The Fighter

Chapter 13

Kyle picked me up for lunch and my stomach started turning. I was so nervous, and I didn't know why. "Are you okay? You seem very quiet." Kyle asked while he was driving. "Yeah, I'm fine." "Something is going on inside that head of yours." "Yeah, you're right about that." "Well, tell me. I'm your best friend." "Greg has been texting me and we hung out today." "You and Greg? Do you like him?" he asked kind of surprised. "I don't know. I kind of do." "Mickie, you know that I wouldn't say or do anything to hurt you, but you have to stay away from him." "Stay away from him? Why?" I was really confused. "Because he's trouble. I know that he's Pete's son and all, but he is nothing like Pete. He's a kid, with no job, and no good intentions. He's a douche bag and he's going to hurt you." "Kyle, I know he can be an asshole, but he was different when it was just us two. He wasn't an ass!" "Mickie, please just listen to me. Just this once." "I'm a big girl, I can handle anything and you know that." "I know you're a tough one, but seriously stay away from Greg." "How am I supposed to stay away from him when we live in the same town and we are both a part of the same fire department? Please enlighten me." I knew he was going to be against it. "I know, and that's where you just have to be a professional and do your job and only your job." "I know that you and Jet are his friends and you're with him at the fire house all the time, but so am I. None of us really know him and I think that we owe it to him to get to know him and not judge him. You know that you have to take him with a grain of salt that's just his personality." "Whatever you say." Kyle sighed and shook his head.

We got to the restaurant and sat down. We went to a pizza place down in town. "So, honestly do you want anything to happen between you and him?" Kyle asked looking at the menu. "I don't know, you know that I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now. I just want to be his friend right now." "Yeah, you want to be his friend, but that's how you and Jet happened and that's how you and John happened." "They were different. I have known them since I was little just like you." "Okay, just please be careful. You're playing with fire." "I do that all the time. We're smoke eaters remember?" I smiled. "Yeah, I know it." "So, I heard a rumor about you." "Oh, yeah? And what is this rumor?" "I heard that you were talking to Jet's sister." "Yeah, we've been texting a little bit. I was actually hanging out with her on Sunday." "So, that's where you were Sunday morning! The truth comes out! I just thought that you were sleeping and that's why you missed truck and air pack inspection." "Yes, that is why I wasn't there." He laughed. He didn't know what to say to me. "And that's why you've been too busy to hang out or talk to me." I stuck my tongue out at him. "Yeah, you're boring." "I am not! But so do you think that you and Tessa will be a thing?" "Maybe, it's way too early to tell." "It always is." "So, anyway, what are your plans for tomorrow?" I asked. "Well, Tess has to work tomorrow morning, so I'm probably going to be around." "Oh, well you should probably get a hold of me." "Maybe, I will. Maybe I won't you will have to wait and see." "Okay, well you better call me."

When I got home, Gavin was setting the table for dinner (in like three hours), and Avery was doing her homework. "Hey, was that Kyle that just dropped you off or was it Greg?" he asked with a smirk on his face. "That was Kyle, but I did go and hang out with Greg earlier." I laughed. "I knew it! So, is he your boyfriend yet?" "No! He is not my boyfriend and we aren't like talking or anything like that. We're friends, getting to know each other." "Yeah, that spells future boyfriend." "Oh, really? Well what about you? Aren't you going out with Julie tonight?" "Nope, she's coming over here for dinner." "How nice. Is that why you cleaned the house and already set the table?" "Yes! I'm making dinner tonight." "Gavin, ordering take out and putting it in your own dish doesn't make it cooking." "You're so funny, I forgot to laugh. But, no Mickie I am actually cooking." He threw an oven mitt at me. "Sure, whatever you say. Hey Kid." I walked over to the counter and sat on the stool next to Avery. "Hi." She looked at me and smiled. "How was school today?" "It was good. I hate homework, can I take a break?" she sighed. "Nope, I'm sorry. You're almost done. Just think the sooner that you get it done, the sooner that you will get to go play." "Yeah, I guess so." "Can't she take like a 5 minute break?" Gavin asked. "Gav, no. Trust me on this. She needs to finish it now, no breaks. If she has a break, she won't finish it. We've tried this before, numerous times." "Okay, if you say so." He backed out of my parenting.

Julie came for dinner after everyone had gotten home. She looked nice wearing a nice white long sleeve shirt and black pants. I felt way under dressed. Gavin tells her everything, so of course she knows everything or thinks she does. I like her, but sometimes she can get on my nerves. She's just like he is. They are a match made in Heaven.

"So Avery, how's kindergarten?" Julie asked before taking a bite of whatever the hell that Gavin made for dinner. "Good, I like it. All, but homework." Avery answered. She was still a little upset with me that I wouldn't let her take a break on her homework. I was being quiet and Gavin was watching me. My pager went off. "Hale County to Clarksville MVA." I got up and ran out to my truck. I wasn't even thinking just doing.