Justin adjusts his pillow behind his head and sighs quietly. His eyes are closed and his ears covered with his headphones, the sound of the Killers floating through them. He relaxes back on his bed, letting the music block out the world around him.
That is until he hears loud, frantic knocking on his door, the small garage shaking with ear pound. He frowns and stands up, dropping his headphones and iPod on his bed. The banging on his door continues and Justin assumes it must be Floyd or his dad coming to have a go at him over something. He walks over to the door, wrenching it open, ready to argue or shout or fight.
Except, it isn't Floyd.
Justin is surprised to come face to face with Leo, and even more surprised to see his younger brother's eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Leo… What's wrong?" he asks slowly, frowning when Leo doesn't meet his eyes.
Leo opens his mouth to speak but no words come out. He swallows roughly and Justin's worry grows to see that his brother's frail body is shaking.
He quickly grabs the younger boy's wrist and tugs him into the garage, closing the door before facing him.
"Leo, mate. What's happened?" he tries again, placing his hand on Leo's shoulder.
Justin sees a single tear rolls down Leo's cheek and he feels his heart break when Leo answers him.
"Everyone is forgetting about me."
Justin frowns again, and Leo still won't meet his eyes.
"No they're not."
"Yes, they are." Leo laughs humourlessly, wrapping his arms around himself. "Dad barely notices me anymore. Tiffany and Floyd barely speak to me. Mum has basically abandoned us, and you ignore me most of the time."
"Leo, that's not true…" Justin says but he can feel the guilt creeping up on him. He hadn't paid much attention to his brother since they moved here.
"It is." Leo whimpers, a few tears falling.
Justin can't stand the sight so he pulls Leo to his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around the younger boy. He feels Leo shake against him as he cries and he has to swallow hard to hold back his own tears.
"Leo… I'm so sorry." He whispers, moving one hand to run through Leo's dark hair. "I have ignored you a bit since we came here."
Leo sniffs quietly, slowly wrapping his arms around Justin, enjoying the warmth radiating from his body. He buries his face into his brother's neck, his body still shaking slightly.
Justin holds his brother close, closing his eyes as he mentally kicks himself for neglecting Leo. He'd been too caught up with trying to split his Dad and Allie up that he'd forgotten about his baby brother.
"I'm so sorry, Leo." He says softly, rubbing the other boy's back gently, relief washing over him when he feels Leo start to relax.
"Do you hate me?" Leo whispers and Justin gives himself another mental kick.
"Of course I don't." he says firmly, pulling back to look at his brother.
Leo keeps his eyes on the ground and Justin frowns, reaching out to lift his brother's head so he can meet his eyes.
"I love you, Leo. More than anything, you're my brother." He says honestly, dropping his hand from Leo's chin. "I just got caught up with Dad and mum and Allie. It's not an excuse though, I shouldn't have ignored you."
Leo doesn't say anything and just nods softly, moving his eyes back down as he sniffles. Justin looks him over, glad to see he's no longer shaking.
"I know it may not have seemed like it lately…" Justin says quietly. "But I'm always here for you, no matter what, all right? Don't think you can't come to me or talk to me about stuff. I want to be there for you."
Leo stays quiet again for a moment before glancing up and giving his older brother a small smile. "Okay."
Justin smiles slightly, pulling Leo back into another hug. "Do you forgive me?"
He smiles more when he feels Leo wrap his arms tightly around him, and nod against his shoulder.
"Good." Justin says softly, holding him tighter and resting his chin on Leo's head.
"I love you, too, by the way." Leo mumbles into his shirt a moment later.
Justin smiles again, kissing Leo's hair and silently making a promise to himself to never neglect his brother ever again.