Omari but fxcked up

For the better and for the worst

SPLAAASH

Everyone froze. Turning to the pond.
Basil began shaking before screaming.

-"A-AREN'T YOU G-GOING TO HELP H-HIM?! Y-YOU K-KNOW DAMN WELL I..I CAN'T SW-SWIM!!" He said. Stuttering. He didn't stutter a lot anymore. Only under a lot of stress.

Hero didn't look Basil's way. Not getting his gaze off the water. Why wasn't Kel swim out? He know how to swim..Why isn't he coming out?
He stepped further. Approching the water. Shaking.

Aubrey looked between the surface and Hero.
-"W-why isn't he coming out?" She said.

Basil looked at Hero, runned to him. He took Hero's arm.
-"G-GO GET HIM!! W-WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING?!"
Hero looked at Basil. Shaking.
-"I..I..He.." Hero couldn't make word.
-"HE'S GOING TO D-DIE IF Y-YOU DON'T HELP H-HIM" Tears started flooding Basil's eyes widened has he screamed at Hero.

Maybe that's when Hero began the 15 years old Hero they knew again. Maybe that's when realization stroke him. Maybe that's when Hero realized that, yes, Kel knew how to swim, but the water was freezing, the temperature change must have made him pass out or something like that. Because that's when Hero realized he needed to move or he would loose his brother.

So that's what he did.

He slowly got in the water. The water was freezing cold. But he didn't care. He knew he had to save Kel. He just had too. His body shivered has he began swimming deeper in the lake. He didn't have lots of time. He needed to act fast or he would fail to save Kel. It got darker. But that's when Hero saw a glimpse of orange and sometimes white. He extended a hand and grabbed the hand of his brother. Bringing Kel to him. He hugged the body of his unconscious brother while swimming back up. He didn't know how, but Kel was even colder than the water.
He swam back up, his body was feeling heavier each movement he made. Hero closed his eyes. He knew he couldn't make it to surface. But he didn't want to give up, he couldn't make the same mistake twice.

Just has he felt his body giving up, he felt something pull him and Kel up. He opened his eyes, saw someone pulling him and Kel by the arms before passing out.

When he opened his eyes. Aubrey was what he first saw. He began couching before sitting up, looking around, he saw Mari besides him. She was shivering a bit.
-"Oh Hero thanks god you're alright!" Aubrey said before hugging him tight.
But Hero didn't hug her back, he looked around. Where his Kel?
That's when he saw basil. Sitting next to Kel. Who was laying on the ground. Apparently still unconscious. He didn't have his jacket but Basil's one. Snd Hero realized he had Aubrey's jacket. He looked at Aubrey has she end her hug.

-"I'm really sorry about Kel! I swear I didn't mean too! I-I!" She began crying.
Mari patted her back before looking at Hero.
Aubrey calmed down.
-"Mari's the one who saved you. I couldn't move! I'm sorry! I just..Basil is so angry but..I feel like you should talk to him..you too Mari..I.. I'm sorry! I really just wanted him to get off me.." Her voice was shaky
Hero hugged her and so did Mari. Then the two older ones got up and walked to Basil. He didn't look up to them.
Mari sat in front of him.
-"He's going to wake up r-right?" He said. Not looking at them.
Hero got next to Kel. Checked his pulse. He had a good one. But he was still cold.He hugged his brother.
-"I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry...I failed you again.. I'm sorry" Hero muttered. Holding dear to his brother.
Basil looked at him. And for the first time in four years he saw Hero.
Not Henry. Hero. Hero, the 20 years old, the caring brother, the loving one. A Hero who would do anything to get his brother back.
-"If..if you knew how much he needs to hear..that." Basil said. Looking at Kel, still unconscious.
Hero buried his head in his little brother shoulder, realizing where he had gone wrong. Holding him like he could shattered in piece if he let go.

-"I..I think we should get him somewhere warm.." Aubrey said, making Mari looked at her and Basil give her a death stare.
Hero didn't let go of Kel and instead picked him up and got him on his back.
-"I..I will take him home.." Hero muttered.
-"No. We will take him to MY house." Basil spitted.
Hero looked at him. Confused.
-"Just think..if I'm not the one who explain everything he will just run away from you." He explained. Looking at Kel.
Damn.
Hero nodded and just began walking. Basil following him. Aubrey and Mari walking behind.
Aubrey was apologizing from time to time but Basil just ignored her. Hero smiled slightly at her each time.

When they arrived at Basil's house. They were greeted by Polly. She didn't look very happy to see Hero, Mari and Aubrey when the introduction was made. But she didn't say anything and just showed them where to put Kel.
Basil house changed a lot. Many flowers had disappeared. The only ones left was the tulips and sunflower. And another white one one were "I will shine for you" was scribbled.

Some cactus here and there. And a pink flower in a pot signed "Polly", didn't need to be smart to know it was one Polly was taking care off.

Basil room changed too. The wallpaper had changed. The bed was larger, he had a new bookshelf, a pale orange hammock was hanging from the ceiling, "K+S" was written on it with a black marker. Aubrey recognize it. Sunny's handwriting.
It had belonged to Kel since she knew him, it was way too big for him back then, Sunny loved going in it, so he and Kel would go in and cuddle there, while she and Basil would cuddle in plushies. Aubrey felt nostalgic.
Basil pointed the hammock and looked at Hero.

-"Here. Let him here." Then he walked out. Mari sat on a chair that was right by the door. Book were by her side. History book.

Hero made his was to the hammock and layed Kel there.
A pillow, a photo of Kel and Basil layed there with a date written on the back with a commentary «Me and Kel got shopping for Sunny! We had so much fun! Can't wait to give his present to Sunny!» Hero putted the photo away. He looked around. Basil's bed was made, Christmas lights were hanging around the bed and hammock. Photos of the album were attached to the wall. None of it had Mari or Hero's face on it. Five of them had Aubrey. The one in the center being Sunny playing his console on the couch.
If you told them this was the bedroom of a delinquent/bully, they wouldn't have believed you. The room looked like the perfect place to relax. A real room of comfort. The light were lanter. Giving a Halloween color. Plants were on the wall. The bed had a sunflower pattern.
The only things that's didn't look so "relax/cute/comforting" was the ben full of red stained tissue, Aubrey knew that was from the cute Mari made to Kel. An old used bat. Kel's basketball. A t-shirt stained red a the center, cut open. Mari silently insulted herself seeing this. Hero felt guilty.
Basil came back. A brown t-shirt and a grey pants in hand. He looked at Hero, giving them to him.

-"That's Kel's. You can use it. I will make sure to explain. But you better give them back!" He shoved the clothes into Hero's arm before asking for them to leave. Only allowing Hero to stay and change in the bathroom.
When Hero came out. Basil was outside.

-"He woke up. But you're not seeing him. You..just go home" Basil looked like he wanted to ask something but didn't.

Hero nodded.

-"I.. I'm sorry Basil.." he said. Basil looked at him.

-"What?"

-"I didn't..I should have began like that.. I'm sorry about the photo but-" Hero began looking at him right in the eyes.

-"No. Don't say more. I..I got them back anyway."
Basil looked away.

Hero began walking away.
Basil muttered something.
Looked at Hero. Sighted.
-"I'm sorry too."
Hero froze. Then looked at Basil.
-"Don't look at me like that! Ok..I just.. I'm sorry about the bullying but .." he thought.
-"No..Kel will explain. Yes. That was my idea, I just hated what you did and.." He stopped, groaned, looking at Hero.
-"Listen you should talk to Kel. But began by saying sorry! You were an asshole ok?.. You deserved it." He continued, looking down.
Hero didn't understand what he exclatly meant but he noted what he said.

He walked out. He wanted to hug Kel, show him how much he was sorry, show him he was ready to do everything to get forgiveness. Show him that he, Hero, his older brother, was going to protect him no matter what.

He walked home.
He was ready to wait for Kel. He was ready to listen to Kel. He was ready to apologize. He was ready to make things right.