Chapter 1
Beckham
I watch the house as it goes up in flames. It's crazy how this is my life now. I am officially a firefighter. I thought I would hate this job, but putting out fires, helping save people's lives, even their pets, actually does make me feel good. It fulfills something inside of me. Best of all, Virginia swears I am a hero, her hero. Do I miss baseball? Yes, of course I do. I always will, but this is just as amazing, and I am doing something good with my life. My mom thinks I should have continued with school and finished my career, but once I lost baseball, it all seemed pointless to me. Now this seems right and the only thing I want to do. I guess this is what I was destined to do. Life really will chew you up and spit you out, but to something better. That is the only way I am seeing this huge change. I already spent too much time bitter about it, and I refuse to go back there. Nothing but positivity from here on out.
"Beck, you take the back. Blue will cover you," Cap yells. Everyone was hanging out at his house when he received a call about a fire that broke out at another farm not far away from here, and extra help was needed, so we all got back to the fire station to get out here to help. I didn't even get to say bye to Virginia, and she returns to school tonight. I didn't get enough time with her, and I am annoyed, because it was a missed opportunity to talk to her about us, but I will see her soon.
I make my way into the house through the back door, helping search for the grandmother who is still inside. The rest of the family has made it out, but she wasn't as lucky. Luck for us, we find her quickly, and we get her out safely, handing her over to the emt's, so she can get checked over while we finish our job.
After many hours, we make it back to the fire station and I catch a quick shower and check my phone. Virginia's dad steps in the room, so I give him my attention. The other guys do as well. "Thanks for the help, gentlemen. Get some rest. See you all soon," Cap tells us. I nod and look back at my phone. "Please be careful," -Virginia. I smile. "Hey, I am alive. Miss you. Call me once you arrive," I reply, and get dressed, grab my bag and head back home.
I slam the door closed, throw my bag on the floor, and lie on my bed. I am exhausted and knock out. I wake up a couple hours later, and since I am off today, I decide to go by the farm. I normally come around here once or twice a week to ride the horses and make sure Virginia's house is clean and help with some landscaping or anything that is needed. I try to stay busy as much as I can. Free time has my mind thinking too much sometimes, and I'd rather not go there. I can't think about everything I have lost. Like Virginia says, just keep pushing.
"Hey Beck," James says as I walk up to the barn. "Place is coming along nicely huh," I say and he nods. "How are you?" he asks me. I take my glasses off. "I'm actually doing really good. Thanks for asking, man," I say. "Good to hear. I'm here if you need anyone to talk to. We are rooting for you no matter what, Beckham. Don't worry about the girls, they're crazy. Don't tell Cali I said that though," he chuckles and rubs the back of his neck. This guy really is the man everyone says he is. Such a stand-up person, who helps everyone. He isn't that much older than me, but I really look up to him. He treats everyone with respect, and he is all about family. He loves the sh!t out of his wife and their son, and he protects everyone on the farm. He is building something amazing here, along with the rest of the family.
I suddenly feel sad, thinking that if I don't figure my sh!t out and get my girl back, then I would not only have to give her up, but also this family. I love everyone here. They are my family now. At least that is what they all feel like. Like home. That thought sits heavily on my mind. Losing Virginia forever? I am still kicking myself for breaking up with her when everything went down. She is everything I have ever wanted. I remember the look on my mother's face when I returned home and confessed everything. She was so angry with me, then she was sad for a long time. I think she still is. She is always encouraging me to talk to Virginia and not lose her. I was an !d!ot, but I have worked on myself and see my selfish ways and I plan on fixing it all, and making it up to her for the rest of my life. "Thanks alot James. Thanks for taking me under your wing. Thanks for convincing me to give this fireman thing a chance. It really is everything you said it would be. The rush you get from it is amazing and helping so many people. I just seriously can't thank you enough for helping me in one of my darkest moments. Also, for helping me learn to invest. You are amazing, bro, and I won't say a word to the women either. They are scary," I say. He nods. "Want to ride champion?" He asks "h3ll yeah," I say, and we shake hands.
I hop on the horse and for the next hour I use this as my personal therapy and tell the horse all of my problems. I know it's strange, but I feel so at peace, and I am able to calm my mind down, and it all makes sense. I don't feel judged here. It's just me and the horse.
"Yo Beck," All the other guys are here as I hand the horse back over to his owner. "What's up man. We didn't get to talk much yesterday since you all had to run out," Tyler says. "Yeah man," I say. James hands me a water bottle. "We're all going out tonight for a guys night. You down?" Jeremiah asks me. "Sure!" I say, knowing I have no other plans today, but speaking to Virginia. That's my life now. Either I am at work or home and making sure I stay in constant contact with Virginia. I check my phone and realize that I haven't heard from her. I send her a quick text. "Hey, I miss you," and say bye to the guys and tell them I will see them all tonight. I need to run some errands and visit my mother before she finds me and beats me for not stopping by.
I go aisle by aisle and grab what I need and go home, put everything away and make my way to Tilly's. My mother will not give up her waitress job for anything in the world. She loves it here. It's a pretty hot day, so I put on my sunglasses as I step out of the car. I check my phone and still no reply from Virginia. What the hell? I click call as I walk in the door. A girl I have never seen before walks over to me. She is wearing the waitress outfit my mom always wears, so she works here. "Hi, table for one?" she asks as Virginia answers the call. "hello" I nod at the girl. "Follow me," she says as she grabs a menu. "Who's that?" Virginia asks. "I am at Tillys. I came to visit my mom," I say "Awww, tell her I say hello and I will visit her when I am back home. I miss her so much," she says. "Are you ready to order?" the girl asks me. She pops her gum and twirls her hair in her finger. "Can I get a coffee please," I say. "right away handsome," she says and leaves. F*ck. "Handsome huh," Virginia says. I don't say anything. That even caught me off guard. I was not expecting that at all. "I am handsome aren't I?" I try to joke. If there's one thing about Virginia though, it is that she is jealous. She always has been. "Did you need something? I am busy studying for the test I have in an hour, and later I am doing a couple of girl's makeup for prom, so I will be busy. I won't be able to talk to you. Look, I have to go," she says as I hear a bell ring. She hangs up before I can even say anything. Oh, she is pissed!
