Standing near the corner of a chert parking lot, Jack leaned against an old telephone pole and breathed the hot, moist air. He scanned the horizon and noticed a storm approaching from the northwest. The low clouds broke like a wave as they hit the short mountain range, billowing over like smoke from an oven. Rain began to fall in the distance and he hoped this would soon be over.
Suddenly a single headlight crept over the hill down the highway. A streak of lightning raced across the sky, ripping the atmosphere with a thunderous boom, chasing the motorcycle along. Soon the bike pulled into the parking lot.
A girl climbed off the back of the bike, leaving the driver. The engine gurgled deep at idle. She walked towards Jack and they met somewhere in the middle. The wind blew her hair around her face, but he didn't push it back this time. They talked for a minute, or two, or ten. The words didn't keep track and neither did they. The wind kicked up a cloud of dust that passed between them and it began to rain. Her hair no longer drifted in the breeze but stuck to her cheeks. He stepped forward and pushed the hair away from her eyes and said goodbye.
Jack stood motionless as she climbed back onto the motorcycle. He seemed to notice an expression on her face, and it appeared her eyes were welled, but he was unsure if it was the rain and blowing dirt or some other factor. She buried her cheek in the new guy's back as he revved the engine and put the bike into gear. He didn't notice her hair, or her eyes. He just complained about getting wet.
