1 Chapter 1

The fire station Engine 226 just came back after putting down a big fire in a factory.

"Good job today, guys, that was a big one, but we saved everyone, and thank God there was no one that got hurt," said Alex, the station captain.

"Thanks, Cap," they said in unison. The firefighters respect their captain in every aspect because they know he had done a lot for the past 15 years, even before he became the captain. He is always by their side, helping in everything that he can.

"Cap, a man here saying that he knows you and is being transferred back to town." Said Toby.

"Tell him to come into my office," said Alex

Toby went to the entry and led the man to Alex's office.

Knock knock "come in," said Alex

"Are you sure you want me to come? Maybe you'll punch me because I've disappeared on you for the past five years, jajaja," said the mystery man.

Alex looked up from his table, and it shocked him to see the person standing at the entry door of his office.

"What are you doing here, Nick?" Said Alex after seeing his best friend for the first time in a long time of being away and giving him a big hug.

"What do you mean 'what am I doing here?' I came to see you and work with you here in Engine 226 like my dad and your dad did in the past." Said Nic while still hugging his best friend.

"Really? You do not know how happy I am to hear it! It will be so fun and great to work together." Said Alex after releasing Nic from the hug.

Alex and Nic sat down on the couch to talk to each other. At the same time, they told one another about their lives and what had happened in the last five years that they didn't see each other.

"You know." was about to say Nic when the door to the office was open and came in a woman.

"Hi, babe, what are you doing? Did you just come back?" asked the mystery woman.

"Hi Clair, what are you doing here? Are you not working?" Asked Alex.

"Nope, I don't work anymore! So, I came to see you. Who is this man?" Said Clair in one breath.

"What do you mean 'you don't work anymore?' I thought you liked your work?" Said Alex while having a frown on his face while looking at Clair with disbelief at what she said to him.

"Don't be angry, honey, I liked that job, but I want to spend my free time with you and go shopping." Said Clair, trying to make puppy eyes at Alex.

He couldn't believe that she had done it again in the past few months for the fifth time. He knew she was rich and spoiled by her parents but never thought it would be extreme. Alex was ashamed of his girlfriend, and he tried to break up with her many times during the past three years that they had been dating, but she always attempted to stop him from breaking up with her. He is so tired of her, but he is afraid she will try to kill herself again like two years ago because he tried to break up with her. The doctors said that she must remain calm all the time.

"Sorry, Nick, about it. Let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Clair Davis. Clair meets my best friend from childhood, Nick Miller. He is also a firefighter like me, and he just transferred from Washington back here to his hometown." Said Alex while introducing each other.

"Nice to meet you, Clair," Said Nic while extending his hand to shake her hand

"Wright, OK, so Alex are you going to come with me to the mall?" said Clair, ignoring Nick and his hand

"Are you crazy, Clair? I can't leave the station to go out with you. Plus, I need to introduce Nic to his co-workers. So I'm sorry, Nick, let's go, and I'll introduce you to the others and show you around," said Alex while being shaken by his girlfriend for her behavior.

"But you can't abandon me now just for that person, even if she is your friend. It would be best if you went with me so you could help me with my bags. You know I hate to hold my bags alone! So, call one of those men so he could do what you wanted to do, and that's it!" Said Clair, angry at Alex for rejecting her invitation to go to the mall with her.

After the duty call that morning, Alex was tired already and didn't want to go with her anywhere. Plus, he tried to relax and be his best friend, whom he hadn't seen for five years since he lived in Washington.

That morning, Belle was tired because she had to stay at the station to do the papers of the rubbing that she and her partner caught and submit them to the chief.

Knock knock, there was a knock at Belle's door, and a woman came in

"Hi Belle, what are you doing?" said the mystery woman

"Hi Gabie, I just finished the report about the rubbing today," Belle said to her best friend.

"Why did it alone? Where is your partner? He supposed to do it the other half, right?" Gabie is upset with her friend because she knows that the men in the station always treat Belle with no respect.

"Don't worry, Gabie, I already finished it. Want to go to eat lunch? I'm starving!" Belle decided to change the subject.

"Fine, if you want to change the subject, let's do it. Let's go to eat something. Wait, did you say lunch? Did you see what time it is? It's 4 p.m. already. Did you miss lunch again? I can't believe it, Belle! Why do you always do it to yourself and let them tell you what to do!" Gabie was furious at the people in the station for the way they always treated Belle just because she wears glasses. She wants her friend to lose up a little and be who she is.

"You know what?! First, we'll go to eat something at the mall, and then I'm going to make you change yourself so no one can ever make fun of you and respect you! If your late dad knew what his daughter is going through at the unit he loved for so many years, he'd be upset!" Gabie raised from her chair and went to take Belle for lunch at the mall nearby.

"Gabie, are you crazy? Why should I change? I like the way I look right now! Let's just at something and nothing else." Belle knew her friend was right, but she was afraid to change.

"No, Belle, we'll make you be the way you always were before all this stuff happened. I know you're scared, honey, but I want you to be the confident person you were in the past when your parents were alive. I want you to be happy" Belle listened to her best friend talk to her to make her realize she is not the present person she appears in front of everyone.

"Your wright Gabie! Let's do it, make my family happy, and make myself the person I always was!" So Belle collected her stuff and went with Gabie to the mall. After they got to eat something, they went shopping in the mall and bought the property that Belle needed in her wardrobe.

While they were walking in the mall, they spotted a couple close to them. The man looked familiar to them.

"Gabie, is that your brother right there?" Belle asked her friend. Gabie looked in the direction her friend pointed at and said, "You're right. It is Alex. And he is again with his annoying girlfriend, Clair! I can't believe he is still with her!" Of course, Belle didn't like his girlfriend either, but she couldn't do anything about it.

"Let's say HI to Alex and annoy Clair!" Said Gabie with a smile and dragged Belle with her to where her brother was.

"ALEX!" Gabie yelled while dragging Belle with her

While Alex was walking with Clair in the mall, he heard someone calling his name, so when he turned around, they saw his sister and Belle running toward them.

"Gabie, what are you doing here?" Alex said to his sister, knowing that Belle was with her.

"I am here with Belle. You remember her. Right, Alex?" Gabie talked to her brother while ignoring his girlfriend.

"You know I am here too, right Gabs?" Clair said with an annoying tone.

"I know you here, Clair. You always make people know that you're beside my brother!" she annoyed Gabie, but she couldn't do anything.

"Why is that person here too, ha? Take her away from us!" Clair doesn't want to see Belle because she hates her.

"I will not take my best friend away! So why should I do it? If you can't stand us, go home and leave us alone, but you go home alone without my brother because he'll be with us. And don't you dare to call me Gabs ever!" Gabie was raising her voice at Clair.

"Calmed down, both of you! Gabie, let's go, alright. Let's leave them alone." Belle didn't want Alex to be angry at Gabie, so she tried to take her away from Clair.

"No! I'll not go anywhere before she apologizes to you!" Gabie crossed her hands and looked directly at Clair when she said that.

"WHAT?! Are you out of your mind? Why should I apologize to the nerd!?" Clair was raising her voice, too, and Alex felt the people looking at them.

"KNOCK IT OFF, BOTH OF YOU!!! What are you, two years old or what? Gabie, go home and talk there and take your friend with you." Alex was already red furious at the girls. Belle was quiet because she didn't want to cause Alex pain, but she had tears when she heard him say those words about her. They used to be friends. When they were little, he always was there for her. She needed a friend or a shoulder. Instead, he now treated her as a stranger.

"Gabie, let's go home, please? I'm tired already," said Belle in a whisper to Gabie.

"You alright, Belle? Let's go home." So Gabie took Belle to her car and drove her home.

After Alex returned to the station, he was tired and upset because of Clair for how she treated his sister and Belle. When he saw Belle with Gabie, it shook him to see her again after so many years. He was glad that she was doing good and looked good, but he regretted what he said about her an hour later when he came back to the station.

"You OK, Alex?" Nic saw him and approached him.

"Yep, I think so. But, sorry, man, I had an endless day today because of Clair. I saw Gabie and Belle an hour ago at the mall, and I couldn't talk to their property because of Clair, plus I hurt Belle with my words. I hope she is doing fine!" He was ashamed of how he treated Belle, so he hoped Nick wouldn't be angry at him.

"From what I got to meet your girlfriend, I bet she is not an amiable person to control. Don't worry about Belle, and I'll check on her soon and…." Nic couldn't finish his word because the sirens of the fire station went off, and they all jumped for the rescue needed.

While the firefighter was putting the fire out at the burning house, the police secured the people from coming closer to the fire. At the site were Belle and Gabie helping ensure the people, and they saw Alex and Nic. After an hour, the fire was out, and the people were gone. The girls approached them.

"Hi Nick, Alex" Gabie was still upset with her brother even though she knew it wasn't his fault. Nic was happy to see Gabie and Belle. He hugged Belle because he missed her a lot while he was away.

"Hi Belle, I've missed you so much! How have you been?" Nic always took care of Belle like a sister to him.

"Everything is OK, Nic. I've missed you too. How are your parents? Are there back also?" Belle was happy to hear from her cousin again after so many years, plus she knew she had one more person by her side.