"What," Brian yelled as he walked in. Shit. I looked from Courtney to her brother, one emotionless and the other furious.

"Brian, I-" He cut me off.

"Go upstairs, Courtney," he growled. She didn't move. Just kept staring at me. "Go!" Faster than I've ever seen her move, she sprinted up the stairs and shut her door. Brian slowly sat down where Court was only seconds ago. He folded his hands and set his elbows on his knees, pressing his lips to them like he was thinking of what to say. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

"Matt," he began slowly. "I am going to ask you a question, and I need you to answer me honestly, all right?" I nodded. It was so obvious he was trying his hardest not to scream his head off. "Is what she said true." It came out more as a statement than a question.

"I don't know-"

"Did you have a dream that night that involved her and made you want her." I nodded again. "Do you love her like I do." Something in me snapped.

"No," I said. "I love her in the sense that I want the best for her and I won't hurther, no matter what." I paused, and, when I spoke again, my tone sounded hurt and broken. "I'm not going to rape her to show her I love her."

"I don't rape her-"

"Bullshit, yes you do. She asks you-no, begs you to stop, but you don't. You tell her she'll like it and it's because you love her-"

"I do love her-"

"I'm not denying that, Brian." I watched him for a few seconds, but he didn't do anything. "I know you love her, but I also know you can't figure out how to safely show her that."

"What do you mean by 'safely'?"

"You. Rape. Her. You are her brother, Brian. It's not safe, or healthy-"

"Brian," Courtney called from the top of the stairs. She was leaning over the banister, watching us and listening. Neither Brian nor I had any idea how long she'd been standing there.

"Yeah, baby," he replied, calming down enough to speak with her.

"Can I talk to you for a sec?" He immediately stood and looked at me.

"Stay here," he instructed. I nodded, so he walked up the stairs and Courtney led him into her room. He shut the door behind him, so I quietly but quickly crept up the steps and stood against the door. There was no way in hell I was gonna sit in the living room while they did only God knows what.

"What's the big deal if Matt said that," Courtney inquired, sounding slightly amused. She sounded totally different from the girl I knew, loved, and dreamt about.

"He's one of my best friends-" Brian tried saying but she cut him off.

"But that shouldn't matter." By the tone of her voice, I could picture a smirk playing around her lips.

"Why the hell not?!" He was almost yelling. He was probably freaking her out. When she spoke again, though, she sounded completely calm.

"But you know I'm yours," she said very matter-of-factly. "No one else's." He didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"I know you love him-"

"I love you more, Brian. You should know that."

"But you still love him." Nothing was said for a couple seconds.

"I would never have sex with him, though." I felt my heart sink a little in my stomach. I shook my head and backed away from the door, going down the stairs and toward the front door. I know I shouldn't have been upset, but I thought I had a chance, just a little chance to be with her and make her happy. Her and Briancan do whatever they want from now on, I didn't care.

I walked out and slammed the door behind me. I got in my car and drove to Zacky's, praying he'd be home. He was, so I pulled in to the driveway and got out. I walked to the door, but Zacky was already opening it.

"What happened," he asked, seeing the pissed off look on my face.

"Can we talk inside," I said, noticing for the first time that I was near tears. He nodded and stepped aside so I could go in. We both sat at the dining table and I took a deep breath.

"Courtney's changed," I said.

"How," Zacky asked, his eyebrow furrowing.

"She provokes Syn to fuck her, and I heard her tell him she would never have sex with me." He stared at me with a blank expression on his face.

"You love her." I nodded. "You want her the same way he wants her." I nodded again. He sighed. "I dunno what to tell you, dude. You know it's wrong-"

"But what he does is worse-"

"That doesn't justify it." I looked down. He was right.

"What am I supposed to do, Zack?" I looked back at him. "He'd hate me if I talked to him about it."

"What do you think she would do?" I shrugged.

"I have no idea. If she means that she doesn't want me, then she'll tell me that."

"I think that's your best shot, man. She's really understanding when it comes to feelings and whatever."

"Yeah, I guess." Neither of us said anything for about a minute.

"What are you gonna do about Valary?" I never thought about that.

"I don't know. It all depends on what happens with Court." Zacky nodded.

"When are you gonna go talk to her?" I thought about it.

"Tomorrow. I need time to think and everything."

"All right. Do you wanna stay here for the night? So you don't have to deal with Valary?" I nodded.

"That'd be great, thanks man." Zack laughed a little.

"No prob, bro." We went downstairs into the basement so we could take my mind off of Courtney and try and write some music.