My Favorite Explosion

Spending the day with Austin was more than I thought I had needed. I knew I had needed some sibling bonding time, but I never thought I needed it as badly as I really did. After leaving Mom’s grave we went for lunch and then down to the carnival that it was town like we had done as children. I couldn’t help but laugh watching Austin try to get on some of the ride’s. His lanky stature proved to be a hindrance, especially at the go karts. Just like we had done as children, Austin had to prove he was the ‘best big brother’ and had managed to win me a giant teddy bear, after it taking about ten games to hit all of the balloons, which he would deny to everyone. Once we had finished up we made our way back home and I decided to make dinner for the three of us. It was nice to spend time with the two men who looked after me in every part of life. My dad being the loving, nuturing person he is, and Austin to knock me back down to reality, but ready to kill for me at a moment’s notice. And probably ready to kill me at times himself.

I woke up at four thirty to get to my boxing class by five and was so happy to be back into a routine, but not too happy about being awake so early. I don’t think I had ever been awake this early to go workout. I changed into my black leggings and blue workout shirt and went upstairs to get my pre workout, it was much to early for coffee. I also might throw up during class if I drank coffee first. I finished my pre workout and put my sneakers on, unsure of I wanted to run to class or just drive. Considering I had to be at work by seven, I opted to drive and walked out to my 2013 midnight blue dodge charger that I had just picked up yesterday, getting myself pumped up for class. I hate mornings, but boxing makes it a little easier to cope with being up so early. It was an hour long class, with fifteen minutes of a cardio warm up, sprints, jogs and jump squats. Then the half hour of boxing itself, jab, hook, uppercut, side duck. I had only been back into it for two and already back into my quickness in class. The instructor was unsure about me, since I had lost so much muscle from not keeping active for almost five years and already regaining all my strength and stamina. To finish class off was a fifteen minute cool down of floor work stretches and exercises. The instructor finished up a few minutes early and as I was unwrapping my hands he tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention.

“Hi, I don’t think I’ve seen you here before” he said without introducing himself.


“Oh, probably not. I just started again. I’m Scarlett” I smiled holding out my right hand. He took it, shaking my hand and laughed.


“Wow, I’m totally rude. I’m Brian. Have you done boxing before?”


“I used to come here before I moved to South Carolina about seven years ago. I started about ten years ago, but ended up taking a five year break” I laughed rolling my wraps back up.


“Oh okay, I was gonna say, you’re damn good for a beginner”


“I’m a kinda beginner” I laughed, “Still getting back into the routine of it”


“Well that’s good to hear, I hope to see you more often. We need more people here with your kind of dedication.”


“Thanks” I smiled closing up my bag, “But I actually have to get going, I have work in an hour”


“Now that’s what I’m taking about!” he laughed, “Nice to meet you Scarlett, see you next time”

I waved as I walked out the doors and jumped in the car to get home and shower before work.

I was back to work again today after enjoying my Saturday, Sunday off, being one of the few to have such a luxury in my field; but having an extra day this week since someone needed to swap and began to get ready for work. After getting out of the shower I dressed into my navy blue 5.11 work pants and pulled on my short sleeve under armor, waiting until I got to the station to put my button down on. I brushed my hair putting some anti-frizz in it and clipping half of it up in a jaw clip. I put a small amount of makeup on, foundation, eyeliner and mascara and set it with some spray. Satisfied with my appearance I pulled my socks on after walking out of the bathroom and walked upstairs to make myself some coffee, being greeted by Vic sitting in my kitchen. I jumped at the sight of him, not expecting someone to be in the house at all.

“Jesus fuck Vic what are you doing?” I said after I calmed myself down.


“I know where the spare key is” He laughed standing up.


“God you and your brother and the exact same” I laughed kissing him. I walked over to the coffee machine to make myself some and leaned on the counter. “So, is there a reason you were standing in my kitchen waiting for me at six-twenty five in the morning?” I questioned, unsure why he was awake so early.


“I just wanted to come say hi before you went to work”


“But why are you awake when you don’t have to be?” I questioned his sanity for being such a morning person.


“You just came from boxing!” He laughed, “You don’t have to wake up to go to that.


“Oh but I do” I laughed, “I need my boxing. It’s so much fun” I said as I looked at the time. Six-thirty. “I gotta get going for work, the overnighter’s get angry when you’re not there fifteen minutes early”


“Do you have anything planned for tonight?”


“I was planning on the gym but I can skip tonight, do you have other plans?” I asked while I put my boots on.


“Dinner at 8?” He asked


“I am saying yes to dinner, but I’ll keep you updated on what time. I’m not sure who my relief is tonight. I don’t want to risk a late job”


“Okay sounds good, just let me know what’s going on” He smiled kissing me.


“I’ll see you tonight” I smiled as he walked back over to his house while I got into my car.

My drive to work was about ten minutes, but I had arrived at the station right as the tones went off for a call. I grabbed my phone, shirt and belt walking into the station to see if the one of the overnight guys wanted to cut out early but found them to be gone already. I put my stuff down on the couch and went to clock in, afterwards walking back out to the car to get the rest of my stuff. I set up my stuff on the couch I had claimed as mine and began cleaning up some of the mess the crew had left. I went to the storage closet to get the vacuum out to clean the floors that were covered in mud, dirt and random garbage. My usual partner was out today and I had forgotten to check the schedule to see who would be replacing him today.
My partner leisurely strolled in at seven on the dot and punched in before it told him to enter a reason.


“Hi, I’m Scarlett”


“I know who you are” he scoffed and walked away. “Where’s the truck?” he asked.


“They got a job around six forty when I got here but were already out. Should be back in a few minutes, I just heard them call back in” I said, “So you know me, but I don’t know you.
What’s your name?”


“Scar, I’m really offended you don’t recognize me”


“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, fear striking me afraid it could be someone from South Carolina.


“We were partners for three years before you decided to move and not tell me you were leaving!”


“Oh my god, Jake is that you?”


“Now you remember me!” He laughed “I haven’t changed at all, and you completely forgot who I was, but you changed your entire appearance and I still remember you. I’m offended


Scar” He laughed as he hugged me.


“Wow I feel like a jackass” I laughed as I let go. “You look awesome though, how much have you lost?” I asked noticing his extreme weight loss


“Over one fifty at this point. I feel awesome” He smiled proudly.


“Jake that’s awesome I’m so happy to hear that”


“What happened to you muscles? Where’s the other half of you? You used to be so built”


“I fell off when I moved, work took over my life for a few years but I’m back on it now. Been about two weeks, already huge changes” I laughed


“Well that’s good to hear. You still smoke?”


“You’re not going to lecture me if I say no right?”


“God no, let’s go outside” He said walking out the door, I felt my side to make sure I had my keys to get back in.

We stood outside talking and waved as the overnight guys got back a few minutes later, handing over their narcotics, radios and keys to the truck.


“Well isn’t that a scary thing to see, the two of you reunited” Billy said lighting a cigarette.


“Oh come on, we weren’t THAT bad” Jake laughed


“The two of you were in trouble at least once a month” Paul said laughing.


“But it was always stupid shit” I laughed, “Like that time Jake set the drive cam off because he was driving and some stupid bitch cut us off. Totally not our fault we got hit”

“Or maybe that time you told off a nurse Scarlett?” Billy mentioned.

“Which time?” Jake laughed

“Maybe she shouldn’t have made me wait twenty six minutes to find me a bed for my patient who’s stroke window was coming very close to an end!” I laughed, “I haven’t seen her since I came back which is good”

“What made you come back Scarlett?” Paul asked, also one of my old partners.

“It was just time” I shrugged, “It was nice out there but I didn’t have anyone. Only the people I worked with and sometimes you need people who don’t know anything about EMS. I could tell it was killing my dad too”

“So instead of people who deal with our crazy life, you come back home to your brother’s crazy rockstar life?” Billy laughed.

“No one said I didn’t need craziness in my life” I laughed. “It’s a good kind of crazy anyway. There’s always something going on, writing, performing, appearances. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it” I laughed “The lack of seeing each other I think is what keeps us so close. We’d kill each other otherwise.” I laughed

“Did you meet anyone out there? Date anyone?” Paul asked

“I did, yeah. But things didn’t work out” I answered wanting to avoid that topic.

“Sorry to hear that” He responded

“Eh, it’s fine. He wasn’t anything special”

“In other words, he wasn’t Vic is what you’re saying” Jake said

“Oh shut it” I laughed

“Have you seen him since you got back?” Billy asked.

“We’re actually together again” I smiled like a twelve year old knowing they were about to throw the aww’s at me.

“Like actually together or that stupid bullshit you’ve already been through with him? Cause I’ll kill a bitch if I gotta kill a bitch” Jake stated. The other two nodded, agreeing with him.

“No like actually together” I laughed

“Alright good” Jake said, “But I’ll still kill a bitch if I gotta. You know I will” Jake said.

“I know Jake. So is this gonna be your permenant shift?” I asked hopeful

“If your partner keeps banging out then I’m definitely going to suggest it to scheduling.”

“Make it happen Jakeypie” I laughed remembering the name I had given him ten years ago.

“Jakeypie?” Paul asked confused

“She started it when we fist started working together. Don’t worry, She’s Scarbaby” he laughed

“You two are ridiculious” Billy said as the tones went off for a job.

“Well, duty calls! Ready to do this?!” Jake asked with enthusiasm

“I’ve never seen you this happy to do a job” I laughed

“I’m just so happy to have my partner back” He laughed squeezing me in a side hug.

“Ugh gross, affection” I laughed “Let’s go save a life Jake!” I said with the same enthusiasm.

“Good to be back in this truck with the best” Jake smiled

“OH stop it, I’m good but not that good”

“Scarlett shut up. You’re the best medic they have here and you know it. It’s a compliment, now just fucking take it” he laughed.

Jake hopped in the driver seat, I in the passenger acknowledging the job. I turned the radio on to our usual country station and we jammed out as Jake drove to the call. It was just like old times and we still had our fluid motion of how we did things as a partnership. It was nice to be back with my old partner. Work was going to be even better and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Notes

Kind of a filler, kind of not, wanted to give an introduction to her work life outside of the boys.