Page 12 of When It Burns

As I sit down at my desk to check emails, a young, dark-headed firefighter knocks on my door. I met him on Monday, and I am pretty sure his name was Zach. “Hey, Chief,” he asks from the doorway. “Is it okay if I come in?”

“Sure, come on,” I reply, typing a response to Mayor Jones asking to meet him for drinks next week before swiveling my chair around to face the young firefighter. I know I would still be considered young for the position I am currently in, but Zach can’t be more than twenty years old. “What can I help you with?”

I try to smile at him, but it feels awkward on my face so I just continue looking at him while I wait. “Well, I am sorry to bother you Chief, but I just wanted to let you know that I am the sole caretaker for my younger sister, Bethany. I am not asking for any special treatment, but I wanted to make you aware. If she’s ever sick or anything like that, I am all she has. The guys here have always covered for me or let me pick up an extra shift when she has extra expenses, but if you aren’t okay with that arrangement I will make something else work.”

The kid looks like he is ready to ramble for several more minutes, but I cut him off, “Zach, I appreciate the professional courtesy of coming to me, but that won’t be a problem. If you ever need anything else, don’t hesitate to come to me, okay?”

A visible relief overtakes Zach’s entire face. It makes me feel a little sick to my stomach that he was this nervous to come to me. I take my job seriously and I refuse to turn a blind eye to obvious infractions, but it was never my intention to have the men working under me walking on eggshells. I don’t really know how to walk the line between being firm and being a dick, but I hope I haven’t screwed it up so thoroughly that no one wants to work for me. “Thank you so much, Chief. Really, you don’t know how much I appreciate this.”

“Of course,” I say, fidgeting uncomfortably with his obvious relief. “How old is your sister?” I ask, trying to fill the silence and prove that I am not the completely self-absorbed asshole everyone thinks I am.

“She’s fifteen. Our parents died in a car accident the week after I turned eighteen. It’s just the two of us. But she was in the car with them, and she sustained some pretty serious injuries. She lost her left leg, and while she’s worked hard over the last year to gain some independence, I still worry about her. She has lots of doctor’s appointments, and honestly, some days are just better than others for her. But I need this job. Working for the fire station is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It has given Bethany and me the income and the assurance we needed to get back on our feet. I promise you won't have any problems out of me.”

“I don’t doubt that,” I reply. “I have a little sister I would do anything in the world for, even though she can be an annoying little shit at times. I would never ask one of my men to choose the station over their family’s health as long as I can help it. If you need anything, just come talk to me, and I will do what I can.”

Zach nods at me so fiercely, I worry he is going to injure himself. “Of course Chief Johnson. Thank you so much. You have a great day.” He turns to leave, continuing to thank me as he makes his way out the door and around the hall.

Shaking my head, I turn my attention back to my computer. After sifting through several emails, I see one from City Hall providing me with some of the procedures I hadn’t had time to review yet. I decide to spend the remainder of the day memorizing them and writing out a list of questions to ask when I see Brian.

Around eleven, my phone buzzes with a text. I flip it over to see it’s from my foster mom, Heather.

Heather: Hey! I am dying to know how the move went. Are you settled in? Do you need anything? How’s the new job? Bobby and I are so proud of you. Love you big.

Blowing out a breath, I rub my hand over my face and sit my phone down. Heather and Bobby Jenkins had been close friends of my parents from church, and it had been a huge blessing that they took us in. Clairville, where we’d grown up, was the only home we’d ever known and thanks to the Jenkins’ generosity in taking us both in, we didn’t have to move schools in the middle of the most difficult season of our lives. But I still felt a bit guilty because I’d always held them at arm’s length. Add that to the list of wrongs I needed to make right. I pick my phone back up and reply.

Me: Good morning. We are good. Thanks for checking. I’ll call when things settle.

Heather: Sounds great. I just talked to Margaret— we miss you both! Give your sister a hug for me!

Checking that off my list of things to do, I throw myself back into the protocols. By the time I look up, I realize that it’s two o’clock which means I worked through lunch and it’s almost time for practice today. While my position with the football team isn’t something I ever really thought I would do after the night everything changed, I have to admit that I am having fun working with the boys. I am jealous of their passion for the sport. I remember feeling the same way when I was sixteen and carefree. It makes me sad to realize all that the accident took from me, but I am proud of my attempts to make it right, even if it is a bit later than I'd have liked.

I begin to gather my things as my mind wanders to Caroline once again. I have to admit I am thinking about her more and more. Last night as I showered, I briefly imagined her dark brown hair wrapped around my fist after stripping her bare as I bent her over the counter and pounded into her wet pussy. This morning as I got ready for work, I imagined her in my bed, sleepy and satisfied as I woke her up by running my tongue from her tight hole up to her clit and back again. As I worked at my desk today, I imagined her hiding in the cove under my desk, sitting on her knees waiting to take my cock down her tight throat while I worked, struggling to stay quiet as I made calls and reviewed protocol.

I have always had an overactive imagination and an incredibly high sex drive, but I’d spent most of my junior year in a deep depression and had worked overtime senior year to graduate on time with my class. After I graduated, I’d had a few one-night stands, but I didn’t want anyone to have to put up with my trauma bullshit for more than a few hours.

Even still, Caroline has gotten in my head and I am not sure how to get her out. Hopefully a few hours at the football field will clear my brain from anything to do with her. Otherwise, it looks like I will be taking a lot of cold showers in my future because I will never be worthy of touching Caroline Tyler.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CAROLINE

Thursday morning I make my way to my classroom and go through my usual routine of checking my email and writing my learning objectives on the board. I am not sure how writing a sentence on what I am teaching along with the strategies I am using will improve student learning, but the State requires it so I try to keep it updated. After that’s done, I bump the air conditioner down and project my slides onto the board with the morning bellringer on it. We’ve been in school for almost a month now, and I am happy with the way my students have settled into the routine.

I take a big sip of my favorite homemade caramel cold brew before my students rush in; I grab my phone and text the group chat with Margaret and Hannah.

Me: Just checked the forecast for Crestview this weekend. Sunny and eighty five. Can’t wait to have my toes in the sand.

Hannah: Oh my God me either. One of my freshmen just asked me if Shakespeare is the guy that plays in Criminal Minds. I know we’ve only been in school for a month but I need to get the hell out of here.

Margaret: Bless you both. I am so excited. I am working on making us some snacks and treats that we can take on the beach. Any requests?

Hannah: THE COOKIES

Me: OH MY GOD THE COOKIES

Margaret: Haha they are in the oven now. I played around with the ratio of chips. I will need your opinion so get ready.

Me: Done. I can’t wait.

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