Page 70 of Hearts of Fairlake

Ian winked at me. “The first aid tent has been a hot spot."

"Isn't there a drink limit?" I wondered.

"Well, you see, that would make sense. Crowds of people, a hot day, a whole celebration, you'dthinka drink limit would be put in place," Kyle said with a frown. "But our illustrious mayor passed offthatsuggestion when I made it and told me that people want to have a good time."

"I feel obligated to point out that when you made the 'suggestion,' you were chewing him out," Ian said, looking amused despite how much it seemed to be increasing Kyle's annoyance. "And I believe you told him you would rather vote in a rabid squirrel as mayor than him so long as you could draw breath. Ah, yeah, those were your exact words. There was more."

"I...may or may not have been a little fired up," Kyle said, looking embarrassed. "But I'm sorry, what was my reaction supposed to be? He comes into the first aid tent, talking about how it's been a wonderful day and how everyone's having a great time. Meanwhile, I'm putting on another pair of shoes and trying to make sure I don't smell like puke, all while we have one person freaking out because whatever their friend gave them is giving a bad trip, another person is puking in a bucket, and the first aid tent smells like death and booze. He sees all of that and has theaudacityto ask how things are going with my day."

"I can...see how that would be frustrating," I said slowly, unsure what to say. Generally, whenever Isaiah had one of his bouts of attitude and temper, it was better to just let him get everything out; it was the fastest way for him to lose steam. Usually, a little nudge from me, and he would get his full rant out and calm down quickly, but I wasn't sure if that was how Kyle worked. However, from the looks of it, Ian wasn't too concerned about calming him down.

"Anyway, can I use the bathroom in the firehouse?" Kyle asked with a huff. "If I have to stand in a porta potty after the day I've been having, I might just commit arson...or terrorism. I'd decide while in the porta potty."

"Terrorism?" I wondered. "Isn't that for...political purposes?"

"Something like that, but considering this is all due to a politician's choices, it probably still counts."

"Oh."

"So...bathroom?"

"Sure. Only one in there right now is Isaiah, though. Practicing his speech...or maybe just thinking. Wanted to get away from the crowd for a while."

"Can't say I blame him," Kyle said with a snort as he headed into the firehouse.

I waited until he was out of earshot before turning to Ian to ask quietly. “Is he okay?"

"He's cranky, understandably so," Ian said with a shrug. "He'll bitch and moan, he'll throw his ass around, and then he'll calm down."

"Oh. You just...don't seem bothered."

"I've known him for way too long to let it get to me."

"You keep poking him."

"A part of him knows he's being more than a little dramatic, so he's letting me get away with antagonizing him. I just have to make sure not to push him too hard, or hereally will turn around and get pissed at me. This way, he can have his bitch fit, and I can add a little humor so I don't get caught up in his mood."

"Oh. I stay quiet whenever Isaiah is upset about something I can't do anything about."

Ian smiled. “Which works for the two of you. Staying quiet isn't really our thing, whichhas been a problem for us before, but it works most of the time."

"Oh."

"Plus, I have bad days too, and with the day he's having, he’s remarkably calm," Ian explained with a soft laugh. "I think he got most of it out on the mayor."

"Okay...how did he take that?"

"The mayor?"

"Yes."

"Personally, I think the guy is flying so high from how well everything's gone today that it's a surprise he even registered that Kyle was flipping out on him," Ian said with a shrug. "But he handled it pretty well. Kyle has worked in Fairlake for a long time, and people are used to seeing him...and dealing with him. You'd be pretty hard-pressed to find someone who's been living here for a while who knows that he's the EMT you want to show up when you're in trouble and the one you don't want to get on the bad side of too."

I smiled a little at that. “He is good at what he does, but I don't think I’d want to make him mad either."

"That's a good call, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. He only loses it on people who have it coming...and me. You're one of the safe ones in town."

"Oh."

---