| TUTOR | under editing

3. "Eh I don't think it'll last."

Bria

I looked in the mirror and immediately felt stupid. I was never one to get all dolled up just for school, why was I trying now? It was about time for me to leave the house, so it was too late to change out of this dress, or take my makeup off.

Guess I'll deal with it.

It was Friday morning, and I was praying in my head that Christopher finished the diorama like he said he did. That and that it at least looked presentable. I put my paper in my book bag and got ready to leave for school...but not before sending Forest to his bus.

"Come on Forest you're running late!"

"I don't feel good." He said holding his stomach.

"I'm sorry but mom's not here...of course. I can't leave you here alone-"

"Stay here! I can't go to school!"

"I have something important to turn in Forest...are you sure you can't make it? I'll find a way to pick you up early."

"I can't!" He said clenching his stomach, on the verge of tears.

"Okay..okay...uh..drink some tea. I'm gonna call mom."

"No! Please I want you to stay here! I don't like it when she comes home-"

"I can't stay Forest. I'm calling mom." I said feeling like a failure of a sister.

I reluctantly called my mother, who was most likely hungover in a random guy's bed. After calling her a total of 4 times, she finally picked up.

"What Brianna?"

"Oh hey mom...uh Forest is really sick, I need to leave for school soon so I can't stay with him.."

"Okay? Why are you telling me this?"

I tried my best to keep my cool with this woman.

"Well he's too sick to go to school and I can't leave him here alone, do you think you'll be home to watch him?"

"Do you expect me to believe that? He's a kid! He's obviously just trying to get out of going to school."

"Mom please he's really sick, he needs someone here with him. I promise you, he's not a liar, he's not like that."

"Drop him off at Mrs. Frederick's house." She said before hanging up.

Mrs. Frederick was Casey and Cameron's mom who occasionally babysat Forest. It would be incredibly rude to just drop him off without asking ahead of time, but there wasn't much left I could do.

"Ok, change of plans. We're gonna see if Mrs. Frederick can watch you."  I said before rushing to pack him a bag for the day. At this point I knew I'd be late for school but I didn't care, as long as I got to biology on time I'd be content.

"Mrs.Frederick smells like fish-"

"Doesn't matter. Let's go." I said giving the bag that contained medicine, his tablet, his drawing book, as well as his pencils.

Forest had always had an interest in art, and drawing, and yet for Christmas each year my mother scrapes up some money and buys him a football or something....it's like she doesn't even know the kid.

We practically ran up to Mrs.Frederick's apartment and knocked on her door. I tapped my foot in impatience as we waited for someone to answer.