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Firefighter. Of all things why did it have to be a firefighter. He really wished he had heard her wrong, running into the room like he had. But still, he always came running to her. No matter how many times he was burned he still came running at every unnecessary shout she made. As it turned out Ryder Prince was a glutton for punishment. He should really be talking to someone about that, he thought as he surveyed his audience. Maybe he could bother his captain about seeing if a therapist fit on their health plan.
âUh⌠right,â he nodded. âLots and lots of cats. Orange ones, stripe-y ones, spotted ones. All seem to have the same talent for getting stuck in trees.âÂ
Ryder could start to feel himself sweat underneath his collar. God, he wished one of those wide eyed seven year olds would interrupt him to ask him a question. Anything so he could bullshit whatever lie Gwen had concocted a little better. He was a bad liar on a good day. Maybe it was in his blood, he thought. He sent her a look, half wishing they were alone so he could say what he wanted to say next. He was a terrible liar, but at least in his terrible lies he knew he could make her laugh. That was the only reward he was going to get for it. That and having shown up at her beck and call. Again.Â
âYou know⌠pole sliding is a lot less fun than you would think. Lots of uh⌠rope burn.â  Â
Oh god, that was even worse than the first lie. His brows even furrowed in protest as he told it. But, if it was any consolation to Ryder and the precinct, at least he could knock down the damn fire station across the street down a peg with how bad he was selling it all.
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Gwen knew deep down that one day Ryder wouldnât come when she called. It was buried somewhere deep, where there was a slight fear that she would be the reason too that heâd stop answering her calls because she pushed him too much and too far. But today wasnât that day as she watched him struggle ever so slightly in front of the room full of kids. It was endearing, even if she caught the look on his face that told her otherwise.
She felt the slight urge to release him from this pain as the kids and their hands continued to rise with more questions and want to know what it was like being a firefighter. Cute. Though as funny as the joke might be, she knew that she was going to hear from it as she interrupted the last stream of questions to release the class to recess. âAlright guys, I think thatâs enough for Firefighter Ryder today. Maybe heâll come back again and tell you about all the old ladies that he helps across the street too,â she added with a smile before she directed them towards the door.
      âHow about everyone heads out to recess a few minutes early today.â Though the last of her words were drowned out by the stampede of feet and happy noises that came from her class as they exited the room at top speed. Normally she would have joined them but she had other plans. âNot bad for your first day as a firefighter. Iâd say that some of them might have actually believed you were one too.â
















