Chapter 4.34

Saturday came around finding David building sand castles in the backyard sandbox. He was only building them so he could pretend to be a terrifying dragon and destroy them though. He smacked, kicked and dug at the sand until his castle was reduced to nothing. Then he would build it again, just to annihilate it once more. Each time he ruined a kingdom he stood there, as that dragon, proud as punch for his accomplishments. After two or three repeats of this action, he got bored and decided to stomp around the yard chasing wild animals. At one point he spotted a big white polar bear and stomped toward it to scare it off.

Adelaide had spent the early morning picking up all the laundry that needed to be done and took it down to the basement for washing and drying. She had about four loads to do in all, and in between as she waited for the machines to finish, she would write her book. She had already completed one, and was working on her second. She was shooting for a goal of approximately $4,000 a week in royalties for her published works. That would take quite a few books and she was more than willing to write them all.

Logan was in the basement as well, taking a run on the treadmill. He didn't have to work today but he was planning on going in to maintain the truck and alarm anyway. It was easier for him just to go in on his off days for a couple of hours, instead of having a whole lot of extra work to do on Monday.

Brian was spending his day sculpting for the most part. When he had started practicing a few weeks prior, he fell in love with his old habit again and it was always on his mind. He was very good at it and made beautiful statues of all kinds. While he was working on them, it actually crossed his mind that his sculptures could be the target of the criminals that had tried to break in over the last fortnight as well. He shrugged the thought off, knowing that he would never be sure of that.

Later that afternoon, Brian heard a small knock at the door. He stepped outside to answer and found a very lovely lady standing in the yard. "Yes? How can I help you?" He asked her.

"Um. Is Logan around?" She asked, "I was just coming to say hello before going to work."

"He's actually across the street, he went to work on the fire engine a bit."

Just then Logan was coming out of the firehouse and starting toward his own house. Neither Brian nor Velina noticed him though until it was too late. Velina had thanked Brian and started walking to town at a very fast pace, just as Logan was coming up the sidewalk. She didn't want to be a jealous woman, but she couldn't help but wonder if he was actually there for work, or for that girl that he works with.

Logan looked up from his feet to see that his father was outside, and Velina walking away. It took a moment to register but he was too late when he tried to call for her. Actually he wasn't, she was well within earshot, and he knew that she had heard him. She didn't turn around and come back though, she didn't even pause in her step. 'Hmm, I wonder why she's not stopping.' Logan wondered. 'I'll call her later tonight, or tomorrow.'

Velina kept walking, though she heard Logan call for her. She chose to ignore him because she thought she would be late for work if she stopped again. Also, when she heard his voice her mind went blank as to what she would say to him. She didn't want to ask him about the other woman that she saw him with, but she really wanted to know about the relationship they had together. She would be up for the competition if it came to that. She turned the corner, heading to the park to host another SimFest.

Brian had watched his son try to get this girls attention, and fail. He couldn't but smile. "Girl problems Logan?" He asked.

"Perhaps a little." Logan admitted. He stared after Velina for another minute, his mind blank.

As Brian walked inside he added, "Good luck figuring that one out."

"Ha, thanks dad." Logan followed his father in.

The two of them were sitting at the table eating some veggie rolls that Adelaide had made when Brian approached the subject again.

"How has the job been Logan? You seem to be enjoying yourself. Is that where you met that pretty girl that was here?" Brian asked.

"Work is great, I love it there. It's active and the people are nice, for the most part anyway. There haven't been any fires lately. That's of course good for the people of Sunset Valley, but it makes for a boring work day for the fire fighters." Logan answered half of his father's question. He wasn't sure he really wanted to get into the 'girl' thing with his dad right then.

"Yes, that's true." Brian said, he waited for about two seconds for Logan to answer his second question. When he didn't,  Brian asked again, "So who was the girl that came by? You gonna tell me about her?"

Right at that moment, Adelaide had come in to join the guys in dinner. "Ooooo what's this about Logan and girls? I didn't know anyone had caught your eye. Have you found someone special?" She seemed very excited at this new information.

"Was it something I said?" Adelaide asked Brian.

He laughed at her, "No, I don't think so. A girl came by today asking for him but he wasn't here. Then she turned a deaf ear when he tried to get her attention. I guess he just didn't want to tell us anything yet."

 Logan did really like Velina, and he wondered why she didn't answer him earlier on the sidewalk. He was also curious about why she was visiting in the first place. Was it to see him? He hadn't asked his dad, he had forgotten. 'Was it because I didn't call her last night? Maybe. I will call her tomorrow after work. Or better yet, I'll go see her.' His father had been right in his assumption that Logan just didn't want to share the information yet. He and Velina weren't even a couple, though he wanted to be, they were still just friends - so there was nothing to tell.

The next morning, the whole family was up and moving early. David was the first to wake, he was showered and had already eaten by the time his mom and dad came downstairs. He humored himself with a game of chess while they ate their breakfast. This was quickly becoming one of his favorite games though sometimes it was hard to sit still for so long.

Brian and Adelaide got up and had a little fun in the shower together before coming down to eat. There was still some leftover food in the refrigerator that they had, instead of making a new meal. Though Addy had gotten dressed to do her gardening, when Brian offered to play video games with her, she changed her plans. The two of them sat on the couch and played for a few hours.

Logan had woken, gotten ready, said goodbye to Emma and went into work early. He hadn't finished everything he had wanted to do the day before, so coming in early would help.

As soon as he had walked in the entrance he noted that everyone was already there. That wasn't the only he had noticed though. To his left, he saw that one of the guys that slept all the time was leaning toward his best friend in a very suggestive way. He heard the guy ask her "So, what are you doing tonight? Do you wanna hook up?" before his body and mind filled with anger.

Logan took a deep breath to steady his emotions and approached the man. "Dave is it?" He had recalled his name finally, "Shouldn't you be sleeping or something?" It was truly hard for Logan to keep the anger and sarcasm from his voice.

"What's your problem man?" Dave asked.

"You're my problem. Keep that shit out of the workplace!" He said. 'And away from my best friend.' was the continuing thought in his head.

"Hey! I'm just trying to set up some game for tonight, you can't shame me for that. A guy's gotta have something to do you know."

Logan heard exactly what he meant behind the last part of his statement and before he could stop himself his hand flew out and smacked Dave right across the face.

The man stared at Logan, completely shocked.

"Get out. Take the day off." Logan waited for him to move. When he didn't, he added very firmly. "Now."

His cheek red and burning hot, Dave walked out trying to keep his dignity a little in tact.

"Logan!" Lauren was shocked. "I've never seen that side of you before." She looked down at her feet, when she brought her head back up she was smiling. "Thanks. That was very... noble... of you." She told him. 'As if I need another reason to want you so much.' With that thought, she decided something. She wasn't going to wait anymore. She was going to ask him to go out with her.

"I can't say that I've ever acted that way before to be honest. I just," Logan hesitated for a second. "I know his reputation, and it isn't a good one. I didn't want to see you as just another notch on his belt. You're my friend, and your better than that."

Lauren was touched by his motive, but maybe there was something more to it than that? Her expression took on a more flirtatious look, her eyes looking downward, "Logan, I don't mean to be so forward but," she met her gaze with his. "Is there another reason you did that? Like maybe... you're jealous? Are you interested in me Logan Fuller?"

Logan was surprised by her question, and it showed in his face. "Uh. Lauren..." He wasn't sure how to tell her that he was into another woman. He didn't want to hurt her and he wanted her in his life, but just as his friend.

She couldn't help but sense and see his hesitation, Lauren dropped her inviting look slightly and was just about to say something else when the fire alarm started blaring.

Logan gave her an apologetic look, though he was thankful for the out, and took off at a fast pace to the firetruck.

Lauren let out a sigh and hung her head for a second before looking up to watch him leave. 'Well that sucked. Damn fires. Well, he didn't say 'no', so I won't give up just yet.' Now that she had gotten the nerve to ask him that little question, it was now on her agenda to know for sure. Next time though, once she got her nerve again, she would flat out ask him on a date.

Logan arrived at the scene and quickly assessed the situation, from the outside he could see that it was a large house fire, and two people were trapped on the second floor balcony. Proper fire fighter etiquette was to put out all window fires before entering the building. He could fell the heat from the fire as he sprayed the water inside. Thankfully the two windows were extinguished quickly, he ran toward the door to enter the burning building. The door was jammed.

Logan pulled out an axe and swung it hard at the door. He struck the glass only once and it shattered, stepping through he found himself face to face with another trapped person. Logan escorted her out of the door, and to safety before running back in. The kitchen was on fire, but the people trapped upstairs were top priority, finding his way to the second floor he located the door to the balcony, it was stuck as well. Since the axe had been left downstairs, he kicked this door open. He helped the two people out  and then went back again to put out the raging fire. After the kitchen was secure, there was also a few trees that were lit up outside that he had to take care of. In all, it took a few hours to get everything put out and allow the residents back into their, now very burnt, home. Before he left, he advised them of some fire prevention procedures and gave them a card for a cleanup crew.

Since it was so late when he finished, and he really didn't want to go back to the station, he went straight home. Although he had originally planned to go and see Velina at the park, he smelled like smoke too much to do that. When he walked the house, it was quiet. He was sure no one was in bed yet though, as it was only about six. Walking through, he found his parents in the dining room, and he could see David through the back door.

Brian waved when Logan came in. "Heya man! I have to run out to the grocery store, I'll be back in a little bit."

"Okay dad. See ya." Logan replied. He waited until Brian was out of the front door before looking at Adelaide. This was a subject that he really had to ask a girl anyway. "Mom, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Adelaide gave him a slightly suspicious look, "Sure, sure. What is it honey?"

"Well, as you might have guessed, I've got a girl situation." Logan paused to gauge her reaction, she was trying to hide a smile. "I know, you're happy I've met a woman. The problem is, I know two."

"Oh, I get it. You're not sure which lady you like more? Is that it?"

"Not quite. I like them both, truly. One of them, her name is Lauren, is my best friend and co-worker. The other, I'm more interested in romantically, though we haven't gone that far as of yet. The problem really is, that I don't know how to tell Lauren that I am interested in another woman."

"Well why would you need to?" Adelaide asked.

"Oh. Well, I defended her honor today, and I think she took that to mean that I don't want anyone else to..." He hesitated briefly trying to find the right words. He didn't want to say 'date' her, because that is not what Dave was trying to do, but he didn't want to be so blunt with his mother and say 'WooHoo' her. So he said, "...BE with her... because she thinks I want to, but I don't. I mean, not that she isn't a great girl, she is. I just want to stay friends, nothing more than that." Suddenly he felt like he was babbling, so he stopped.

"Well, Logan that doesn't sound like much a of a problem. You just need to tell Lauren that right, but you don't know how to phrase it? That's pretty simple." Adelaide smiled, "The next time you see her, it might be a little awkward, but you'll have to ignore that. Just tell her that she's nice girl, but you're already in a relationship." She saw that Logan was about to interrupt and assumed what he would say. "Yes, I know, you're not yet, but you will be and you know it. Just because you have not made it official doesn't mean you're not in pursuit and planning on it. Yes, you're going to hurt her feelings, if she is interested in you that way, but she will get over it."

"It's not going to be so easy for her I'm sure. We work together, nearly everyday.".

"Well, that's another problem, for another day. Right now, just deal with the one that's in front of you." Adelaide advised him.

Logan nodded thanked Adelaide, then he went upstairs and dialed Velina's number to talk to her for a while before going to bed. Unfortunately, she didn't answer. He made more plans to visit her in the next day or so.

To be continued...