Big House, Small Town

5

I walked downstairs and yawned, then I noticed I woke up way too early. It was still dark outside, and now I couldn't go back to sleep.
I would've went to my dads' room, but then I remembered I'm not in my home.
I'm still in my uncle's home.
For an unknown reason, I felt sick to my stomach again before I fully realized I was feeling homesick.
I immediately ran to the closest sink, which was the kitchen sink. I started to puke, it was horrible, then I heard footsteps and felt my hair being held out of the way, and a hand on my shoulder.
"It's okay, I got you..."
It was Thomas. He held my hair back for me as I continued, then he gently rubbed my back in circles as I panted and loosened my grip on the sink. He opened one of the drawers and found a hair tie, tied my hair into a ponytail, then tuned the faucet on. I cleaned my mouth and then hugged him tightly.
He hugged back and then helped me up the stairs.
"You can sleep in my bed for a bit, I'll get you some medicine from the pharmacy, then I'll make you some soup later, okay? Get some rest, kid." He said, the affectionately rubbed my head. I walked to his room and got under the blankets, then felt myself being pulled into sleep. I relaxed and closed my eyes.
~.~.~
"Thomas?... What? It's like four in the morning...." My friend groaned into the phone.
I sighed. "Remember my niece? I've been telling you about her, you'll meet her soon, anyways. She's sick I think... She was throwing up in the sink, I don't know what to do, I've never had kids, and it was so scary to see how much food she threw up... She's really tiny and tall, and I'm scared she'll keep throwing up and get super weak and-"
"Thomas. She might be homesick... Just get her some of that weird tasting stuff from the pharmacy maybe? The one for stomach stuff. I mean, this isn't a super familiar place to her, so she is most likely to be homesick."
I sighed, listening to my closest friend's advice as I pulled my coat on.
"Thank you so much James."
"I'm surprised you didn't take her to the ER and embarrassed her."
"Oh shut up, I'm not that stupid. I just... I was worried, okay? I don't have kids."
"Uh huh."
"Okay I've had kids, but I've never met them."
"Well think of Jo as one of your kids."
"She's my niece."
"Would you help her?"
"Yes, of course. I'm not one of her dads though."
"Yes, but sometimes you have to parent a child such as your niece. Can I sleep now?"
"Oh, yeah. Sorry. Thanks."
"Goodnight."
Then he hung up.
I walked back to my room to check on her, and saw she was sleeping soundly. I smiled and walked back down and left the house.
~.~.~
"I'm not taking that!" I groaned and ducked my head away from the spoon of weird syrup my uncle was trying to give me.
"Yes you are! It'll help with not throwing up!"
I groaned and finally let him give it to me, then I coughed.
"Ewwww."
"Oh come on, it's not that bad." He said and then ruffled my hair before walking to the kitchen.
I got up and walked downstairs, then turned the TV on to a random show. I quietly watched the show while he warmed up a can of soup. I yawned and walked into the kitchen and hugged him. It felt nice to hug him. I feel like it was a comfort thing for me.
He smiled to me and pat my head.
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Hey, it's my job to take care of you, isn't it?"
"I guess. I can take care of myself though."
"Alright, sure." He said and rolled his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me." I joked.
"I can do what I want, silly."
"Okay, mom."
I replied teasingly and giggled.
"I'm not a mom!"
"You act like one!"