"If you don't go and ask him for his number, I'm going to go and... I don't know. I'll figure it out, but the point is that you need to go there." Ruth says excitedly over the phone. I hit the speaker button so I can hear her while I take a better look at the wrap the doctors put on my ankle.

"Why would I do that? I have no desire to start a relationship with someone right now." I respond, unraveling the fabric. I was told there wasn't a break; a week and a half on crutches and I'd be good as new.

She groans loudly, "How do you even know it would be a relationship? You would be asking for his number! Plus, you could take him like cookies or something to thank him for saving your life."

"Ruth, you're making this into a bigger deal than it needs to be."

In reality though, it would be nice to thank him and put a name to the face. The paramedics said that if he hadn't given me his oxygen mask there was a chance my airway would have been too damaged for me to breathe.

It's bad idea overall though. There's no point in going when I don't know what I'm going to be doing in six months. There are so many unknown things right now.

"It is a big deal! He pulled you out of a burning building and you're too chicken to go say a simple thank you." She chastises and I roll my eyes.

"You don't want me to say thank you, you want me to ask him for his number."

I don't even flinch when the purple color of my skin greets my eyes once the wrap is off. It looks way worse than it is. Painful, but not unbearable. "So don't ask for his number! Maybe he'll ask for yours?"

As if. I know that I had been stuck in a building breathing in smoke, but it didn't affect my eyesight when it came to seeing the face of the man who carried me out. He was pretty despite all the dirt and grime on his face. Although I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate me calling him pretty.

"Maybe."

Ruth sighs, hearing the tone in my voice. "Lacey you've been through hell and back. I thought you were going to tackle life head on and make the most of everything?"

"I have a sprained ankle, I'm sure he'd love to go on a date with a crip." I almost want to laugh because that's one way to describe me.

"Just think about it. Your mom called me yesterday asking how you were because you weren't answering her calls. Don't worry, I didn't tell her about you almost dying in a diner, but she's worried." She warns just as a call from my mom pops up.

"Speak of the devil, she's calling me now. I'll talk to you later?" I ask waiting to hit accept until Ruths says goodbye. It's a rule we have that we never break. It's been that way since we were little.

"Bye Lace, I love you."

I smile hearing her say it, "I love you too. I'll keep you updated on the fireman." I then accept my mom's call before she can provide her opinion on the topic anymore. "Hey Mom, what's up?"

"What's up? Seriously?" She questions and I chuckle lightly.

"At least I answered? I was on the phone with Ruth."

She scoffs, "Yeah, my surrogate daughter who is the only one that can pick up her phone, unlike my real daughter."

"You're over exaggerating Mom. It was one day where I didn't answer the phone." I reply, wincing as I move my ankle the wrong way.

"And how was I supposed to know that something hadn't happened to you? Your father and I were worried!" Mom scolds me and I feel slightly guilty, but there's no reason to make her worry more than she already does.

"Nothing happened though. Everything is fine here."

It's a white lie, but who is it going to hurt? Except I forgot they are automatically notified every time I'm admitted to the hospital from our insurance. "Are you really going to tell me that? Why were you at the hospital yesterday? Is everything okay?"

I respond immediately before she can go worst case scenario, "Yeah! There was just a fire at the diner I work at and I tripped trying to leave. The paramedics just wanted to get me checked out, but I promise it wasn't anything more than that."

I hear the relief in her voice, "Why didn't you tell us?" Because of this exact reason. I don't need them to stress about me anymore than they already do.

I shrug forgetting that we're talking over the phone, "I don't know. I just didn't want to worry you."

"Honey, that's what we're here for. You're only twenty-three. You don't need to do everything on your own."

I take a deep breath rubbing my temple, "I know. I promise you that you're making it out to be more than it was." Mom worries too much. I've been doing good, taking it easy aside from having to be carried out of a burning fire.

She doesn't need anymore added stress in her life.

"Hey mom, I actually have to get going. I'm going to meet some friends so is it okay if I call you later?" I try to keep my voice level so she can't tell that I'm lying. I've been here a month and I'm having a hard time making friends. Working all the time hasn't been the best thing for my social life.

"Sure! I love you." She says and I know she does. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed after the last twenty-four hours.

"I love you too, bye." I reply, hanging up the phone with a sigh.

One look at my ankle reminds me that I still need to ice and rewrap it. I guess it will just be another night in for me. My roommate is hardly ever home which certainly gives me the time I need to recoup after a long day.

It's just frustrating never having her here. Sometimes I even question if she exists or if she is just a figment of my imagination.

This is what I get for finding a roommate on Craigslist.

I grab my crutches and limp my way into the living room which is also my kitchen, perks of trying to support myself in my attempt to be an adult. New York is the place to be. It's also just really expensive living here, and now I need to find a new job. Great.

A few minutes later, I settle down on the couch with an ice pack and my laptop to watch an episode of Chicago Fire. After yesterday, I debated turning it off because it hit a little too close to what happened, but it helped keep the thought of the firefighter who rescued me in my head.

*********

This is nuts. I should never have taken Ruth's advice. Life is a lot simpler in Bristol so I would really like it if someone could tell me what I was doing outside the door of the firehouse.

I shift to my right leg, keeping sole weight on it while I adjust my coat underneath my crutches. It's irritating how it gets bunched up when I try to walk. Too bad I have almost two weeks left on them, and January is a bitterly cold month.

Ruth has no idea what she's talking about. She and Xander have been together for a while so she doesn't get what this feels like anymore.

I stand there a little longer until I can't feel my face so I should just leave, but someone walks out of the doors. "Hey! Are you okay?" The man asks walking over to me and I prepare myself to blow him off.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was actually just-"

He smiles at me, "Why don't you come inside? It's freezing out here, we just made lunch too. Barbie cooked today so it's edible and good."

I relax a little at his kind demeanor and nod my head. Who am I to turn up the offer for a home cooked meal when he makes it sound so delightful? Edible and good; that's a giant seal of approval right there. What kind of name is Barbie anyway?

"I'm Linc, and welcome to Firehouse 77." He has a nice face and the strawberry blonde hair fits in with all the red around here. Almost ironic in that sense. "What brings you here?"

I try to keep up with him, but I'm not quite comfortable on my additional legs yet. "Well, you guys kind of pulled me out of a fire at this diner few days ago. I just wanted to say thank you to the one that pulled me out. I'm Lacey."

The smile on his face after hearing me say this does nothing to ease my worries. "Well he is right in here."

We go through a set of doors to a kitchen and seating area are and all the eyes in the room snap to us. "New girlfriend?" One of the guys sitting at the table ask and I feel my cheeks burn in embarrassment.

Linc chuckles beside me, "Actually she's here to talk to Barbie. He pulled her out of the diner last shift. Where'd he go?"

Again with the name!

"I'm sorry to bother you guys, I just wanted to say thanks." I manage to get out surprisingly in front of all these people. I'm terrible at public speaking.

And then another one appears from the back carrying a thing of vegetables, "What did I miss?" He asks glancing over at us with a questioning look.

Linc leans over to whisper something to me, "You're lucky you stopped by today. He's in a much better mood."

A different man speaks up, "Another one for you."

Oh shit. This is a regular kind of thing. Not that it doesn't make sense, he's a pretty boy for sure. "I'm actually going to get going. Uh thanks again."

I turn to crutch away while maintaining some of my dignity. I'm never going to let Ruth hear the end of this. I go back the way Linc led me in and I'm not thrilled about going into the cold, however I am ready to leave and never come back here.

I'm not sure what I was even thinking coming here in the first place.

"Wait! Please," A voice calls and I pause in my steps. I'm telling myself it's because I need a break, I need to go slow.

I shift back seeing that it's the same one who pulled me out of the fire, just with less soot on his face. "Barbie?"

He lets out a short laugh and rubs the back of his neck, "It's actually Dean. Barbie is a nickname the guys came up with because...well it doesn't actually matter why they call me it. They said you were here to talk to me?"

"Um yes, I was. I was just leaving though." I shift to turn away because this man is bad news for my heart.

"I know how exhausting the crutches can be, I'm sure your arms could use a break?" He suggests, catching up with me. "You don't have to leave."

Yes, I do. I totally need to leave. "They could if you have the time?"

Dean smiles, "It's a good thing I offered then. So what brought you by?"

I tighten my grip on the handles, "I really just wanted to stop by and say thank you for pulling me out. The doctors told me that I might not have been so lucky if you hadn't given me your oxygen." I blurt it out quickly because I'm nervous as hell. Other than my job, I haven't spent much time chatting with people. Much less a hot guy who pulled me out of a fire. I've been watching way too much Chicago Fire.

He shrugs and puts his hand in his jacket pockets, "I was just doing my job. I am glad to hear that you're doing well." Of course he would say that, he really was just doing his job. "I didn't catch your name though?"

"Lacey. Thanks for giving me the chance to thank you. I really appreciate it."

This is dangerous. I shouldn't have come.

"Of course. I hope your ankle gets better, but I've got to finish cooking or I'll have a lot of angry men chasing after me." Dean says laughing lightly. He seems like a really easy going guy that I could see myself getting along with. However, it also appears that I'm on a list of other girls he has helped so I doubt that anything will come of it.

I could entirely see that based on the atmosphere inside there. "No problem. Have a nice day."

But instead of finishing the conversation like I thought he was going to, Dean continues. "Are you busy this weekend?"

I shake my head confused at what he's getting at. I'm pretty sure whatever fumbling idiot I've made myself out to be in our last two interactions had shot me in the foot, but maybe not?

"Well, I have this thing this weekend and I don't know if you'd be interested in going? It's just this kinda low-key thing for my family," He suggests hesitantly. I did tell Ruth that I would make the most of everything sent my way. But his family? Not exactly my idea of a first date.

"I don't know... I wouldn't want to impose on anything."

Ruth is going to kill me when she finds out I turned him down. What am I even doing?

He smiles charmingly, "You wouldn't be imposing. They're a friendly bunch and you'd be doing me a really big favor if I had a friend come with me. I'll even buy you a drink after. If you're up for it with your ankle that is?"

Oh shit. Not a first date at all. But how am I supposed to say no when he smiles like that? I am getting sick of staying in by myself too, I could meet some really nice people too? Friends is all I should really be focused on; anything else is a recipe for disaster.

"What could go wrong?" I joke lightly, already feeling excited. I shift on my crutches kind of wishing that he'd followed through in the whole give your arms a break.

Dean laughs just as the men inside start to get a little noisier and he glances back, clearly anxious to finish making lunch. "We try not to say that phrase around here or around my family. Here, let me see your phone. Saturday night, six o'clock? I'll pick you up if you can text me your address."

I hand him my phone, "I will see you then."