I heard the sound of a door opening and my eyes shot open. Fuller looked down at me and laughed. “It’s just my parents,” he said and helped me sit up.

                I ran my fingers through my hair, hoping I didn’t have crazy sleep hair. Mr. and Mrs. Polivka entered the living room and smiled at me. Their smiles dropped when they glanced at Fuller.

                “I thought you were staying at Chris’s house Fuller,” Mrs. Polivka said in confusion. Fuller shrugged and shook his head. “Nah. Chris was too tired.”

                “Well, it’s late. Go get to bed,” Mr. Polivka said, glancing at the clock. Wow. It was 1 in the morning! Fuller pouted. “I’m not tired dad,” he grumbled in annoyance.               

                “I don’t care. Go to bed,” Mr. Polivka said sternly. “I’ll take you home Shay,” Mrs. Polivka said with a kind smile. I thanked her and got up from the couch.

                “Bye Fuller,” I said with a small wave. “Bye Shay. I’ll text you sometime,” he said, grinning and holding up my phone. I rolled my eyes and snatched it out of his hand.

                I got in the car with Mrs. Polivka. “What time did Fuller get home?” she asked me curiously. “Um, around 8 I think,” I said. She sighed. “I hope he wasn’t a problem for you. He can be out of control.”

                I laughed and shook my head. “No, he wasn’t a problem. He was pretty nice.” She smiled in relief. “Good. He doesn’t always behave appropriately,” she said.

                “Charlie was really well behaved,” I said and smiled at the thought of how adorable he was. Mrs. Polivka laughed. “Yes, Charlie’s a good boy. I kind of wish he’d never grow up. I like him young and innocent.”

                I laughed as she pulled into my driveway. She handed me some money and smiled. “Thank you so much for watching him.” I smiled and took the money. “Thank you for the money and the ride Mrs. Polivka,” I said and shut the car door.

                I walked up to my house and went in through the front door. I watched Mrs. Polivka’s car drive away as I locked the door.

                “Shay?” mom’s sleepy voice called. “Yea, I’m home mom,” I called.

                “How was the babysitting?” she asked as I entered the living room where she was laying. I smiled widely. “Their son is so adorable!”

                She chuckled and smiled. “Your father said Mrs. Polivka always talks about how cute he is.” I nodded happily. “He’s so friendly and cute and nice!” I yawned and stretched. “But I’m tired. So, goodnight mom.”

                “Goodnight Shay,” she said and closed her eyes. I rolled my eyes and left, going into my new bedroom. I got ready for bed and laid down sleepily.

                I woke up in the morning and crawled out of bed. I went downstairs and ate breakfast. I was doing my hair as my phone vibrated.

                Come outside :]

                It was from Casey. I smiled and hurried to finish my hair before heading outside. “Hey you!” I said with a bright smile. Casey grinned and came over to me. He gave me a friendly hug and smiled.

                “Let’s go!” he said in excitement. I gave him a curious look. “Go where?” He shrugged. “Get some lunch?” I laughed. “I just ate breakfast but sure!” He laughed and we began to walk down the street.

                We stopped outside Ms. Ingles house and Casey led me up to the porch. “I just want to check on her,” he whispered. I nodded in understanding.

                She was sitting in the rocking chair with the same sad look. She looked up at Casey and sighed sadly. “I told Charlie today. Can you go check on him Casey? He was so upset.” Casey nodded. “Of course I’ll go check on him!”

                He waved to her and led me in the direction of Fuller’s house. “Charlie is Fuller’s little brother,” he explained. I laughed. “I know.” I explained my whole babysitting experience.

                Casey shook his head. “I don’t understand how Charlie is so sweet and innocent and Fuller is such an asshole.” We were standing outside their house now.

                Casey rang the doorbell and waited patiently until Mrs. Polivka answered. “Oh. Hello Casey. Hello Shay.” She bit her lip. “Did Ms. Ingles send you?” Casey nodded. She sighed. “He’s so upset about Oscar.” She let us in and we walked up to Charlie’s room.

                We knocked on the door before walking in. Charlie looked up at us with red eyes. “Casey, Oscar’s dead,” he whimpered before bursting into tears.

                Casey and I hurried over to him. He reached for me and I sat next to him and pulled him into my lap. I hugged him tightly as he cried.

                “It’s not fair! Oscar was such a good cat!” he sobbed. I stroked his hair and looked at Casey desperately. Casey shrugged helplessly.

                I held him for a little until his door opened. Fuller stepped in with Skeet Skeet following loyally.  I let go of Charlie as he looked up and wiped his eyes.

                “Fuller!” he cried and ran to Fuller. He flung himself into Fuller’s arms and began to sob again. “Oscar’s dead Fuller,” he sobbed.

                Fuller rolled his eyes and stroked Charlie’s hair. “He was old CharChar,” he said in annoyance. I glared at him. How could he be so mean? His little brother was bawling his eyes out!

                He glanced at me and smiled. “Hey Shay,” he greeted. He basically shoved Charlie away from him and sat down on Charlie’s bed.

                Charlie timidly came back over to me and sat in my lap. I was still glaring at Fuller. “What?” he asked curiously, seeing the look I was giving him. I nodded at Charlie.

                Fuller laughed. “He’s fine. It was a stupid cat. And it wasn’t even his stupid cat.” Charlie sniffed and rubbed at his eyes. “I loved Oscar,” he whimpered. “And so did Ms. Ingles.”

                Fuller shrugged. “So what? She can get a new cat.” He was heartless. Absolutely heartless. I could see that Casey was just barely managing to keep from snapping at him.

                “What if it was Skeet Skeet?” Casey hissed. Fuller shrugged. He snapped and Skeet Skeet hurried over and jumped onto Charlie’s bed. He laid down next to Fuller and put his head in Fuller’s lap. Fuller began to stroke his fur.

                “Shit happens?” he offered and smirked. I was disgusted with him. How could he possibly say that when his 7 year old brother was sobbing right in front of him?

                I held onto Charlie until he fell asleep. I gently tucked him in before Casey, Fuller, and I left the room silently.

                “You’re cruel,” Casey snapped as we began to walk downstairs. Fuller laughed. “He’ll be fine. It was a fucking cat.”

                “How is he?” Mr. Polivka asked, coming over. “He’ll be fine dad. It was a stupid cat that wasn’t even his,” Fuller said, rolling his eyes.

                Mr. Polivka’s face brightened in anger. He grabbed Fuller roughly. “That is your little brother and you will stop being so insensitive!” he boomed before beginning to drag Fuller upstairs towards one of the bedrooms.

                Casey shook his head in disgust as we said by to Mrs. Polivka and left the house. “Mr. Polivka is really strict with Fuller. But it doesn’t do anything. Fuller still thinks he rules the world. He’s really insensitive and mean.” I sighed. “I noticed,” I grumbled. He had actually seemed alright last night. Whatever. I didn’t want to be friends with someone who was that big of an asshole.