I started watching Brotherly Love and was inspired to write this. In the 90s, the Lawrence brothers starred in their own show on the WB. This story is more for me than anything else. I don't really expect anyone to be reading this but if someone is here, hey- let me know how I'm doing. It's probably a bit MarySue...

They were the best of friends, although when you're five it isn't that hard. Matt Roman and Zoe Royes had met in kindergarten. One the first day, Zoe had marched right up to Matt, took his hand and declared they were friends. Since he didn't know anyone else, Matt didn't mind... especially since she'd also shared her crayons with him at coloring time.

Come summertime, Matt and Zoe literally spent every day together. They would alternate days at the other's house. Sure they had a couple other friends they also played with and the kids from the neighborhood, but mostly they just played with each other. Play dates went really late and then they started having sleepovers. The first ones included some of the other neighbor kids, at first, but Matt and Zoe decided not to invite them overnight anymore.

As they got older, the more time they spent with each other. When things with Zoe's parents began to get tense, she began to spend more and more time at the Romans'. When Andy was born, she all but moved into their house. She'd come over for breakfast, walk with Matt to school in the morning and back to his house after school, they'd do their homework, and then she would stay for dinner.

Claire and her husband didn't mind having Zoe over. It was almost like having a daughter. Claire Roman began to hope that her son and Zoe would end up together. It seemed like a really sweet idea. Mr. Roman would tease Matt about it after Zoe would leave. Matt would whine but then go to his room and write in his journal about how he actually hoped that he and Zoe would hangout forever.

The summer before 7th grade was something interesting. Zoe was allowed to have a little party before school started. She invited some of the neighbor kids over as well as some of the people from her 6th grade class. It wasn't the greatest party but it was decent enough. It didn't help Matt or Zoe make any new friends entering 7th grade, and honestly, Zoe was fed up with it all. She was sick of not going out at night and not having any new friends.

She was happy with Matt but it just wasn't enough. She wanted more friends. She wanted a boyfriend. She wanted more than what she had. So when the end of 7th grade happened, she signed up for the cheerleading camp. It was only a few hours a each day for the entire summer, but it was enough.

Come 8th grade, Zoe finally had some new friends. She tried to keep up with both lives, her friendship with Matt and the cheerleading lifestyle. But early on, plans began to overlap. She started flaking on Matt, breaking plans to hangout with the cheerleaders and breaking promises. She didn't feel good about it but Zoe finally had more than just one friend. She was popular. The boys were finally noticing her.

When high school started, things got so much worse. Zoe was on top of the food chain with the sports while Matt was still at the bottom with the other nerds and losers. She knew she had to pick one or the other life that summer, and she picked the life that got her noticed. And for the most part she didn't feel too bad.

It wasn't until Matt's dad died that she had a "moment of clairty". Matt had called her while she was out with the girls. He was frantic and crying and needed her... and she was there. For a week she was Matt's Zoe again. Over at his house and helped him get things in order and helped Claire deal and helped Andy try and understand.

The funeral was weird. She held Matt's hand through most of it. They didn't speak, just let him lean on her. For that week, it was like old times. After the funeral, Matt and Zoe went back to his house and sat in his room. They sat shoulder-to-shoulder on his bed, her head on his shoulder, their fingers intertwined- Matt's face still red and puffy from crying.

"How long does this last?" Matt asked.

Zoe lifted her head and looked at him confused.

He squeezed her hand, "This. You being here."

She exhaled, "I'll always be here if you need me Matt. But... we're different people now. I'm different now."

Matt pulled his hand from Zoe's and stood from the bed.

"Matt-"

"No! You can't just do that. I just lost my father and come Monday morning, I'll lose you again. Just go."

For the rest of the year, Zoe stayed away from Matt. He wanted his space so she'd give him his space. It was the least she could do. If he was gonna act this way- no she understood where it was coming from. He lost her once, losing her away would just break his heart more.