Just Perfect

chapter 6

“You agreed?” Stella asked, seemingly amused. 

I gave her a blank look, trying not to smile.

“Did you? Come on, tell me!” as she spoke, her excitement was visible.

“Yes! Yes!  I agreed, you knew that I would.”

She bent over in a fit of giggles saying “I honestly didn’t think you were really going to do it sweetie. Paul will be happy to know that.”

“Were is he anyway?”

“In his room, physical therapy wore him out. You should go and tell him though,  so you can make up”

I turned to walk to Paul’s room, thankful Stella was here to help me take care of of my brother.

I stared at his bedroom door longer than I should have, too afraid to actually do anything, too afraid that even if I told him I had agreed help him he would still be angry with me and these feelings made my stomach churn, raising a sense of panic within me. To keep my feelings at bay, I begun to dig my finger nails into my palms to produce physical pain.

Physical pain was better, it always went away.

When I managed to get myself in check, I forced myself to gently tap the door and call his name. He mumbled something from the other side of the door and I took that as my queue to enter.

Feeling too anxious, I tayed by the door and stared at him laying on his bed facing the ceiling.

“How are you ?” I begun, leaning on  the door frame “did your day go well?”

“Stop pretending to care, sis.” He said, his voice toneless.

Sighing, I folded my arms and said “I spoke to that man you brought over and told I would do it … I start on Monday. I’m taking leave from my own job to do this for you so I would appreciate it if you would not be so cold towards me.”

“Do you expect me to applaud you?”

“No, I jus-”

My sentence was cut off before I could finish talking because Paul started to dramatically clap his hands. I didn’t understand his reaction.

“You were angry with me for refusing to do it and now you are angry with for agreeing?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips.

“You only agreed because you felt guilty.” He spat.

“I agreed because of you! For you! No other reason, if you think otherwise then you really don’t know me.” My voice was shaking with emotion as I spoke. Really, this guy really knew how to push my buttons.

He stared at me for some seconds, it seemed he was debating with his thoughts. Finally he gave them voice.

“You are right Abi, I’m sorry. Thank you.” He flashed me a toothy grin, one he always gave me when he wanted me to smile, and I did.

Stella yelled that dinner was ready before I could respond and I clicked my tongue at them both.

                             ***

After we were done with our meal, I decided to clean up while Stella stood in one corner telling me about one of Paul’s doctors who she thought was cute, I wasn’t paying much attention to her until she became suddenly quiet.

Turning to her direction, I watched her quietly. She had turned pale and was taking in shallow breaths with her eyes closed, like she was in pain.
I reached out to her and held her elbow.

“Are you okay?” I asked “you look pale.”

“I’m okay, I just thought of something from work.” She said with a wave of her hand, dismissing the whole incident so I decided not to pry.

“You should go to bed, I’ll finish up here.” I told her.

She nodded and left me alone with my thoughts. I continued to clean up as a way to distract myself from everything, but it didn’t work out. My thoughts kept drifting to the work I had to do for my brother.

Sorry for the late update guys ❤