"Hello?"

Connor and Zoe broke apart. Their parents were smiling in the doorway.

"Are you two done or should we come back at another time?" Larry asked.

Connor was about to ask them how long they had been standing there but Zoe cut him off.

"No. Connor was just leaving." Zoe said.

Connor turned to face her with a look of shock. Zoe didn't say anything. She just stared at him, waiting for him to get the memo. Her brothers hurt eyes quickly became narrow.

"Fine."

Connor got off of Zoe's bed and exited her room. Anger boiled inside him. SHE HUGGED HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS AND THEN WENT BACK TO TREATING HIM LIKE A PIECE OF CRAP TWO SECONDS LATER!? His vision blurred as tears threatened to spill. The teen felt a calming hand on his shoulder and whipped around to see his mother.

"What just happened?" Cynthia asked hopefully.

"Huh?"

"Between you and your sister." She clarified.

"Oh." He spoke.

Connor looked down in an attempt to hide his face. He didn't want Cynthia knowing he almost cried.

"Uh… I heard her crying?" That was partly true, "So… I went to check on her and… I think she was having a nightmare or some shit."

"Language Connor." His mother insisted.

Connor rolled his eyes and continued.

"Anyway, I woke her up to see what was wrong and she just started hugging me and crying." His face started to turn pink, "And I uh…. I hugged her back. Cuz'- you know- I couldn't just leave her an' stuff." His voice was barely a mumble as he spoke those last words.

"Oh, Connor! That's wonderful!" Cynthia shouted with glee, "I knew you cared about Zoe!"

Connor's blush deepened for more reasons then one.

"O-of course I care about her. She's my sister." He replied quickly.

The shorter woman looked as though she was about to cry tears of happiness.

"Do you two do this for eachother often? Does she know? Why didn't you ever tell us-?"

"No- mom- this was a one time thing. And...Zoe made it pretty obvious she wants it to stay that way…"

Connor fixed his gaze on the floor again. His mom's voice became quiet.

"I'm sorry." She began, "That might have been a little too much wishful thinking.

"It's fine. You just want us to get along again. I get it."

"I was just hoping this ment things could get better…"

Connor snuck a glance at his mother. She wasn't looking at him anymore. Her eyes were riddled with hurt and disappointment. Guilt welled up inside of Connor. It was his fault this family was a mess, his fault he and Zoe weren't friends anymore. Everything was just his fault.

"Look." Connor began, "I can't just magically fix everything but I'm gonna start trying. Okay?"

Cynthia meet his gaze with a bright smile.

"Yes, that's all I want!"

"No promises." He really didn't want her to get her hopes up, "But I will try."

"Perfect! Trying is perfect!"

They stood in silence for a few moments. Connor felt incredibly awkward and his mothers bright smile as well as her suddenly very positive attitude was not helping.

"... do we hug now or-?"

Cynthia was in his arms before he could finish that sentence. He returned the hug as he had last time thought this time with much more uncertainty. Two hugs in a row huh? Maybe things would get better.

"I'm so proud of you…" His mother weeped into his shoulder.

Connor tensed even more.

How was he so pushed to respond to that!?

'I know?' That would be a filthy lie.

'Okay?' That makes it sound like he doesn't care.

'You shouldn't be?' That would just make him sound like a dick.

"... Thanks…" he managed, "I'm gonna… go to bed."

He broke away from the hug, giving his mom a warm smile and small wave before walking off to his room.

Real smooth Connor.