Paperboy. (h.s. au)

10.

Several days have passed since the morning of the late paperboy. I haven't seen Harry since. But to be fair, I haven't seen many people since. I've mostly just been working and lounging around at home.

Work has been especially slow lately. Besides Harry bursting in that one time, next to nobody has come through. Except this old man a few days ago. He came in and flirted up a storm with all of the old ladies. He even tossed a wink my way. To make matters worse, they flirted back. I never thought I'd see that kind of thing happen with the elderly, but I sure do hope I never have to see it again.

I spent my hours at work half-hoping, half-fearing that Harry would come through the front door, but he never did. I'm not sure why, but I always feel better when I'm around him, unless of course he scares the worry out of me. Even so, after that initial fear I felt happy. I don't know, maybe it's the welcoming smile, or the open emerald eyes that made me want to tell them every secret of mine. Maybe it's neither, and it's just nice to have a new friend. Which it's was. I hadn't seen him all week long, but I have picked up the newspaper every morning, and that was pretty much the same thing to me.

Harry also had never texted or called me. I guess don't expect him to, but it's just something you do when you first get someone's number, right? Maybe not.

Now, I sit across the round table in the kitchen from David, who stole the paper to read the comics. I watch him in amusement, his mouth curving up into a small smile after he reads each cheesy joke. He then sighs and shakes his head, putting the newspaper down and looking up at me. I smile at my brother and how easily amused he is.

"Good comics, huh?" I ask him, knowing fully well his answer would be...

"The best I've read so far." A satisfied smile lays upon his lips.

I shake my head and sip coffee from my green mug. I finish it, and David jumps up from his seat to take the mug to the sink. "Let me get that for you..." He said. I laugh at his sudden friendliness towards me.

"Woah there, Mr. Nice Guy. What's gotten into you?" I watch him, amused, as he washes the mug and puts it away for me.

My little brother looks at me with wide eyes. "Who, me? Nothing, I'm just being nice." He flashes an ear-to-ear smile at me.

I cut to the chase. "What do you need, kid?"

He sighs and says, "I really want to swim today but mom said I can only go if you're with me. My normal swimming partner is on vacation." There it is.

I groan. I really don't want to get into a bathing suit and go to the public pool. It's so gross there. But David shouldn't have a crappy day just because I don't want to go to the pool. I actually can't really swim. I never have been able to, and I never have felt the urge to teach myself. I'm too old to get lessons, so I just avoid swimming in general now. To be honest, I'm a little scared of being in water. This fear probably traces back to when I was little and fell into my aunt's pool and couldn't resurface. Needless to say, I prefer land, always. I'm not even confident I own a bathing suit that fits me anymore.

"Okay, I'll take you. But only because you took my mug to the sink." I smile when he does and get up from my chair.

"Yes! I told mom you'd take me. I told her. Can we go now?" I can't even remember being this eager about anything, ever. Glancing at the clock that hangs above the sink, I laugh. 10:34.

"Not a chance. It's too early. We can go at noon if you want." He hangs his head and groans.

"But that's so far away!" David whines, his youth showing. His still high pitched voice sounds kind of cute. Then I remember that that's probably his point in whining.