𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲.

𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The energy in the meeting room was buzzing—a chaotic mix of last-minute preparations and sheer excitement as we went over the Poguelandia event schedule.

I leaned back in my chair, absently twisting the cap off my water bottle while Jonathan gestured wildly, trying to convince Drew that his idea for the group entrance would absolutely go viral.

"I'm just saying," JD said, standing now for emphasis, "if we roll in on surfboards—like, actual surfboards—the crowd will lose it."

"Yeah, and we'll also probably lose our dignity," Drew replied dryly, not looking up from his phone. "No offense, JD, but not everyone here has the balance of a ninja."

"I'm pretty sure I saw you wipe out just walking to set last week," Carlacia added, laughing as JD dramatically clutched his chest.

"So did you, Carlacia" he groaned, flopping back into his seat.

I couldn't help but laugh, even as my attention wavered to Chase, sitting a few chairs down. He wasn't contributing much to the chaos, but he wasn't sulking either.

Progress, I supposed. Our relationship—or whatever it was now—had settled into something cordial but distant. We didn't argue anymore, but we also didn't laugh together like we used to.

"What about you, Madz?" JD's voice pulled me back into the moment. "You think the surfboard thing is genius, right?"

"I think I'll let you test it out first," I replied, grinning. "And I'll film it for insurance purposes."

"Wow, no faith," JD muttered, though his playful smirk gave him away. "Noted."

"Alright, focus," the event coordinator clapped her hands, calling us back to order. "We've got a lot to get through before tomorrow. Press runs in the morning, sound check by noon, and doors open at five. Everyone clear?"

"Clear as Drew's complexion," JD quipped, earning an exaggerated glare from Drew and slap in the arm from Drew.

"Keep it up, JD, and you'll be rolling solo at Poguelandia," Drew shot back, throwing a pen at him.

As their banter filled the room, I leaned toward Carlacia, who was scrolling through her own copy of the schedule. "You ready for the chaos tomorrow?"

She tilted her head, considering. "As long as JD doesn't bring actual surfboards, I think I'll survive. What about you?"

I smiled faintly. "Yeah, I'm ready. It'll be fun."

Carlacia raised a brow but didn't push, and I appreciated that.

I wasn't exactly in the mood to dive into my swirling thoughts about the event, Chase, or anything else. Tomorrow would be chaotic, sure, but it would also be a distraction—one I welcomed.

"You know what we should do?" Carlacia suddenly asked, her eyes lighting up. "Coordinate outfits."

"What, like matching Pogues uniforms?" Madison chimed in from the other side of the room, clearly catching part of the conversation.

"Yes! Exactly," Carlacia said, pointing at her. "Think about it: denim, tank tops, maybe a bandana. Iconic."

Madison laughed, walking over to join us. "Okay, but who's going full Pogue and skipping shoes? Not it."

"Not it," I added quickly, raising my hand. "Drew?"

Drew didn't even glance up. "Nope. I draw the line at dirty feet."

"Coward," JD muttered, earning another laugh from the group.

Madison plopped down in the chair next to me, her grin infectious. "Honestly, I'm just excited to see the fans. They're always so hyped for this stuff."

Carlacia nodded. "It's the energy. It's impossible not to get caught up in it." She glanced at me, her smile softening. "Even for you, Madz. I bet you'll be grinning ear to ear by the end of it."

"We'll see," I said lightly, but her confidence made me smile a little despite myself.

Madison nudged me with her elbow. "Alright, so no matching outfits, but we can at least coordinate colors, right?"

"How about Poguelandia orange?" JD suggested, winking. "I'll even bring face paint."

"If you show up with face paint, JD, I'm leaving you in the parking lot," Carlacia deadpanned, and we all burst into laughter.

The humor and camaraderie were exactly what I needed, and for the first time in a while, I felt a flicker of genuine excitement for the day ahead.

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The firehouse smelled like it always did—coffee, a hint of smoke lingering on someone's jacket, and that weird mix of detergent and rubber from the freshly cleaned gear.

Caleb and I trudged into the station, our boots heavy against the concrete floor as laughter bubbled between us.

"I swear, Caleb, if you ever pull a dad joke like that on a call again, I'm putting in a transfer request," I said, unzipping my jacket and hanging it on the hook in my locker.

"It wasn't just a dad joke," Caleb replied, clutching his chest like I'd mortally wounded him. "It was comedic genius. Did you hear how the patient laughed? I'm pretty sure I eased at least five percent of her pain."

"She laughed because she was in shock," I shot back, grabbing a water bottle from the counter. "Honestly, I was this close to sedating her just to save her from more of your puns."

Caleb gasped dramatically. "Don't act like you didn't love it! It's a classic! 'Why did the firefighter wear red suspenders?' Come on, Y/n, it's a timeless setup."

"Don't you dare finish that joke," I warned, narrowing my eyes at him.

He ignored me completely. "To keep his pants up!"

I groaned, unscrewing the cap of my water bottle and spraying him with a light mist. "You're insufferable."

"And yet, here you are," he said, grinning as he dodged out of range. "Admit it—you'd miss me if I wasn't around."

"Sure," I said with a smirk. "Because then I'd only have to deal with Lili. She's exhausting without you there to balance her out."

"Oh, don't you bring Lili into this," Caleb said, wagging a finger at me. "She's a saint. Meanwhile, you just tried to drown me with a Hydro Flask."

"A saint who keeps trying to turn your house into a petting zoo," I quipped. "How's the backyard these days? Still raccoon-free?"

Caleb groaned, running a hand down his face. "Barely. And now she wants a goat."

I blinked, genuinely caught off guard. "A goat? What the hell for?"

"She saw some TikTok about how goats are great for clearing brush. So now, apparently, we need one to keep our nonexistent lawn eco-friendly."

I snorted so hard I almost choked. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I wish I was. She even showed me a website where you can rent goats. Rent them, Y/n. Like they're a lawn care service."

"Oh my God," I wheezed, leaning against the counter for support. "Please tell me you said no."

"Of course I said no!" Caleb exclaimed. "But you know Lili—she hit me with the puppy eyes. So now I think I'm picking up a goat this weekend."

"You are so whipped," I teased, shaking my head at him.

"And you're jealous," he shot back with a grin. "Speaking of which, you're still coming over for dinner tonight, right? Lili grabbed Storm from school, so you're out of excuses."

The mention of Storm softened me immediately, and I smiled. "Yeah, I'll be there. Enchiladas, right?"

"Enchiladas," Caleb confirmed. "And Lili told me to tell you she's making extra, so don't eat before you come over."

"Got it. I'll make sure to starve myself all day," I said, rolling my eyes playfully.

The station alarm cut through our banter, and both of us groaned in unison.

"Duty calls," Caleb said, grabbing his helmet.

"Think the goat thing's coming up again?" I asked as I strapped on my gear.

"Oh, 100%. I'm locked and loaded with the raccoon story, though. It's my ace in the hole."

I laughed as we climbed into the engine, the energy between us easy and familiar, even with the sirens wailing in the background.

"By the way," Caleb said as he buckled in, his voice casual, "I wasn't kidding about dinner. Don't flake on us."

"I won't," I replied, a grin tugging at my lips. "Not when Lili's cooking enchiladas."

The engine roared to life, and we were off, but Caleb's goofy grin and our banter stayed with me. In the chaos of our lives, moments like these—lighthearted, simple—were what kept me grounded.

.  .  .

By the time Caleb and I finished our shift and pulled into his driveway, the sky was a soft blend of oranges and pinks, the kind of sunset that almost made the exhaustion worth it.

Storm's laughter floated through the open windows of the house, and I couldn't help but smile.

"She sounds happy," I said, stepping out of the car.

"She's been attached to Lili's hip since they got home," Caleb replied, grabbing his bag. "I think they've reorganized my pantry three times."

I laughed, shutting the door behind me. "At least they're productive. Storm's usually just raiding the snacks."

"Oh, she's already done that too," he said with a grin, unlocking the door. "We're out of Goldfish. Again."

The second we stepped inside, Storm came barreling down the hallway, nearly tackling me with a hug. "You're here!" she exclaimed, her hazel eyes sparkling.

"Hey, munchkin," I said, ruffling her curls as she wrapped me in a hug. "How was your day with Lili?"

"It was fun!" Storm said, grinning up at me. "We organized the pantry, and she let me pick the music! It's like the time I made Caleb's spice rack look nice."

"You've reorganized Caleb's spice rack before?" I asked, giving Caleb a teasing look as he hung up his jacket. "Bet that went over well."

Caleb groaned. "Don't even get me started. I came home to find my cinnamon in the back corner. Cinnamon, Y/n."

"Storm, that's a crime," I said, mock-serious. "Everybody knows cinnamon goes up front."

Storm rolled her eyes but giggled. "I fixed it after he complained. But it looked good the way I did it!"

"It looked wrong," Caleb muttered, heading toward the kitchen. "I'm still finding things in weird places."

Storm stuck her tongue out at his back before looking at me for backup. "Tell him it was organized!"

"I think it sounds like you did a great job," I said, smiling as she beamed. "But maybe leave the spice rack alone next time."

She grinned. "Can I do yours? Yours is messy."

"It's not messy," I said, feigning offense. "It's... artistically chaotic."

"Uh-huh," Lili said, smirking as she set the table. "You're a firefighter, Y/n, not Picasso."

"Burn," Caleb muttered, stuffing a chip in his mouth.

Dinner was a loud, chaotic affair, as it always was at their place. Storm told us about her day at school, animatedly describing how she and her friends had aced a group project.

Caleb and I exchanged jokes about work, and Lili chimed in with stories about the latest animal she was tempted to bring home.

"Seriously, a goat?" I asked trying to act surprised like I didn't already know, raising an eyebrow at her.

"It's practical!" she insisted. "They eat weeds. Plus, they're cute."

"And noisy," Caleb added. "Can you imagine that thing bleating while I'm trying to watch the game?"

Storm giggled, her face lighting up. "I think we should get a goat. It'd be fun."

"Don't encourage her," Caleb groaned, shaking his head.

After dinner, Storm helped Lili clear the table while I leaned back in my chair, feeling a rare moment of peace. Caleb nudged my foot under the table.

"You good?" he asked quietly.

I nodded, meeting his gaze. "Yeah. Thanks for this."

He smiled. "Anytime."

When the dishes were done, I pulled a small envelope from my jacket pocket and handed it to Storm.

Her eyes widened as she opened it, and her gasp filled the room.

"Poguelandia tickets?" she squealed, practically bouncing on her toes. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," I said, grinning. "You've been talking about it for weeks. Thought we could go together."

Storm launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. "You're the best! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Caleb and Lili exchanged a knowing look, their smiles soft. Caleb leaned closer, whispering, "She doesn't know you stayed up half the night online to snag those, does she?"

I shook my head. "And she's not gonna find out."

"Well," Lili said, her voice light, "if she does, she's got a pretty great sister to thank."

Storm's excitement lasted all the way home. She texted her friends and her phone didn't stop buzzing.

Once we got back to the apartment, she chattered non-stop while I helped her get ready for bed, making sure her homework was finished and her backpack was packed for tomorrow.

As I tucked her in, she grinned up at me. "Thanks for the tickets, Y/n. You always make everything awesome."

My chest tightened a little at her words, a mix of pride and guilt. "That's my job, kiddo," I said, kissing her forehead. "Now get some sleep."

After she drifted off, I spent the next hour tidying up the apartment, folding laundry, and checking my work schedule for tomorrow.

By the time I finally crawled into bed, exhaustion hit me like a wave. But as I stared at the ceiling, I couldn't help but smile, thinking about Storm's excitement. Moments like that made everything worth it.