The Fighter

Chapter 10

Sunday morning, Gavin took Avery out to breakfast while I went and did truck inspection. Gavin and I went to breakfast Friday before I picked up Avery. I was in truck bay going through the trucks and air packs. "Hey." Greg walked over to me smiling. "Hey, you don't have truck inspection this month. Shouldn't you be sleeping in?" I smiled back. "No, I had to get out of that house. Figured that I would do air pack inspection." "Sounds like a blast. I have truck inspection, I have to be here. My brother is in town, so I'm sister free until he leaves tomorrow." "Right, I forgot you take care of your sister. How old is your brother?" "He's 20. He's on break from college." "So, your brother is in town and you've been on calls and here? What you don't want to see him?" "No, I do. He gets to be a pain in the ass after a while. I love him, but when he thinks he's right, then he's right." "And you don't always have to be right?" "No!" "Bullshit! I've seen you around here. You think that you're always right." "Oh, really?" "Yeah, really." "Don't make me kick your ass!" "I'm not afraid of you." "You should be." I looked back at him. "Why's that?" "Ask anyone, if I want to I can chew you up and spit you out like nothing." "I don't think you could." "Whatever dude. How old are you anyway? Like 15?" I looked back at my clip board. "I'm 17." "You're still young. You'll learn."

I was in the office going getting the calendar for trainings and stuff before I left. "Are you heading home?" Greg came in. "Yeah, in a minute. Why, you don't want me to leave?" "No, I was just wondering. Do you have to watch your sister?" "No, I think that her and our brother are going to be out all day. They don't see each other much, so when they do they're out all day." "Does that bother you?" "No, I have her every minute of every day. He's away at college and he has no one out there." "Why do you have her so much?" "I'm her guardian. I have taken care of her since she was born. She was legally signed over to me last year after I turned 18. My dad signed her over and took off." "What about your mom?" "She died when I was 16. My dad got into drugs and my brother raised me and I raise Avery." "I couldn't imagine raising my little sibling." "That's because yours aren't that young." "I know." He laughed. "I should go, but I will see you later." "Yeah, maybe." He grinned.

I got back to Grandmas and cleaned up my room and Avery's room while I was waiting for her and Gavin to get back. My phone buzzed, I had a Facebook notification. It was a friend request from Greg. I accepted it. This kid was crazy. Avery came running in the house. "Mickie!" "What?" I asked catching her in a hug. "Gavin took me to Denny's and then we went Christmas shopping for you and Gavin met a girl! He got her number." She was really excited. "Oh really? What's her name? Where is she from?" I looked at Gavin who was following her at his own pace. "Her name is Julie Kent and I went to school with her, but we lost touch after graduation. She saw me today, came over, started talking to me, and we exchanged numbers." "Are you going to hang out with her and stuff?" "We're going to dinner tonight and then lunch tomorrow before I leave." "Oh really? So you're going trying to find someone now?" "No, I'm not looking for someone. She kind of just came out of nowhere and if she and I decide that we want to try it, then I'm in." he shrugged "Well, you deserve it Gavin. You really do." I smiled.

"Gavin I thought that you were leaving later tonight?" Grandma asked while she was starting dinner. Gavin was getting ready for his dinner date with Julie. "I was going to, but then Avery and I ran into one of my old friends from high school in the mall. We got talking and made plans tonight for dinner and tomorrow for lunch." He couldn't hide the smile on his face. "Oh that's nice. At least we get to see a little bit longer. What's her name?" Grandma knew that it was a girl. "How did you know it was a girl?" he asked. "Because Grandma knows everything." Avery smiled. "That and you didn't say you were hanging out, you said you made dinner and lunch plans that usually means date." I explained. "And that usually means a girl." Grandma added. "Unless you know...." I had to pick on him again. "Will you stop that?! I like girls!" he laughed while he glared at me. "Okay, I believe you. I'm just saying!" I smiled innocently. Which innocent is just not me.

Gavin left for his date and we all sat down to eat once Papa got home from work. Avery was chatting away about her night at Natalie's Thursday night and about her day with Gavin. She was happy and that's all I could ever ask for. "Mickie, did you go up for truck inspection this morning?" Papa asked when Avvy was done. "Yes, I did. I did all the trucks and most of the air packs. Greg showed up while I was finishing trucks and did the rest of the air packs." "Good, did anyone else show up?" "No, it was just us two. I bet anything that Kyle was up all night playing Call of Duty and he slept all day. I haven't heard from him all day." "He's laid off until the spring isn't he?" "No, just until February this year." "That isn't too bad. I know he's going out of his mind." "Yes, he is." I laughed, it's sad how much I actually do know Kyle.