Warm Up, Swell Up extended preview

Warm up, Swell up.

Jane shivered as she looked out the window. “This is insane. I have never seen the snow this bad.” She paced back and forth in an attempt to get her blood pumping. “If it keeps up, I won’t be able to meet up with Clark. God.”

She threw her hands up in frustration. “And the forecast said we would have a sunny albeit cold weekend. This is not what I had in mind.” The lights suddenly flicked. “Huh?”

She hugged herself. “No! Don’t you dare go out! I have enough problems on my plate! I can’t be alone in the darkness.” She sighed. “I can’t resort to my winter power outage warming technique. Then I absolutely know I won’t see Clark until after this storm passes.”

Jane snorted as she tugged at her long golden curls. “But what am I going to do? With the storm picking up, I am losing my window to drive across town. I. . .” She took a deep breath. “No! I am not missing out on a date night. I don’t care about some stupid one-in-a-lifetime storm. I am seeing him. I want to feel him in my arms.” She gulped as the lights flickered again. “But maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring the warming juice.”

She walked across the kitchen and opened a drawer next to the fridge. Buried beneath spoons and forks, she pulled free a tiny vial of blueberry-scented liquid. “I don’t exactly want to use this, but if I have to, I will. Nothing warms the blood better than Red’s Blueberry Juice, even if it turns me into a giant berry girl.” She moaned at the thought. “But I am not looking to spend my time with Clark as a giant blueberry unless I have to. He hasn’t seen that side of me, and I don’t plan on showing it to him until we have gotten to know each other more.” She slid it into her pocket. “So, unless things get dire and I have to warm my body from the extreme cold, I am not taking this.” She shivered. “No matter how much I want it.”

Jane turned around and walked towards the door, grabbing her white puffy jacket and keys. “No time to call Clark. Not with that snow coming down.” She zipped up her coat. “I just hope that I don’t have to ruin this by drinking that juice. This is my favorite coat.” She sighed and rubbed her jacket. “I have never once got my clothing off in time.”

Jane realized she was drifting off into space. “Fuck.” She opened the door, the cold wind biting into her face. “I am coming, Clark.” She groaned as she stumbled outside. “Ugh, fuck’s sake!” The snow was already ankle-deep as she fought her way to her truck. “Come on!” Using her key fob, Jane unlocked the door, and with a freezing hand, she grasped the handle, swinging the black door wide. She then fell inside, taking deep breaths as she clambered into her seat.

“Okay.” Jane shut the door behind her. “Let’s get this show on the road.” She started the engine, her heart jumping inside her chest as the engine struggled to start. “Come on, you piece of shit! Start.” She slammed her fist on the wheel.

As if responding to her, the engine flared to life. “Hah. There we go!” She smiled as the truck slowly purred. “Now it is time that I go see Clark!” Jane carefully backed out of the driveway and onto the street, swerving a bit in the process. “For fuck’s sake, the roads are already slick.” She snorted. “It’s a good thing he only lives about fifteen minutes away.” She gulped. “Or make that twenty-five with all this snow.” She put the truck into drive and began her trek into the darkness.

Thankfully, she had the radio to keep her company. Between the rock music and the newscasters, it helped her stay calm as she fought to keep control of her vehicle.

“Just a little further.” She smiled. “And I will have you in my arms.” She hummed along with the music. “Date night won’t be ruined by some stupid little snowstorm. I won’t let it. No, I won’t. Ahhhhhhh!”

She slammed her feet on the brakes as a lone deer crossed the road. “Fuckkkkk!”

Jane fought to control her vehicle, the truck twisting back and forth while the deer stared at her. “Get out of the—” At the last second, the deer calmly walked out of the road, but it was already too late for Jane. With control of her vehicle lost, she drifted off the road and into the nearest snowbank.

“Ughhh.” Her head jerked as her seatbelt went tight, her chest slamming into the airbag.

“Ughhh.” She moaned as she looked around, the engine crying out before dying. “Greattt. . .” She pushed herself up. “This is just great.”

She instantly tried the key, but it was no use. The truck wouldn’t start. “Fuck.” Jane took a deep breath. “That damn deer. Doesn’t it know that it shouldn’t be out in this weather?” She snorted. “What the hell am I going to do now?”

She pulled out her phone. She needed to have a tow truck before the snow made it impossible for her to get her fucking vehicle out. “Come on. Come on.” She slammed her phone against the dash. “Fucking hell. No service.” She snorted and slid her phone back into her pants pocket.

Jane sighed. She knew she was much closer to Clark’s house at this point, so going home wasn’t an option. Nor was staying here and freezing her ass off. She felt the cold weight of the blueberry juice bottle in her pocket. She knew that drinking it would keep her warm and alive right now, but she couldn’t stay in her truck while under its effects. She needed more room.

She also knew that she couldn’t very well just walk up to Clark’s house with blue and swollen skin. What would he say? What would he think? Jane shivered, already feeling the cold set in. But it was date night, and she had never missed a date night for anything.

If the snow wasn’t going to keep them apart, why would this blueberry juice? Maybe she could see how far she could get without it first? For him?

Jane opened the door, feeling the cold bite at her face, and she knew she couldn’t wait. She needed that juice now despite what effects it could have on her body and mind. If Jane waited, she could succumb to frostbite or worse. She closed the door so she could use her hands as she pulled the vial out of her pocket. She could feel its warmth pulse through the glass container. Jane didn’t hesitate, popping the cap off and gulping the contents down. The blueberry juice made her quiver, but she enjoyed it. It was a familiar sensation, one that she missed. “Ahhh.”

With renewed strength, she pressed out into the darkness. Despite the cold, she stepped out into the biting wind; every second, it seemed to bother her less. She smiled, knowing that the juice was taking effect as it swam through her system.

“I am coming, Clark.” Gurrgle.  She giggled as she felt the blueberry juice ripple beneath her skin. “While I am happy for the warmth, you can wait for that glorious swelling until I get closer to my darling Clark’s house.” She took a deep breath. “I know it isn’t that far. I think I passed Jamerson Street, so I should only have a block or two to go.” Gurrgle. “I said you can wait a bit!”

She slapped her chest as her face turned blue. “I can’t have myself a big, bloated mess and unable to reach Clark’s house! Do you hear me, body!” She narrowed her eyes. “I need to hurry.”

Jane began to run as she felt her body heat up. “I know Clark’s house isn’t that far.”

Blue sweat trickled down the back of her neck as her hair turned dark blue. “I just have to make it before the swelling starts.” Gurrgle.

A smile appeared on her face as the Patterson Street sign came into view. “Almost there.” Jane took a deep breath. “Clark, I am coming.” Blort. She moaned as she felt a surge of blueberry juice stretch out her pants. “Fuck.” She gripped her jeans as she felt how much squishier and heavy she had become. “I just need to go a bit more. Before the process speeds up.” She took a deep breath. “Before I get too juicy.”