6,000 Miles (Station 19)

This Is Me Trying

Adelina's POV

"So," Carina started as we ate breakfast. "Who are you going to sit with at lunch today?"

I shrugged as I put another spoonful of cereal in my mouth.

"Come on, bambina. Your therapist said you need to start talking to the other kids at school," she prodded.

"I know," I sighed. "But I don't like any of the kids at school."

Carina gave me a look that showed she was concerned and exhausted. Wanting to please her and ease her mind, I agreed.

"Fine," I said flatly. "I guess Brynn and Alexa from my English class seem alright... even if I do better on our grammar quizzes than they do."

Carina chuckled. "Well that sounds like a great start. Thank you bambina."

I smiled up at her, but I think she could tell I was nervous.

She gave me a sly smile. "Want a good luck charm?"

"What do you mean?" I laughed.

She got up from the table and waved for me to follow as she made her way to her bedroom. I watched as she opened up the bottom drawer of her jewelry box and pulled out a gold barrette covered in small pearls.

I gasped, "You have that?" Staring at it, wide eyed, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Our mother used to wear that barrette whenever she went out or wanted to dress up. Sometimes there wasn't an event, but she'd get all dressed up in her favorite gown and heels and just dance in the living room. She always seemed so happy on those nights, and she always had her favorite pearl barrette in her hair.

Carina smiled lovingly as she braided back a section of my hair and secured it with our Mama's clip. "There you go, bambina," she whispered. "Now you'll have to have a good day."

I gave her a quick hug and went to pack up my things for school.

Carina's POV

"Have a good day!" I called after my baby sister as I watched her walk up the pathway to her school. She rolled her eyes but I could see a small smile across her face.

Just before I pulled away, my phone buzzed.

Maya:
Still on for lunch at the station today? Forgot to ask before you left this morning 💕

Carina:
Si Bambina! I'll be there after I meet with Adelina's therapist

She loved the message as I turned out of the school parking lot. Dancing to the radio, I made my way to the therapist's office. It had been almost 3 weeks since she'd started going to therapy twice a week so I was on autopilot driving there.

Addie's therapist was ready and waiting for me in her office. She had asked to speak with me weekly to discuss my sister's progress and any concerns she might have. Of course I made sure that Adelina was okay with this and was relieved that she agreed.

As I sat down on the couch in Dr. Dakin's office she began to tell me that she was seeing some progress in Adelina getting back to activities that make her happy. Her homework for the week was to intentionally do one thing each day that brings her joy. I was relieved to hear that she was starting to improve.

Dr. Dakin then told me that she had some concerns about Addie adjusting to school. She recognized that there was a lot going on for her already, between Andrea and moving countries at a moment's notice and our father, but said that getting adjusted at school could help with the rest. I nodded and replied saying that I was worried about the same thing.

"I urged her to find some people to sit with at lunch today and she gave me a few names of girls she might like to talk to," I said, hoping that I had done the right thing.

"That's a wonderful start. Try not to pressure her too much, but ask about it. Show her that it's important. And definitely keep encouraging her to talk to classmates and make friends," Dr. Dakin replied.
She paused a moment before asking me a follow up question.
"Has she been keeping in touch with her friends in Italy?"

I shook my head. "I don't really know actually." I realized that I hadn't heard her talk about any of her friends lately. Plus she'd barely mentioned Sofia in the last week.

"Okay," the therapist said. "That's something I'd like you to keep track of. Ask her about it, encourage her to reach out to them. Keeping those ties, those relationships, will not only be a comfort to her, but they'll remind her that she knows how to make friends."

With that our time was up and I thanked the therapist before heading over to the station.

.........................................................

I knocked on the door of Maya's office and she waved me in as she finished up some paperwork. Taking a seat in front of her, I smiled at the focused Captain Bishop face my girlfriend was making. She pushed the papers aside a moment later and smiled up at me.

"How did it go?" She asked

I filled her in on everything the therapist told me. My beautiful blonde told me she'd offer to go run with Addie more this week and I couldn't help but smile. Maya had really surprised me with the way she had taken to Adelina.

"Grazie mille Bambina."

Just as we were heading up to the beanery for lunch, the alarm went off, calling my girlfriend away.

*ENGINE 19, LADDER 19, AID CAR 19 INCIDENT REPORTED AT 326 HILLSIDE DRIVE*

Maya gave me an exaggerated pout and quickly kissed me goodbye on her way to the barn.

"Alright team!" She called out as she ran back down the stairs. "Let's go!"

Maya's POV

As we drove out to the scene I clicked on my radio to give my team the information I received from dispatch.
"Alright 19, we have an MVC. 3 teenagers took a turn too quickly and rolled their car. Additional aid cars are on the way, we may need to extricate the victims so be ready."

I was met with a chorus of "copy"s and "yes captain"s.

"Teenagers?" Jack asked from the back seat of the ladder truck. "Why aren't those kids in school? It's like 12:30," he said, glancing down at his watch.

I shook my head. "I don't know. I'm just glad I know that Addie's in school." I was overwhelmed by the love I had for that girl. When Carina first mentioned her living with us, I was terrified. But now, I love having her in our home, in our lives.

"Wow Maya, don't go soft on us," Andy smirked from the driver seat.

"Oh shut up," I laughed as we pulled up to the scene. The smile on my face quickly faded when I saw the badly damaged car.
"Alright team, let's go!"

I assessed the situation and was starting to assign tasks to my team when I noticed one of the teenagers had been thrown through the window. I told my team she was our first priority but stopped dead in my tracks, breathless, when I saw a pearl clip half hidden in a tuft of her light brown hair.