Author's note: Man, I've been holding back on posting this chapter since the day after the last one went up, and it was hard! Parts written like *this* are lines from the songs. There's 3 different songs, the idea being that the CD is just playing from the song Cedric started with, more or less unnoticed, in the background while they're talking.


'Because I'm your brother.'

Sofia knew it was the only answer he could have possibly given, and that it was foolish of her to entertain, if only for a fleeting second, ideas that his actions might have been motivated by anything other than a brother's protectiveness. But, oh, she had dared to hope, in that eternal moment between her question and his crushing response, and in doing so, she set herself up for nothing but heartbreak.

She swung her legs over the side of Cedric's bed, running her fingertips across the part of her lips that still buzzed with misplaced excitement. That too, had been mere fantasy, and worse, she'd admitted her dreams to the one person who should never know about them. It felt so real... She pressed firmly against the spot, trying to recreate the sensation of his kiss, but it was already too late.

With a disappointed sigh, she hopped down from the mattress, padding across the floor to smooth her curls, disheveled from the afternoon nap, in front of the full length mirror that hung behind Cedric's door. Will it be strange that I'm still wearing my uniform this late? Sofia wondered, turning to different angles so she could examine herself in the outfit, trying to imagine herself through Cedric's eyes.

A soft creak behind the door caught her attention, and she wrapped her hand around the knob to open it, but stalled. I accused him... She hadn't meant it that way, of course, but it was clear from how he reacted. He wanted to forget the kiss, the real one, had ever happened, and here she was asking if he'd done it again. If I say sorry, I'll just be bringing it up even more. She tried to recall if things were so confusing in that other life, but couldn't be sure one way or the other. She had to face him eventually, and Amber and James were expecting her, too, so she took a deep breath to calm her nerves and threw open the door.

Disappointment and relief warred inside her when she found nothing but an empty hallway waiting on the other side. The sound of animated chatter downstairs beckoned her onward, and she followed. Everyone was gathered in the den, Amber curled up in the easy chair that was off-limits whenever Goody was home, James pacing the floor, regaling everyone with tales of his fencing practices, and Cedric on the very edge of the sofa with his laptop precariously perched on his knee.

Sofia wanted so badly to claim the spot beside him, but her embarrassment prevented her from doing so, so she took a seat on the opposite end, instead. Cedric glanced up as the cushion sank beneath her weight, gesturing her over with his hand.

"Sofia, come look at this." Whether he was intentionally giving her an excuse to get closer, she wasn't sure, but she seized the opportunity all the same, scooting across the middle seat until her thigh bumped his and peeking over his shoulder at the screen. "Isn't this one you wanted to see?"

She skimmed the article he was showing her, detailing the new streaming options for the month. The movie in question was a remake, which she normally wouldn't have any interest in, but it starred an actor she admired.

"Sweeney Todd's as old as we are!" She protested when she came to the end. "Why would there be a fee on a movie that old?"

"Got any allowance left?" Cedric asked, shutting the laptop and setting it aside. Sofia shook her head sadly.

"No, I used the last of it at the..." She stopped quickly, catching herself about to remind him once more of the incident at the bowling alley. "I used it." She mumbled, fiddling with the hem of her pleated skirt to distract herself.

"Me, too. I'll text dad. Maybe he'll say we can-" Cedric began, shifting his weight to retrieve his phone from his pocket.

"Now that everyone's here..." James broke in, coming over to hand Sofia a glass of soda. "We're going to have a toast!" He held out his own glass, waiting for someone to take him up on the offer.

"To what?" Cedric questioned, raising an eyebrow at their cousin, though he picked his own drink up from the end table.

"To the best thing in the whole world, of course: Love!" James announced. "Hildy agreed to be my girlfriend today, and Amber somehow convinced a boy to go out with her." Sofia half-heartedly clicked her glass against her cousin's, but Cedric scoffed, setting his soda down faster than he'd picked it up in the first place.

"Getting a date isn't the same as being in love." He stood from the sofa and marched toward the doorway. "I'm going to my room. When you're done with this lovey-dovey crap, let me know." With that, he disappeared.

"Touchy!" Amber mocked, rolling her eyes at the sound of Cedric stomping up the steps.

"I guess it's because he doesn't have a girlfriend, yet." James shrugged, downing his soda.

"That's his choice. Plenty of girls at school think he's cute. Poor Cleo was practically crying when he shot down her confession the other day." Sofia listened closely, feeling her cheeks burn as Amber spoke. Other girls liked Cedric, her Cedric? Someone had even confessed... Why didn't I know any of this? The way he reacted to the toast, it must be because he wanted a girlfriend. Panic rising in her chest, Sofia rose from the sofa.

"Don't tell me you're going to go pout, too? I can always get you another date. With one of Desmond's friends, or..." Sofia was out of the room before Amber could finish her sentence.

She could hear the muffled strains of Cedric's favourite Mountain Goats song before she was even up the stairs. Steeling herself, she raised a hand and knocked loudly enough to be heard over the blaring music.

*I hope it stays dark forever, I hope the worst isn't over.*

"Go away, Sofia!" Ignoring him, she opened the door and went in. It was only once she was face to face with her twin when it dawned on her that she had no clue what she'd come here to say. She had simply needed reassurance, and sought it out in the person she most often received it from.

"I could have been James." She pointed out, awkwardly shifting her weight from one foot to the other, waiting for some invitation to come further into the room. Cedric gave her a look of reproach, but patted the mattress beside him.

"No, James wouldn't come up so fast." He flopped back on the mattress as she joined him, resting the back of his head in his palms. "You don't need to check on me, I'm fine."

"You stormed out, and you're playing your 'moping' music. Which part of that is you being fine?" She prodded, already sure that he wouldn't answer.

"I don't want to talk about it, okay?" Cedric insisted, avoiding her concerned gaze.

"I thought we weren't keeping secrets from each other anymore?" Sofia pointed out, even though she was still keeping a big secret from her twin.

"Everyone keeps some secrets, that's just life." Sofia pursed her lips, seriously considering this. She drew her legs up, hugging them to her chest.

"I suppose that's true. Still, if something's bothering you, then you can talk to me about it." Cedric reached a hand up, tugging her shoulder until she was laying on her back beside him, and she wondered if he wasn't worried about one of their cousins finding them like that. "You don't have to handle everything by yourself, you know."

"That's what big brothers are for, right?" He mumbled, so quietly that Sofia could barely make out what he was saying.

"You're only seven minutes older than me." This time. She added to herself.

"Then maybe you'll understand in seven minutes." Cedric grinned over at her, and she stuck her tongue out at him, relaxing as his mood improved. "Do you want to go back downstairs, yet?" Sofia frowned, trying to work up the courage to talk about what was bothering her before the chance disappeared.

"Let's just stay like this for a minute." What if those things James and Amber said are true? If he really wants a girlfriend, if he falls in love with someone, I'll lose him forever.

"I have an idea." He took one of her hands in his, resting them on the bed between their bodies as he lazily intertwined their fingers. "Let's kick those guys out and rent your movie." Despite how tempting it sounded, Sofia swatted him on the shoulder with her free hand, shaking her head firmly.

*Someone's gonna do something someone else will regret.*

"That wouldn't be nice." Sofia scolded. "Plus, we're out of money." Cedric nodded, letting go of her and bringing his fingers to his mouth to chew absently at a hangnail. Just ask him about it. She tried to persuade herself. Just say 'Do you wish you had a girlfriend?'

"Hey, you were right..." Cedric stated, rolling onto his side and propping himself up on one elbow. "I did kiss you earlier."

*Something here will eventually have to explode, have to explode.*

Sofia's eyes widened in shock and her heart hammered so hard against her ribcage that she was sure Cedric could hear the thumping. As her brain kicked into overdrive, trying to accomplish the basic feat of forming words, Cedric broke into laughter.

"Kidding. I was just joking." He waved his free hand defensively in the air between them. "You looked so serious, it made me want to tease you."

Sofia jumped down from the bed and tried to storm off, but Cedric quickly sat up and grabbed her wrist.

"Are you... disappointed?" The smirk on his face irritated her as much as his careless taunting. She didn't think first. Her body moved of its own accord as she spun around and slapped him across the cheek, striking so hard that her hand stung from the impact.

"You're nothing but a bully!" She shouted, breaking free of his grip and running out of the room before he could react.

*What will I do when I don't have you, to hold onto in the dark?*