1 Year

Babysitting

(Mari)
A/N: It's probably gonna be mostly Mari from now on.

"Well I just don't understand why you guys aren't more concerned about him," I argued back, walking home after that confusing day. Daiki let out a sigh of exasperation. "I don't understand why you are. He was getting better, he really was and then like today, he was like, suddenly all depressed again. It was so weird too, Flitz said Lasercorn was in a good mood this morning as well," Daiki relayed back to me. "It just doesn't make any sense. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the problem," I wondered aloud. "Don't be ridiculous, he doesn't even know you," Daiki said softly. "Look, we've got other things to think about. We still need to talk to Carra and Jason about New York," he said. Oh yeah, I completely forgot about that. "Oh my gosh, yes! Dude I'm so excited!" I said excitedly. "Maybe we'll get a room together," he said suggestively. "Ugh stop. That's not gonna happen again," I said audibly. "What's not gonna happen again?" Carra spoke up, popping up from behind the hedge she was trimming to perfection. We both froze. How much did she hear? She was staring at us quite suspiciously. I looked at Daiki, heat racing through my face. "I'm not going back to school again. It uh, sucked," I said, the end of my sentence rising as if I was asking a question. Good one Mari. (MARI SELF COMPLIMENT #1 lol love that episode of GTS) "Daiki, what did I tell you? If she was coming, you're supposed to be her brother," Carra scolded Daiki. I looked up at him grimacing with my teeth. Sorry bro, you should probably take the blow if you want to survive this. He seemed to get the hint. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I'll be there for her from now on," Daiki jumped in. Carra looked appeased so we hurried inside. "Whew, that was a close one," Daiki exhaled. "What was a close one?" Jason questioned from the table. "NOTHING!" Me and Daiki yelled together.

"Do you guys know what you'll be missing in school if you go?" Carra was asking. "Oh my god, yes, we'll be fine. We're Asian, remember?" Daiki said exasperatedly. "Be that as it may, you still need to have enough credits that are eligible back home," Jason said. Daiki looked downcast. "I'm sure you don't want to repeat senior year," Jason continued. "OHHH MY GOD. GUYS. ITS FINE," Daiki huffed, rolling his eyes.

Jason and Carra left later that night to go out together. That left us in charge of Oliver and Huck. Carra admitted to us that half the reason why they wanted to host exchange students this year was to take advantage of the free babysitting. Oliver was an honest to god wild child. He always seemed to have something stuck to his face or hands. He had dark brown hair and huge brown eyes that made your heart melt, no matter what kind of trouble he just got into. Huck was almost the complete opposite. He looked like one of those moviestar children. He had blonde hair mixed with a darker shade, but his eyes were the first thing you noticed about him. He had piercing blue eyes, absolutely striking. It shocked you every time you looked at him. Despite being 5 months old, he almost never cried, but didn't really seem that full of life either. He had virtually no personality, but something about him made me feel weird and depressed every time I looked at him. It was the strangest sensation. I waved to Carra on her way out. "Alright they're gone, let's party," Daiki laughed jokingly. "You're such a loser," I smiled back, walking over to the playpen to hold Huck. He didn't attempt to fight me off, nor did he embrace it. He was just Huck. "He's so cute isn't he?" I hummed happily, bouncing him on my waist. Daiki looked at us wistfully. "What do you think our baby would have looked like?" He said almost absentmindedly. Almost. I turned away from him. "Diki, no. I do not want to talk about that. Don't ever bring it up again," I said a little harshly. "How can I not Mari? It's like it never even happened. An entire life never even happened. How can you live with not knowing your own child?" He reprised. "I CAN'T LIVE WITH IT DAIKI, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?" I screamed at him. Huck started crying. I held him closer and whispered softly to him. I held onto Huck like he was my lifeline. Like he was my own. Daiki still hadn't said anything, it was probably the smart thing to do. Huck had calmed back down before I even did. I sobbed quietly his tiny, little shoulder. Daiki left the room to most likely go find Oliver. I just walked over to the couch with Huck, imagining he was mine. About twenty minutes later, Daiki came back out to the living room. Huck was asleep clutching onto my arm. "God Mari, I'm so sorry I said that. I know how much harder it must be for you," he said apologetically. I got up off the couch and briskly walked over to him. I buried my head in his shoulder and cried for what felt like hours. He wrapped his arms tightly around me and I knew that the security I felt from his embrace was what I needed from the beginning. Huck didn't even stir. "It's okay. Everything will work out fine," he said. And in that moment, I believed him. In that moment, holding on to Huck and Daiki, I felt like the family that I had lost. But I also knew that I wanted it to be real, and I couldn't shake that feeling off.

After I put Huck to bed, I went to go relax in my room. I came back out about an later to find Daiki slumped against the couch with an upturned bowl of cereal in his lap. It's like he sensed my presence when I walked in and woke up almost instantly. He smiled at me and then directed his attention to the cereal. "God damnit, OLIVER! YOU'RE GONNA GET IT THIS TIME!" He gasped. I was laughing hysterically in the doorway, holding on to the frame for support. Oliver poked his head from around the corner of the kitchen counter across the room and laughed. "You little..." Daiki hissed. "Alright mister, it's definitely time for bed. You've gotten into enough trouble for today," I scolded making my way over to the four year old. He shrieked and attempted to circumvent me, but I easily caught him. I did have to avoid his kicking legs. "Oliver quit, it's past your bedtime," I said irritably. "No!" He yelled, flailing even more wildly. Although I've already ditched the crutches and papier-mâché casts, my leg was still in a boot and it was rather hard to control this child with it on. "Ow! God, kid, you're really pushing it," I said, my irritation growing. He got one final kick at my leg and that's when it crossed the line. My knee hadn't regained its strength yet, so it buckled and I fell over on it at an awkward angle. Oliver ran away shrieking and laughing. "Shit! Goddamn, oh that fuckin hurts," I burst out, gritting my teeth. "Jesus Mari, are you ok?" Daiki fretted, running over to me. "No! I'm not! God. Oh my god," I hissed in pain. It felt like I rebroke it. "Here," he said holding out his hand. I grabbed it and hoisted myself up, but streaks of hot, raw pain coursed through my leg. "Nope! Nope, just leave me here. I'll just die here. Oh my god that hurts so freaking bad," I kept repeating over and over. "Just stay here, I'll go take care of Oliver," he said smoothly. "Alright! I'll be right here," I said sarcastically. He came back with his hands folded tightly behind his neck. He blew air out of his mouth. "Oh shit, what to do," he mumbled to himself. He walked forward and placed his arms carefully under my arms and legs. I bit back shrieks of pain as he lifted me in the air. "Jeez you're heavy," he complained. "Yeah, stress tends to do that to some girls," I said. He carefully laid me down on the couch. The contact sent tiny pings of heat through the injured area. I exhaled, knowing the worst part was over. "Whew man. When Carra and Jason come home, Oliver's gonna get it," Daiki chuckled. He then hunted around briefly for some pillows to prop my head and leg up with. "This absolutely sucks. This sucks, this sucks, this sucks. I hate this!" I screamed at no one in particular. "Just relax Mari. We'll uh, figure out something when they come back," he said in a hushed voice. "I can't relax, it hurts," I rasped, my eyes closed. Daiki silently moved my head up and sat down where the pillow was, resting my head in his lap. He soundlessly stroked my hair and arm. I fell asleep almost instantly.

I woke to words being spoke sharply, but kept my eyes closed so I could listen in. "Oh that kids in trouble in this time," someone's voice that was distinctly Carra's said angrily. "What should we do?" Daiki said. "We can get her to the ER tonight. If she's going on the spring trip, she's gotta heal as fast as she can," Jason said. "Hey Mari, wake up," Daiki said softly, gently shaking me.

"It's not broken, lucky that it's not either. Since it was already broken, you're twice as likely to reopen that break, but it's only a small tear in the fibres that were healing and mending the bone back together," the doctor was saying. "Even so, you'll have to keep that boot on for a few more weeks," he finished. My mouth hung open wide. Are you kidding me? It was taking long enough as it was. "I can prescribe you some painkillers, but there's not much else I can do. You'll also need your crutches again. Just try to limit your movement and mobility so it'll heal faster," Dr. Greene said. "I walk to school!" I protested. "We'll figure out something Mari, don't worry," Carra reassured me.

I woke up the next morning in a sour mood. I rolled out of my bed and sat upright just to have blood rush to my leg and ache like hell. "Uhhnnggg," I groaned falling back onto my mattress. "Hey you're up! Carra made pancakes!" Daiki said cheerfully, sticking his head in the doorway. "Shoot me," I mumbled. "Hey good news, I found this really cool army jacket in the closet and a ride to school," Daiki kept talking. "Really?" I said, sitting up. "Yeah, Lasercorn agreed to help us out," he said. My stomach dropped. "What? He hates me!" I pleaded. "He does not, it's all in your head," Daiki reprimanded me. "Ugh fine. But I'm telling you, he hates my guts," I protested. He smiled and walked over to my bed and started yanking on my arm. "Come ooonn Mari. Pancakes, remember?" Daiki urged me, digging through the pockets of his newfound jacket.