The Fighter

Chapter 6

2 months later.....

November

It's the day before Thanksgiving. Papa is working and Avery and I are helping Grandma get everything ready for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I have my gear set right by the door, because we get called out to something every Thanksgiving. This is one of the most common days of the year for calls. I was ready to go at a moment's notice. Chris went home down south for the holiday. Kyle comes down and has thanksgiving with us every year. He's coming down to help me move some tables and chairs inside. Avery and Grandma were taking over the food part. I was in the garage when Kyle pulled into the drive way. "Hey!" I smiled. "Hey, ready for that huge structure fire?!" he asked with a laugh. "Always am! My gear is sitting by the front door." "It should be sitting next to your truck." "You're right! I should move them!" "Um yeah!" "Shut up and help me with some tables!" I rolled my eyes. I grabbed one end and he grabbed the other. Avery opened the door for us when we got on the porch. "Grandma said over there!" She pointed. "Yes, bossy!" I stuck my tongue out at her. "Is G-A-V-I-N coming?" Kyle asked. "Yeah, he's coming in later this afternoon." "And how do you feel about that?" "Honestly I don't care what he has to say anymore. It's been almost 2 months since he was last here. I'm still Avvy's guardian and dad is still nowhere to be found, just like it's supposed to be." I smiled as we walked back outside to get the other table. "No one is going to take her away from you." "They better not even try. I will win. When it comes to Avvy, I always know what's best for her." "Always." He agreed.

Gavin arrived at about 6:30pm. I was playing Mario Cart with Ky and Avery. We were in the family room. "How the heck are you beating me?" I looked at Avvy. "I will not tell my secrets!" she laughed. "You're just a bad driver." Kyle laughed too. "Shut up Kyle!" I nudged him. "Hi guys!" Gavin walked into the room. "Break time!" I paused the game and Avvy ran over and hugged him. I walked over, because I wasn't that excited to see him. "Hi!" I smiled to Gavin. I walked back over to Kyle after he released me from his hug. "Gavin! I have to show you my art!" Avvy grabbed his hand and started to pull him toward her room. "Wait one second." She stopped and ran back to us. "I'll be back to win!" she ran back to Gavin. "She is something else!" I laughed. "She gets it from you." Ky laughed too. "Some of it." "So, what's going on between you and Chris?" "He and I aren't really hanging out anymore. We've just both been so busy and this week he went back home." "Has he text you at all?" "No, he hasn't, but that's okay. I told you that I didn't want a boyfriend and that I didn't need one." I smiled because I was right and everyone else was wrong! Avery came back and kicked our asses in Mario cart. "Okay, I have to go, but I will see you tomorrow." Kyle hugged Avvy and then turned to me. "And I will see you at the structure fire tonight." He hugged me. "Shut your face. If we get one I will punch you square in the nose." I walked him out to his truck. "You wouldn't." "Oh, I would!" I laughed and then went back inside. Gavin was sitting in the living room on his laptop doing God knows what. "Mickie, can you put in Despicable Me 2? Please?" Avery asked. She's been watching it every night since it came out. "Yupp." I put it in and she laid on the couch with her head in my lap. I rubbed her back. She fell asleep in the first 25 minutes of the movie.

I carried Avery into her room and put her in bed and covered her up. I went back out and Gavin was sitting on the couch watching the movie. "I can put something else in, if you want." I offered. "No, it's okay. I have never seen this movie before." "That's because you're all grown up and boring." I teased and sat next to him. "Yeah, that's probably it." He laughed.

He was quiet for a second and then spoke. "Mickie, what happened to us?" "What do you mean?" "What happened to us? We used to be so close and no one could ever separate us. Now we see each other like once a month for like 2-3 days and then we're apart again. Like I don't even know anything about you anymore." "Mom and Dad had another baby, Mom got sick and died, Dad got into drugs, you had to be the head of house, you graduated went to college, and then I graduated and Dad signed Avery over to me. Life happened Gavin." "Mickie, I'm sorry if I come off as..." "An ass?" I answered for him. "Yeah, I guess. I'm just used to hiding my emotions." "Yeah, I know it. I am too. We had no choice but to grow up fast, there was no time for feelings and shit." "Yeah, if that's not the truth." He laughed. "At least Avery has a chance. Unlike us. I thank God every day that she was too little to know or understand what was going on. She's not damaged like we are." I sighed thinking of the innocent little girl she is. "Me too. That is a plus. She seems happy, very happy." "Gavin, are you happy?" I took a shot in the dark and asked. "No. I didn't want this. I didn't want to go to college three hours away for something that I don't even like. I didn't want to leave my family behind. I hate it." "Then why did you chose any of that?" "Because it was what Dad wanted. I thought that if I did what he wanted and made him happy that he would be happy enough to get help." "I never knew that. Was that the plan?" "Yeah, but things don't always go as planned." "I know, trust me. I know how you feel more than anyone. He asked me to take Avery before I turned 18 and when he asked me, I was already planning on it. Gavin, Dad is not coming back to us, and even if he does he won't ever be the same guy he was before mom died. So, if you're not happy you need to make a change. Do what makes you happy." I hugged him. "I will Mick. Are you happy?" "Yeah, I am. Because I chose to be."

We were sitting there talking and being us again when the pager went off. "Hale County to Clarksville MVA one car into a pole." The dispatcher spoke and my adrenaline started racing. "Go, I'm here if Avery wakes up." Gavin smiled. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Yeah, go!" he pushed and I ran to the door to put my gear on. Maybe I could get some action tonight. I got to the scene and the girl was trapped. Pete drove one truck with Greg and Kyle, Harry had the other truck with John and Jet. They got out and I grabbed the stuff out of the truck. Harry is the Assistant chief so he was in charge. "Mickie, Kyle, and Jet grab the jaws. John you're directing traffic and Greg you watch what those three do." Harry commanded. Finally, I get to do something. We got the jaws ready and cut the door off. The ambulance got there and Papa pulled up to the scene. He was on his way home from work.