Abandoned Missile Silo

Patrick sat quietly on his grandfather's front porch, his eyes casting across the bleak landscape as he examined the flat earth sprinkled with fences and crops and livestock. He could see but one other house in the distance, far down the gravel road. He twiddled his thumbs as he traced the gray horizon with his sight, clouds obscuring the brilliance of the sun. Patrick could see his breath in the air, thinking to himself, "I hope it warms up tomorrow..." as he drew his arms closer to his torso. Tomorrow was the big day. His friends would be arriving soon and they'd set out on their journey in the morning.

As Patrick was wandering the fields a few days prior for some alone time, he stumbled upon what appeared to be the entrance to a large cellar, revealed by mud sliding away from the earth during a recent rainstorm. Upon further examination, he found it to be an underground complex of some kind. Strange technology covered the walls and it appeared to be completely abandoned. He rushed home to tell his grandfather, then his friends whom were all en route. Patrick could barely keep himself from poking around before his friends arrived, wishing to save the secrets for the group.

Patrick repeatedly checked his phone for any updates on his friends. He watched the clouds roll by, awaiting their arrival.

Alex ran his hand through his hair, scolding himself for missing the driveway the first two times. He glanced at his phone again, repeating the address in his mind for the twentieth time. He chuckles. He couldn't have picked a more isolated place to call home, huh? Alex smiled to himself and shook his head. In a way, it suited Patrick. Not really a logical way, but it did. He was almost now reaching the old gravel road.

Alex hadn't texted Patrick, so as to keep his arrival a secret. Knowing Patrick, he'd be sitting in the porch, watching up and down the old road until his friends arrived. Alex popped his neck as he finally turned onto the road. He smiled with excitement of this old reunion between his friends. He hoped they were as excited as he was. Alex's car managed all the way up the gravel road, parking neatly in front of the home. He chuckled as he stepped out of his car. "Hey, dude!" Alex shouted playfully as he walked up towards the porch steps.

Oliver could hardly contain her excitement. After many hours of driving she finally found Patrick's home. Glancing around the place as she turned into the driveway she couldn't help but grin. Patrick's home, slightly creepy as it was, radiated an energy that filled Oliver to her bones.

She glanced down at her phone and picked it up. Laughing at the amount of times Patrick texted her, and no doubt their friends, showed how strongly he felt about this. Sending a quick reply she typed, Pat, coming up your driveway now. Nice home dude, creepy. It gave me chills! Ha!

After hitting send Oliver shoved her phone into her bag and raised in her seat slightly to see the land before her. Patrick's house was in view along with another car. She could see two people standing by the porch. Oliver honked once and parked. Not so gracefully she exited the car and waved to her friends. 'Pat! Alex! Hey guys!'

David felt the buzz of his phone in the pocket of his black jeans, although it was hard to distinguish against the rumble of the earth under his motorcycles wheels and the air whipping past him. He took in all the scenery around him, the acres of farmland that stretched endlessly into the horizon. He took his time on this road, as he always did, basking in the peace of this beautiful sight. He was filled with a calm feeling, which held for only a moment before being consumed once again by the excitement and nerves to see his friends again. He remembered the road to the house and found it fairly easily. He slowly went up the driveway, his previous thoughts and suspicions about the others already waiting for him being confirmed. Actually, he only noticed three silhouettes on the porch. He gets off his silver and black bike, drops his matching helmet on it, and, without a word, walks up to the house, a smile on his face.

Patrick had shut his eyes to focus on the gorgeous rustling of wind in the trees, only to be broken from his stupor by the dull pleas of gravel being crushed under a tire. He'd open his eyes to see a familiar car rolling up his front driveway, the cows in the adjacent pasture scattering. He'd stand with a smile, the wind catching more of his body. "Alex!" He'd say as his friend stepped out of his car, walking up the front steps. Patrick would throw his arms around Alex in a brief hug, grunting in satisfaction at the reunion. "It's been too long." He say, still beaming.

He'd look away from his friend to see another vehicle approaching. He felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He'd pull it out and glance at it, reading the message in the preview window. He'd smirk sweetly and look up just as harmless ol' Oliver stumbled out of her car. He'd call out teasingly past Alex "Oliver, with such nice legs, you'd think you'd be a little more graceful!" Compliments such as this were not uncharacteristic of Pat. He'd offer his embrace to the woman, lingering a bit.

He'd pull away just to hear the whine of a small engine in the distance. He could count on one hand how many people he knew liked Motorcycles. "David too? Damn, did you guys plan this grand arrival?" He'd gesture outward with his hands, happiness painted on his face. He'd wave to David as he approached silently, offering him a hug too. "Christ, I've missed you guys. But Shelby isn't here yet..." He'd frown slightly, before returning to his relaxed giddiness. "How have y'all been?" He'd say enthusiastically.

Oliver rolled her eyes before wrapping her arms around Patrick. 'Don't be looking at my legs to long now Pat, they've been known to stun.' She poked him teasingly before releasing her hold.

As Pat moved to towards David, Oliver gave a slight wave. All, okay almost all her friends had arrived. Now they just needed Shelby, the only other girl. Nudging Alex's shoulder in greeting Oliver replied to Pat, 'Same old thing. Little apartment and strict boss.'

Alex chuckled warmly at the dialogue between Patrick and Oliver. He simply smiled at Oliver's greeting. He'd always been the quiet one. In response to Patrick's question he simply said "Same stuff, different day!" He turned to David. "Nice bike you've got." He said, embracing David familiarly.

David hugs Patrick and Alex, and waves back at Oliver. Filled with joy, he can't stop a smile from breaking out on his face, stretching nearly ear to ear. He thanks Alex for the compliment, excited to be back with his friends. He remembers every nice detail about these three, Patrick's humorous warmth, Oliver's giddy clumsiness, Alex's quiet and friendly atmosphere about him. With him being shorter than the other two guys, and Oliver and Shelby being just a bit shorter, David couldn't help but feel, naturally, like a younger brother to this group, a kid, even though the biggest age difference was just three years. He couldn't keep the smile off his face as he reunited with his friends. He couldn't wait for Shelby to arrive, and complete the group.

It was great to see her friends. It felt like so long ago that they had all met up with each other.
The four of them felt like family to Oliver and being away from them felt as if a piece of her was missing. She was whole, and could be her crazy, bad joking self.

Oliver grinned and walked over to David. She swung her arm so her elbow rested on his shoulder. Having to balance on her toes so she could almost have the height advantage Oliver smiled and asked, 'What about you David. How's life treating you?'

David smiles warmly as Oliver rested her arm across his shoulders, hunching his back slightly to she didn't have to put up too much of a stretch. He glances back at his motorcycle, having only invested enough hard work and paychecks to buy it about a year ago, and looks back to Oliver. "I've been great!", he says cheerfully, "got the bike I always used to go about." He says with a laugh. "What about you?", he asks, looking into her eyes, then glancing to the others', "how have you guys been?"

Patrick playfully stuck his tongue out at Oliver's retort, silently thinking to himself "Sharp as always..." He nodded in acknowledgement towards Alex, a silent confirmation to his quiet words. Patrick understood Alex's preference to actions, rather than words. He'd watch his friends socialize and interact, as if they hadn't been away from one another for more than a day. He'd grin as Oliver leaned on David and conversed on about his new bike. He perked his ears as David addressed the whole group.

Patrick chimed in. "Eh, living out here still suits me better than the city. I'm just here to take care of my Gramps for a while until my parents can convince him to go to a Home... Im still working on that book and my Web Design business is going great! Great enough to feed me, at least. We all know how much I love my food." He'd pat his meager stomach as if it was something in need of tolerance, smirking at his company. He'd scratch his forehead as a cold breeze caugh his body, sending a chill down his spine. He'd shiver hard and say "Yeah, uh, fuck this. Lets go inside. How many of you skinny chicken-shits want a classic Pat Brooks dinner?" He'd gesture widely with his arms, swearing affectionately as he reached for the front door.

Oliver laughed and moved from her spot leaning on David. Grinning as Patrick talked she couldn't help but but feel excited and almost impatient. Even if she knew they had to wait for Shelby, Oliver very much wanted to get ready for what ever Patrick had planned.

'Sounds good.' She said as Pat reached for the door. Oliver liked Pat's food. It always had a flavor that made it taste special. She couldn't help but chuckle at Pat's colorful language. To anyone out of their gang, they'd more then likely take it as an insult. She clapped him on the shoulder. 'Chicken-shits? You and your swears asshat. You need to learn new ones.'