The Summer I Learned to Breathe

seven

☼ seven ☼

"Hey, get up," Gabe calls, entering the game room and interrupting my baseball-game-watching. I'm lying on my side on the couch, my head resting on a pillow and my eyes observing the TV screen. He lessens the distance between us, nearing the couch to bother me.

"You can't tell me what to do!" I tell him, only wishing to remain relaxed on the couch to treat my exhaustion. Gabe obviously doesn't take into account my wishes as he proceeds to yank the pillow from under my head and smack me in the face with it. "Hey!" I complain, frustrated to be bothered.

I hear a familiar chuckle, and turn my head to see Sam appear behind Gabe. A snapback is resting on his head, covering his usually styled auburn hair. It's cute, and I find myself preferring him when he's wearing a hat.

"We're going out," Gabe explains, "You've been in here all day since Madison left. You need to get out."

I roll my eyes. "You're blocking the game," I say, attempting to lean my head around him and see the Tigers tied with the White Sox.

"Okay then, don't tell me I didn't warn you."

Oh boy.

He jumps onto my legs, startling me and igniting pain in my legs. He then lies down on top of me, earning an obnoxious groan from me. "You're fat," I mumble.

"You're not allowed to call people fat, Marley," he says with a laugh. My lungs definitely disagree as I can only take shallow breaths.

"That's bullying," Sam adds.

"Yeah!" Gabe exclaims, "Stop bullying your own brother." I roll my eyes.

"Whose side are you on?" I complain to Sam. He lifts his eyebrows and raises his hands in defense, but he takes a step backwards. "Thanks for the help," I complain sarcastically as I try to shove Gabe off of my smaller frame and send him tumbling onto the floor. I can't get him to budge when he's strongly resisting me. I release a frustrated breath and avert my eyes to meet Sam's, and I create my best puppy-dog face, pouting my lips and staring intensely at him.

He finally gives in, crossing the room and swiftly tossing my brother onto the floor, allowing my lungs to refill with much-needed air. He then offers me his hand, easily pulling me from my once comfortable position.

Gabe howls in pain as he lies on the floor, and Sam and I both stare down at him. "Stop exaggerating," I say. "You fell off a couch, not a roof." Sam laughs at the glare Gabe directs my way.

"How about you go get changed so we can leave?" Gabe suggests.

"Where are we going anyway?" I look between the guys, hoping one of them will answer my question. I notice Sam look at Gabe like he's asking permission to tell me.

"Out," Gabe answers my question as he's still staring at Sam. I turn my glance to Sam, and his eyes remain fixed on my brother. I nudge his arm, and he looks at me. I raise an eyebrow, prompting him to provide me with an answer.

"Don't you want to get something for dinner?" he says.

"I can't argue with food," I comment with a shrug, satisfied with Sam's response.

Before I leave the room, I look up at Sam. In one swift movement, I reach my arm up to snatch his snapback and place it on my head. I take off running toward the kitchen.

I hear his feet pounding against the floor behind me, and I rush to beat him around the corner, through the living room, and to the stairs. Just as I'm about to successfully make my escape, a pair of arms wraps around my waist and pulls me back, stopping my forward progress. I slam into his chest, nearly causing the both of us to tumble to the ground.