Disclaimer: I don't own them
*Italic indicates thought
Chapter Five: An Awkward Encounter
A/N: whoo. Time for another update. Yay! This is kind of short, but oh well. enjoy!
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost
Kevin grabbed a granola bar and an apple on his way out the door. He was so busy with work and his training lately that he hadn't had time to cook himself a proper meal. He grabbed his gym bag; shoving his granola bar in his mouth. He ran into his bedroom to find his find his new swim goggles.
His bedroom was a mess. He had clothes everywhere and his bed wasn't made. I'll clean it later, he thought. Hopefully. He grabbed his goggles and shoved them into his bag. He nodded and left the room; only to dash back into it and grab his whistle. What else do I need? That's right, I have to drop off those papers to my doctor. He ran to the barely used kitchen table and groaned in frustration.
It was covered in papers and recipes of all kinds. He threw them aside as he looked for the ones he needed. He finally found them and shoved them into his bag. He put his samuraizer in his pocket and looked around to make sure he had everything. Ok, I think I'm good now. He left his apartment, only yo have to go back and get his keys. He locked the door and hurried down the hall.
I wouldn't be running around if I didn't oversleep, he thought ruefully. But I wouldn't have overslept if I had remembered to reset my alarm. He chuckled bitterly. "Mike would find this amusing I'm sure," he mused. Being unorganized was very uncommon for Kevin, but he'd been working so many hours and swimming so much that he didn't have time to be organized anymore.
"Guess this is what it's like in the real world." He hurried through the streets of his neighborhood with ease. He used to think after the war he'd have more time to swim all day. Now, even though he was swimming and working out for around five hours a day, he worked for almost eight before hand. He'd done the math, and between travel time and other appointments, he had four hours to sleep every night. He finished his granola bar and started on his apple. Dammit, I forgot a Gatorade. Oh well, Jeff can loan me one.
He hurried to his doctor's office and slipped inside. He took out the crumpled papers and handed them to the receptionist. "Hi," he greeted breathlessly. "I'm Kevin Michaels. I'm trying to set up a physical with Dr. Reese. These are my uh...medical history and family medical history."
"Ok, thank you very much. We'll be calling you to let you know when your appointment is."
"Ok, thank you." Kevin left in a hurry and checked his watch. "Man, I gotta get to work." He turned the corner and collided with a woman he didn't see. He fell on the ground, dropping his apple. He sighed in frustration and grabbed it. "Sorry."
"Watch where you're going."
"I'm in a rush, ok? I overslept and I'm going to be later for work."
"That's no reason to run into me."
"Look, I said I was- Brooke?"
"Kevin?" Brooke blinked in surprise, fully taking in the boy she'd just run into. What followed felt like the longest awkward silence for both of them. Kevin studied Brooke gently. Her hair was pulled back in a bun, and she had on sweats. Kevin guessed she had her gymnastics leotard on underneath.
"Uh...Hi," Kevin eventually said.
"Hi."
"You...you look good."
"Thanks...uh...you two."
Kevin glanced at his watch and groaned. Great, now I'm late. "I...I have to go. I'm...going to be late for work."
"Oh, well don't let me keep you then."
"Right. Uh...bye..."
"Bye." She stepped aside and let Kevin rush past her. She stared after him a little bit, pushing back a strand of stray hair. The sun glinted off the engagement ring on her finger. She grabbed her bags and continued walking on her way. She felt a small flutter of her heart when she thought about seeing Kevin. Then she looked at her ring and smiled. It's all better now, she thought. I've moved on long ago.
She got to the meeting place, smiling at Jeffery. "Hey."
"Hey," her fiancée smiled, wrapping an arm around her. He kissed the top of her head. "Ready to work out?"
"You bet."
"You ok babe? You look a little flustered."
"It's nothing," Brooke insisted as they walked to their car. She got in the passenger seat and sighed. "I just...I literally ran into an ex on the street a couple minutes ago."
"Oh boy, that sounds fun."
"Yeah. I haven't seen a single note of his existence for two years, and suddenly here he is."
"What happened between the two of you?"
"He broke up with me. I wanted to talk to him about it, but I found him dancing with another girl."
Jeffery nodded. "And then you found a very handsome guy, who just happened to be better than you at gymnastics."
"As if! You fall more often than a six year old!"
"You're just jealous, there Golden Girl."
Brooke smiled as she took his hand. "It was just so weird. I mean, I was in love with him. Which is crazy, because I only knew him for a couple months."
"It's ok, lovely," Jeffery assured her, kissing her hand. "In a few months we'll be married, and all those exes will be when more insignificant."
Brooke nodded in agreement, gazing at the love of her life. "Absolutely."
-Samurai Ranger Life-
Kevin ran into the employee room at the pool and threw his stuff into his locker. He thew away the rest of his apple and tossed his whistle tell around his neck. He grabbed his sunglasses and dashed out into the pool deck; after he remembered to clock in. He looked around, noting with satisfaction that there weren't any people there yet.
"Coming in late, Kev?" Jeff asked. "Gotta say, I love your rebellious streak."
"Better than yours," Kevin replied, smiling. If living with Mike had taught him anything, it was how to deal with small jibe and reciprocate.
"Well, you know the deal. I opened up, so you gotta close up."
"Make Izzy do it. I have swimming to get done. And dinner to eat."
"Man, with all these hours you're working and training I'm surprised you have time to sleep."
"Just barely," Kevin replied getting to his chair.
"I saw you come in late," Izzy smiled, walking into the area. She finished putting her dark brown hair into a ponytail and grinned at him.
"I overslept," Kevin answered defensively. "And I had papers to drop off somewhere. Then I ran into an ex, and that was well...bad."
"Ouch," Jeff commented, leaning against his lifeguard chair. "Sounds painful."
"It was."
"Makes me glad I'm form out of state. Chances of running into one of my old flames from Alaska, slim to none."
"Consider yourself lucky then, Eskimo," Izzy said. "Now let's get a move on boys. If we want to make money, we gotta get this place open."
"Yes Ma'am!" Jeff said saluting.
"And the boss-man wants us to stay open late tonight."
"Why?"
"Because it's Saturday, so nobody be prepared to go home anytime before eleven."
"PM?!"
"Yes, Jeff."
"Pulling drunk people out of the pool is not how I want to spend my Saturday!" he complained climbing into his chair.
"The glamorous lives we live," Kevin smiled. "Izzy's on puke duty anyways."
"Hey," she said raising her hands. "I don't call the shots. Now let's get his place open and make some money."
Kevin sat back in his chair and sighed, anticipating his long day of yelling people and dying in the hot sun. The joys of adulthood, he thought glumly.
