The Fire he Ignited in Me

Chapter 2

"Come on Trent! It's my birthday! Besides, seeing some naked babes will do you good," my

buddy Bryan who's driving the truck for practice begs.

"Yeah!" Lucas, the newbie buds in. "Richard says you never go out to the clubs."

"There's a reason for that," I argue blandly staring at the road.

Not a single thing about strip clubs are sexy. For one, they reek of alcohol and barf. Two, it's not

safe to sit ANYWHERE. Those cushions never get cleaned, and lastly, the women. w***e's

more like it. They throw themselves at every guy passing, expecting us all to buy them free s**t.

The dancers don't turn me on either. If it was my own woman giving me a private show, it'd be

sexy as hell. Those girls pose awkwardly with strange looks on their drag queen made up faces

and think it's empowering. It's bullshit and if I wanted to watch girls have seizures on the floor,

I'd have been a medic instead. The guys aren't much better, rubbing their d***s on anything that

moves. It's sad and don't get me wrong, I Love s*x, and I love women, but my taste is more

singular.

If you throw yourself at me, I'm not interested. I find myself attracted to shy women who only

open up when we're alone. It's better that way. I can have ALL her attention and she can have

mine.

"We know Trent. You're busy. That's why you're getting three day’s notice today. No excuses."

I groan and shake my head. I'm in for a butt load of headaches on Thursday night.

"Unit 541 we have an accident on Braojack Boulevard. I repeat, there's an accident on Braojack

Boulevard. White Nissan and a semi-truck."

Lucas picks up the walkie and responds immediately. "Unit 541. We're on it and about three

minutes out."

Bryan turns the truck around and shakes his head.

"A Nissan and a semi? That doesn't sound good, boys."

He turns on the sirens and starts honking people out of the way.

"And Braojack Boulevard? They need to put a stop light in that intersection. This is the third

accident this month," I say putting my helmet on.

We make it to the sight in less than three minutes. A big white semi-truck takes up all the lanes,

blocking traffic completely and sure enough, there's a small white Nissan with the front hood

entirely crushed like a tin can. Dark grey smoke floats out from where the two vehicles intersect

my eyes go noticeably round realizing we don't have much time.

"Everybody back!" Bryan yells getting the onlookers out of the road from where they've exited

their cars to get a better look.

"Not yet kid," I say taking the halligan from Lucas.

He's twenty-one and just finished the fire fighter entrance exam two weeks ago. I don't want him

getting injured from a rookie mistake.

Running towards the car, I pry the crow bar end of my tool into the crushed door that I know

won't open and use all my strength to pry the metal off it's hinges.

Having a gym at the firehouse is more useful than anyone will ever know.

Finally, the door falls off and smacks against the ground with an irritating grind of metal in

concrete. Dropping my tool and ducking low into the car, I catch sight of a beautiful auburn

haired woman with her eyes barely open. s**t.

I unbuckle her quickly before wrapping her tightly in my arms and taking off to the truck. I

almost make it to where Lucas stands with a blanket ready when I hear the loud boom associated

with a car explosion.

The ambulance isn't here yet, but I can hear the sirens, so I just hold the woman closer to me,

wrapping the blanket around her shaking figure as I listen to the pained whimpers escape her.

"It's okay," I coo into her ear softly.

"You're safe now."