My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 21: I Hope You Find It

Chapter 21: I Hope You Find It

Carter
"Don't stop," Jonah yells. "Keep going. You're almost there."

I watch as Tommy struggles to make it to the other side of the football field. "I can't," he gasps.

Jonah gives me a look and I sigh. "Please."

Setting my stuff down beside his I pick up my pace to run beside Tommy. "Come on," I say.

He pants. "I hate suicides."

"You're on your fifth one. Let's go."

He nods. "You don't have to do this. I can finish."

"We'll miss our movie if you don't finish," I joke and he laughs. "So how's life?"

He chuckles. "Life is going great. What about you?"

I give a light shrug. "It's okay. Kevin's getting better."

He frowns. "I didn't ask about Kevin."

My breaths were becoming uneven. "I'm great. Life is the most wonderful thing that ever existed."

He starts slow long down but I grab his arm and pull him farther. "You're not quitting this. You're almost done."

He wheezing right now. "I... can't," he pants. "I can't do this anymore."

I bend down to where my hands are at my knees and take a breath. The team was already done so we stopped in time.

Tommy was not getting better. He was still gasping for air five minutes later. I hand him my water and he shakes his head, pointing to his bag.

"What happened?" Jonah asks. "You were doing so well."

"I think he's having an asthma attack," I say, looking through his bag for an inhaler.

I can't find it in his backpack so I grab mine and hand it to him. He hands wrap around it and takes a huge puff.

His breathing starts evening out and he hands me back my inhaler. "Thanks," he mutters.

"I didn't know you guys have asthma," Jonah says, looking between the two of us.

I shrug. "I've had asthma since I was little."

"I got asthma when I was in fifth grade," Tommy says.

Jonah nods. "Okay, well, you're done for today. I'll go tell coach."

Tommy sits down on the bleachers and lets out a long sigh. "Can we go to the movie tomorrow or something? Mom wants me to tell her every time something happens and I guarantee she's going to make a big deal out of this."

I nod, taking a seat beside him. "Okay. But rest, okay?"

He snorts. "It's asthma. Not a freaking heart attack."

I raise an eyebrow. "I'm serious."

"I know," he mutters.

Jonah comes back with his coach.

"Thomas, are you okay?" he asks worriedly.

Tommy nods. "Yeah. Just got a little out of breath."

None of us laugh.

He clears his throat. "I'm okay."

Coach nods. "Well, you're done for today. You've clearly outdone yourself. Take the rest of the day off and don't wear yourself out."