The Lifeguard - Tyrus

Chapter eight

"Hey TJ" Amber said. TJ grinned, "Hey Ambs. I ended early today so I decided to come by". TJ looked over to Cyrus and Andi, "hi Cyrus, hello... girl I don't know the name of" TJ paused as he waited for Andi to introduce herself. "I'm Andi, you're that guy who helped out Cyrus the other day at the beach. It's nice to meet you". Amber walked out from behind the counter, "wait- you're the guy TJ had to do CPR on?"  Cyrus nodded. "Wow, I hope you don't feel grossed out by having mouth to mouth with a dude- specifically him" Amber snickered. TJ raised his hands up, "I'm right here, Amber". Cyrus looked between TJ and Amber, "you two know each other?" He asked. Amber nodded, "yeah, I'm TJ's older sister".

There was an awkward silence for about a minute until a middle aged woman barged in through the door, "Blaire! What are you doing? Why do you have that fake name on your tag?!"   Marty walked up to the woman with hurt in his eyes, "Mom, don't call me that! I told you, when I filled out my job application, it said 'preferred name', so, I used my preferred name. Which is Marty and I told you that multiple times. This is why I live with Dad and his girlfriend instead of you!" Marty's eyes were stinging with tears. Marty's mother let out a breath of anger, "Don't you ever disrespect me like that, ever". Marty stepped closer to her, "how about... you don't disrespect me like that?!"  It almost seemed as if the two of them were about to have a physical fight.
"Fine," Marty's mother started, "I'll go and never see you again. Don't you worry about me, I'm just a mother wanting her daughter back". None of the teens, especially Marty, could take it anymore. TJ walked right up to the woman and slap.
Marty, Cyrus, Amber and Andi all raised their hand over their mouths in shock. "Go", TJ ordered. Marty's 'mother' stormed out of the Ice Cream shop in anger, she didn't even bother to report TJ for assault. Marty walked a bit closer to TJ, leaning in for a hug. "I don't know you all that well, but, thank you. It means a lot". TJ grinned, "you're welcome. I can't imagine what it's like to be in your situation. But you said that mentioned that your father helps you out so that's better". Marty smiled with a little shrug, "Yeah. At least he and his girlfriend know what name to use, rather than the death name". TJ and Marty leaned out of the hug and did the 'bro-handshake'. That was an event that Marty would never forget, he felt thankful.

A few customers rolled in and out of the parlor. Cyrus and Andi were caught up in their own conversation at the moment that they forgot that they were going to leave before TJ came and the whole 'Marty's mother drama' happened. Cyrus looked over to TJ, and looking back to Andi, "I think I'm gonna ask TJ if he wants to hang out as he waits for Amber to be done. Are you okay going home by yourself?" Cyrus asked, joking on the last question. Andi chuckled with a nod, "go be your new best friend".
   Cyrus headed over to the table that TJ was sitting at, TJ was on his phone playing a game of some sort. "Hey," Cyrus said "wanna hang out? You look kinda bored". TJ looked up from his phone, turning it off. "Uh sure, I'm pretty positive that Amber still has about two hours left before she's done with her shift today". Cyrus gave a thumbs up while TJ got up out of his seat.
"Hey Ambs, I'm heading out for a bit. Text me when you're almost done with your shift" TJ said as he headed out the door with Cyrus.

As the two boys were walking on the sidewalk, Cyrus starts attempting some small talk. "So how are you enjoying Salt Lake?"  TJ shrugs, "it's alright. It's better than my last town. If we were there for Marty's 'situation', it would've been so much worse. People weren't all that accepting over there."  Cyrus nodded, "wanna go the park?", he pointed to the end of the sidewalk, "it's right down there". TJ grinned, "sounds like fun! I know this sounds immature but... is there a playground?" He asked. Cyrus smiled as they continued walking, "a swing set and everything!"
   They made it to the park and Cyrus led the way to the playground. Cyrus ran over to the swing set and sat down on a swing, "sit," he said, motioning to the swing next to him. TJ sat on the swing next to Cyrus and started pumping his legs back and forth until he was up high. Cyrus struggled to get to the higher level, he hasn't been on a swing since middle school. He missed swinging.
Out of nowhere, TJ started singing

"I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly"

Cyrus laughed as he sang along with TJ. Cyrus knew that this was going to be a great friendship.