Jamie Waite walked over to Caitie Roth's locker. "Caitie, we need to talk," he said.
Caitie nodded. "I hate to tell you this, but I really hope you don't think we're dating. I like you, but it's more of a brother-sister thing and dating you just wouldn't feel right.
Caitie laughed. "James. I've told you this before. I. Don't. Date. Dating's for superficial people, like Val and Tyler. It's stupid."
"Okay. Good," Jamie answered. "There's this girl, she's new, a senior, and she's pretty. I just didn't think you'd want me to date someone who wasn't you. Want me to walk you to class?" Jamie held Caitie's hand and they started down the hall.
Becka Walker sighed. It was her first day at a new school, and she was lucky to have even found her locker. Now the problem would be getting to her first-hour class on time. She got her 3-ring binder and a notebook out of her backpack and threw it into the locker. Becka slammed the locker door shut. She glanced around, looking for someone to ask where her class was. At first, she didn't see anybody who she thought she could talk to, a bunch of cheerleaders, and some people who just looked scary. Then, she saw this short black-haired girl walking with a cute taller guy with dark, spiky hair. "Hi. Can you tell me how to get to room 213?" Becka asked.
"Well, we're going there anyway. Want to walk with us?" the girl asked. Becka nodded, not wanting to seem to enthusiastic. As they were heading downstairs, the man who Becka assumed was the vice-principal or something stopped them. "Jamie and Caitie, you're about to be late to class again. One more detention for either of you and you get a whole week of detention in my office."
"We're right outside the door to our class, Mr. Carlson," the boy, who Becka had just heard Mr. Carlson call Jamie, explained. "If you'll move, we'll be able to get there in time." The principal moved aside and Caitie, Becka and Jamie walked into the classroom. The bell rang and everyone but Becka sat in their seat. The teacher walked in.
Across the room, Val Lanier was talking with her boyfriend, Tyler Connell. "What's up?" she asked him. Val was wearing her cheerleading uniform and Tyler was wearing his football jersey.
"Nothing," replied Tyler, "just looking forward to the football game tonight." Val could tell that Tyler was keeping something from her. "Something's bothering you, Ty. I can tell."
Tyler knew he should tell Val, but didn't want to. "Nope. Nothing." "Whatever. I'm here to talk if you need someone,' Val said.
Later that day, at lunch, Val and Tyler were sitting down with their trays of slop, as Tyler always called the cafeteria food. Hank Beecham walked up to them and sat down next to Val. "See if you can get Jamie over here. We need to talk about work. All four of us." Val got up to find Jamie. This is one way to get out of eating, she thought. Just don't stay in the cafeteria for the whole lunch.
"Alex said that we need to have a fifth EMT, another EMT-I, because we're going to be the only 5 on Kingsport EMT staff. Alex said the funding is being cut and we have to be willing to be available all the time, night and day. If we get a fifth, we can easily cut down on hours though." Hank explained.
Tyler, who had been saying nothing, replied, "I might know someone. There's this girl in my chem class, my lab partner. I was talking and this girl said she already had her EMT-I training and is working on Paramedic."
Later that night:
Jamie was at home, in the trailer that he lived in with his dad. He was alone, his father was probably out at a bar or something. Jamie suddenly heard the key in the door and went into his room. He looked at his clock. Good, only one more hour until I get to leave for work, he thought. Jamie started to think about Becka and how she actually treated him like a human. He wasn't used to it. With a perfect brother who was a pre-med student at some expensive college on a football and academic scholarship and a less than perfect father, Jamie knew his life was more than messed-up. Jamie dared to go to the refrigerator to get a can of Pepsi and looked for his father. No one was there. Jamie was all right with that because his father being home when he had to leave was one of the worst things.
The same time, At Val's
"Val, aren't you going to eat any dinner?" Her mom asked. "Nope, I had a big lunch. I'm not hungry," answered Val.
Even Later that night:
Becka walked into the EMT station in the hospital. Jamie and Tyler weren't saying anything, but Hank and Val were talking about the Cobra's victory at the football game. Becka went over to Tyler, feeling that she owed him something for getting her the job. "Hi, Tyler. Thanks for getting me on the squad." She said. "If you need me to do you a favor, just tell me." Becka left Tyler to go talk to Jamie. "Hi. You're Jamie, right?" Jamie nodded. "Are you okay? You weren't quiet this morning." Jamie began to tell Becka, but regretted it after he finished his story. How could he tell a girl he'd only met that morning all of his problems? He did, but couldn't tell why.
The next Day:
"So do I move with my mother or do I live here with William?" Tyler asked Val and Hank…..
More later……………………………………………………………..