PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 69: The Fire

As things settled down, Maya exhaled, feeling lighter — like she had just made the right call.
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Before anyone could ask what was happening, the intercom suddenly crackled to life, breaking through the murmurs and excitement in the room.

Dispatch's voice came through the speaker, sending a wave of adrenaline coursing through everyone in the room as they all snapped to attention. "Attention all units, we have a major fire reported at 712 Main St. Multiple structures are involved, and multiple reports of injuries. Requesting immediate assistance from all available units."

The mood in the room shifted instantly from celebration to full on firefighter mode. Everyone was on their feet, grabbing their gear and preparing to respond. This was the job they had all signed up for, and they were ready to do what they did best.

The team split into their respective vehicles, each crew ready to tackle the fire that lay ahead. Maya climbed into the Captain's seat of Engine 19, a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She knew what lay ahead wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to guide her team through whatever challenges awaited them.

Beside her, Andy took note of the intense look on her friend's face. She leaned in and said, "Ready to go save some lives, Captain?"

Maya's determined expression softened slightly, and she gave Andy a quick, confident smile. "Always. Let's do this."

They shared a brief nod before the engine roared to life and pulled out of the station, siren blaring and lights spinning. The crew was silent, each member focused on the task ahead, their minds already working through the strategies and contingencies they would need to navigate once they arrived on the scene.

Maya looked at Andy and said "Ok I need help I know me and Carina have been together for a couple of months and I broke up with her a few days ago then get back together but I really want to propose to her."

Andy's eyes widened in surprise, genuinely taken off guard by Maya's confession. But she quickly recovered and gave her a warm smile. "Wow, Maya, that's a big step! And it's awesome that you want to marry her. But isn't it a bit soon? I mean, you just got back together, right?"

Maya nodded, her expression serious. "I know, but when you know, you know. Carina is the one for me, and I want to make our commitment official. I just don't know how to go about it. I want it to be perfect, you know?"

Andy considered Maya's words, her hand resting on the steering wheel. "Well, firstly, have you even talked to Carina about this? Does she want to get married?"

Maya shifted in her seat, her face flushing slightly. "We haven't explicitly talked about marriage yet, but I've gotten hints that she's open to it. And I'm pretty sure she knows I want to marry her eventually."

Andy nodded, contemplating her next words. "Well, it's important to have that conversation first, Maya. You need to make sure you're both on the same page. Then, you can start thinking about how to propose. Do you have any ideas yet?"

Maya fiddled with one of the dials on the dashboard, her mind racing with potential proposals. "I've got a few ideas, but I'm not sure what would be perfect, you know? It has to be special, something she'll never forget."

Andy said "The fair is about to open and it's almost thanksgiving."

Maya's eyes lit up as Andy brought up the fair. "The fair, that's a great idea! We both love amusement parks, and it's one of our favorite things to do together. But how would I incorporate a proposal into that?"