The Fighter

Chapter 12

"So, how was your date with Julie?" I asked ask Gavin came into my room and laid next to me on the bed. "Perfect, as always." He smiled from ear to ear. "It's been 2 months and you are absolulty head over heels in love with her. It's good to see you happy." "I haven't been this happy in a long time. So, who is this kid you were hanging out with earlier?" he asked. "His name is Greg. He just turned 18 and he's a smart ass. He just moved up here to be with his Dad." "Is he trouble?" "I don't think so. I don't really know him. He came in October." "Do you like him?" "Not like that. He's someone you have to take with a grain of salt. He's very interested in me, but I'm not looking for any of that." I shook my head and laughed. "Mickie, it's been how long since your last boyfriend?" "Does that really matter?" "No, I'm just saying. Don't you get lonely? Don't you wish you had someone to cuddle with or even-." "EW, no! I'm not discussing that with you! I have Avery to keep me company and Kyle when she's not around and Avery is the only cuddle buddy that I need." "One day, you'll want someone." He laughed at me. "One day, not today, not tomorrow, not anytime soon!" "Okay, keep telling yourself that." "I will!" "Come here!" he grabbed me and hugged me tight. "I missed you, I'm glad that you talked me into coming home." He continued to hug me. "Yeah, cause I convinced you! I told you to do what made you happy and you went for it. And now, you're happy and I would be if you let me breathe!" "I guess you're right." He laughed and let me go. I have honestly missed my big brother being around.

I woke up in the morning with two little arms around my waist. "Good morning Avery Marie." I turned over and hugged her. "Are you ready for school?" "No! I have to get dressed and you have to do my hair!" she got up and looked really concerned. "Oh I have to do your hair? Can't you do it?" "No! I'm only 5! You do it every morning!" "Oh, that's right!" I love messing with her, and she knows when I'm messing with her because she gets that attitude. "Come on, let's get dressed." I got up and she ran to her room and got dressed in the outfit that we picked out last night before bed. She came into the bathroom when I was doing my make-up. "How do you want to do your hair today?" I asked finishing my mascara. "I want my sides up and this bow on the little pony tail." She handed me her brush, a hair tie, and a bow. I did her hair and then went to get her lunch pail and put it in her backpack. "Okay, shoes. Shirt, jeans, socks, sweatshirt, backpack, lunch pail, and hair's done, and jacket." I went through the list. "Aww man!" she thought that I had forgotten about her jacket. "Ha! Got ya! Get your jacket and let's go!" I laughed and we headed out the door.

I stopped at the gas station on my way home and got gas. I got a text while I was waiting for it to stop pumping. It was Greg.

"Hey, are you coming up to the station today?"

I answered.

"Yeah, I'm coming. I had to stop and get gas."

"Good. Hurry up!"

I went to the station and Greg was the only one there. "Hey, what's on the agenda today?" I asked when I saw him. "Nothing, just thought that I would come down here and chill. I got bored and decided to see what you were doing." He smiled that smile of his. "Well, I'm here now. So, what do you want to do? I have to go to the store. You can come if you'd like." "What store?" "The fire technology store on Main Street." "Okay, I'm down." He shrugged and we went down to the store. "So, why did you want to see me so much?" I asked without hesitation. "Something to do." "You asshole. I can never get a straight answer out of you can I?" "Nope." He smiled proudly. "I'm surprised that you didn't fight me to drive." "I thought about it. But I've never been in your truck, so I wanted to see it." "It's nothing special. Just a little big." "How'd you get this truck?" "A lot of hard work and saving. The lift kit was a gift from my Papa and the front rack was more saving." "Oh, I see. I got mine with a loan from my dad. I'm trying to get a job to pay it off." "You'll find something. It's tough around here." "Yeah, I know. I mean I worked for a mechanic shop down in Virginia." "Did you like it?" "Yeah, it was okay. The boss pissed me off a lot. He was a drug addict and I found his stash in the back room. That's when I stopped working for him." "Yeah, I would stop working for him too." "Are your brother and your sister the only siblings that you have?" He asked me. "Yeah, my brother Gavin is two years older than me and my sister Avery is thirteen years younger than me. You have your younger sister and brother up here and another one down in Virginia don't you?" "Yeah, I have an older brother three years older than me down in Virginia." He explained. We hung out and talked for hours and hours and I learned a lot more about him and he learned a lot more about me.

I got home and did mine and Avery's laundry. No matter what I did, I couldn't stop thinking about Greg. This smart ass punk has got me going crazy and I don't know how it happened or even why it's happening. I know one thing for sure and I have to tell Kyle. I picked up my phone and called him. "Hey!" he answered. He sounded happy. "Hey! Ky, are you free?" I asked very nervous to tell him. "Yeah, you sound scared are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine. I just have to talk to you. It's been a while and I miss my best friend." "I miss you too! I'll come pick you up and we'll go grab some late lunch." "Sounds great!" "Good, I'll be right down." "Okay see you soon." I hung up and took a deep breath.