Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

10. Friends Pt. 1

A week after the fire was put out, Barry Orr presented Kylie with her award. She went along to the presentation and smiled politely, accepting the commendation and shaking Barry's hand. Once it was all over, she headed to her car, receiving a call from Sophie just as she was about to reverse out of her parking space. Hastily putting the car into park, she answered her phone.

"G'day, what's going on?" She asked Sophie, hearing a lot of chatter in the background.

"Hey, love, look I know you had your award thingy today and well, we all know how excited you were about it –" Kylie tutted and rolled her eyes, making Sophie laugh sweetly on the other end. "Exactly. So, that's why you're coming out to the Northern Bistro right now."

"What?" Kylie asked, frowning slightly.

"We booked a table, now get your butt into gear and come on out. We're all here."

"But – what for?"

"Oh my gawd, Kylz, don't be so dense! What sort of friends would we be if we let you celebrate this on your own?" Sophie cackled.

Kylie felt her shoulders relax as a humorous giggle escaped her lips.

"Alright. I'll be there in about ... I dunno, fifteen minutes."

Hanging up, Kylie shook her head, still giggling. When she pulled up at the popular haunt on the northern edge of Wangarra fifteen minutes later, she was still giggling. Walking into the bar, which even at the stroke of midday, was relatively busy.

"G'day love, what can I do for you?" The barman asked as Kylie approached.

"Uh, I'm meeting some friends here, but –"

"– there she is! Yoohoo! Over here, Kylz!" Kylie looked up to see Sophie waving her arms wildly. Laughing, Kylie turned to the barman.

"Never mind. Thank you."

"No worries, love."

Kylie waded through the bistro to the outdoor function area and found Sophie, Ali, Loz and Loz's eight and two year old sons, Harry and Aiden, lounging at a covered table on the neat, soft green grass.

"Kyee!" Aiden said, squirming off Loz's lap and waddling his two year old body towards Kylie. She scooped him up in her arms with a heavy groan, giving him a tight cuddle and kiss on the cheek.

"Hey buddy! Look at your new haircut! You look like a real spunky monkey now!" Kylie cooed, setting Aiden down on the grass so he could run back to his mother.

"Come on, come and sit down, hero." Ali said with a wink. The only people who would ever get away with calling Kylie 'hero' would be these three. Soon, a waitress came over, with three big bowls full of hot chips and a metal gravy boat.

"There you go, ladies!"

"Chippies!" Aiden said, pointing to the bowls on the tables.

"No chippies for Aiden." Ali joked, making Aiden look wildly at her, while Kylie, Loz and Soph laughed.

"Nope. They're mine!" Ali continued to tease him.

"Mummy – Ali won't give me chippies!" Aiden said, turning his doe eyes to Loz, who tossed her head back, trying so hard not to laugh.

"Don't listen to her, Aide. Here – have some of my chippies," Soph said, offering him a single chip. Aiden reached out to grab the chip, with Loz adding, "blow on it, it's hot."

"Hot?"

"Yeah, hot chippies. Blow. See, like this," Loz pursed her lips and blew on the chip, Aiden following suit. When Aiden was finally content, eating his chips, Loz, Soph and Ali turned their attention to Kylie. There was a finality about this impromptu get together, as school holidays would end in two weeks and then they'd be lucky to see each other once a month.