Refresh: Extras

Brotherly Love

Error is 18 and Fresh is 16. Post Book 2.

  "Too early..." I pull the pillow over my head. Its too early. Too early to be woken up! Wait... what woke me up?
  I groaned and tossed the blankets off. Whoever turned the TV on downstairs better have a good reason for etting me out of bed. What the hell!? Its only 3 AM.
   I trudged down the stairs and growled. I opened my mouth as i got to the bottom. I was ready to give whoever it was a piece of my mind. My voice died before it came out.
   Fresh was sitting on the couch trembling. The TV played soft music meant to calm but it wasn't helping. He was clearly not all there right now. He looked... terrible for lack of a better word.
   I stood at the bottom of the stairs frozen. What do I even do here? What do I say to Fresh? I don't even like Fresh! Or at least... I didn't before.
   Fresh is different now. And he needs help. And we bonded! I should help him. I was moving before I stopped myself.
   "Fresh... Hey come on your breathing funny. Breathe with me kay?" I whispered rubbing his back carefully.
   " E-Error?" he hiccuped and sniffed. He clutched onto my hoodie tight. "I don't wanna go back..."
   "Hey hey... You don't have to. He's dead remember? He got shot. He can't hurt you."
   I tensed up as he buried his face in my shirt. Too close. Too close!
   "I'm scared to go back to sleep..." His voice was so small and scared.
   I froze. I could swallow my fear. I'm the big brother! I rubbed soothing circles in his back. "It's okay. I've got you..."
   He trembled a bit more before his breathing evened out. "Error?"
   "Yeah..?" I asked softly.
   "Thanks..." he mumbled softly.
   My soul warmed. "Yeah... sure thing Fresh." I smiled a little bit. Maybe Fresh wasn't so bad.