Jinx.

CHAPTER SIXTY NINE , WHEN DID WE GET TO 5.0?

a/n : EmiBuck are too cute for their own good

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Emery could not stop smiling.

She woke this morning with a smile about the best dream ever. Then she realized that dream was reality and her smile got even bigger.

Wren didn't even receive a lecture about waking up late. Emery even threw an arm over Wren's shoulders and said "Everyone has their days. how about I drive today." Wren had no idea what was going on, but she did know one thing. Emerson Sharpe was in love.

It had been a week since Emery and Buck kissed at his apartment. And it's been a week of movies, dinners, and awkward conversations. The awkward conversations were good. Cute even. The two have been enjoying themselves a lot. But neither of them could get themselves to officially ask if they wanted to be "boyfriend and girlfriend".

They sure as hell acted like it though.

They didn't have a problem with keeping their relationship under wraps for the time being. Right now, the two just wanted to be together. Without all the "how long has this been going on?", "why wasn't I the first to know?", "is it serious?", and "I KNEW IT!!!"

But when Emery walked into the fire station, all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around the blonde boy. Especially with that clipboard in his hand. Holy shit. She wanted to take him to the supply closet and give him the sloppiest—

"Oh, no. Who gave that guy a clipboard?"

Emery snaps out of her thoughts and looks at Hen and Chimney. Buck slightly opens his mouth and shifts his eyes to the smiling girl. A smile finds his lips. "Well, you know..."

Everyone looks at Emery and she bunches her shoulders. "What? Everyone needs one." She holds her hands behind her back. "Besides, It's a kinder, gentler clipboard—as is, the man who holds it." Her eyes trail back over to him.

Buck's face grows hot. He then looks back at everyone else. "Meet Buck 3.0."

That's when Emery pulls her brows together. "What?"

"What. Three?" Hen chuckles. "What happened to 2.0?"

"Two's leg was crushed by a ladder truck and his girlfriend left him." Chimney states.

Eddie then hums, "I thought that Buck 2.0 was after Abby left him. So, when he started having sex with Em?"

Emery's mouth drops open. "Why are we bringing me into this?" She then holds her pointer up. "But I do agree with Eddie. Buck 2.0 was like over and done with that night at the bar. I made sure of it."

Buck obnoxiously clears his throat. "Fine, then Buck 4.0."

Emery hums, "I can agree with that...kind of."

Buck rolls his eyes and turns to Emery, who innocently smiles.

"What?"

Emery holds her finger up once again. "I feel like after that horrible horrible lawsuit. You lived and you learned."

Buck hangs his head low, almost admitting that she had a point. "So that means...?"

"Buck 5.0!" Chimney claps his hands.

Everyone begins to clap and cheer. Emery laughs and joins the applause for Buck 5.0.

Buck waves his hands, trying his best to silence them. "All right, all right...I'm just ready to let go of the past." He announces.

"Your parents lied to you your entire life and you're just gonna let that go?" Hen questions. "What's your secret?"

Buck hums. Don't mention, Emi. Don't mention, Emi...

"Therapy," Buck says. He wasn't lying. Therapy was his first step into letting go of the past. But Emery was also his reason for looking forward to the future.

"as in my parents agreed to come to a few sessions with me. Work our stuff out." Buck says. "Look, they're trying. I figure I should try too, right?"

Emery finds her smile growing from the words that came from Buck. Even though, she wasn't a big fan of his parents; she was still proud that he was able to move forward with them.

"Very mature, Buck." Hen nods.

Buck points his pen at her, "Very Buck 3.0–"

"5.0." Emery corrects.

"5.0." Buck quickly recovers.

Hen sucks in a breath and shakes her head. "Okay, I'm not calling you that." She then turns to Chimney. "Are you gonna be taking part in these family sessions too?"

Chimney immediately shuts down her question. "Uh-uh. Keyword family, which I am not. Technically."

Buck holds his hand out, offended.

"You're allowed to give yourself some time, you know. To process." Eddie states.

Emery points at Eddie, "He's right. There's no rush in working towards forgiveness."

"I know," Buck says. "I'm just tired of looking behind me." He then glances at Emery, meeting her soft gaze. All he wanted to do was be close to her in any way possible. "I'm ready to start thinking about the future."

Emery's face warms and she rolls her lips into her mouth before glancing away from him.

"Speaking of which—Hey, Probie!"

Emery jumps from Buck's abrupt yelling. She then jumps again from the probie dropping his books. Emery's hand flies to her chest and she growls. "Seriously?" She looks at Buck with a glare.

Emery jogs over to the Probie and helps pick up his books. "Sorry, about that. He doesn't know how to handle new people."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Buck says.

Emery turns to Buck with squinted eyes, causing his jaw to go slack. "You shouted at him. How did you not know he would freak out?" She stands up with the boy and hands him his books. "Here, Ravi."

"You...know my name." Ravi blinks while grabbing the books from her.

Emery shrugs, "I normally do deep dives into the newcomers. And Captain Nash normally shows me their files."

"You're the new B-shift Probie, right?" Buck asks.

Ravi looks at the blonde, "Yeah. I-I mean. Yes, sir."

Emery snorts. "Oh, absolutely not. Do not call him sir. That'll go to his head."

Ravi then looks at Buck who was mouthing "Don't listen to her"

Knowing him like the back of her hand, Emery turns to Buck and he quickly looks away from the two.

"I just finished my first shift."

Emery looks back at Ravi. "Exciting! How was it?"

Ravi frowns, "Oh, pretty quiet."

It was as if, someone had committed murder right in front of them.

"No!" Emery stumbles back and Buck hooks his arms under hers, keeping her stable.

"Whoa!" Hen holds her hand out to the Probie. Everyone but Eddie tenses.

"Did he just say—"

"No." Chimney whispers with terror.

Ravi paled. "S-Sorry, all I said was that it was—"

"Don't say it again!"

"All right, Probie, shut your mouth or I'll tape it closed!" Emery points at him. She removes herself from Buck's arm.

"Hold on, hold on. I don't know..." Hen tilts her head. "Maybe if he says it a second time, it undoes the curse."

Emery looks at Hen. "No way. It doubles the curse."

"Maybe if he said it a third time, the candyman will show up and kill us all," Chimney speaks with Emery nodding her head vigorously. "Let's not test that theory."

Buck takes a more gentler approach with Ravi. "That word is forbidden in the firehouse—any house. We just—we don't use the Q-word."

"Who used the Q-word?"

All the firefighters and paramedics look up at Bobby from the second floor. Emery grumbles, "The one who's leaving for the day."

Ravi looks back at Emery and the other firefighters. "I am so sorry."

"What am I missing here?" Eddie asks with a sigh.

The bell rings throughout the firehouse and Emery looks up. "And so it begins..."

"We've been jinxed."

They all run to the fire engine. But not before sending Ravi one final glare.

☆

"Jinxed?"

Eddie laughs at his superstitious team. "You guys sound like my abuela's neighbors curandera."

"I'm gonna text your abuela and ask for her curandera's information. I'm going to need it to survive today." Emery exhales.

"No, what you need to do is stop texting my abuela in the first place," Eddie says.

Emery snaps her eyes over to him. "Excuse me?"

Eddie then snaps his eyes over to her. "Es raro, Emery."

Emery clicks her tongue, "¡Vamos a cenar para ponernos al día! ¡Es mi amiga!" Her tone was stern.

Eddie holds up a hand, "Por favor. Ella me contó que me preguntaste sobre mi vida amorosa."

Emery carelessly shrugs. "Bueno, no es como si fueras a"

"They sound mad."

Eddie and Emery look at their friends, to see them staring intently at them.

"Probably talking about who's more best friends with Eddie's abuela."

"I am."

They both look back at each other. "No way! You already claimed Buck as your best friend." Emery cries.

"She's my abuela!"

"Exactly! Why would you want your abuela to be your best friend?" Emery snorts. She actually didn't see a problem with it. If anything, Emery saw that as the cutest thing ever.

"Does your abuela happen to know how to reverse it?" Buck asks. "Cause if not, we're about to experience the shift from hell."

"Nonstop calls all day long." Chimney adds.

Hen scoffs, "Stupid calls."

"Probie tempted fate." Chimney sighs. "Now the EMS gods are gonna make us pay."

Emery pushes her lower lip out. "We're doomed."

Eddie smiles, "Come on, you guys don't really believe that."

"Last time someone mentioned the Q-word an earthquake occurred."

Eddie shrugs, "Tectonic plates." He then waves a hand. "Or whatever."

Emery scoffs, "Did Evan ever tell you about the time he used that word?"

Buck rolls his eyes. "The gods took it out of context."

"Mmhmm..." Emery glances away from him with a smile.

Buck jogs over to the dishwasher, about to open it.

"It's already running," Bobby tells him. "You're gonna have to wash it by hand."

"Really?" Buck chuckles. He looks at the machine. "It's so quiet."

Emery snaps her eyes over to Buck, the olive she had in her hand dropping to the ground. The blonde notices everyone's fearful eyes on him. He holds his hands up, "Whoa. I meant the dishwasher."

The alarms blare through the firehouse. Emery lifts her eyes and huffs. "You are..." her eyes meet his. "...a fucking idiot." She slams her book shut. She was almost done.

"Okay—me saying the word has nothing to do with my intelligence." Buck retorts.

Chimney clicks his tongue. "Em has a point."

"Per usual." Hen stands up.

"36 calls."

Eddie rolls his eyes and then begins to shake his head. "36?" He didn't believe a word they were saying. "In one shift?"

"Yeah, it was a house record," Bobby says.

Buck corrects, "It was 37."

Emery lets out a low laugh and slaps her knee, the memory popping up in her head.

"No, that one doesn't count," Chimney says.

"That wasn't even a call." Bobby agrees.

Buck deadpans, "Then what was it?"

"Divine retribution." Hen hums, delighted with the memory.

Emery sighs, "It was hilarious! That's what I would call it!"

"So, who triggered the fire suppression system?"

Emery keeps her hand over her mouth. Her eyes were glued to the glass that was covered in foam. Buck's hands were pressed against the glass, begging for help.

"I don't know, but if I did, I'd kiss 'em on the lips." Hen smiles.

"Bet he regrets talking about the dishwasher now," Chimney speaks. "Should we go help him?"

Bobby frowns, "No, let's give him a minute."

Emery lets out a heartfelt laugh and grasps at her stomach.

"Guys, the foam!" Buck taps on the glass. "Come on!"

"What?" Emery hovers a hand over her ear. She could barely even talk about how hard she was laughing. Everyone watches as the girl enjoys herself for the first time in a long time.

Buck presses his face against the glass and slides to the floor. At the same time, Emery collapses on the ground still laughing.

"Well, I think you guys are giving the EMS gods a little too much credit." Eddie voices.

Emery lets out a breath of frustration. "You know what? If you don't want to believe us, fine. Just don't voice your opinion out loud, you'll jinx us even more."

Eddie laughs. "Yeah, sure, Em. I'll stay quiet."

☆

"Damn."

Emery tilts her head at the man duct-taped to the billboard. "Who the hell is Izzy Chains?"

"Chainz," Eddie says. "With a 'z'."

Emery rolls her eyes to the side, "Whatever, go check on civilians injured, please."

"What, are you upset with me for not believing?" Eddie asks.

"No." Emery turns to him. "You're just...stubborn and don't want to listen to us. So, why should I listen to you?" She huffs and turns away from him.

Eddie laughs from Emery pouting and walks away from her.

"I do not need help!" Izzy Chainz tells Buck.

"Sir, I'm gonna need to get you down for your safety and the safety of others." Buck announces.

Izzy Chainz vigorously shakes his head. "I rented this bill owed the whole day! I ain't leaving till I get what I paid for."

Buck motions to all the civilians staring up at him and the billboard. "Look down. I think you got your money's worth."

Izzy Chainz brushes Buck off. "I know, I know. Look at all these people!"

The crowd begins to cheer for him.

"Buy my album!" Izzy Chainz looks back at Buck. "You think they can see my QR code?"

"Yeah, I'm sure they can." Buck nods.

The musician begins to howl and Buck exhales.

"Okay wow." Buck then pulls his brows together. A thought pops into his mind and a small inkling tells him to ask the question.

"Question for you..."

"are you wearing anything under that?"

Izzy Chainz lets out an annoyed breath. "No. Why?"

Buck winces, "You might regret that later."

Chimney, Emery, and Hen all pull the parachute under the billboard, ready to secure the artists taped up.

Buck soon climbs back down the ladder and looks at Bobby. "Cap, he's not willing to leave."

Emery frowns, "How exactly is he even still up there?" She holds her hand over her forehead, blocking the sun out of her eyes. "I mean, with how hot it is the sweat in his body should be making the tape—"

Slowly the tape on Izzy's body begins to peel off and he slowly leans off of the billboard. He begins to scream and Buck scrambles back up the ladder. Emery winces, "Ah, shit..."

"Em, you really need to—"

"Learn to keep my mouth shut." Emery scratches above her brow. "Yeah...I'm starting to get that now."

The tape peels off the billboard and Izzy Chainz falls forward. Emery's eyes follow his body as he falls on the inflated parachute, safely. "Download my album!"

Emery lets out a heavy sigh and walks back over to the parachute and helps the musician up. She rolls him off the parachute and he jumps onto his feet.

"I'm okay! I'm okay!"

Emery's eyes widen from his naked body on display. She covers her eyes. "I'm not! Put that thing away!"

Chimney covers his body with a blanket. He and Hen guide him away from the billboard. Emery pulls her hand off her eyes and exhales sharply.

"Hey."

Emery turns to Buck and her face lights up. "Oh, hi!"

"Can we..." Buck nervously laughs and looks away from Emery for a moment. She raises her brows and follows his gaze. "Can we...?"

"Talk. For a second. Before we have to go to the next call?" Buck asks.

Emery's stomach warms. "Yeah, of course." She looks around the area and walks over to the fire engine. Buck follows after her, but makes sure there's enough space between them that it's not suspicious.

"So..." Emery turns to Buck with her back against the rig.

"So..." Buck copies her tone. A timid smile forms on Emery's lips. Emery brushes her fingers against his. Buck's finger twitches around hers. "I know today's been a rough one. So, if you just want to relax at home by yourself—"

"Absolutely not." Emery pushes herself off the rig and takes a step forward. A giddy smile finds Buck's lips from Emery's excitement to be near him.

"What movie do you want to watch tonight?" Emery tilts her head.

Buck inhales a breath and looks at the ceiling, thinking hard. "Fight Cl—"

"We are not watching Fight Club. Again." Emery squints her eyes. "Let's switch it up."

"Fight Club is one of the best movies of all time." Buck says.

Emery hums, "I'd argue that there are better movies."

"Like what? Over The Hedge?" Buck mocks.

Emery's mouth drops open but the smile was still evident. She points at Buck, "I'll have you know Over The Hedge is just one of my favorite movies."

"And it has all of the greatest hits!" Emery exclaims. "Found family trope, Amazing soundtrack—"

"That you listen to way too often on the drive to work." Buck notes.

"—enemies to lovers—"

"Whoa!" Buck holds his hand out to her. Emery stops and raises her brows. She already knew that would catch his attention which caused her to smile.

"Who are you referring to enemies to lovers in this movie with animals?" Buck deadpans.

Emery smiles and she rocks back and forth on her heels. "RJ and Vern—"

"Ohhhh okay the raccoon and the turtle."

"Don't mock me, Evan." Emery lightly smacks his stomach with the back of her hand.

"No, I'm not mocking you. I'm just confirming that you mean what you're saying." Buck gives her a small shake of her arm.

Emery giggles, "So, you're telling me. When I showed you Over The Hedge, which is absurd—you should've already watched that movie, you didn't feel like Vern and Rj were the parents of the group?" She moves her head to the side. Buck instinctively brushes the pad of his thumb across Emery's arm as he thinks.

"Co parents—"

"They are husbands!"

"What is going on over here?"

Buck quickly pulls his hand off of Emery's arm and she takes a step away from him. "She pushed me!"

"I—huh?"

"Now, Em. Do I have to put you in a corner?" Eddie teases.

Emery opens and closes her mouth. She knows that they were keeping their relationship under wraps for the time being. But framing her? Emery couldn't allow this.

"I did not shove him." Emery holds a hand out. "I was just getting a little heated because of a discussion about Over The Hedge."

Eddie tilts his head up, "Ah, the RJ and Vern discussion."

Buck whips his head to Eddie and points at him with a smile. "She forced you to watch the movie too?"

"Me and Christopher." Eddie nods his head.

"It's a movie everyone needs to watch, you guys!" Emery defends herself.

"You three!"

Eddie, Emery, and Buck turn to Hen. She raises a brow at them and softly smirks. "I'm sure you guys can talk about this some other time? We've got other calls to get to."

Eddie slowly nods his head. "Ah. Because of the curse..." he walks away from Buck and Emery.

Emery shakes her head, "He's gonna double jinx us." She clicks her tongue.

Buck turns back to her and a smile ghosts his lips. Emery meets his eyes and a smile finds her lips.

"How about dinner?"

Emery quirks a brow, "Yeah? Where?"

"Pauly's."

Emery then pulls her brows together with a frown. Buck laughs from her expression.

"You got a reservation at Pauly's?" Emery asks.

"No, but I'm sure you can." Buck lightly taps her shoulder.

Emery then mimics him and obnoxiously taps his shoulder. "Well, what's your genius idea, pretty boy? Me using the fact that I'm a serial killer survivor to get a reservation?"

Buck stops poking her and mischievously grins. Emery's eyes blow wide, "That seriously was your idea? Evan!—"

"What, you're telling me that isn't a good idea?" Buck deadpans.

Emery keeps her eyes on his and thinks for a moment. If you would've asked Emery from 3 years ago to do something like this. She would've called you nuts and reported you to the closest higher up. Hell, if you would've told Emery from 3 years ago that she was going to go on her 3rd date with Buck. She would've probably just hit you with her clipboard.

But Emery now was different. She actually found the idea exciting.

"I'll see what I can do."

Buck raises his brows and smiles. Emery lightly touches Buck's wrist before walking away from him. Buck turns his head and watches Emery walk away with his heart beating erratically.

☆

"So, how'd it feel picking that naked guy up?"

Buck lets out a laugh as he closes the door to the rig. He turns and meets the girl's amused eyes. Emery leans against the rig. "Turned you on?"

"Oh, yeah, big time." Buck mimics Emery and leans against the rig. Emery clicks her tongue, "I knew it."

"I think it was him being a musician that made me even more excited to pick him up." Buck sighs.

Emery snaps her fingers and points at him. "Now that you say that..." she digs in her back pocket and grabs her phone. "Listen to this."

"What?"

"It's Izzy Chainz's music."

Buck shakes his head with a laugh. "I'm not listening to it."

"Oh, come on—"

"No, Emerson." Buck shuts her down.

"You said you loved touching him naked. The least you could do is listen to your man's music." Emery quips.

Buck shakes his head.

Emery tilts her head and her eyes slightly widen, revealing that very much puppy dog look. "For me?"

Buck's stomach flutters. Fuck.

He points at Emery and she triumphantly smiles.

"Give me the earbud."

Emery giggles and jumps up and down. Buck laughs at her excitement and grabs one of the earbuds from her. He puts it in his ear and Emery puts the other into hers.

Emery found herself scooting closer to Buck until her arm was pressed against his. Buck's body tenses from the sudden contact, but it also caused his stomach to twist. He turns his head and looks at the side of Emery's face. A small giddy smile forms across his lips. He still couldn't believe he was in this position. He was able to be this close to Emerson without it being weird.

Emery bites her lower lip and chuckles. "Okay, ready?" She turns to him. Her smile lessens when she notices him already staring at her. Emery's face gets hot and a nervous bubble forms in her stomach. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Buck couldn't even stop smiling when he asked "like what?"

"Like you're head over heels for me right now?" Emery snorts and looks down at her phone.

Buck quirks a brow. Maybe because I am, dumbass.

"Maybe because I just think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever known, dumbass."

Emery's stomach flutters. "Most beautiful girl you've ever known, huh?" She meets his eyes again and shifts her gaze down to his lips for a second. "If we weren't at work, I'd—"

"You'd what?" Buck tilts his head. "Can't threaten me with a good time, Emi. Especially when we haven't had a good time yet."

Emery playfully smiles, "Yet, huh? Someone's a bit eager to get into bed with me."

"Was it that obvious?"

Emery's face grows hot again. Ever since they started going out, Emery and Buck haven't had sex. I guess you could say it was odd for them. Espeicially since the both of them wanted nothing more than to feel the other's body against their own. But, Emery had some hesitations when it came to her own body. And Buck...

He just didn't want to fuck anything up. He wanted their first time as a couple to be perfect. And the first step to it being perfect...

Both of them being on the same page.

Emery laughs and nudges his arm. She presses play on her phone and Buck's smile immediately drops. Buck looks down at her phone with horror written across his face. Emery tries to keep her laughter in, but as soon as she sees Buck's reaction she couldn't hold it in any longer. Emery tilts her head against the rig and lets out the most heartfelt laugh of her life. She grabs onto Buck's arm and he instinctively wraps an arm around her waist to keep her upright.

"Oh, god—your face!" Emery cackles. "It's perfect!"

"What the fuck is this—this isn't his music, right?" Buck looks at Emery.

Emery inhales a laughter and she nods her head. Buck then shakes his head out of disbelief. "No fucking way—"

"Yes fucking way." Emery giggles.

"It's so bad."

"I know!" Emery jumps up and down.

Buck looks back at Emery, noticing her being a little too excited about this. "You've been waiting to show me this...why?"

"Because it's funny." Emery laughs. "I mean, he taped himself up on a billboard naked to promote his upcoming album and it's...horrible." She then holds up her pointer. "But after that stunt, he's gonna get hundreds—thousands of streams!"

Buck slightly opens his mouth and looks forward, thinking. "Huh. That's actually..."

"Brilliant?" She finishes.

Buck nods, "Yeah, it's brilliant."

Emery lightly squeezes his arm that was still in her hand. "Yeah, well...I wish him good luck with his future." She giggles and motions up the stairs. "I'm going to get some olives."

"Cap's making lunch." Buck says. "You're gonna spoil your appetite."

Emery turns to Buck with a deadpanned expression. "Obviously, you don't know me if you think olives are going to spoil my appetite." She walks over to the stairs. Buck raises his brows in agreement. Emerson could eat. He follows her up the stairs, just in time to see Bobby pulling out the macaroni from the oven.

"About time, you two!" Chimney exclaims. "I've been waiting to get my hands on this—"

"Baked macaroni!" Emerson gasps. She then holds her hands up and runs to the table. "Oh, just what I was craving."

"Sure it wasn't olives?" Buck sits next to her.

Emery lightly elbows him, "Cork." She turns to him with squinted eyes. "In it. Now."

Buck laughs. Even though they were going out. These two could still get on each other's nerves.

"It smells amazing, Cap." Buck compliments.

Before Chimney could take his serving, the alarm blares through the firehouse. Emery looks up at the flashing lights and she softly whines. "This isn't fair—this isn't fair..." she stands up with everyone else and runs down the steps.

All day, they got ridiculous calls. From cat rescues to lion masks getting stuck on people's heads to extracting an octopus off someone's face.

And no one got to eat.

Then they ran out of coffee. Emery was running on no food and no coffee. She wasn't the greatest person without her two vices.

"You ever replay a conversation in your head and worry you sounded like an idiot?"

Buck holds his hands out. "Have you met me?"

Eddie chuckles, "I ran into Ana Flores this morning. Christopher's English teacher."

Buck nods his head, "Christopher's pretty English teacher." He points out. "You haven't mentioned her in a long time."

"Well, she's not Christopher's teacher anymore."

Eddie and Buck make it into the building and are greeted with clowns and helium tanks. They watch while Emery and Bobby lift the helium tanks off one of the clowns. "Interesting."

"Help us move some of these tanks to relieve the pressure." Bobby instructs, his voice high pitched.

Eddie and Buck freeze. They both simultaneously begin to laugh. Emery rolls her eyes, but underneath her mask she was smiling.

"Come on!" Bobby urges.

Buck and Eddie laugh even harder, but they still walk over to the two and help lift the tanks up.

"It's your voice!" Buck exclaims.

"Buck!" Hen exclaims, her voice also high pitched. "Be a professional!"

Eddie and Buck laugh even harder. Emery softly laughs but she continues to work silently. Buck looks over at Emery, "Oh, what? Clown got your tongue?"

Emery points her index finger at him, telling him not to test her. Buck raises his brows, "You're not gonna talk? Seriously?"

Emery raises her brows. Buck then deadpans, "You think I'm gonna make fun of you? I would never."

Emery rolls her eyes. Buck then touches his chest, "I'm a changed man, Emerson."

Emery squints her eyes and Buck salutes. The girl runs a tongue over her teeth and sighs. "Soon, you're voice is gonna—"

Buck bursts out laughing harder than before. Emery rolls her lips into her mouth and shakes her head with a laugh. "You're such a dick."

"I'm sorry—I'm sorry! I really was trying, but—"

"You didn't even last six words." Emery states.

Buck wheezes, "I couldn't help it! You sound so cute and squeaky."

Emery shifts her gaze to Eddie and he laughs. "It's really funny. I promise." Suddenly his voice gets high pitched. Emery snickers. Eddie closes his eyes and tilts his head to the ceiling. "Dammit..."

Emery then turns to Buck and quirks a brow. "Speak, asshole."

Buck shakes his head, "You shouldn't swear while we're on the jo—"

"Oh, well, you sound adorable!" Emery laughs. "Awwww—"

"Okay, okay, I get it." Buck waves a hand.

"Do you? Do you get it?" Emery cocks her head to the side. "Do you get how cute you sound, Buck?"

"Hey, all the tanks are off of him!" Buck exclaims. "We should get him on a stretcher, right?"

"You're exactly right. Good for you, kiddo." Bobby says.

Emery giggles and Buck growls. "I regret ever lagging at you two."

Bobby and Emery fist pump.

☆

"Man, that was a boring call."

Emery looks at Eddie with her eye twitching. "Two people stuck in an elevator. They didn't even need medical attention or anything."

"Don't say it, Edmundo." Hen grumbles.

"If he says it I'm gonna pinch you—do you hear me? I'll pinch you!" Emery threatens.

Eddie turns to them while walking backwards to the rig. "How can I not? Y'all are acting like a bunch of viejas."

"There is no curse." Eddie says.

A chill rushes down Emery's spine and she sighs. "I'm gonna..." she runs over to him and pinches his arm. "Are you kidding me? After what we have been through today?!"

"Especially after what we've been through today."

"Oh, he's so definitive now." Chimney rolls his eyes.

"Sure is windy. You guys feel that?" Buck says.

Emery turns and meets his bare arms. Her eyes linger across his biceps and she softly hums. "You're the only one with your jacket off. We don't know what you're talking about."

Buck lightly flicks her curly ponytail and gets into the engine. Emery exhales sharply and follows after him. "Hey, so, should I kick your ass now or later?"

"Preferably later." Buck softly speaks, low enough for only them to hear. A chill rushes down Emery's spine and she softly shivers. "Shut the fuck up..." she turns and meets his blue eyes that cause a heat to form in her belly.

"It was a normal call." Eddie throws his hands up.

Emery's sensual fire is quickly exchanged with a furious one when she turns to Eddie. "Didn't Bobby just tell you not to tempt fate?"

Eddie looks at Emery, challenging her hard gaze. "It went like clockwork."

"Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am."

Hen opens her mouth, "You notice how you never hear anyone say "wham, ban, thank you, sir"?"

Buck pulls his brows together. "It doesn't rhyme."

Hen deadpans. "Or maybe all that whammin' and bammin' is nothing to write a thank-you note about."

"In other words..." Emery bunches her shoulders. "Men ruin everything."

Buck slightly opens his mouth. "Well, yes, but that's not what Hen was saying."

Hen shrugs, "Kind of the what I was trying to say." She admits. "Men need to learn to be quiet every now and then."

Emery turns to Buck with a cocky smirk. "Hear that?"

"Yeah, I heard..." Buck sinks into his seat. "And she's right. So were you."

Emery's smile grows.

"All I'm saying is, I think this proves that this whole jinx thing is a little silly and we should all be done with it—"

Suddenly something heavy hits the top of the fire engine and sparks begin to fall on every side of the rig. Emery looks out the window and her mouth hangs open.

"Hey, Cap? Did a live power pole just fall on the engine?"

Bobby presses his lips into a firm line. "I believe it did, Chimney."

"Right," Buck starts with his squinted eyes on Eddie's. "no curse here."

Eddie turns away from the wicked to see his teammates all glaring at him. He swallows and looks away from them.

━━━━━━━━━━

author's note.

First chapter with Emery and Buck as a COUPLE??? I love them, I'm obsessed with them, and I will never stop writing them!!!!

words : 5536