Cody took a step inside of the building. He had joined a monastery in hopes that the power of prayer could do something for him. He wasn't exactly sure as to what he was hoping would happen, in terms of whether he wanted a miracle, or anything. He was mainly trying to keep his mind off of Bailey. The more thought that Cody put into it, the more two certain wishes of his floated around in his head. He wanted Bailey to love him again, and he wanted his big brother and best friend, Zack, to love him again. Cody knew that there was a time when Zack loved him. He wanted that again more than anything. Cody walked to the front of the room and stood before the people. He faced the priest.
"What is your prayer?" The priest asked in an almost solemn tone. Cody thought about which prayer he wanted more. After he decided, he took a deep breath.
"My prayer is for my brother to love me again." As Cody said this, he looked to the door. He felt his heart miss a beat in surprise when he saw Zack standing at the door. Zack's face had crumpled, and pure hurt shone in his eyes. "Zack?" Cody asked, walking slowly toward him. Zack shook his head and turned around. He began to walk away. "Zack! Wait!" Cody called. He ran to Zack as fast as he could. Zack turned around and faced Cody. His eyes were filled with pain. "Zack? What's wrong?" Cody asked worriedly.
"It's nothing." Zack responded.
"That's not true." Cody stated.
"Neither is your thought that I don't love you. That's not true at all." Zack said, force behind each word.
"Well, you haven't exactly shown or given me a reason to believe otherwise!" Cody retorted. Zack looked at
Cody again and began to walk away. Again, Cody followed.
"So all those times that I've stood up for you, all those times that I've protected you, when I let you have Bailey because I saw how much you loved her, when I helped you get her back, all of those pep talks, and a lot of other things that you don't even know about...All of that means nothing to you?" Zack asked. After Cody remained silent, Zack swallowed painfully. "I thought I actually meant something to you." He then turned and ran out of the building. Cody immediately ran after him.
"Zack!" Cody called. He caught up to his brother and held him against the wall. "Zack, talk to me. What things do I not know?"
"Ever wonder how I got this?" Zack asked as he lifted up his shirt, revealing a large scar along his back. Cody gasped. "That could have been on you, Cody, but I didn't let that happen."
"Where...How...I don't understand."
"Mom divorced dad for more than one reason, Cody." Cody's eyes filled with tears. "And I have to live every day knowing that I'll never be as good as you, and I have to pretend that it never bothers me." Zack said, his voice cracking.
"Why do you put yourself through that?" Cody asked.
"For you to be happy. It's all part of being older."
"Zack, none of this makes sense to me."
"Being older means getting what you want, but sacrificing it to make your younger sibling happy. Being older means putting yourself second." Zack said.
"Zack, you can't protect me from everything..." Cody said.
"I know, and it kills me. I have to live with myself knowing that every time you get hurt, I can't do a thing about it, and then everyone blames me, anyway!" Zack cried.
"Zack...I never knew how much you go through..." Cody sighed.
"Don't ever say that I don't love you, Cody."
"I never will, ever again."
"Good." Zack replied.
Cody held Zack in a hug. Then, keeping his arm around Zack's shoulders, they went back to the ship. Cody knew that from then on, he didn't need Bailey. He just needed his big brother to get him through the day.