The Fighter

Chapter 50

The letter came a few weeks later, on a Monday. In the past few weeks, Emily and I have been working hard. We've been doing air packs, going over trucks, washing trucks, and getting her ready for class to start. Kyle, John, and Jet have been around, and they've been included in the teaching process also.

Yes, I know I'm stalling. So, back to the letter. I opened it when I was home alone. I don't like I could show my grandparents the disappointment on my face if I was denied. But, that really doesn't matter, because I was accepted. Yes, me. Mickie Ann Duke was accepted into the fire academy to peruse my newest aspiration of becoming a paid firefighter and a volunteer. Yes, I know what you're thinking; doesn't she see herself meeting someone new, getting married, and having kids? The answer: I don't know. I will cross those bridges when I get to them. I am not saying that a guy won't come along, and maybe I'll love him. But for right now, I'm still grieving, I'm still aching, and I'm still trying to live my own life while mourning another. So, it is time for me look after me for a while. It's time for me to do what I need to do for myself. 14 weeks away from the only family that I've ever really known, now that is going to be a challenge. But, I am the phoenix and I will not back down.

I went to the station, because that's where my grandfather was this morning. I called my grandma on the way to tell her. I got to the station and walked into the office where everyone was including Jet, John, and Kyle. "Hey, Mick! I didn't think I'd see you here this early." Papa smiled when he saw me. "Well, I wasn't planning on coming so early, but I got a letter from the academy." I sighed and opened the envelope again. "What does it say?" Kyle asked. He was nervous, probably more than I was when I saw it in the mailbox. "Dear Mickie A. Duke, that you for your application to the 2015 Summer Fire training program." I started reading it, then I stopped for a second. "Come on, read the rest! You're killing me!" Kyle yelled at me. Everyone else just laughed.

"We would like to congratulate you on being accepted into our program. We look forward to meeting you." I smiled while reading it. "You got accepted!" Kyle jumped up and hugged me. "Congratulation's!" Papa gave me a hug and kissed my head. Jet and John got up to hug me too. "So, when do you leave for fourteen weeks?" Kyle asked. "Friday, actually. I have to be there by noon to move in and then I start as soon as possible. So, I have four days until I leave." I was a little uneasy over leaving everyone for that long. No one ever said that this was going to be easy. "Well, the sooner you go, the sooner you can come back." Jet nodded. "You're right." I nodded too.

Thursday, Kyle wanted to go out for lunch and ice cream one last time before, I left. When we were done, he drove us to the fire house. There were a ton of vehicles there. "Kyle, what is going on?" I asking knowing that something was up. "Let's go in and fine out." He smiled and parked. We walked in and everyone was there. The meeting area had tables and chairs set up. Then, I saw the banner "Good Luck Mickie!" I turned to Kyle. "Yes, we're throwing you a going away party." He laughed and I hugged him. "I can't believe you kept this from me!" I scolded him while still hugging him. "Oh, shut up. Someone else is here to see you." He let go and turned me around. My little Avery had a bouquet of flowers. "Good luck Mickie! You'll do great, and kick some butt!" She gave me the flowers and hugged me. "Thank you, so much. I can't wait to be more of a superhero for you." I kissed her head and tried not to cry. "You'll be back in no time! Is Kyle going with you?" "Nope, he has to stay here, and keep Jet and John in line for me. I'm going by myself. But, I will be back stronger than ever." "You can do it, Mickie. If anyone can, it's you." "Thank you, Avvy."

I walked around and talked to everyone.  Then as it got later, I found Gavin. "Do you have a minute?" I asked quietly. "Yeah, what's up?" "Meet me in the office, there is something I want to talk to you about." I sighed and walked away. I walked into the office and waited. Gavin came in and shut the door. "What's up? You okay?" he asked. "Yeah, but I need you to sign these." I handed him papers and a pen. "What's this?" "Custody papers. I am handing over custody of Avery over to you, permanently. Don't act sad, because I know that this is exactly what you and Julie want. This is what's best for her. She has a steady life and a better chance at a good life. As soon as you sign these, just mail them in and she'll be yours." I went to walk out. "Mickie, no." "What?" I turned around. "No, I will not sign these papers. Look, I was wrong, okay? I was a complete ass about this and I shouldn't have been. If it wasn't for you, I don't know what would've happened to her or me. You're leaving for fourteen weeks so you can provide a better life for yourself, and I haven't even thought about going back to school since I left to come back here. Look, we'll decide her custody and whatever else we need to when you come back. She's yours." Gavin tore the papers up and threw them away. "I'm going to take her back as soon as I get myself situated." I hugged him. "I know. And, you're going to do great."

After every one left the party, I stayed back with Jet, John, and Kyle to clean up. When everyone was all picked up and put away we opened up the truck bay doors and sat on the apron. "I'm going to miss you guys." I sighed thinking back on the past few years. "Hey, you're not leaving forever. You'll be back." Ky smiled. "When are you leaving tomorrow?" Jet asked. "Around 7am." "We'll be there, so see you off." John laughed. "I'm really nervous guys." "Don't be. You can do this, and I know that you can do this. We all do. You can do anything that you put your mind too." Jet spoke up. "Hey, the phoenix has burned, now it's time for you to rise from your ashes. All hail the phoenix." Kyle used my own words against me.

My truck was packed, and it was almost time for me to go. The boys had helped me pack the truck and were waiting with me to leave. "Hey, don't worry you'll be fine." John smiled. "Thank you for everything guys." I could feel the tears in my eyes. "It's going to be okay. You trust us right?" Jet asked. "With my life." "We wouldn't be here helping you if we thought it was a bad idea." John added on. "True. Well it's almost time." I walked over to John first
"Bullshit. You can't do that alone John. You'd need me to pull your ass out." I rolled my eyes at him.
I went with John and we was going down every old road he could think of. "His leaving wasn't about you. It was about him. Are you okay?" he asked.
"Behave while I'm gone, and you better be nice to Emily or I'm going to beat the shit out of you when I come back. I just wanted to thank you for being my friend when I needed you too. I hugged him and then walked over to Jet.
"Mickie did. She got her way. She always does." Jet laughed. "Yes, I do." I was proud. Jet and Kyle are probably the only ones who can handle me.
"Long live the phoenix." Jet laughed, "I have a long road ahead of me, and it's going to get bumpy and crazy." "Hey, when have we ever backed away from crazy?" Jet looked back at me.
"Jet, thank you for still being there for me even after everything you and I went through. I just want you to be happy, because you deserve it. You better behave yourself too." I hugged him and then went over to Kyle.
"You are not screwing your sister up. You can't give her everything, but who can? You give her what she needs. She loves you and she thinks that you are the greatest person in the entire world, and you know what? She's right. And as for your father, don't worry about him. You have to forget that he's even around. You don't need him, and she especially doesn't need him. Maybe Gavin does, but you don't. You've done this well without him."
"Mickie, I know you don't feel the same, and that's okay. Above all else, you are my best friend, and you will never lose me. There is nothing that you could ever do to lose me. I promise." He smiled.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me in the last few months. You've been the best friend any girl could ever ask for. Don't cause any trouble without me, okay?" I hugged him and then stood in front of all of them.
"I will miss you guys so much, that it'll probably kill me. You've been my family and you've been by my side for a long time. I will always need you guys. You're my best friends, and my brothers.Please, don't replace me while I'm gone. I will be back and then we can all kick ass together again." I could feel the tears in my eyes. "Hey, we could never replace you. You're our girl." Jet smiled. "And even though you're a pain in our asses we still love you." John smiled too. "Mickie, there is nobody on this earth that could ever take your place. You're irreplaceable." Kyle laughed. "I'll see you guys in 14 weeks!" I smiled and got into my truck. "We'll see you in 14 weeks." Kyle smiled back. I shut the driver door and turned on my truck.
I started driving down the road, and then into town, and all over the highways that were so familiar to me. As I drove I couldn't help but think of my life and how much it's changed in the past year. I found Greg, I lost him, he came back, and then I lost him forever. John and I tried it again, but it ended the same as the first time. Jet has been an amazing friend but, he confessed that he still loves me. And, Kyle poor Kyle has been through the ringer with me, but he's strong enough for the both of us.  I get to start a new journey by myself, and I am terrified. Yes, I wish I could have Greg by my side. I wish all of my boys were by my side, but this is something that I have to do alone. But I say it all the time, I am the Phoenix. I may burn in the fire, but I will rise from my own ashes. And, I'll be stronger every time. Long live the Phoenix. I'm ready to kick some ass.