One of Alexis's favourite things to do was adventure. She loved wandering around their property, finding little nooks and crannies to hide and play in.
One of David's least favourite things to do was follow his sister around, trying to make it look like he wasn't following her.
Adelina always knew where she was in the house. But once they were outside, it was a different story. If they weren't in the pool, she gave them some freedom.
Therefore she became David's problem. It was his job to look after her, and she made it so hard for him.
"Where did she go", he mumbled to himself, setting his book down. He'd taken his eyes off her for half a second, and she was gone.
He imagined that was what she'd be like when she was older- when she was a lot older and not his problem anymore.
"David?" a small voice said from above him.
"Alexis?" he stared up, squinting in the sun.
"David, can you help me?"
"How did you even get up there?" he groaned.
"I need help, David!" her voice rose with every syllable, her panic audible.
He stared at her in the tree, her tiny arms wrapped around the branch. David tugged off his sweater as to not catch it on any snags, carefully folding it beside his book.
"David!" she squealed, and he carefully grabbed a low branch.
"Its okay", he said calmly, beginning his ascent.
He wasn't scared of many things. Just moths and butterflies.
And heights.
But his little sister needed help, so he needed to breath deep and keep going.
"I'm coming", he said soothingly, trying to keep his voice steady.
"David, please-"
"I'm coming, Alexis!" he almost shrieked.
He probably wasn't that high. But he was very scared of heights.
And Alexis was even higher, and his baby sister was only six years old.
He took a deep breath, trying to settle his thumping heart, climbing higher.
"I'm coming Alexis", he repeated, trying to keep himself from looking down. It was always worse when he saw how high he was.
After what felt like a million years, he was standing beside his sister. Alexis wrapped her arms around him and he hooked one hand under her armpit, holding onto the tree with the other.
"Its okay", he whispered, squeezing her tight.
"I can't get down David", she almost whimpered, clinging to him.
"Yes you can, you got up here just fine". He almost glared at her, his face softening a little at the fear in her eyes. "We'll do it together, okay?"
"Okay David", she whispered.
He let out a shaky breath, as Alexis clung to him.
"We aren't that high", he chanted. "We aren't really that high, Alexis".
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he held her tight, breathing deeply.
"Let go Alexis- let go Alexis!" he yelped. "Hold my hand, okay?"
"I'm scared, David-"
"Its okay, Alexis. I'm holding your hand".
She squeezed his hand. "Okay".
By the time they reached the ground, his legs were shaking like jelly, and Alexis was calm.
"We weren't really that high", Alexis said, as David collapsed on the ground beside her.
He glared at her, eyebrows in his hairline. "Are you kidding?" he almost shouted.
"Thank you David". Her face was serious, and David knew his sister well enough to know that she had been genuinely scared.
"Come on, Adelina's probably got lunch ready".
"You only think about food, David". But she slipped her hand into his, only briefly, as he picked up his sweater and book.
"Where have you children been?" Adelina almost scolded, as David followed Alexis towards the house.
"Nowhere!" Alexis's eyes- the eyes that were going to get her out of so many situations, David just knew it- sparkled.
"Nowhere", David agreed, knowing that this was just another time he was there to cover for her.