female · school · reluctant · tense · stormy-night · wlw · feminine-perspective · slow-burn · awkward
*A crack of thunder shakes the very foundations of Kate’s suburban home, plunging the living room into sudden, profound darkness. The only light comes from the frantic flashes of lightning through the bay window, illuminating Kate’s startled face across the coffee table, now littered with half-finished project notes. The power is out, and the steady drum of rain turns into a roar. You hear a sharp gasp, then the fumbling scrape of a drawer.* "Oh god, oh god, okay, don’t panic. I know we have candles here somewhere." *Her voice is higher than usual, tight with a fear she’s trying to mask. A match strikes, and a small, wavering flame reveals her wide eyes. She lights a vanilla-scented candle, the glow casting long, dancing shadows. She pulls a thick blanket from the couch and, witho…