(Notes: I forgot to mention in the beginning of this story like every other fan ficauthor that I don't own anyone. Sorry if I forgot to mention it.)
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Part 12

Days after the incident, I ended up spending more time with Layne. We would talk about random things, stare up at the ceilings on our backs in each others rooms, or tinker around the piano even when I was supposed to practice. We neverspoke about what had happened that night, and it wasn't even a discussion.Other than that, it felt very comforting to be around Layne. Atleast he was a guy that cared. The ones on the surface wouldn't bother talking to me...why would they? They liked theditzy Teen Queens with their stupid neon colors and what not.
No one else had even spoken about us which was fine by me. I don't think it really mattered to the Bohemiansas far as who was with who. Everyone seemed to respect each other, and that was the way of their world, I guess.

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"Can I talk to you for a sec? Privately?" My brother asked.

"What's to talk about?" I muttered, lowering the cover on the piano and staring at the sheet music. "I seriously think there's no point anymore."
"But I think there's a lot that we haven't said to each other yet," my brother replied.
I stared up at Gaz from the piano and gave him a blank gaze for what seemed like minutes. He didn't seem angry or anything, so I didn't know what to expect.

"Where's your girlfriend?" I asked, looking behind him.
"She's doing some prep work with the rest of the Bohemians. Could we just talk though? Since we both have the time?"
I could see that he was starting to get a bit emotional so I muttered "fine" and moved over on the piano bench, feeling my brother glance at me each time as I kept glancing down at my feet.

"It's been a while since we had a small chat. A heart to heart as they say," he muttered.
I shrugged and replied, "Yeah I know."
"You been okay?" He asked.

I shrugged again and said that I've been doing just fine...aside from my one-time breakdown and my spending more time with Layne. I heard him move closer to my side and felt him staring at me again, which raised my nerves a bit.

"Look...I just want you to know that...what you said to me the last time was uncalled for in a way," he stammered.

I continued to shrug like it was some sort of bad habit and continued to listen to him.

"I'm putting those comments of yours aside...because I know that it wasn't easy for you when I disappeared and you thought that something else had happened to me."
"Well," I muttered, turning towards him, "it wasn't. Living alone like that and being verbally assaulted every day..."
"I know. But...you need to learn to be tough around here. You need to know...that you can't just cling to your brother all the time..."

I angrily got up and told him not to say that.

"Don't try to act like the parent and repeat mum and dad. Because I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the lies and I'm sick of being reminded about the future 'cause I don't think I'll make it."
"Yes you will..." Gaz said.
"No, I won't. You and I couldn't even survive school, and I couldn't survive everything else. So how else do you expect me to do things on my own?"

I felt the tears form in the corner of my eyes as I continued.

"I still need you. I want my brother back," I said, covering my eyes as I slowly sat back down.

I tried to push him out of the way as he tried to pull me into a hug, but I resisted and felt him wrap his huge arms around me while I rested the side of my face on his shoulder.

(To be continued...)