she's mine.

8

I spent the whole day in bed sleeping or watching Gilmore Girls on my laptop. I only got up a few times to clean. I couldn't be a complete bum, but my head never stopped pounding unless I was sleeping.

I had made it almost through the entire day unscathed, then the unbelievable happened. Jonny called, now this wasn't what was unbelievable. What was unbelievable was that my mother had the AUDACITY to tell him I had gotten a concussion. He was even worse than my mother because he didn't believe a word I said! He didn't even try to sweet talk me before it, he got right down to it.

He called this afternoon and first thing he says is, "how in the world did you get a concussion?? And don't you dare lie to me. You know I can read you like a second graders coloring book."

I hesitated. I knew he was right, but there had to be some way to get out of this.

Nope.

I got nothing.

"Well, you see, I made a friend," I started.

"And what? This friend threw you against a wall? I'll kill them, I'll kill every last one of them."

"No,no," I tried to stop him before he got too set in his ways of killing off my whole town. "I made a friend and she was getting bullied by this girl, so I kinda punched that girl in the face. Then, that girl's friend pushed me and I fell into a booth at this diner and boom concussion." I hurried my words trying to get them all out before he could ask questions.

He paused for a moment taking it all in, he new it was true. "She just pushed you while you were standing there?"

"No, I was walking away and she pushed me from behind."

"Did I not teach you anything?? Never turn your back on your opponent! Don't give them any easy shots, that's how you get blind sided, and that's how you lose!" He repeated what he had already taught me, but obviously hadn't been very good at yet.

"I know I know, but it wasn't like a real fight. I didn't expect these girls to do anything back," I defended myself.

"Always expect the least expected, Rai," he had taught me this lesson for the past two years.

"I know, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, are you okay? Mom said you got stitches. I am going to come back early, I don't want you to have to deal with a concussion alone," Jonny was the most selfless person I knew, plus he knew mom wasn't here to take care of me. I didn't mind, I could take care of myself, but I had to admit- it was nice when you had someone who wanted to. But still no matter how much i wanted my brother home, i couldn't ask him to do that.

"No Jonny, I'm fine! You have your stuff to do-"

"I already got paid I was just wrapping things up anyways. I will be on the earliest flight out tomorrow," he reassured me.

"Are you sure? You can stay as long as you need. I really am okay, I'm tough remember?" I smiled.

"I know you are, Rai," I heard him laugh lightly through the phone. "I wanted to come home anyways, New York is a crap hole. I miss the nice weather."

"We miss you, too." Jonny was tough, actually tough, not my kind of fake tough. He didn't let people in or see his emotions often, but I knew him well enough to know he cared deeply. And when he said he missed the weather, I knew it was me and mama he missed. His loyalty and his strength were his greatest attributes. He carried this family on his back with grace.

He laughed lightly. "I'll see you soon," I told him to be safe and all the normal goodbyes. "Oh and Raina Baina," he was the only person who was still allowed to call me by my nickname. "Next time you get into a fight, remember not to turn your back until they've been down for the count." I could hear the smile on his mouth.