Little Montgomery: A Station 19 Story

Chapter Three: Apology milkshakes

Travis' POV:

It's been a couple weeks since Hartley came to the station for the first time. She meets me after my shifts a couple times a week now and we spend the afternoon together. Today she's supposed to sleep over at me and Emmett's house because her foster parents are visiting family out of town for the weekend. I'm staring at the clock in the lobby waiting for her to get here. It's 2:53, and she gets out at 3:00 so she should be here by 3:15, which is when my shift ends, so hopefully I don't get called out on anything. I'm so fixated on the clock I don't notice Emmett walk up behind me.

Emmett: Hey.

Travis: Oh! Geez, Emmett you scared me.

Emmett: Sorry, what're you looking at?

Travis: The clock.

Emmett: Excuse me?

Travis: Hartley gets off school in a few minutes, and then once our shift ends, we get to spend the weekend with her.

Emmett: Oh yeah, she's staying with us this weekend! Yes! I'm excited.

Travis: Me too. This weekend has to be perfect, she's never lived with a sibling before, so everything has to be perfect for her.

Emmett: Trav, calm down. Everything will be fine. She's going to love it.

Travis: As long as we last the next 15 minutes without getting a call, we'll be golden-

Just then, the klaxons sound. I'm praying it's only aid car so I don't have to leave.

Over loudspeaker: Ladder 19, engine 19, reported structure fire at 89th and Lincoln.

Travis: Damn it! We have to go.

Travis(to person at the front desk): Hey, my sister will be here any minute, can you tell her I'm on a call but I'll be back soon?

Firefighter: What does she look like?

Travis: Like me, but smaller and cuter. And more girly. Thank you!

Emmett and I rush to put on our gear and get in the truck. As we're pulling out of the station Emmett turns to me laughing.

Emmett: More girly?

Travis: I heard it when I said it.

Hartley's POV:

When I get to the station the guy at the front desk tells me Travis and Emmett are out on a call and that they'll be back soon, so I sit in one of the chairs in the lobby and pull out my copy of The Great Gatsby. It's so worn because I've read it so many times, but I still like to read it.

*a few hours later*

I finished my book a while ago, so I'm just sitting here waiting for Travis. The man at the front desk left about 20 minutes ago, and it's getting dark outside. I hope everything's okay, and nothing went wrong with whatever fire they got called to.

*45 minutes later*

I hear the trucks pull into the station and see everyone coming into the lobby. They all say hi to me on their way upstairs. Jack is the last one to come in so I pull him aside.

Hartley: Hey Jack.

Jack: Oh hey kiddo, what are you doing here so late?

Hartley: I'm waiting for Travis. I was supposed to meet him here at 3:15, I'm staying with him and Emmett over the weekend. Do you know where he is?

Jack: I think he stayed behind to clean up the site of the fire with Dixon. You said you were supposed to meet here at 3:15?

I nod.