The Fire

prologue

Katie looked up with her eyes wide as the building quickly engulfed in flames. The flames growing to match the height of the rooftop in seconds. Then just as she gathered her senses, Katie heard a loud bark. 

"Hey...there's a dog inside there!" one of the bystanders screamed. 

"Oh no, no no no." Katie said as she ran towards the violent blaze. Looking from window to window they were billowing smoke already. Katie looked around frantically. The frightened animal had become more quiet and there was no way in. Katie ran to the back of the house hoping for a chance, any chance at all.

It felt like an hour had gone by when Katie rounded the corner and found the back door open. With a sign of relief she ran into the house. With the flames closing in behind her as she entered, Katie looked around for any sign of the dog. 

Moving carefully Katie looked around for a safe way to move around. Just then she heard a soft whimper close by. Katie moved closer to the sound and finally found a tired Dalmatian laying under a table. 

" It's ok boy I've got you." Katie says to the dog as she moves slowly, careful not to startle the animal further. Making sure he has no injuries and is safe to move. Katie lifts the dog and makes her way back to the back door. The smoke was thick and Katie coughed as the air became unbearably thick. Then as Katie got outside and breathed in a gulp of fresh air. Everything went black. 

Katie opened her eyes and then shut then tight again. The light was way too bright and her eyes felt dry. Her hand stops short.

"What the hell!" Katie stops as she sees a handcuff around her wrist. 

"Don't worry the dog's just fine." A female voice says from the doorway. A doctor comes in with a small smile. " Thing is sweety there are a few guys outside they...um...they want to have a word with you."

" About what?" Katie asks with a frown " Why the hell am I handcuffed to a hospital bed." The doctor cocks her head to one side and replies.

"About the shop you burnt down of course."

+++

Chapter One

"So you think that because you're POPULAR, that you deserve to do as you please. YOU should just get a slap on the wrist right?!"

" Mom I didn't do anything. All I did was try to save a do..." Katie tried to explain to her mother on the phone.

" I don't care about what you were trying to do. WHY would you do this! Katie's mother went on. Her voice becoming higher and louder as her anger grew. 

" You never believe me." Katie whispered. Her mother never heard her or took her side. How was she ever going to accept who she really was? Katie hung the phone up wondering if her mom would even turn up when she was discharged, or arrested.

The next morning the doctor did a last check up and then signed the appropriate papers. Apparently someone had in fact turned up to pick her up. Katie felt her stomach churn as she got ready for her mother's next rant. 

Katie stopped dead in her tracks as she came face to face with the most gorgeous person she had ever seen.

She had glossy, long blonde hair that begged to be touched. Katie didn't usually like blondes but she felt an exception coming on. Actually this girl was the first who had this kind of effect on her at all. Katie had been through a few rounds of "Spin The Bottle" with a few drunk friends. This however was full on devastation. 

She finally understood what flawless skin meant.Her make-up so carefully applied that you wondered if she had any on at all.  The only giveaway was the shiny strawberry lipgloss. Katie swallowed hard as she forced herself to look away from those absolutely delicious looking lips.

'Why the hell am I thinking about what she would taste like if I kissed her? I don't know her at all and she looks like she wants me slowly killed in front of her.' Katie thought suddenly feeling a little too close to a breakdown.

 She had jeans that actually seemed to have earned the worn out look. The shirt and blazer fit her exactly and clung to all the right places. She looked casual but way too well groomed to be from Katie's part of town.

Looking up into this girl's eyes was an even bigger mistake. Her bright, silver eyes narrowed at Katie as she tried to assess her. The intensity in them made the air around Katie thicken.

" So you're the maniac who burnt down my parent's shop. You know I wondered 

what type of crazy burns a place down but  then risks their life to save an animal." The girl said in a way that made Katie super uneasy. She wasn't sure if this girl wanted to claw her eyes out, or burst out laughing.  What Katie did know was that the slight hoarseness in her voice along with the slight British accent, was hot as all hell. She could be reading cooking instructions and it would sound sexy.

The girl looked Katie over slowly from head to toe and then simply said, " OK, come with me." Then she turned and headed for the door. " You either come with me and fix what you did...or you go to jail. It's your choice, Katie is it?" The girl asked with a flash of a smile. It happened so quickly that Katie wasn't sure she had even seen it. 

Maybe if her heart hadn't skipped a beat she might have put it down to her imagination. The girl didn't wait for Katie to answer and continued.

" I'm Samantha by the way. I'm taking you our Animal Rehabilitation Clinic." The girl said as she pressed the unlock button  on the key fob in her hand. The alarm deactivated on a luxury sports car...a very luxury sports car.

" I didn't burn anything down Samantha. I loved that store. Your mom helped me when I fell off my bike. Eight years old and this kind lady runs up to me. She picked me up and took me inside that shop. She cleaned me up and let me choose an ice-cream. Why would I burn down one of the few places I have good memories?" Katie said as they approached the car. 

Samantha quietly opened the passenger door and nodded for Katie to get in. Katie had no idea what Samantha was thinking and it drove her nuts. Katie always knew how most people were feeling but Samantha had a truly impressive Pokerface.

 It suddenly became the most important thing in the world for this beautiful girl to believe her. At the very least Katie had to ease the tension. As the car started and Samantha focused on the road, Katie decided to try and make conversation.

" Look if you don't believe me, fine but there's no need to take me to the doggy pound." Katie tried to make a joke, at least get Samantha to say SOMETHING. After a moment Samantha gave a chuckle and relief washed over Katie.

" No that's alright I doubt anyone would adopt you anyway. No I have something else in mind. Something that would benefit us both." Samantha said as she pulled the steering just a bit and hit the accelerator. Did she just avoid an accident and not even blink?! Katie looked back and saw that a car had skipped the light and would indeed have hit them. At least she was being kidnapped by a very interesting girl. The drive was alot longer then expected and it was almost evening as Samantha finally slowed down to pull off.

Samantha turned into the parking lot of a very large hospital. She drove up to the security booth and handed the officer a card.

" Evening Miss Charlesworth." The officer greeted Samantha. " I'm so glad Ricky found a home. Man I'm gonna miss playing with the big guy."

" Hey Thomas I know what you mean. He's gotten a great home but he had mad football skills for an Alsatian." Samantha said with a laugh. A laugh that did crazy things to Katie's sense of balance. " See you a little later Thomas."

" See you Miss." Thomas said as he walked into the booth and pressed the button to open the gate. The car stopped in a reserved parking spot right next to the entrance. Samantha walked slightly ahead  and lead the way through the entrance and down the main hall and into an elevator. When the doors shut Samantha turned to Katie. 

" Look I don't know why you did what you did. But your teen angst caused alot of damage. You seem to like animals so maybe you can work off the debt helping them." Samantha said in an even tone. 

Katie opened her mouth to explain but closed it again. She was used to people not believing her. It wouldn't be all bad if she got to work with animals and definitely not bad at all if she got to work with Samantha.

They walked together through a well manicured roof garden. The edges were secured with strong fence for safety. The garden looked like a mini Football field and a park combined. Deep green grass cut in a way to make patterns, the ground perfectly even and soft as a pillow. Looking around Katie realised the lawn was shaped to look like a bone.

There were medical students in scrubs, masks and purple surgical gloves. They were scattered all around the garden in pairs of two or three. Each team with a dog or cat. Some played frisbee with their animals. 

Some were hunched together over an animal trying to provide encouragement. An overexcited sausage dog came zooming past on her brand new wheelchair, tail wagging wildly.

" I'm so sorry. Good evening Super C." One of the med students shouts as he runs after the canine racer. Didn't seem to notice Katie but he was chasing after a suped-up dog.

" Ah Super C? " Katie turned to ask Samantha but she was gone, she had already joined the chase. 

"Her surname starts with a "C" and she works all hours like she's on supercharge." A voice said from closely behind Katie. She hadn't realised anybody was even standing there.

She took a few steps and turned to face Katie and the look on her face was NOT friendly. 

" Look Sami has a heart of gold. She likes to pick up strays." The not-so-friendly-girl looked Katie up and down in a meaningful way. " Let me do you a favour, kiddo. She's practically Royalty and not to mix with the scruffy likes of you...ok?" 

 AH...EXCUSE ME! Katie had a million replies but just wasn't in the mood to be sucked into whatever drama this one was about. And looking around it looked like the other students didn't want her there at all. And that just made Katie want to be there more then ever. In High School this lot wouldn't have made it a week. As Queen she had had everyone hanging on her every word and everyone here would have been expelled.

Katie was just about to finally say something when Samantha came back with a very familiar Dalmatian.

" This is Blaze. You two have already met so he will be your patient. He only picked up a few small burn wounds that need daily care. Then there are antibiotics and physical rehab.Let me show you to your house.Then I can fill you in, that is unless you want me to drop you off at The Police Station" Samantha said as Blaze jumped up on her. 

Trying not to laugh and trying to look professional. Samantha failed miserably and never looked more cute and irresistible. 

'This is bad.' Katie thought as she watched Samantha fending of Blaze as she held a tennis ball up in the air. ' I'm almost nineteen and I've never had a girlfriend. My boyfriend hasn't crossed my mind since I lay eyes on Samantha. 

But then all we do is help our families think we are "normal" anyway.I am most definitely past the 'do I like girls thing' now. Besides Samantha probably has a real boyfriend. Doesn't make me wonder any less yet again what it would be like to kiss her...not one bit.'

Samantha finally got Blaze to calmly follow her and Katie had no problem doing the same. 

They walked to the far end of the garden and came to a row of houses. Samantha entered a code into a keypad next to a small gate. The houses looked modern and newly built. Samantha walked to the front door and entered yet another code. She opens and holds the door open for Katie to enter. 

" This is the entrance hall where you can receive and tend to emergency patients." Samantha said as she motions behind her with her hand. Walking through the house Samantha shows all the various rooms and their uses as well as a very well fitted kitchen. Lastly Samantha showed Katie the bedroom. 

" Let me explain how everything works." Samantha starts as she sits at the foot of the bed. Blaze sits nearby watching a bird through the window. " We are wildly understaffed and underfunded. I heard you were trying to get through Vet School."

Katie blinked as she realised she had been asked a question. " I am." Katie said as she nodded. ' Real smooth.' Katie thought as Samantha watched her, waiting for her to elaborate. When she didn't Samantha went on.

" I thought that you may prefer working here for six months instead of jail. You may even get the apprenticeship. It would help the animals and won't cost us even more money. The rules state that if you work here, you stay here. We don't like to leave sick and injured animals alone at night. Sometimes just seconds make the difference to a situation."

" So I'm going to work here and stay here for six months?" Katie said as she moves to sit next to Samantha, not really knowing what else to say. Samantha nods and continues.

" Also you're going to go to the collage we have right next door. Your classes will b..."

"Whoa wait a minute. Samantha you basically kidnapped me from hospital. Then suddenly I'm going to stay here and do this, do that. What the hell gives you the right to tell me wha..." Katie starts but gets cut off by a very angry, fuming face.

" Now you listen here!" Samantha said through her clenched jaw. She spoke softly but Katie could see something dangerous flicker across her face. Then again she never was one to back out of a fight. " You burn down My parents shop. I don't leave you to rot in a prison, I give you a second chance. I stupidly thought that since we went to the same High School...that we...argh! You don't even have a place to stay I just thought..."

" No Samantha you didn't think at all. You have no proof that I did anything!If you think I'm going to be your little pity project, your NUTS!" Katie replies refusing to back down. She was sick of everyone telling what she was SUPPOSED to do and be like.

"NUTS! I'm the crazy one when you run around like a crazed firefighter. Yet you started the problem in the first place!" Samantha screams back moving closer as she does so. 

"Again you HAVE no proof and another thing. If you're do damded convinced I did it then WHY do you want me here, huh? What if this 'crazed firefighter' burns this whole place down!" Katie throws back and moves closer to show she won't back off.

"Then we really will know it's you." Samantha said in that soft way that made it clear she was barely holding on to her temper. Then her face dropped as she saw a single tear fall down Katie's cheek. 

" You know what Samantha?" Katie said in a shaky voice. " You can take this apprenticeship and you ca..."

Samantha cut Katie off yet again but this time it took her a moment to realise how. 

Katie felt Samantha's soft, gentle touch as she cupped her face. Katie lifts a hand to make sure she hadn't lost her mind. She hadn't, but the way Samantha pressed her tongue softly over her lips just might do it. 

The kiss starts off slow but quickly picks up intensity. Katie wrappes her arms around Sam's neck and pours all of her emotions into kissing Samantha. After a while Samantha pulls back to look at Katie. Both of them gasping for air as Samantha wipes the tears away gently with her thumbs. 

" Call me Sam by the way. And just maybe you're telling the truth.Goodnight Katie." Sam whispers with a wicked smile as she walks out the room and out into the night. Katie stands motionless untill Blaze barks and snaps her back to reality. This really was going to be an interesting six months.