When a parent dies, it leaves a hole in the center of your chest. The hole will always be there but over time the pain will ease. When you watch the person who inspires you to become a dancer dies suddenly; your passion for dancing dies with them. W...
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When the crime scene team and my department work together on a case. It's tradition that one of us firefighters pays for their coffee. Just my luck, Austin opens his big mouth.
How could I forget that?
Another two hours of having her around me. Causing unknown feelings to erupt inside me. Which, I don't prefer. But, unfortunately I can't back out of this because again; it's tradition. And again, Austin opened his big fat mouth. We all get into our work cars and head off towards the diner. Just drink the cup of coffee and leave. That's all I have to do.
We pull up outside the diner and I already know Lorelei has been worried about Jackson. She always is when he gets called out late at night. The sheriff only works during the day and if he's working at night it's because of a call. My point is proven when we all walk in and Lorelei swerves around everyone and leaps into Jackson's arms. I wish I had that still. Someone to leap into my arms like Lor does Jax. I used to once; a long ass time ago.
Jax walks towards the stool with his koala attached to him. The morning waitress begins to place coffee cups in front of all fifteen stools at the bar. I quickly sit on Jax's right side, hoping like hell she will sit somewhere further away from me.
"Make sure you make Phoebs' coffee a double." Macey shouts out over the crowd.
"Make it a triple!" Austin adds in.
"Just give me a small coffee so I can get out of here. I just want to go home and cuddle Joker and Harley." Phoebe grumbles out.
"A bad week?" Natalie asks.
"A bad fucking life." She replies without skipping a beat. I watch as she chugs her coffee and walks behind the counter with her cup. She comes back without her cup and tosses a five dollar bill on the counter.
"Thanks for the coffee Austin but I'm bouncing." She calls out as she walks out the door.
What the hell was that about?
"What is today?" Lorelei randomly asks.
"It's September 17. Why?" Macey asks.
"Shit!" Is all Lorelei says. Her voice is filled with horror and sorrow if that's even possible.
"What's with the date?" Austin asks my unasked question.
"It's personal to Phoebe." Jackson mumbles.
"We'll check on her later today. Once she's rested." Lorelei whispers to Jackson.
What is today?
And why is it so personal for her?
By the time we have left the diner; it's now well passed noon. Still my mind replays everything Jackson and Lorelei have said. As Jackson, Lorelei, and I exit the diner; we can see the closed dance studio is lit up. That's unusual, it's usually closed on Saturdays.
This has all three of us curious to what the hell is going on in the studio. We walk across the street and down the block to the studio. We can see Phoebe dancing away in such grace. However, in the window sill is a bottle of tequila for the whole town to see.
Is she drinking and dancing?
Something seriously is wrong because she rarely drinks. I know it's weird for me to know this but when she has been a gnat flying in my face for three years; you learn their habits. Drinking was rarely a habit for her.
"Oh God! This isn't good at all." Lorelei says in horror.
"What?" I question her.
"Remember how I told you she used to have the passion in her veins to become a dance?" Jackson says while jogging towards the studio.
"Yes?" I say more as a question.
"And how suddenly her dreams were to become a forensic scientist. But after college she became what she is now?" Jackson again says.
"Yes. I remember that conversation." I answer honestly because I do remember that conversation like it was yesterday.
"Today is the anniversary of her brother's murder. He's the reason she changed her career choice." Lorelei says as she races to the studio doors.
"That's why she's dancing. That's why she's drinking." Jackson whispers as we walk through the door.
"Phoebs. What are you doing?" Lorelei all but yells.
"Dancing my life away. Drinking my problems away." She answers with her back facing us.
That isn't how you should deal with your problems....
What the fuck?
She turns around and faces us and immediately her somewhat smile has dropped.
"Oh goody, another one of my life's problems has arrived. I need a strong drink for this." She grumbles.
What the fuck does that even mean?!
"Phoebe. I'm taking the alcohol. You should let us take you home so you can rest." Lorelei says.
"Fine take the good stuff but I'm fine where I am. I would have been completely fine sleeping my day away at my house with Harley and Joker.... But we seen how that went. This is my next best option." She comments back.
"Do you want one of us to call you a cab instead. You been drinking and really should get some shut eye." Jackson tries to reason with her.
"I'll sweat it out before I even decide to leave the studio. It is okay. You all can head out now." She says with a small smile.
"How about you two head home; I'll take her home." I answer. Why did my mouth open before my brain could think of anything else to say? Seriously? Take her home. What am I even thinking?
"Great, Groucho Pants is my Uber driver today. Can it get any better?" She groans out.
"Hey I'm not Groucho Pants." I comment back.
"You could have fooled me there rainbows, sunshine, and unicorn farts." She sasses back.
"Are you sure?" Jackson asks me.
"Positive." I answer quickly. The two of them walk out the door. Before they completely exit the studio; Jackson calls out.
"We'll be back in a while to check on you."
I watch as she gathers her belongings. When she turns and looks up at me; it's like my breath has decided to get caught in my throat. To run over yonder and disappear in the holler.
"I'm ready." Is all she says as she walks passed me and out the front door. We head back to the fire station in Engine 51. Only so I can pick my truck up and hurry the hell home after dropping her off. We switch vehicles without a problem; thank God. The music is playing low in the background; she's mumble incoherent words and sentences. Only one I caught was why is he so intriguing to me. I have no clue what that means and I'm not willing to ask the slightly intoxicated female next to me either.
God give me the strength for this ten minute truck ride. I'm really going to need it.
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