Chapter 4: Regrets

Zoey's POV

November- Thanksgiving Day

I helped mom put the dinner on the table. It had been extremely awkward lately. Zane wasn't being himself. Normally he would love to be down here eating with us, but since Riley left, he's been so distant. Depressed even. I felt so bad for him. Every time I'd go to see him, he'd just push me away. Okay, so I totally deserved it for what I said on his birthday night. I don't know how to make this better. I don't even think that I could. I watched my mom go into the living room to grab her magazine.

"Uh, mom?" I asked.

"Yeah, honey?"

"I was wondering, if you did something to someone, that you loved; how would you fix it?" I asked as I fidgeted with my hands. She raised her eyebrows.

"I don't think that asking me that would help you out. You saw how I was with your father." she said sadly.

"But I thought that maybe this situation would be different." I said.

"Okay, shoot." she said.

"Well, I have this friend that hurt her sibling in the worst way possible. How should she fix it?" My mom thought for a minute.

"I'm not quite sure. What she did do that was so wrong?"

"She told her sibling that she thought it would've been better if the sibling hadn't met the person they loved. And that she wished that they'd leave." I said.

"Hmm, seems like she was a lot of baggage." Kim said. "I think that she should apologize and hope for the best."

"But what if that person's boyfriend already left? How would she fix it then?"

"Ooh that's tough. Hopefully that sibling will forgive the other sibling. I mean, it's the best that you can do for him now." Kim said. My mom was so wise sometimes. I nodded my head in understanding.

"Thanks mom. I'll go see if anything's changed." I said. She gave me a warm smile. I went upstairs and knocked on the door.

"Zane? Bro c'mon open the door." I said.

Silence

"Zane please. You have to eat. Besides, you love this holiday." I said.

Again, Silence.

"Alright bro, you asked for it." I said as I took the key from around my neck and opened his door. What I saw really saddened me. I saw, my little brother sitting by his window, just staring outside. As if he was waiting for Riley to come back. I felt my heart break in two. This was all my fault; Riley must've heard me that night. That might've influenced his decision to leave. I'm a horrible sister.

"Hey, buddy what're you doing?" I asked hoping for a reply. He just sat there. It had been like this for the past few weeks. I felt so sorry for him,

"Nothing." he said sounding completely lost. "Just watching the world move forward, as I stay in the same spot day after day." I rubbed my hands through my hair.

"Look, it'll get better. I know it. You'll find another-"

"Please leave." he said looking at me and then back outside. I pursed my lips and walked out his door. As I shut it, I slid to the floor. What had I done?

December- Christmas Day

I opened my present from mom and beamed at her. It was the Gucci gloves that I had always wanted. I had waited for months for these to come out, but they were sold out.

"Thanks mom. I really appreciate it." I said. She smiled and looked over towards Zane. He was still in a zombie like state.

"Here hon, I got you something too." she said as she bit her lip in anticipation. He looked at the present and opened it. His emotionless expression stayed the same.

"Gee, thanks. I really like it." he said as he stared at Marc Ecko watch. He had wanted that for like ever! And now that he has it, he's just emotionless.

"Glad you do honey." Our mom said as she went into the kitchen. I could tell she was hiding her sadness.

"Look bro, mom loves this holiday. You could at least act like you like it too." I snapped. He just stared at me with dead eyes.

"Hoo-ray." he said lifeless. Okay I had officially broken my brother.

January- New Year's Day

I ran down the stairs and was met by Trevor Milligan and Dina DeSousa. Boy did Mr. Milligan look good. Oh my god! I'm crushing on an old guy. A friend of my mom's no less. Ugh!

"Hey Trev, hey Mrs. DeSousa." I said as I put on my coat.

"Hi Zo, where's the fire?" he laughed.

"At the mall. There's a sale going on and you know me, being the fashionable girl that I am," I said as I put my hand to my chest, "I could never turn down a good sale." I smiled at him.

"Glad to hear it." he said. But before I could go he stopped me. "How's your mom?"

"She's okay. But um, she's worried about Zane. For the past couple of weeks he's be like a zombie. His friends say that he doesn't talk to them anymore. He eats lunch alone. He's like, screaming in his sleep. One of us has to go see what's wrong each night. I just feel bad." I said.

"Alright, maybe we can make her feel better, huh Trev?" Dina asked.

"We can try. It'll get her mind off things." he said. I smiled at the both of them. I wish that they could help Zane too. I hopped in my 2002 Ford Taurus and drove to go pick up Meagan at her apartment.

At the mall we shopped until we dropped. It actually took my mind off of Zane for a while. That is until Megs brought it up.

"So how's Zane?" she asked. I bit my lip.

"That bad, huh?" she said.

"Yeah. He's gotten worse. Nightmares, depression, isolation. All he does is go to school, does his work, and comes home to sit in his room." I said.

"Is he eating?" she asked with a panicked tone.

"Yeah, yeah. He's eating; I don't think he'd be that bad off. But he's in like this zombie state. He's worse off than that girl in that one movie." I said.

"Oh, you mean the one when…" she began.

"Yeah, and then she…" I said.

"Maybe that's what he needs." Meagan said she sipped her drink.

"What?" I asked. She rolled her eyes.

"It's like that movie, um, Twi-moon or whatever. Get him to go out with one of his friends. Maybe a guy's night out would do him some good." she said. Maybe she was right. If I could just get him out of the house, mom wouldn't send him to New York, like she'd been planning too. All I have to do is get to him before she does.

A/N: Okay my lovelies, chapter 4 as promised. This is kind of a filler chapter. But it's kind of better than New Moon the movie. It actually tells you what's going on from Zoey's POV. And poor Zane's a wreck. The next chapter will be from Zane's POV and it will stay that way until the end of the story. It's also go in to what's going on in the month of February. Aww isn't Meagan the best Gal Pal any girl could ever have. Meagan do your thing girl. Thanks to all. R&R XOXO ShadowBeauty.