Paperboy. (h.s. au)

11.

When David and I return home, before we get out of the car, I turn to David. "Hey, um, don't tell mom about what happened at the pool."

"Why?"

"Well, I don't want her to be mad at us," I feel kind of guilty. I don't want her to be mad at me. For not paying attention or not taking my medicine when I should have. I really shouldn't be forgetting that anymore.

Our mom always gets mad at me when I forget, because she worries that if I don't take them once, I'll never take them again and we'll have to go through the whole therapy process again. But never, ever again will I go to therapy.

David only nods his head and bounces out of the car, "I won't say anything!" Bless this kid.

I really am the worst big sister ever. I almost let the poor kid drown and he promises not to say anything. Before I lock the car doors, I pull out my phone and quickly text Harry.

Thanks for everything. Someday I will repay you!

I toss my phone into my bag and lock the doors to my truck. I hear my phone buzz but I wait until I'm up in my room to open it.

As I pass through the kitchen to the stairs, my mom stops me in my tracks. "Afternoon, stranger." She's leaning against the counter with her phone in her hand. I'm paranoid that she knows something by the tone in her voice.

"Hello," I say warily. I really hope this isn't about what happened..

"So how was the pool? Anything interesting happen?" Yeah, this is definitely about that.

"Um, no, u-"

Her voice gets a bit louder, "Anything you'd like to tell me, Robin?"

My throat gets dry and it feels like it's closing up. This always happens when I'm yelled at. Then I cry. Even if I promise myself I won't cry. "How did you-"

"One of David's classmate's mother's told me. I had to come home from work because I didn't know what was going on!" Her voice raises to a shout.

"I was going to tell y-"

"Tell me what? How you almost let your little brother drown?! How someone else had to help him out because you couldn't? Then, how you still didn't help him because you were too busy talking to some boy?" Her voice raises to a yell and I close my eyes.

I try hard not to let a tear fall. They brim in my eyes and I blink, causing a few to roll down my cheeks. "I was going to help him! I can't swim! My friend got him out just fine. I wasn't just talking to him, I couldn't really breathe and he was helping me." I manage to get this all out under her cold hard stare.

"You had an attack?" I nod slowly. "Did you even take your pills this morning?" I shake my head slower. "So now you're not taking your medicine anymore? Do I need to call the doctor?"

"No, you don't! I just forgot, mom. I still take them every other morning like usual. I only forgot today." She puts a hand to her forehead and shakes her head slightly.

"Do I have to worry about you taking your brother places now? Do I have to worry that someone's life is at risk because you can't pay attention? Is this the same boy who asked you to hang out a few days ago?" She speaks quickly, firing off questions like bullets straight to my nerves.

Question after question, I try and prepare answers for each. "You don't have to worry, I don't want you to worry. Everything is fine. And yes, it was Harry who saved him. But you don't have to worry about him either, trust me," I finish, looking back up at her.