Inseparable - 1

His whole life he's been picked on, compared to his brothers, and constantly worried about his weight.
Now, 13 years of age, he's thinned out, been put in home school, and two of his three brothers has moved out. Life was looking better for him, and the fact that his favorite brother is living with him and is pratically taking care of him. Now, Nick could move out whenever he wanted, taken he's of age. But he knows how much Frankie needed him, and always sworn to himself that he would never let a stranger take care of him. Therefore, living in was best.
Their parents are always on buisness trips or cruises. Not being able to take them, leaving them at home for months at a time, So, Frankie's been put in home school.
At this time, their parents are on another long cruise. Leaving money for two months, and if needed, Nick would call them in case more was called for.
They trusted Nick, because they know he has strict rules set for Frankie and how the money was spent. They hardly had a worry.
Frankie had been in counseling for about a year now for all kinds of insecurity problems. He was never suicidal, but his parents didn't want it to come down to that.
Now, sitting at the window, staring at the falling snow, Frankie cries but he doesn't know why. Maybe because Nick isn't home yet, or the fact that he's starving himself almost half to death. A couple more minutes past by and his heart starts to pound. There, standing in the driveway with grocery bags, is Nick.

"Open up, would you?" Nick calls out from the other side of the window. Frankie hops up, pratically falling over his own feet, and unlocks the door.

"Thanks, it's really snowing, isn't it?" Nick says, setting things on the table, already putting things away.

"Yeah."

"So, what do you want for dinner? I was thinking maybe something warm.." Nick trails off, setting milk in the fridge.

"I'm not much hungry." Frankie says, holding his breath because his stomach was about to make a noise he hated most.

Nick turned his head in question, then gives him a stern look. Frankie knows this look. He knows Nick knows and now everything is wrong again.

"We're having a big hot diner tonight and you're eating it."

"Nick, that's not fai-"

"Don't you dare say it. So, how long?"

Frankie drops his head low, staring at his feet, knowing more trouble is about to come about.

"How long?" Nick repeats, voice growing deeper.

"Three days.." Frankie barly chokes out.

Nick takes a deep breath, trying his hardest not to blow up because he knows it's just plain unhealthy to be stressed.

"What have you been doing with your dinner?"

"Flushing it." He says, just hardly enough to be audible.

"Flushing it?"

"M-Mhm.."

Nick let out a sigh, and went back to putting things away. "Just don't do it again." He mumbled. He couldn't help but not be mad at Frankie.
And he doesn't think yelling at him would do anything good. Frankie can't handle being yelled at.

"Okay.."

"Promise."

Frankie swallowed hard, and nodded, "I-I promise.."

Nick chuckled, "Just to be sure.. I'm going to be watching you."

Frankie gasped and frowned right away, "But..! Why? I promised.."

"You've done that before."

"But this time.. I really promise."

"Mhm." Nick smiled and waved at him a bit, gestering for him to get out of the kitchen. "I'm going to get cooking now. So just go do something until I'm done."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes. And you're going to eat."

Frankie frowned slightly, "Why can't I stay in here with you?" He asked, putting his hands together, and pouting.

Nick sighed. He can't say no to him, and plus, he knows how much his little brother adores him. He knows how lost he would be without him.

"Alright.." He agreed, "You could help?"

"No thanks, bro.." Frankie squinted at him, going over to the table. He sat in one of the chairs.

"Of course. Back to what I asked you before.. What would you like to have?"

"Um.. I don't know." He shrugged, "Spaghetti..?"

"Good choice." He smiled at him, then started getting everything ready.

He had the water boiling, and poured the noodles in. "It'll be done soon." Nick muttered, sitting down next to Frankie at the table. "So.. What did you do today?"

Frankie shrugged a bit, and sighed, "Well.. I played video games.. Watched a movie. Just waited for you to get home.. Not a whole lot, really."

That made Nick feel bad. Just knowing he would wait for him all day.

"I'm sorry..You know, you don't have to wait. I'm boring." He laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"I don't think you're boring, though.."

"I'm old. I just go to work, and come home and take care of you. How exciting."

"Shut up.."

"Whatever, kiddo." Nick ruffled Frankie's hair, then got up to check on the food.

"Stop calling me kiddo.." He said quietly as Nick walked away.

"I like calling you that."

Frankie huffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, okay."

"So, do you have any homework you need to finish?"

"Okay.. Now you're boring."

"I'm just making conversation.."

"It's the weekend. Who does homework on the weekend?"

"I did when I was your age."

Frankie just stared at him for a second with his mouth hanging open, then shook his head. "Oh." Was all he said.

"I'm sure you think I'm even more boring now, huh?"

"Not really. I mean, you're cool."

Nick laughed and finished cooking. He got their plates ready, and sat them on the table. Frankie just wrinkled his nose staring at it all.

"Eat." Nick said sternly, turning off the stove and the oven.

"Nick, I'm seriously not hungry.."

"Don't lie to me. I've been listening to your stomach ever since I got home, now eat." Nick said, scooting the plate closer to him.

"Fine.." Picking up the fork, he wrapped a couple of noodles on it and shoved it in his mouth. Nick, with comfort, sat down next to him and began on his own plate.

"Mmmm." Nick smiled through his chewing mouth at Frankie. He always hated when Nick treated him like a child.

After a good 30 minutes, Frankie was mostly done with his plate and shoved it away.

"I'm full."

"It's okay, as long as you ate something..."

Nick picked up the plates and scraped what was left into the trash.

"Nick?"

"Yes?" He answer, washing the dishes now.

"Is it really that bad, not eating, I mean. Is it that serious?" Frankie asked, so hesitant you can hear it.

Nick paused, then continued.

"It's unhealthy, Frankie.. Remember when we had to send you to the hospital? I don't want that happening again.."

Frankie held his breath and rested his chin on his hands, letting it out.

"Yeah, I remember...Sorry."

Drying his hands, Nick walked over to him and cupped his cheeks with both hands.

"Don't be sorry, okay? I just love you so much that I can't afford to lose you. I just hope you understand that." Nick, on the verge of tears just simply kissed his little brother on the forehead.

"I-I know. I understand.." was all Frankie could say because he was practically choked up on tears.

"Now, how about we shower and call it a night, yeah?"

Replying with a nod, Frankie stood up and headed for the bathroom. Nick following right behind.

"I'll be in there in a second." Nick says, closing the door just slightly.

Huffing a sigh, Frankie started his bath water because he could care less for showers. Nick was required to be in there for some strange reason that he was never told of, but it didn't really bother him none. Stripping his clothes, he sat in the bath. It was hardly even full yet but it didn't matter to him.

"Okay, back. I got some warm pajamas out of the dryer for you." Nick said, setting the neatly folded clothes on the counter. Sitting on the floor, he waited patiently.

"Bubbles tonight?" He asked Frankie, holding up the bubble bath.

"Sure, I like the way they smell." Frankie said with a slight smile.

Nick smiled back and started pouring in the solution. The tub was full enough to were Frankie liked it, so Nick reached over and turned off the water.

"Okay, here we go, buddy." Nick smiled, grabbing the shampoo.

"Seriously? I know how to clean myself, you know."

"I know, but it's fun. And beside, you've got really soft hair and I like to play with it." He said, pouring some in his hand. "Now, wet your hair."

Frankie made a pouty face before dunking his head in the mist of bubbles, finally reaching the water. Rising back to the surface, Nick started lathering the shampoo in slowly, getting every spot possible.

"Why couldn't we be like normal brothers and hate eachother?" Frankie asked, laughing a little to himself, knowing it's probably cruel to talk like that.

"Well, if you ask me, I think we're lucky. I treat you as best as I can. Better than anyone else I know." Said Nick, resting his forearms on the edge of the tub.

"I guess so." Frankie dunked his head under, knowing Nick was done.

"Guess so? Well, Okay." Nick picked up a handful of bubbles and blew them at Frankie.

"Hey!" He said, splashing him with water.

"Oh, you want to play rough?"

Frankie looked wide eyed and started laughing.

"I will get you."

"Sure you will, Nick."

With that, Nick lunged torward him and into the water.

"What the heck are you doing? You have jeans on!"

"Like I care. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah." Nick started dunking him under all the bubbles and pulling him up quickly.

"Stop that!" Frankie shouted in laughter, wrapping his arms around Nick's neck.

"Okay, okay. Let's get out." Nick smiled and stood up, feeling extremely heavy. He looked down at his jeans covered in bubbles and unbuttoned them. Sliding them off, he left them in the tub floating around.

"It would have made a huge mess." Nick laughed, stepping out of the tub.

"You're right."

Grabbing a towel, Nick sat on the toilet seat, waiting for Frankie to come out.

"I think we shouldn't do that again." Frankie laughed, walking to Nick, water dripping, bubbles still in his curls.

"Yeah, watch my pants shrink."

"They're already small enough."

Nick gasped a fake gasp in shock wrapped his arms around Frankie with the towel.

"What was that?" Nick asked, tickling him through the fabric.

"Sorry! Sorry!" He screamed and laughed, catching his breath.

"Okay, I'l stop. Let's get you dry.." Nick turned him around, his eyes wondering his younger brother. "You know, you're growing up.." a light blush spread across his face as he dried off Frankies legs.

"Well, duh. I'm 13." Frankie said, oblivious to the whole situation.

"Y-Yeah. Here's your pajamas. I'm going to go lay down, when your done you can come into my room or go to bed. Up to you." Nick said, trying to let his thoughts escape his mind.

"Okay."

Nick left the room and went into his own. Frankie pursed his lips, feeling slightly confused to how he was acting.
He hurriedly changed into his pajamas, looking at the mess they've made. He thought he would try to help out for once. Nick does everything around there.
He threw the towel on the floor, and tried his best to dry it. And the edge of the bath tub. After he was done with that, he kicked the towel aside, along with their clothes.
Then he went up to the sink and looked in the mirror, messing up his hair a bit. It was just damp. He quickly brushed it, and turned off the bathroom light.
Frankie shut the door behind him, and ran to Nick's room. He knocked lightly, with the door slightly opened. "Um.. Nick?.." He asked quietly. Unsure if he should go in there.
Nick said it was up to him. But he could be asleep.

"Yeah? You can come in." Nick called, sitting up. He was just laying there. Staring at the wall.

Frankie smiled slightly to himself, and walked in. Shutting the door, he went over to Nick's bed, and crawled in with him. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" Nick chuckled, wrapping his arms around the smaller boy, and pulling him close to him.

"I don't know."

"Haha, hey, I have an idea."

Frankie looked up at him questioningly, and smiled. He nodding, letting him know he could go on.

"Since I don't work tomorrow.. How about we do something?"

He could feel the excitement slowly rising in him. Nick barely had time off work.

Frankie shook his head crazily, smile widening. "Yeahyeahyeah!" He giggled, clinging his arms around Nick's neck.

"I can tell you're happy."

"Well, yeah.."

Nick smiled, and pulled Frankie on top of him, burrying his face in his neck. "So.. What do you think we should do? Go see a movie?"

Frankie slightly shivered, pulling away. He nodded his head, mumbling a small "Yeah."

"Alright. Then it's settled." Nick laughed, kissing his cheek. A small blush spread across Frankie's cheeks.

"Yayy.."

Nick ran his fingers through Frankie's hair, curling his finger around a strand. "I think it's time for bed now." He said softly, rolling over on his side. Causing Frankie to slide off him.

"Hmph.. Alright."

"You seem tired, though. And I kind of am."

"I know.. Um.. Do you care if I sleep in here with you..?" He mumbled, nibbling on his bottom lip.

He cuddled up to him, holding tightly onto the front of Nick's shirt.

"Frankie, I already told you.. It doesn't matter. If you're comfortable in here, then okay. You're always welcome in here."

"I know.."

"Good, so don't ask next time." Nick said, getting up off of the bed.

"Okay...What are you doing?"

"Opening the curtains, it's pretty outside." Nick opened the curtains, and stared outside for a split second. It was so white, practically blinding.

"You're, right, it is.." Frankie said, in a shy voice.

Nick pulled back the blanked and watched his little brother crawl into them, laying his wet hair on the pillow. Crawling in himself, they both lay there and watched the silent snow fall and stick against the window pane.