Let Yourself Fall // sequel to My Ethan Karpathy

Chapter 93.

PAISLEYS POV:

I read the entire page article and realise how lucky I actually am compared to him. I had a mum for thirteen years, he had one for six. Brai's had a really tough life, but he doesn't show it. I hear footsteps coming up the stairs and I step away from the desk. Sarah is standing in the doorway when I turn around. She's got this sad half smile on her face.

"He's had a hard life." she says simply, walking in and sitting on his bed.

"He has." I nod, dragging the desk chair over a bit and sitting on it.

"He does well, he's tough, he's a really good kid. I just wish life would be a little kinder to him. He's been through so much. He was so young, and he went into a really bad patch a year or so back. I shouldn't be talking to you about this, but I don't know. He seems so happy around you, and I don't know what it is." she tells me, staring at the floor.

"He's a really good guy. He treats people well and he seems to be able to hide everything away somehow." I say, hoping it was the right thing.

"Look, he wouldn't want me talking about this too much. He doesn't like to talk about it, but he seems to have opened up to you for some reason. That's really good. He hasn't opened up to anyone, ever. I don't know if it's too much to ask, but please let him open up. He needs to let it out some day. He has years of pain and heartache bottled up inside him." she explains, looking me in the eye.

"I can relate to him. I lost my dad when I was really young, and I lost my mum when I was thirteen. I know how he feels, I think.." I trail off, not sure why I said that.

"I'm so sorry sweetie, but it is honestly good that he can have someone who's sort of been through the same thing."

"I think it affected him more than me." I say quietly, realising all at once. An awkward silence fills the room.

"Look, I came up here to ask you something." she announces suddenly.

"This Friday night, I have to drive down to goolwa to pick up Sebastian, my husband. I usually stay up there with him for a night. Would you be okay with staying here alone with Brai for one night?" She asks.

"Uh, yeah. Sure, that's not a problem." I answer.

"Okay, cool. It was nice talking to you, Paisley. Please do that for me though." Sarah nods, standing up.

"I will." is all I say as she walks out, leaving me to think.

BRAIS POV:

Cooper pauses the game.

"Man, where'd she go?" He asks. Is he stupid?

"Dude, she left ages ago." I laugh.

"Okay.. It's the holiday dance on Friday night. Who you taking?" He asks. Wait what?

"That's this Friday?" I ask.

"Uh, yeah! Who are you going to take?"

"I don't know if I want to go." I shrug.

"Seriously? You are coming. You are like famous now, you could get any girl in the school to go with you." he tells me.

"I don't want girls over me like that." I reply honestly.

"Dude, are you serious? Just choose someone then."

"I don't want to go with anyone from school.." I hesitate. I'd feel like i was cheating on my heart if I take another person.

"Take Paisley, that girls crunchy toast, man. You wouldn't just have the girls jealous, we'd have so much power once school went back." he says excitedly. I knew this was about something else. He wants to use me for popularity.