My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 24

[[Letting Go]]

Sophie's P.O.V

"No, don't. We both know you're not a one women kind of guy Zac. It's probably best if everything went back to the way it was before. Everyone's happy." Why couldn't he just stay away for this one day? I didn't need this on top of everything else going on at the moment.

Sure, I would like nothing more then to have him hold me in his arms while I cry for the loss of my friend but I hadn't gotten around to forgiving him yet. I just needed time to get over this past week and he couldn't give me that, could he?

He was making this much harder then it needed to be. I quickly brushed past him and made my way for the door. I flung them open and began to walk down the snow covered road now wishing I had left with Andy and Kerri.

I heard him groaning behind me before the sound of his footstep letting me know his was hot on my tail. My feet crunched in the snow and I cursed myself for wearing thin stupid dolly shoes which were now soaked through.

"What if everyone's not happy?" I heard him say behind me and I just kept on walking hoping he would just let it go.

But this is what you want right? Him chasing after you. He's showing you that he's not giving up and you like it.

Shut up. I yelled at the stupid voice in the back of my head mocking me.

"They have no reason to not be." I said increasing my pace. He kept coming after me, his pace increasing as mine did.

"I'm not happy." He shouted again and I mentally eye rolled, he seemed perfectly fine before all this mess happened. What changed?

"You'll get over it." I said back in the same emotionless tone that I knew must be getting on his nerves by now.

"Things can't go back to the way things were before." Stop following me! I yelled in my head.

"No." I agreed. "But the main point can."

"And what's that?"

"You remain as my brother's best friend only. I'll stick with my friends, you stick with yours." I said simply, although I knew he was right. It wouldn't be the same. I still wasn't exactly talking to Kat or Tina. I had only really forgiven Matt cause he was so persitance and I could see the hurt in his eyes and besides, I really needed my big brother back if I couldn't have the rest.

"No, it won't work." He said stubbornly and I sighed.

"Why not Zac?" I asked pretending I was interested. I heard his footsteps slow down until I couldn't hear the crunch in the snow anymore and realised he stopped.

"I love you." I froze.

Well.....not exactly what I expected to happen. He couldn't really love me, right? No, no. This was happening too fast.

"Sophie." I heard his voice whisper in the air and realised he had taken a few steps forwards so I was now in his reach. "I love you." He sounded a helluva lot more confident. I felt the tears filling up my eyes and silently cursed. I think I've cried more then enough this week. "Say something." He said after minutes of silence. I slowly turned around to face him.

He looked so vulnerable right now, a state I had never seen him in. He looked relieved but slightly on edge and nervous aswel. He was anxiously waiting for my answer as I tried to will my voice to work.

"Wh-what do you want me to say?" I finally asked. "Zac, I...I'm not ready for this. Not yet..." I sighed when I saw his face fall and I wanted to kick myself then and there. Why couldn't I just forgive him? Why couldn't I say it back? Because god dammit, I felt everything he said. "I'm sorry. But after everything, I just need to get my head straight."