Madison (Maddy) Briggs is from Manhattan, New York. She was in 3rd grade, just 8 years old, when the World Trade Centers fell on September 11th, 2001. Her dad was a firefighter, and his station was one of the first on scene that day.
Her dad, Larry...
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Madison got off the plane at Austin International Airport, four suitcases in tow. She arrived at the outside of the terminal, and took this new city in. She hailed a taxi, and proceeded to her hotel, where she would be staying for a few days. She dropped her bags off, and got herself comfortable— the room was all white, had a king-sized bed, and overlooked the now closed pool. After she ate something from the cafeteria, she took an Uber to firehouse 126.
She told the driver to let her off down the block, so the station wouldn't see her. She casually walked toward the station, careful to take this part of the city in.
As she approached the station, she couldn't help the smile that appeared as she realized she'd be seeing her best friend of 20 years, in person for the first time in almost a full year.
She walked up to the big doors of the station, and saw a large man just inside the vestibule, so she approached him. "Excuse me sir?"
"Oh hi miss. Can I help you?" He said. He had a southern accent, and a rough exterior, but Maddy could tell he was just a big teddy bear on the inside.
"Uhm, yes actually! I'm looking for a Tyler Kennedy Strand.. is he here?"
The large man, with his dark blue eyes, walked over to Maddy and stared down at her, "and who I might ask is asking about my boy TK?" He had an attitude, but his smile was gentle and kind.
"Uhm.. just tell him, 'a friend!'" Maddy replied with a smile.
"Okay ma'am, hang tight! By the way, I'm Judd."
Maddy smiled at him and shook his hand, "nice to meet you!" He smiled and walked away to get Tyler. Maddy was surprising her best friend, whom she hadn't seen in person in a year.
As she waited for TK to find her, she looked around the station. Three fire trucks sat in the main vestibule, and behind them was an ambulance.
Maddy noticed two women going through the ambulance— and she started to take in the rest of the station when she heard the sultry voice of her best friend.
She turned to face the open garage door, and threw the hood on her lightweight jacket up. Maddy tried to hide her smile, and stifle her laughter as the footsteps of Tyler got closer.
"Hello? Can I help you?" TK approached Maddy, and her smile instantly grew.
"Hi handsome," Maddy smiled as she turned around. The world seemed to stop spinning as she locked eyes with her best friend. Tyler finally realized who it was, and his face lit up brighter than the sun.
"MADS!" He screamed as he scooped her up into a massive hug and spun her around. She wrapped her legs around him and kissed his cheek. "HI TEEK! Surprise!"
"Oh my god, Mads! When?! How?!" He said as he finally dropped her to the ground.
Maddy laughed, "Owen. And mom." Tyler grabbed her hand and stared happily at her face. "Andddddd... ya know how I was talking about applying to that job down here?"
"Yeah?!" Tyler Kennedy was both excited and confused. "What about it?.. oh my god! Did you get it?!"
She grabbed his other hand and they interlocked fingers, as Maddy smiled at Tyler, "you bet I did!" She couldn't help but jump up and down, as Tyler hugged her again. He put her down and she rested her head on his strong shoulder and sighed.
"I've missed you so much Mads," he smiled. "So glad you're here!"
