Thunder In Paradise (Chapter 5)
"C'mon, get uuuup." Sandra smiled down at Thunder, shaking her as she groaned and pulled the covers over her head. "Oh, nuh uh." Sandra moved to the foot of the bed, ripping the blankets and sheets off from over Thunder, throwing them in the corner,"Get up! C'mon, we gotta do sooomething for your birthday." Thunder groaned with her face in the pillows,"I don't waaanna." The fox growled and grabbed Thunder's feet, attempting to pull her out of bed but she quickly grabbed the railing of the head board,"I don't wanna!" Sandra grunted, pulling harder,"Youre- coming!" "No!" Thunder held on tight, even after Sandra had given up. "Thunder, don't make me." She said firmly, pulling out her cell phone.
"I don't wanna gooo!" Thunder yelled loudly as Viktor and Henry carried her out of the door, holding her arms and feet. Leo and Spencer were waiting at the truck, Viktor and Henry handing Thunder off to them before they cramed her into the back seat, flailing about. "Dammit, lemme go!" Thunder growled and went for the door before Leo locked it and squeezing Sandra and Viktor in the back seat to hold her down. "Oh, you're going, alright. Going to the mall!" Henry laughed, getting into the front seat next to Destiny, Leo in the drivers seat. Thunder growled as Sandra and Viktor closed in more to her, pressing her tightly against them. They all take the white Ford F150 to the mall, sliding into a parking space. As soon as the door opened Thunder leaped out, attempting to run home but only to meet Leo's and Viktor's grasps on her arms as they dragged her back to the truck, heels dragging,"Let me go! Dammit, THIS IS ANIMAL ABUSE!" They ignored her yelps and screams, carrying her to the front entrance and strapping her into a red car baby stroller, tying her down with the buckles and belts tightly. The group walked (and rolled) through the mall, looking at a few shops and buying some things they knew Thunder wanted. People starred at the tied up wolf in a baby stroller, Thunder sticking her tongue out at them as she rolled by. Everyone got lunch at the Plaza: pizza, sodas, prezels and chips. Viktor tried to feed Thunder, a few times getting the pizza into her mouth, other times his paw getting bitten. Leo and Spencer both discussed how they'd get Thunder back in the truck then came to the conclusion of paying a Security Officer for them to just take the stroller and put her in the back of the truck. Everyone loaded her up, dodging her flying paws and feet and bitings, tying her down and driving back home, Thunder still flailing to get free.
It was the 9th of April, two days before Thunder's birthday and everyone was having a hard time with her fussing and refusing to cooperate. Thunder never liked her birthday at all, because things seemed to always go wrong, but her friends assured her that this was going to be the best birthday ever, except her 16th, of course. Today was Friday and the group had planned to make the whole weekend Thunder's birthday weekend. There was no school this Friday, so they planned to go paintballing. Saturday they were going to go down to Spencer's house where they had about seven acres of plains. Sunday, Thunder didn't know, but down in her home town the local Community Center was having an Easter dance. Everyone promised to make this the best birthday before the big year. Thunder believed it, too.
It was a decent day, looked like clouds were rolling in, though. The guys and Destiny were all loading up their equipment they went shopping for a few days away, loading it all up in the truck and tying it down. They were planning to stay in a cabin near the paintball arena then drive to Spencer's from there, which wasn't far. Henry passed up a small suitcase to Viktor who was standing in the back of the truck before a small, white dog with a black spot around his eye came up to them,"Oh hey guys. Hey Destiny!" The dog called out to Destiny, loading up in the front seat then turning to the familiar voice,"Billy? Whoa, no way!" She hopped down off the truck in front of Billy, smiling and wagging her tail behind her,"Wow, how long has it been?" The dog smiled and shrugged,"I don't even know, but I know it's been some time." He reached out his short arms for a hug and Destiny leaned in to give him a tight hug. Henry turned his head and raised an eyebrow as they kept the hug. Billy was an old friend, at least to a few of the kids and he had moved schools and lost contact with them for about four months. Sandra and Thunder came out of the house, saying bye to Thunder's mother. Sandra stopped in her tracks and saw Billy, continuing to walk and smiling politely,"Heeey Billy, long time no talk, how're you?" Billy turned and smiled to her,"Oh hey Sandra, I'm fine just saw Destiny and everyone else. Where're you guys goin'?" "Paintballing for Thunder's birthday." Destiny answered, tugging Thunder by her shirt over to her,"This is Thunder." The dog extended his paw, still smiling,"Hey, I'm Billy." Thunder took it and shook, smiling back,"Thunder." Spencer rolled his eyes slightly, moving around the truck to to Destiny,"Well, it's time we left." Destiny frowned,"Just a few more minutes?" "We don't have the time. The guy is holding the arena clo-" "Well, can't he come?" Thunder asked with her head tilted to the side. Henry jumped down out of the truck bed, "I don't think so." "Why not? It'll be fun." Destiny pouted at Henry, making puppy eyes. Henry marrowed his eyes at her then at Billy, rolling his eyes,"Fine, he can come." Destiny smiled and squirmed back over to Billy,"Run little doggie. Go get your stuff!" Billy paused then ran faster than he looked like he could. Leo huffed and rolled his eyes, grumbling over to Spencer. Spencer climbed into the drivers seat, Leo next to him then Destiny. Henry stopped and saw there was no space for him up front, so he squeezed in the back with Sandra, Viktor and Thunder. Billy ran down the sidewalk with a slightly bulging backpack, running around the front of the truck and to the passenger side where Destiny opened the door, smiled and moved over for him. Henry pouted angrily and sunk down in his seat as Billy and Destiny giggled at Billy's video game he packed.
It took about three hours to get to the paintball arena because it was out of the city into the desert. For about two hours of the way the whole truck was filled with the screaming of Black Veil Brides, Escape The Fate, All That Remains and other CD's before they turned it down due to headaches. (And Viktor's whining.) Soon they pulled into the paintballing arena's parking lot, it being empty because Spencer had rented the whole place for themselves. Spencer turned off the truck and laughed a competitive laugh and hopped out of the truck before Leo, Henry and Viktor. The boys quickly grabbed their stuff: pads, goggles, guns and paintballs. Thunder had had her Steampunk goggles on top of her forehead, which she was going to use for the game as she slapped them on over her eyes and hopped out, Sandra following. Everyone had gotten ready, padded, loading and ready to go. Spencer led the way into the gates, greeted the owner then signaled everyone forward. The owner blowed the horn ontop of the lobby cabin and the game began as everyone dived and hopped behind tires, old refrigeraters and boxes. It was boys verses girls, except Viktor was on the girl's team. (They insisted he was more girly than manly.) Silence spread across the field before a purple paintball hit the front of the refrigerator Thunder was behind. From an opening between a box and the refrigerator Thunder shot a yellow paintball at a box she swore the purple one came from. Sure enough there was a slight yip. Thunder smiled as Sandra shot between two boxes at the box next to the one Thunder hit and there was a slight growl. A pop blew again from the boy's team and a green paintball hit Thunder straight in the left ear. She yelped in response then growled, looking through the crack again, seeing Henry then shooting at him about four times, getting him once in the chest. "Hah!" Thunder called in victory, automatically standing up and pumping her fist, then realizing she was out in the open before ducking at the seven colorful paintballs that were shot at her. The war went on, Viktor pouncing ontop of the refrigerator and just shooting with his eyes closed, being hitting the hip and leg and hitting Leo in the arm and Spencer in the side. Everyone laughed, leaped, shot and wailed,"I'm hit!" dramatically. At sunset the horn blew again, the game being over. Everyone let out a relieved sigh with a few pants. Thunder ran quickly out of the arena gates into the parking lot and flopped to the ground on her stomach, panting heavily with purple, blue and green paint splattered all over her face. "God, you're dramatic." Viktor laughed and picked her up carefully, swinging her over his shoulders and following the others to the cabin. It was warm enough to take the hoses and wash themselves off, there being no shame between any of them as they all striped and washed off. Leo sprayed Sandra in the back of the head with one of the hoses then Sandra grabbed Thunder's and sprayed back. The water was a bit chilley so when all the boys got the hoses the girls squealed and wiggled about, laughing. After about fifteen minutes everyone settled down, left their clothes to dry, shook off and went into the cabin to get on some fresh clothes. The cabin was an old but well built log cabin, a living room, kitchen and three bedrooms, so two would have to hit it in the livingroom. Groups of two ran to the bedrooms to claim them quickly before anyone else could; Viktor and Thunder seeming to pick the same room, Leo and Henry got the next then Destiny and Sandra got the last. Spencer frowned as he saw Billy putting out his stuff on the floor of the living room. Leo stuck his head out of his bedroom door and snickered. Spencer growled and rolled his eyes, plopping down onto the couch with a huff. Everyone fell asleep almost instantly from exhaustion. Henry and Leo had gotten into an arguement (nothing too big, just about the football game they had a week ago.) so they fell asleep back to back on the floor. Sandra and Destiny got dressed into their pajamas and fell asleep ontop of the blankets, Destiny sprawled out over most of the bed. Billy was under a sheet, a blanket added on by Sandra, on the floor soundlessly as Spencer was layed across the couch, chin on the arm and his arm and legs hanging off. Finally, Viktor and Thunder slept quietly up against the headboard with Viktor's Zune and Thunder's iPod earbuds in their ears. Day one down.
In the morning (more like afternoon) everyone packed up, got their dried clothes, thanked the owner and drived a couple miles in the city direction but still in the desert to Spencer's house. Spencer had a ranch with a dark brown, two-story house and miles and miles of open space. Now, everyone planned to stay the night over at Spencer's house because his parents weren't home, then when Thunder was out, they'd load everything up and drive down to Arivaca for the dance. Thunder was completely unaware, but everyone promised to make this the best for her. Spencer pulled out his three dirtbikes; one red and the others black. Along with the two ATVs that were also black. Since there were eight of them, Spencer decided to put up a race. First Destiny and Sandra went; Sandra on the ATV and Destiny on the dirtbike. Spencer made a race track years ago from just running over the yellow grass with the bikes and ATVs so everyone road around that. Destiny won the first round and the two kept going around a few more times, taking turns at winning. Leo and Thunder raced, Leo winning the first time and Thunder cutting through the grass to the other side before he could win again. Everyone took a shot, some riding with another, others getting in a wagon and tying it to the back of the vehicle. Later, more down near sunset everyone got one with eachother and went out into the more green, grassy fields more into a forest that was behind the ranch down to the warm, slow moving creek that was behind the trees. Before the trees got to thick to squeeze the vehicles through everyone parked then went to go sit at the bank of the creek. As the sun set slowly the last beams of sun shined through the tree tops, making it somewhat shine below around the children. Everyone sat around quietly, obsorbing the clear air, the soft sunlight beams and the streaks off water that sparkled off the sunbeams. Just as the moment began to sink in Leo, that was sitting by Sandra, "accidentally" pushed her into the creek along with Destiny and Thunder, that were all holding on together. The girls surfaced with quite frustrated faces the boys getting it and making a run for it. Just as soon as they had gotten up to run the girls were holding ones leg or on their back and pulling them by the shirts. Everyone was laughing and still trying to run to the vehicles before the other did, Thunder and Sandra taking Viktor's as he ran after them. Similar to the last night, everyone fell asleep quite fast, or at least gave off the impression. Only Henry and Thunder had really fallen asleep, but Leo woke Henry up to help load up the stuff for Arivaca, leaving the paintballing stuff and Spencer's. Thunder was out pretty good as to she was still taking her meds and they tested it out by coliding pots together in front of her face. Clear. Leo and Spencer carefully loaded her up into the back seat, laid out across Sandra's, Viktor's and Henry's laps. Everyone else loaded up to head back into the city then down south to Arivaca, Arizona.
Everyone left around 2 a.m. and it took about 3-4 hours to get from Phoenix to Arivaca. Billy seemed to not want to go all the way down there so he had Spencer and everyone drop him off at his own house. Thunder slept soundlessly throughout the whole ride through Spencer's honks and comments out the window to the drives on the highway. Sandra and Viktor fell asleep against each others arms, Henry pressed up against the window and Thunder half on everyone's lap and half danging off onto the floor. Everyone up front stayed pretty awake, making soft jokes and listened to the radio quietly as the others slept and snored. Everyone planned to stay at Thunder's friend's house, The Hamiltons. They got a hold of them going through a few of Thunder's things. (She was unaware, obviously.) The Hamilton's were joyed to hear that after a year they could see Thunder again and how much she's changed. The truck cruzed down the road over the hill, Arivaca slowly coming into a dim view in the soft glowing blue sky. It was around 6a.m. and Thunder was still passed out so there was no effort putting her into the Hamilton's guestroom as the rest of them met and had breakfast with the family.
The fresh sunbeams shined brightly through the blinds of the bedroom. Thunder groaned softly and blinked, sitting up and rubbing her face as her eyes focused. She blinked another few times and tried to focus in on the bedroom before she realized she had recognized the room but didn't believe it. Thunder gasped quickly then hopped out of bed, slipping on the polished wooden floor then getting back up to run to the door. She ran out of the door, slide across the hall and slammed into the wall, panting heavily. Leo ran up with his arms out to her,"Hey, calm down, Thunder! You're okay!" Thunder grabbed him around the neck and started shaking him, panting out,"Where are we?!" just before an orange tabby cat came into view, making Thunder let go of Leo. The cat flashed a smile and ran up to Thunder, hugging her tightly and rocking her,"Welcome home, Thunder!" "Josiah!" Thunder laughed and rocked back and forth with him in the hug before another cat came smiling, older and a smokey gray,"Thunder, honey!" Josiah let go of Thunder to let her go to hug the gray cat,"Lindle! It's been too long!" Lindle laughed and hugged her back, nodding in agreement,"It has, but at least we get to see you now! Oh it's go-" "Thunderr!" Two more felines came running from down stairs, both a darker gray with a few white spots, the younger one glomping Thunder and making her fall to the ground and laughing,"Trish! You're so big!" "So are you!" They both laughed as the other cat came up and smiled to help Thunder up,"Hey Thunder, long time no talk." "Hey Emily! How goes it with school and all?" Everyone carried on conversations, Thunder's friends talking with the Hamilton's also. After an hour or so Thunder finally realized something and pulled Viktor aside, her face now red with anger,"Why are we here?" Viktor smiled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck,"Oh, heh.. funny story.. the Community Center is having a dance tonight an-" "A DANCE?! I don't dance!" He flinched slightly,"Well.. you kiiind have to tonight." Thunder growled lowly then Viktor saw the opportunity and pulled Sandra aside, throwing her at Thunder,"It was her idea!" were his last words before he skidded off. Thunder crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, mad dogging Sandra. Sandra smiled nervously too,"Heh.. funny story-" "IIII heard." Thunder kept her hard face,"But whyy?" she groaned. Sandra smiled and put both paws on Thunder shoulders,"Thunder.. aren't you happy to see everyone again?" Thunder mumbled,"Yeah.." "And aren't you having fun?" "Yeaah..." "Then what's the problem?" Thunder threw her paws out,"I don't dance!" Sandra laughed softly,"Trust me, you'll have fun."
The dance started at seven that night, so everyone had time to browse around the town. Everyone walked around down town (it's that small) and inhaled their surroundings. The guys and Thunder tried to sneak into the bar, but Destiny and Sandra caught them and said," No getting drunk before the dance." They all groaned and kept walking. Thunder took them down to the Art Co-op to see her old friend, Ellen the panda bear, and introduced them to her and looked around the shop. There was a lot more there then what Thunder remembered: more stocks of tie-dye socks, shirts, pants, and even scarfs and hats. More paintings of scenery and necklaces and earings. As everyone looked around the shop, Sandra pulled Thunder aside over to Ellen and asked if she had anything that could suit Thunder for the dance. Ellen smiled as she got an idea,"I think I have the perfect thing." she said before reaching back behind her desk and pulling out a shirt case, smiling and handing it to the girls. They peaked in and Thunder gasped, looking at Ellen,"Are you sure? I don't want to ruin it.." "Hun, trust me, it's gonna ruin you.. in a good way." Ellen grinned and winked, Thunder and Sandra smiling.
"Augh, where are they?" Leo groaned and looked down the dirt road leading into the Community Center's parking lot. Henry rolled his eyes and snorted,"Girl. I swear." Viktor huffed and puffed, trying to get his tie on right to match with his tuxedo, groaning,"God, I hate wearing these things." "Hey man, don't we all." Leo said as they all rolled their eyes at the same time. Lindle, Emily, Trisha, Destiny, Sandra and Thunder were all taking seperate rides from the boys, so they were behind. The boys sat around the truck, waiting boredly in front of the C.C. Finally, a white SUV started up the dirt road from the main road and parking next to the F150. Henry groaned out,"Fiiinally." as Destiny hopped out of the car in her purple spagetti strap dress, smiling,"Oh hush, we had to.. do a few things." Everyone else loaded out of the SUV, smiling and greeting the guys. Viktor's face hardened as he looked around then he finally asked,"Where's Thunder?" Sandra's ears perked then she looked back at the SUV, rolling her eyes and running over to the other side, pulling Thunder along as she groaned,"Nuh uh! I don't want them to seeee-" Sandra pulled her around the front of the SUV, finally showing what all the fuss was about. Sandra's dress was a smooth, light blue with spagetti straps and white lining at the end of the dress with small white beads which made it sparkle softly against Thunder's tight, black, knee high, strapless dress with yellow lining at the ends of the dress and up around her chest. Thunder blushed and dug her converse shoe into the dirt and Sandra smiled and hugged her,"Doesn't she look good?" Everyone was quiet, which gave Thunder the wrong idea. She layed her ears back a little, saying quietly,"Yeah, I know, it looks b-" "Beautiful." Viktor squeaked out, covering his mouth and looking around to everyone's expressions. Everyone stared at him as he blushed himself, smiling,"Heh, wouldn't you agree?" "Oh! Yeah, you look great. Different, but good." Leo smiled softly. "Shall we?" Henry asked Destiny, holding out his paw and she smiled and took it, motioning everyone else forward, walking up the sidewalk into the Community Center.
About half of the town was already there, talking and laughing and moving around in the flashing strobe lights. The Hamiltons already had their friends to talk to, in and out of town and Thunder recognized a few others. Thunder, Leo and Henry went out onto the basketball court the play a few hoops then with a few old friend of Thunder's went to the skatepark and skated for a few. Destiny and Viktor later called them back inside for a "surprise". Thunder wasn't too happy about it, but they all went back inside. "Listen up!" Ellen said clearly into the microphone up on stage, wearing a colorful spiral tie-dye dress. "I'd like to welcome Thunder Bravo back to Arivaca for her 15th birthday." Ellen smiled and waved to Thunder as everyone clapped and cheered, making Thunder blush. "So, happy birthday, Thunder, and welcome back." Everyone clapped again as music started, Destiny plugging in Thunder's iPod to the stage speakers, it starting out to play Have Faith In Me by A Day To Remember. Destiny grabbed Henry and started dancing while talking and laughing; Sandra, Leo and Spencer hanging out at the punch table with punch in their paws (probably spiked) and joking off. Thunder smiled and watched everyone enjoy themselves from the wall next to the door, humming along to the music. "Well, you seem to be enjoying yourself." Viktor said from behind her, coming up the hall and smiling. She smiled back and nodded, looking back to everyone on the dance floor,"Yeah.. just glad to be back home." Viktor stood next to her and leaned up against the wall and put his foot back on it, his paws in his pockets, "Yeah.. I don't think I've ever seen you this happy." "Well.. I'm really happy. Thank you guys.. for everything." She turned and looked softly at him then smiled again. He smiled back and moved away from the wall and held his paw out to her just as Black Veil Brides's Mortician's Daughter started,"Would.. you like to dance?" Thunder looked at him then back to the dance floor where couples got together and started to slow dance,"Uh.. sure." she smiled and took his paw and he led her to the dance floor, putting one paw on her hip then holding her paw free paw that wasn't on his shoulder. Viktor nervously looked down at their feet as he started to move his with Thunder's, swaying them back and forth slowly to the music. "I'm really thankful for you guys.. normally my birthdays suck.. I think this is the best one yet." Thunder smiled at him and moved her feet along with his, trying not to step on him. "Well, I'm glad that you're happy.." Viktor smiled back and squeezed her paw softly with his before she leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. They kept dancing along with the other couples with the song smoothly playing. Suddenly there was a tap on Thunder's shoulder, she turned around and saw Sandra and Destiny, their expressions pained which turned Thunder's confused. Sandra held out Thunder's cell phone to her. "Who is it?" Thunder said quietly as she took the phone in her paw. "..It's Bryan."