Just One Favour

8

It's been 4 days since that little incident on the boat. Annie's mum grounded her, she called and told Annie off for doing that, and now she's stuck in her room and can only come out for school and for dinner and breakfast. Kinda sucks, but it's kinda funny too.

Today is Caleb's 6 year anniversary. I put on my Caleb necklace and head into the kitchen for breakfast. Annie is sitting there, playing around with her food.

I feel so bad, It was hard enough losing my best friend, but I will never understand how hard it is losing a sibling. She's such a strong girl.

There's one day a year I'm actually nice to Annie, and today is the day.

We get into the car and I'm sitting in the back with her again. She rests her head against the window and I can see tears dropping down onto her pants. Just seeing her cry makes me want to cry.

We pull up at school and get out. I promised myself I wouldn't smoke today, for Caleb.

I walk into school with Annie and Katie and we drop Katie off at her first class. Then Annie and I walk to maths.

I walk in and take my seat and Annie walks to the back of the classroom and sits by herself.

I put my head down and work from my book, but all that I can't think about is how upset Annie is. This is the worst she's been on the anniversary.

After maths I decide to talk to her. Which is very rare for me to do in public.

"How are you feeling?", I ask.
"Pretty shit", she says before walking off and sitting by herself in the cafeteria.

I need to do something to cheer her up.

***
Mum picks us up from school and the car ride home is extremely quiet. Annie is on the verge of crying and is leaning her head against the window again.

We get home and go inside.

I go into my room and sit down and stare at my picture of Caleb.

"Buddy, your sister misses you so much, we both wish you were here, everyone wishes you were here, I don't know why you had to leave so soon", I say while a tear rolls down my cheek.

I walk downstairs and decide to play some mine craft, Caleb's favourite game.

In the time I'm playing, Annie comes downstairs and shuts her bedroom door.

I get up to go upstairs and get a snack. Something stops me. There is a lot of crying and sniffling coming from Annie's room. I can't stand here and do nothing, I have to go in.

I walk towards her door and open it slowly. She's sitting on her bed holding her Caleb necklace, bawling her eyes out.

I run in and sit next to her.

"Hey hey, it's alright", I say while wrapping my arms around her.
"It's not alright Brennan! My brother is gone and is never coming back", she says.

This starts to bring tears into my eyes.

"Annie, we you are a strong girl and you can get through this, Caleb is always watching over you", I say.

She rests her head on my shoulder and continues to cry.

"I just wish everything was easy", she says.
"Things will get better, trust me", I say while smiling at her. She smiles back at me.

We sit here for about 5 minutes.

"Well now that we are sitting here like this, we might as well talk", I say.
She nods

***
We talk for a good 5 minutes before she looks up at me.

"Brennan.... Can I tell you something? But will you promise not to tell anyone?", she says.
"Of course", I reply.
"Um.... I had sex when I was 13, I've been drunk lots and I sneak out and go to parties, please don't tell anyone, I will be in so much trouble", she says, tears building up in her eyes.

"I won't tell anyone, if you do me a favour", I say.
"Just one favour?", she asks.
"Just one favour", I say.
"What is it?", she asks.

"Will you do me the honour of being my fake girlfriend?"