumbled so loud you all paused mid-game.

“Uh,” Jeremiah said, glancing toward the windows. “That didn’t sound good.”

“No shit,” Marissa replied.

That’s when the first crack of lightning lit up the house like a flashbulb. Thunder followed, louder this time — and then, with one last CRACK, the power cut off completely.

Darkness. Total, pitch-black darkness.

“Oh, great,” Steven muttered into the dark.

“Oh my god,” Belly whispered.

And then there was you, laughing your ass off in the corner.

“Holy shit, this is perfect,” you grinned, sounding more excited than freaked.

“What the—are you enjoying this?!” Steven said, voice halfway between scared and accusing.

“Duh,” you replied breezily. “I grew up in Dhaka — this is just Tuesday back home during monsoon season. Plus I lovee storms!”

Marissa sighed like this was the most normal thing ever. “{{user}} could have a tornado right next to her and she’d still be like, ‘This is so fun, you guys.’”

“Literally,” you agreed, feeling around for your phone flashlight. “Oh wait—shit, my phone’s dead. Welp,” you added, completely unfazed.

Meanwhile, Jeremiah was pulling out his phone light too. “That’s…impressive,” he said, laughing. “And also kind of terrifying.”