Struggling to Breathe

Lilac

I sat down beside Fern, smiling at her as she tried to manoeuvre the block figure around the block world on the TV. "I can't build it!" she sighed, and frowned. "I can't find it!" she complained and pointed to her missing piece.

I laughed and took the remote off her, to help her. "Fern, you have to be patient and look where you'd think you'd find that material, and you can't be so afraid of all the monsters in the game either."

Fern crossed her arms and pouted. "I'm not afraid of them..." She muttured. I smiled and kissed her head.

"Of course you're not," I said sarcastically. She eyed me but soon lost the pout.

"Oh well, I have you here to protect me, don't I Sebs?" She asked.

I smiled and turned back towards the game, nodding. "Of course, Princess Fern," I mocked. She laughed and watched me play with the eagerness only a child could possess.

Mum came down the stairs. "Sebastian, we're going to Marcus'... do you want-"

"No," I cut her off flatly. Mam pursed her lips but didn't say anything, we'd had this talk many times.

"Fern, honey, do you want to go?" She asked.

"Can I stay with Sebby mam?" Fern asked gently. Ma sighed and shook her head.

"Okay, just watch your sister Sebby, or else no skateboard."

I shook my head and gave Fern the control before I threw it at the TV. Did she really have to ask me did I want to go to that bastard's house?

"Your dad and I will be back before eight, don't forget to give Fern something to eat later," mam ordered as she closed the door. "Lock the door after me, I love you two, bye."

Eight O'clock. That gave me four hours to do what I wanted... so long as James was next door.

I watched Dad's car turn off the kerb and drive off, up the town, towards Marcus' house, which was an hour away. The second I was sure they hadn't forgotten anything, I grabbed the phone and hit in the numbers as quick as I could.

Fern already knew what was going to happen, we did this everytime they left for more than 2 hours. She was pulling on her shoes over her fairy socks, and stood up, wiping off her bright yellow jeans, on the bottom of the steps.

She ran over to me and watched as the phone rang. Four beeps later, Pat answered.

"Hello?" The gruff voice answered.

I winced slightly and asked, "Hey, is James there for Fern?"

"Wait, let me check -" the phone was thrown down and faintly, you could hear, "- JAMES!"

I laughed slightly and moments later a little panting voice reached the other end of the line. "Yeah?" James answered.

"Hey James, want Fern over for an hour or two?" I asked. "It could be fun, you guys could get that fort finished," I tempted him.

James stayed silent for a moment then gave in. "Send her over, I'll be in my room when she gets here."

I did a little victory dance. "We'll be there in ten minutes."

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"Fern, don't go out on the road and stay with James' mammy if you guys go for a walk, okay?" I asked her as we briskly walked to his house.

"Okay Sebs, you be careful too." I smiled and ruffles her pig tailed brown hair. We reached the house and she ran in, her teddy bear backpack's eyes bobbling about as she bounced.