The Fighter

Chapter 3

"What is Gavin doing here?" Kyle asked more worried than I was. "I don't know. He's supposed to be away at college not here." I unbuckled myself and Avery. "Do you need my help?" "Actually Kyle, yes. I need you to take Avery inside, and keep her busy while I talk to Gavin." "Okay, Mickie." he smiled as got out if his truck too. Gavin got out if his car as soon as he saw us get out. "Gavy!!!" Avery hugged him. "Hi kid!" he smiled. "Avery, go inside with Kyle and start your homework okay?" I spoke up after she let go. "Okay." she smiled and went inside with Kyle.

I turned to Gavin when they were inside. "What are you doing here?" I asked hugging him. "I came to check on you and Avery. So you're with Kyle now?" He asked. "No, I am not with Kyle. He's just my friend. He took us out for ice cream and mini golf today. So what are you really doing here?" I asked kind of concerned. "I came to see you and Avery." "In the middle of the week? Gavin come on, I'm not that stupid." "Okay, there are a few reasons why I'm here. The first is I came to check on you and Avery. Second, is that I think that I might have found Dad. And third, I saw you on the local news website. At that huge fire the other day." "So you came to check on me because you think that I am incapable of taking care of Avery and being a fire fighter too?" "Mick, you are 18 years old. She is 5.You have your whole life a head of you to raise kids. Why do it now?" "Because this just isn't any kid Gav, it's our baby sister. I can do this." "Oh you can? By yourself or with Kyle?" he asked seriously. "I do this on my own. Kyle helps sometimes. I can be a fire fighter and take care of her at the same time. That's why Dad handed the guardianship over to me. That, and because you were going away to college. Do you really think that with you being four hours away that you could do better?" "Mickie that is not what I said." "But it's what you were getting to. That picture of me was saving someone's house. That's not my full time job. Avery is my full time job and if you must know, I only go to calls when she's sleeping or at a friend's house. Any other time, I'm with her." "I am not saying that you are not a good guardian. You are, but maybe she needs someone older." "And maybe you should drop this. Tell me where you might have found Dad." I tried to change the subject and he knew that I was not going to talk about it anymore. "We're not done with that." "Yes, we are." "Fine, I found dad in Utica. Or I might have anyway. He's staying with his cousin or at least I think he is." "How did you find this out?" "I'm friends with his cousin Mark, on Facebook and he posted a picture the other day and it looked like Dad in the background. So I looked more of his pictures from the last few months and he was there too." "Show me, the pictures. Knowing you, you saved them." "Ah, you haven't lost your touch. Look." He took out his phone and showed me. I looked through the pictures. I looked at each one closely. "It's him. It is defiantly him." I sighed. "You think so?" "Gavin, I know so. I can feel it in my gut that it's him." "That's all I needed to know. I have to head out soon, Can I please see Avery?" he asked. "Yes, you can see her, but no more trying to get me to give her up." I warned. "Okay, I promise." He hugged me and we went inside.

After he left I told Kyle everything that had happened. "I don't know what bothers me more. The fact that my Dad is so close and he might come back or the fact that Gavin doesn't think that I can raise and take care of Avery." I sighed. "Hey, don't worry about what he thinks. You are an amazing big sister and you would do anything for her. I know that what Gavin said bothers you, but he doesn't know anything about what you do for Avery. He doesn't know everything that you have sacrificed and done for her." "I know he doesn't. I just don't want to lose her. She's all I have left." "You've got me." "I know Ky." "So, what happened last night at in the truck bay? I heard that you kissed John after you were seen kissing what's his face there?" he looked at me and smiled. "His name is Chris, and how do you know about any of it?" "Because John told Jet and Jet has a huge mouth." "Ugh, it was awful! I only kissed John so he would shut up about me kissing Chris. I didn't mean to kiss Chris. He kissed me and I got caught up. "Do you like Chris?" "No, I don't. I don't like anyone like that. I don't need a man. The only man that Avery and I need in our lives is you. And you're our friend." I smiled. "You can't be alone forever. Who is the last one that you dated?" "John." "Yeah, and you dated Jet before that. I just think that you should try and get back at it." "I don't know...." "Just think about it. I think that you like Chris more than you realize." "Shut up." I laughed and blushed a little. Sometimes I hate hoe he knows me so well. "I see you blushing, and I would love to tease you even more, but I have to go. I promised Paul that I would help him around the house." "Right, Paul..." "Yes, so I will text you later. Stay out of trouble." "Only if you do." I hugged him and walked him to the door. I watched him leave out the window above the sink. "You should marry Kyle." Avery came out in one of her princess dresses. "Are you crazy? I'm not going to marry Kyle." I turned toward her. "You love him don't you?" "Not like that kid. He's my guy best friend." "You can still love your friends." "I know, I do love him Avvy. Just differently than someone I would want to marry." "Oh.... So when you and Kyle get married can I be the flower girl?" "Go play before I sit on you." "Kyle and Mickie sitting in a tree. K-N-M-M-P-M-G." she skipped away singing. "You have to leave how to spell!" I laughed. She's a riot.

I tucked Avery in around 8pm. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. I was watching TV with my grandparents in the living room when the pager went off. "Hale County to Clarksville 2 car MVA possible entrapment unknown injuries." The dispatch lady said. My Papa and I looked at each other and ran for our gear. We rode together to the scene. Kyle and Jet had rode with Harry in 139. We got out the jaws and the tarps. "Mickie you're on traffic duty." "What?! I'm always the one directing traffic!" I Pouted. They never let me use the jaws! "Sorry kid, you can get the next one." Papa smiled to me and I went and got my vest and went and directed traffic. We got home a little after 11. I was out in the rode all night on traffic duty and I was still hyped up from the action that I didn't get.