Waiting outside the lines

Chapter 6

As I walk down, it gets darker and darker outside. When I'm finally down the hill, I see the blue convertible and see that there's someone in there. It can't be Wayne or Jake. I didn't see them come down. I try to see who it is but then the person in there puts the front lights on and I hear,

"Janet? There you are Janet!" I see it's Rose. She was supposed to be taking care of my brother! I run up to her car door.

"What are you doing here?!"
"I came here to get Wayne. I was worried you couldn't find him but thanks to Jake we found both of you!"she said smiling.
"No! Thanks to Jake we..." I think of how Wayne said she doesn't believe the things he says about Jake and I decide I don't have time to argue about this. "Just never mind. Where's my little brother? You were supposed to take care of him!"
She looks away as if trying to think then looks back at me. "Oh no I forgot! I am so sorr-" I don't even let her finish.

"How can you forget a child!" I think about my parents and say,"Never mind. Did you at least give him something to eat?"
"No, it just all happened so fast! Jake came in and told me about what Wayne did and..."
"No! Wayne didn't do anything! How could you? You know he can get really sick if he doesn't eat!" (He has a pretty bad sickness it's hard to explain) Then the bad thoughts kick in. I think of my brother being alone in the house, on the floor with an empty stomach. Getting worse and worse by the minute. Even dying maybe. I start breathing hard. I haven't been this bad since the last time I left my little brother at home.
"Honey don't worry. Calm down."
"Calm down! No! Don't tell me to calm down!" I turn around thinking of what I can do. Then I realize,'What am I doing here?' And I go off into a full sprint in the direction of my house. As I run away I hear behind me,

"Stop! I'll drive you!" But I just ignore Rose and keep running. How could she just forget about my brother like that? I trusted her to take care of him and she let me down. I guess that's what I get for trusting people with the things I love. You'd think I'd learn from my parents that I can't do that.
I keep running and I start to get tired and slow down a little. But then I think of my brother again and adrenaline kicks in. I find myself running faster then when I started. About five minutes later-felt more like 30 minutes-I saw my house and ran to the door. I went to get the key and couldn't find it at first. It should be under the mat but I didn't feel it. I freak out and pick up the mat and throw in the bush next to our house. It wasn't under there! Then I remember I put it on the top of the door. I feel for it and then I feel it! I grab it and try to open the door. Then I realize the door wasn't even locked! I open it and run in looking for my brother. I go to the dining room and see him in a chair but he looked like he was about to pass out. I say his name and he slowly turns his head and smiles at me.

"Hey sis. How was your dinner?" I run over to him and pick him up gently. As I take him to the kitchen I say to him softly,

"No I haven't eaten yet. You know I would never eat if you haven't eaten yet. I'll get you something right now ok. What do you want to eat?"
"No big sis. You eat first. I'd rather you eat then me. You need more food. You're too skinny." He says smiling at me. He looked really pale. I put him on the counter in the kitchen and get him something to eat. I look in the cabinet and find a granola bar and give it to him. Then I look in the freezer and find a frozen meal that takes 5 minutes to make. I put it in the microwave as my little brother eats his granola bar. He smiles and says its really good. No matter how sick he is he still smiles. I swear he's stronger than me! He offers me a piece of it. I tell him no thank you and that he needs to eat. Finally the microwave beeps telling me its done and I get it out. I tell him he has to wait a minute because its too hot. He nods and smiles at me. Finally when it's not too hot I give it to him and he happily eats it. He gets a big piece on his fork and puts it up for me to eat it,"Here! The best piece for the best sis!"
"No no it's for you. The best piece for the best brother!"
"Ok but you have to promise me you'll eat!"
"I promise." I try to smile but I feel tears swell up in my throat. My little brother is so amazing! This is why I love him so much. He notices I'm sad and says with a sad face,"What's wrong big sis?"
"No nothing. I'm just so sorry you didn't get food today. Please know I'm sorry!"
"I know big sissy! It's okay. I'm used to being forgotten." My eyes start watering and I try to hide it but it doesn't work.
"No no. Not by you big sissy! I know you love me! I love you more! Please don't cry!" He wipes a tear from my face and hugs me. I laugh a little and tell him thank you and to keep eating.
After he's done I ask if he wants dessert and he says,

"Of course I do! But you have to have some too!" I laugh and say,

"Okay, okay I will." I get ice cream out and everything else to make a sundae. Then we hang out for a while eating our ice cream sundaes. After that we watch a movie and everything seemed fine.
After the movie I tuck my brother in to go to sleep. "Goodnight pretty sis." He says half asleep. I smile and say,

"Goodnight handsome bro." He smiles and I kiss him on the head.
I go to the kitchen and start cleaning up. Then I hear someone at the door and realize I left it open this whole time. I look outside and see Wayne standing there with a bloody nose.