AN: There's a mini break, in the story, but scroll down cos it doesn't end just yet :)
Lena xo
I can't help but smile as I watch Claire climb the tree.
"Quil!" she yells over to me, waving frantically.
"Watch it!" I immediately roar, running underneath the tree with my arms extended. Claire just giggles, wrapping her skinny arms around the branch in front of her.
"I'm ok Quil! Honest!" she calls down. Then slowly she lets go of the tree, before lifting one foot, balancing on a single branch in the air a few metres above the ground.
"CLAIRE!" I yell. She laughs again, putting her foot back down on the ground. She starts to clamber expertly down, like any child should be able to.
"Quil, Quil, Quil," she says, one finger extended, shaking it at me impatiently. "Please trust me."
I smirk. "Claire, you're still a child."
"I am not! I'm big and grown-up now, but you and Mama keep treating me like a baby--" I cant help but laugh as I easily scoop her up from the ground. She's so light, her limbs so small compared to mine – even compared to other kids of her age. She flails desperately, trying to whack me.
"Quil," she says almost sadly, pouting out her bottom lip. My Claire, I've watched her over the years but at the same time her eyes hadn't changed a bit – still big, black and curious – always keeping me ensnared.
"Drop me down," she commands, impatiently whacking me on the shoulder.
"No," I say teasingly, but in truth my resolve is weakening. This little drama Queen has one loyal, faithful subject here who will always be at her command.
"Quil, you're not my bestest friend anymore," she said sadly, and to my horror a tear ran down the clear tan skin of her face. I quickly put her small frame on the ground, saying quickly, "I'm sorry!"
Claire doesn't reply, she just turns her face away. Her head, which seems to be half the size of mine, is framed by short, bouncy curls. I play with them, gently tugging them and watching them spring back.
"Quil," says Claire in her small, high child's voice. "You love me, right?"
"Always and forever," I replied automatically. She didn't know how much that was true.
"Honest?"
"Of course," I said. "Why, what's up?" Was it something I'd said or done? But she flashed me her special smile, dimples in her cheeks.
"I love you too, Quil." I pulled her up into a hug and kissed the top of her forehead. One day, maybe she would grow up and I'd have to face the facts – but a part of me is scared, because change brings complications. Loving her like this – we were both perfectly content. I loved her more than any older brother could love their little sister.
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"Quil," I say in my high, girly voice that I reserve just for him. "You love me, right?"
"Always and forever," he said, looking at me dead in the eyes.
"Honest?"
"Of course. Why, what's up?" He looked worried, and I can't stand seeing him worried - his eyebrows go down and he gets this little pout on his mouth. I quickly smiled at him.
"I love you too." He pulled me up into a hug and kissed me on the forehead, and I couldn't help but give a little sigh.
I hate Quil. I hate him. I hate him so much.
He says he loves me.
But I'm sixteen years old and he still loves me like a little sister.