The Fighter

Chapter 5

Thursday after school, I went to hang out with Kyle. I got out at 12:30, so I still have a good two and a half hours until I have to get Avvy. "So, how was your date with Chris last night?" He asked as soon as I got out of my truck. "It was not a date. We hung out and had dinner. That was it and it was fun." "So, you two going out again?" "I don't know. Why so many questions?" I asked laughing. "Because I was curious." "Curiosity killed the cat, my friend." "Does Kim know that you went to dinner with Chris last night?" "She would if she would talk to me. She's mad because I skipped yesterday and didn't text her all day. Now, she won't answer my texts or even talk to me." "Good job! You screwed up." He teased me. "Yeah, I know. I've apologized like a million times today." "Let her be, she'll calm down. How long can she really go without talking to you?" "You'd be surprised. It depends how mad at me she is and I think she's pretty mad." "Sure, she's mad right now, but no one can stay mad at you. Trust me." "Trust you? When have you ever been mad at me?!" "Remember when you and I were washing truck the day of the grass fire and you weren't paying attention and smacked me with your air pack?" He asked. "I smacked you with my air pack? The one that is on my back?" I was confused. "Yeah, you took it off, turned fast, and knocked me down. I was pissed and I wouldn't talk to you for the rest of the night. I made Jet help you with two of the trucks." He explained and I sort of remembered. "I didn't realize that's what happened! I knew that you were mad about something! Leave me alone I was a probie." "See, but I went home and I felt bad for being mad at you." "Well, anything else that I don't know about?" "Not that I can think of." He laughed.

Kyle and I went for a ride to the station. I left my phone charger there. We walked around the side and there was the burn trailer. "Look what we've got!" Jet came over really excited. "I see! I can't wait to play in this!" I laughed. "Your gear is in my truck." Kyle smiled. "I know, it's tempting." I looked at the trailer again.

This kid came out of it. "Hey, it comes with a guy!" I looked at Jet. "Oh yeah, I forgot he was here. I'm showing him the ropes. He's our newest member, just came up from Virginia." "Who is he?" "Guys this is Pete's son Greg." He introduced him to us. "I'm Kyle." Kyle shook his hand. "Jet you suck at introductions! You always have! I'm Mickie by the way." I laughed. "Mickie?" Greg looked confused. "Yes, that is my real name. Mickie Anne." "She may be little, but she will kick your ass if you piss her off." Kyle warned. "Yeah, and she's the chiefs granddaughter." Jet laughed. "So which one of you is her boyfriend?" Greg laughed. "Jet is my ex and Kyle is not nor has her ever been my boyfriend." I explained.

"She doesn't need a man." Kyle teased. "I never said that! I said that I don't need a boyfriend and that I don't want one!" "Same thing!" "It is not!" "Yes, they fight like this all the time. He's like her brother." Jet explained to Greg. "Got it." He laughed, he didn't know what to say to us. No one ever does. "Wait, Mick. Didn't you go on a date with Chris last night?" Jet asked. "You told everyone didn't you?!" I turned to Kyle and then back to Jet. "I went and hung out with him. It was not a date! I made sure he knew that." "I'm sure you did." Jet winked to me. "You're disgusting." "You're the one who understood where I was getting at!" "That's because you're a perv and I know you." I was together with Jet for a while. Before I was with John.

We stood around and bullshited for a while. "Mick, you have to go get Avery." Kyle checked the time on his phone. "Your kid?" Greg asked. "No, my sister. But it was nice meeting you." I smiled. "You too." He smiled back and I went to the truck with Kyle. "Got a new boyfriend?" Kyle joked as we got into his truck. "No! I don't even know him. I didn't even know that Pete had a kid in Virginia. I thought he only had two." "Yeah, two up here. He has two in Virginia. Well now he only has one." "Huh, you learn something new every day." "I guess so, Mickie Anne." "Hey! You knew my middle name was Anne!" I laughed. "I actually don't think that I did. You don't know my middle name!" "Kyle Ronald." "How?!" he was surprised that I knew that. "I'm your best friend. Of course I knew that!" "What the Hell?!" he laughed and I just shook my head. "Shit, I'm going to be late picking Avvy up and her teacher is going to pissed!" I looked at the time. "No you're not. I put her car seat in the back when you were getting your gear out of the bed of your truck." "Seriously?! Why?" I was relieved. "Because, I knew you and I knew that the burn trailer was going to be there and you'd probably be cutting it close today." "Kyle you freaking rock!" I was glad that he was prepared because I sure wasn't.

"Hi Ky." Avery smiled as I lifted her into the truck. "Hi Avvy. How was school?" he asked smiling to her. "Good, I turned my permission slip in." she smiled and looked at me. "Good! Now you're all set for your field trip next week." I helped her buckle in. "I heard that you're going to the police station. That sounds exciting." Kyle laughed. "Yeah, I guess. I wanted to go to the fire house." She shrugged. "That's what Mickie said. Do you want to go there now?" he asked. "Yeah! Mickie can we?" she got really happy and excited. "Yeah, I guess it couldn't hurt to go for a little bit." I gave in. I looked at Kyle and he was laughing again. He knew that Greg and Jet were still going to be there.