Smoke

Two

They sauntered back towards the mess room, exhausted minds and aching bodies, the faded smell of smoke seemed to follow them as they came from scene to station, furniture squeaked and chairs groaned as bodies limply collapsed in to them,

“Quick cuppa then bed I think” Kevin announced as he flicked the kettle on, a chorus of voices agreed,

“No thanks mate” Bayleaf responded “I’m turning in I’m shagged!”

He left the room with a chorus of “Goodnights”. George stretched in his seat, running his hands through his hair and rubbing his eyes he looked over at Scarlett,

“How you settling in Dolly?”

Scarlett rolled her eyes with a smile, it had been three weeks since George had called her that and it had stuck, there were days where she didn’t even respond to people using her Christian name,

“Fine thank you” she laughed “I don’t know what I was nervous about, not like any of you lot are scary”

Sub chipped in,

“I’m impressed! She’s a bloody good firefighter!”

He grinned as she took a steaming mug of tea from his hand,

“How you finding driving the truck?”

George asked

“It’s fine, breaks are a bit stiff but other than that she’s a dream!”

The mundane conversation carried on before one by one the crew slipped in to the sleeping quarters, until just Kevin and Scarlett remained, he cracked his knuckles out in front of him, clearing his throat,

“That yours then?”

She blinked back at him confused,

“Sorry?”

“The Capri? Is it yours?”

She smiled, nodding,

“Yeah she is” she beamed tucking her hair behind her ear “My pride and joy!”

“I can see why it’s a gorgeous motor! Thought you might have borrowed it off your dad or something” he smiled towards her putting his hands behind his head “Ya know trying to impress the lads”

She rolled her eyes scoffing,

“No she’s all mine”

“What made you want to be a fire woman then?”

He spoke in a hushed tone his head resting on his hand, she held her mug in both hands pursing her lips and looking away pretending to think,

“I suppose because my mum told me I couldn’t” Kevin laughed loudly, hushing himself quickly “Everyone laughs when I say that! But seriously she always had me in these poxy frilly dresses and bloody bows, I guess she put me off any sort of girly jobs, I was never going to be a nurse or a secretary, I was quite happy in the garage with my dad, that was my first option, mechanic”

She said almost as If she were daydreaming

“So, she went mad then?”

“Nah, she wasn’t happy, but she knew it’s what I wanted so I think she just turned a blind eye, cried at my passing out though” she laughed fondly at the memory “My dad was so excited, he had always wanted a boy, and they ended up with me, constantly caked in mud and playing football all the time”

Kevin smiled,

“My mum didn’t even come to mine; my brother was up in front of the magistrates for theft that day, so she had to be there instead!”

“Ugh that’s awful! Shame you didn’t know my mum at the time, she loves a do!”

He laughed

“She sounds nice, supportive”

“She can be as long as it’s something she wants to support you on, as I say the moment I walked through that door with a tunic and helmet she went mad! What’s your mum like?”

They felt like school kids, asking about each other’s parents, but after three weeks of being at black wall she wanted to start forming friendships, knowing the brigade could be a lonely place without a firm foundation and a good support network, in her short career she had already seen three firefighters pack in because they couldn’t cope with the weight of the job, she found there was something about Kevin she felt particularly drawn to, something comforting, there was something about his mannerisms and his tone of voice that she found calming. George was a laugh and Bayleaf was a father figure, but she needed a friend,

“Mad!” he announced with a laugh “Would do anything for anyone, really looked after us, but my god is she daft! She done bloody well though, dad constantly in and out of the nick raised three kids alone” She smiled towards him, Kevin stretched in his chair, “Suppose we better turn in then” he glanced at the clock on the wall “Jesus! It’s twenty to five! Everyone else will be getting up soon!”

Scarlett Laughed, suddenly yawning, as if the lack of sleep had caught up with her, they stood quietly tucking their chairs in and placing their mugs in the kitchen sink, Kevin moved towards sleeping quarters, she reached out placing a hand on his shoulder,

“Kev” He turned “Thanks for tonight, it’s the first proper interaction I’ve had since I’ve been here”

He smiled, wondering if she had been afraid before, wondering if she had been putting up a front and hiding behind her cocky attitude,

“No worries I know what it’s like to feel a bit lost, thanks for the tea, maybe you can pay for breakfast after shift and let me look at that car as a thank you”

He winked, she folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes,

“Fine!”

He smiled leaving the room.