So Much More

My Idol, Stampy

I paced back and forth across the dusty wooden floor, the old mahogany splintering my feet, as I nervously tapped the silver bracelet on my wrist. The smooth, simple band decorating my arm was a painful reminder of Alex.

 My brother, Alexander William Bates, was my best friend, and to be honest, my only friend. His laughing, ice blue eyes could make me smile any day. He lives in America now, and had given me this bracelet before he left. I still heard his cheery voice in my head, "I'll be right back, ducky! Don't you fret." I haven't seen him since, he left. If only I had could actually afford to see him. Oh if I could, I'd be there right now, but instead I have to live with my boyfriend. 

"Honey, I'm home!" Speak of the devil. I mustered all my charm and kindness before replying.

"Finally! Thought you would never arrive," I called back to Harry. He's my boyfriend, but I hate him, which leads to the reason my heart is beating out of my chest. Whenever he's away I do my favorite thing in the world. I watch You Tube, and my favorite Youtuber, Stampylongnose, recently announced that he would be doing a fundraiser for charity. In my neighborhood. I had to see him, but Harry stood in the way. 

He lets me live with him, that's the nicest thing he's done. Other than that, nothing. I eat, sleep, read, and do everything else in the attic. The room was dark, the ceiling wasn't painted, exposing the dirty wood. There was a small window on the wall that let just enough light in. In the corner I had a small, rickety twin sized bed. I wanted to break up with him, and leave him forever, but I wouldn't have anywhere to live. He doesn't beat me, or yell at me, Harry just neglects me.

I either had to ask Harry to take me to the event, or... I had to find my way there, by myself. The fundraiser was tomorrow morning and I had to make a decision, otherwise I'm not going. I decided to take a gamble and ask Harry. I looked down at my bracelet and saw that my hand was trembling. I took a deep breath and started to climb down the ladder leading down to the stair well. 

The house was massive, but it was old and Harry made no effort to fix it up. I sneaked down the stairs, although it was impossible to not have the stairs creek under your feet. 

I took a deep breath, a breath full of courage and hope before saying, "Hey, Harry. I need to ask you something." My words were no more than a mutter. I took another deep breath and tried again. "Hey, Harry. I need to ask you something." I repeated the same words only a little bit louder. I awaited my response, my breath quickening.

"Oh yeah?" Harry answered. I let out a sigh of relief, but the actual act of asking him still remained. I just wanted him to say, "Yeah, sure. I don't care if you go, I'll even take you!" But that was a long shot. I only hoped that he wouldn't ask about Stampy.

"Yeah, I'm coming down now," I added. My breathing was shaky. It's okay Beth, you can do this. I arrived to the bottom of the stairs, and I was now facing Harry. His light, dusty brown hair and deep hazel eyes were turned to face the small TV. "Um, Harry?" I mumbled. He didn't turn around so I coughed to try to grab his attention. I coughed fairly loudly, it was clear that it was fake. I just wanted to get this over with. 

Harry sighed and shifted his position to face me. I took a deep breath before spitting out my question, "There's this fundraiser for charity, and I was wondering if I could go."

"Yeah, sure. Why would I care?" He said this as if it was oblivious. 

"Well, I was hoping you could take me?" I asked. Harry would never let me use his car, and it was  too far to walk.

Harry sighed, a long 'whatever' sigh. "I'll just drop you off," He said. I let out a sigh too, only this was a sigh of relief. No questions was all I wanted. 

"Thank you so much!" I smiled at Harry, happy that I would soon be able to see my idol live. Harry nodded and shifted to face the miniature gray box, also known as the TV. 

"Can you go now?" It was less of a question than a command. I nodded and scurried up to the attic again. I collapsed on my small, squeaky bed and smiled into my pillow. I was going to go see Stampy, my idol. Tomorrow. I fell asleep with visions of the Magic Animal Club in my head. Tomorrow.

~Time skip to the morning~

I woke up right at the crack of dawn, and got dressed. The location of the event wasn't exactly close, and I doubted that Harry remembered. I pulled on my small hand-me-down jeans, and a gray sweater that had holes at the elbows. I sighed, the newest thing I had was the dark gray beanie that Alex had given me, I pulled on that too. I carefully made my way down the stairs in my scratched up black sneakers. I saw Harry asleep on the couch, of course he had forgotten.

I whispered, trying to wake him up, "Harry?" I awaited a response, but nothing. A little louder, "Harry? Wake up." 

"Ugh, what time is it? Why are you waking me up?" He asked groggily. 

"You agreed to take me to the charity fundraiser, remember?" I asked. I was probably being a bit too forward, but I had to see Stampy, I had to. 

"Oh yeah, that. Is it really that far away?" Harry inquired. I could tell that he certainly did not remember.

"Yes, it is. You're just dropping me off." Harry slid his way up the couch until he sat upright on the faded leather love seat.

"Okay, give me a moment." That made it final. Harry was taking me to see my hero. Stampy.