Fuming, Brian storms down the corridor to where Zacky's run off too, ready to either punch him until he's unconscious or die trying. He saw how Lizzy crumpled when her telling Zacky backfired and he took it all wrong, and if he was going to sit around and let his once friend walk all over his sister, then he was going to be damned.
He crashed the door open, finding himself behind the hospital, and he sees Zacky punching the wall angrily, almost as frustrated as Brian is. He runs over, grabbing his friend and slamming him up against the wall.

"What the fuck did you think you were doing? That's my fucking sister you just blew off in there. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't knock your front teeth down your throat right now, you bastard" he hisses, his eyes darkening as the other mans widen in fear, and he looks down at his feet. He can summon no good reason, but still Brian doesn't move.
"I trusted you. I trusted you to look after her, to support her- and this is what you do? She sees you maybe four times in one year- and you can't let her go to New York, to follow her dream?"

"Brian, it's not like that, it's just..."
"She's watched you gallivant around the earth, chasing your own dreams, and you can't even let her go to the other side of the country to do what she loves?"
"Brian will you listen!" Zacky suddenly yells at him, and Brian steps back, suddenly shocked. Zacky should be apologizing, running back in and talking to Lizzy- instead he's asking Brian tolisten to him?

"She can't leave me. Not now" he whispers, and from his pocket, he pulls out a small velvet box, and flipping it open- reveals a glinting silver diamond ring.
"You...you were...Zack, she's eighteen" Brian said, trying to get his head around why Zacky would even think about proposing right now. Zacky shook his head and fell onto a crate, putting his head in his hands. Taking a seat next to him, Brian gingerly put a hand on his friends shoulder, the anger suddenly dispersing.

"I knew she'd want to travel once she left high school, and I knew that...she wasn't going to stick around. But part of me thought, if I did some grand gesture to make her stay, she wouldn't go. I was going to propose to her tonight, but then your dad got taken into hospital, and it kind of made me realize I was being stupid. She'll find another guy in New York. I just freaked out...because I thought she'd stay. Even for a little while"

Brian is silent for a moment, unsure of what to say that will make his friend feel any better- when the back door opens and Jimmy walks out. As soon as he spots Zacky, his eyes narrow, but with one quick glance from Brian, doesn't move an inch.
"Your dad's awake, Brian. Lizzy and Lisa are asking for you" he says coldly and Brian gets up, words still devoid of him. As he passes by Jimmy, his friend stops him and whispers,
"You want me to knock this motherfucker up to San Fransisco or what?"

Brian shakes his head, and walks back into the hospital, breaking into a run when he nears his father's hospital room. Lizzy is sat with Lisa on her lap, talking in quiet whispers with their Dad. As Brian walks in, giving Lizzy a half hug and stroking Lisa's cheek. He stands behind them, a protective arm on Lizzy's shoulder.
"How you feeling, dad?" he asks numbly, smiling for the first time in a while when his dad rolls his eyes.

"As good as you can be when you've just had a heart attack in the middle of a Wal-Mart" he replies smoothly, and for once, Lizzy laughs at one of his jokes. Both Brian and his father's eyes widen.
"Liz, you just laughed at one of my jokes. Have you got a fever, girl, what's wrong with you?" her dad asked, and then he realizes what must have happened.
"You told him, didn't you?"
"Yeah" she says simply.

"So did anyone call back? Has anyone accepted you?" he asks excitedly, and Lizzy takes one look up at her older brother, who gently takes Lisa from her arms- because both of them knew how he will react.
"Dad, I've been offered a scholarship. To Harvard"
If he could, he would've jumped right out of his hospital bed and hugged his daughter, so instead he settles for almost tearing up and whispering,
"Come here, pumpkin. Give your proud old man a hug" he says, and she almost attacks him, holding on tight.

He kisses her forehead and hugs her back, and it's not until she lifts her head up that they both see she's crying again.
"Brian? I hope you beat Zacky into the next state, because if he's broken my little girls heart, I would do exactly the same thing except, you know. Heart attack and all" he says, but Brian shakes his head, trying to distract Lisa from all the crying.
"I couldn't do it. The man had a good reason for freaking out- I think he and Lizzy need to talk"

He checks his watch and looks down at the girl in his arms, who looks very worried all of a sudden about whats going on around her.
"Listen, I'm gonna take Lisa home, it's not good for her to be here. I'll drop by tomorrow, OK? Lizzy, are you coming with me?" he asks, but his sister shakes her head and curls up further in her dad's lap.
"I'll stay with Dad. I don't want to face Zack right now" she whispers and Brian nods, wondering why he let his friend date his little sister.

"Alright. Call me if you want a ride home OK?" he says, waving at his dead and walking out of the room. He finds a vending machine and Lisa starts making grabby hands at some Red Vines, which he pays for and watches her chew slowly.
"Why does everything have to be so complicated for adults Lis? Why can't we all just be as innocent as you?" he asks as they start the long trek down to the reception, where their 'entourage' are waiting for them.

"Bwi-Bwi candy!" she pauses, noticing how downcast her older brother suddenly seems. Usually, he's all smiles around her, but now? It's nothing but depressed.
"Bwi-Bwi sad?" she asks softly and he shakes his head, the smile returning to his face, even if it is fake.

"Not anymore, baby. Not anymore.