Zane didn't come out of the bedroom for the rest of the day. Garroth ended up having to sleep in a guest bedroom for the night.

He was alright with that, considering the fact that he wouldn't have his room back anytime soon. If it would help out his younger brother in letting out his feelings instead of keeping them bottled up inside, it was worth it. 

The others, however, grew worried about him. They tried to bring him some food, but he never touched any of it. They knocked and knocked, but with no such luck. 

Zane's stomach rumbled, but he restrained from wanting to eat. This worsen the effect of Garroth's overprotected-ness, wanting to break down the door and do something. 

But what good would that even do?

It wouldn't even help him; if anything, it would make Zane more stressed.

But it wasn't good for him to just sulk in his pit of sadness and disappointment. 

Aphmau begged and bothered Lucinda to know what would it take to fix Zane. 

"He's not okay ! Have you seen him? He hasn't come out of his room since yesterday, and I'm really worried about him. As his best friend, I want to be there for him and not to just sit here and let him be depressed in that room! Even Garroth has been stressed out since his own brother won't even talk to him at all! I just-"

"Aphmau, please! I'm trying my best, but YELLING at me isn't going to do anything. Trying to find the mysterious substance on the flower or any sort of substance takes a long time."

Aphmau shut her mouth completely. Now she felt bad for yelling at Lucinda.

"I'm almost done though. Just please, be patient with me and we'll find Kawaii~Chan and make sure that  she's alright and happy with Zane."

Aphmau nodded in reply, apologizing for blowing up on her before. 

She wandered over to the bedroom Garroth was staying in. He found him running a hand through his hair, his stressful face evident. 

"Garroth? You alright?" She piped up. Garroth looked up to meet her concerned one. 

"A-Aphmau..." He began. "Can I talk to you . . . please?"

She nodded, moving over to sit next to the big, lovable goof of an older brother. 

"I..."

"Take your time."

"I feel as if I never did a good job as an older brother..."

"Why would you say that? You have always been  a great brother to Zane. Especially compared to the other sibling pairs that I've seen."

"You don't understand..."

"Huh? How so? "

"You've never seen the way Zane was treated back at home growing up. During the recovery from the lodge, he admitted everything that he's been holding back since we were kids. Kids."

"I was always treated better than Zane growing up. My- erm, our father has always liked and cherished me more than anything. It was like he was seeing himself live another life all over again."

"But he's been so miserable living with our parents and Vylad since he never had someone to support him and his achievements. Every time he tried to show something cool or interesting that he did, it was always shadowed by my own achievements."

"That's awful..."

"I know. That's probably why he never wanted to make friends. He would fear that their achievements or looks, or anything would always be compared to his own."

"Don't get me wrong, I love my parents. But the way he suffered in silence for so long makes me worried that he's going to suffer though it all over again. I don't want him to suffer in his room by himself, cutting off of all social interaction like he's been used to doing for so long."

Garroth let put a sigh as he tried not to cry in front of Aphmau. 

She patted his back and reassured him that it was never his fault. He genuinely  thanked her, enjoying her company as he vented out his feelings.

It's never good to bottle up your feelings.

You never know when they would overflow and you would blow up on the wrong person.

. . . .

A knock was heard from the cool white double doors. Zane didn't even bother getting up form the bed. 

He lied in a loose fetal position as he stared mindlessly at the plain wall. 

"Zane please..." A voice cried. "Let me inside. You're really worrying me."

He sighed, rising up slowly from the bed. This took some struggle and a lot of strength since he hasn't had any food at all as of late. 

He opened the door a smidge before collapsing on the couch. He waited for Aphmau to walk in. 

She did, reluctantly. He had to sit up so he can leave some room for her. The door closed behind her as she sat on the empty space on the couch next to Zane. 

"Zane, can you talk to me? Please?"

"..."

"Look, I know you might not want to talk, but it would put my mind at ease if you can at least tell me if you're alright." She deadpanned.

He stayed silent as he avoided her gaze, his chin resting on his palm. 

"I don't have to say anything. I don't want to talk right now. The only reason you're in here right now is because I rather have you in here than someone other than N-Kawaii~Chan in here."

"If I let you know on a secret, will you tell me what's going on?" She asked.

Zane looked at her dead in the eyes with a questionable expression, nodding subsequently.

She let out a shaky breath, deciding last minute to chicken out on her original plans.

"Garroth..." She stated faintly. "He really cares about you. You're stressing him out right now with this state that you're in right now."

Zane stayed silent once again, letting out a mere sigh.

"I never knew that you were treated the way you were growing up. I always thought you were just going through a phase when I met you in high school." Aphmau giggled, earning a smirk form Zane.

"But I want you to know that everything is going to be alright. I know that Garte wasn't the nicest towards you, so I want you to know that you are loved in so many ways. Don't ever forget that."

He hugged her once she outstretched her arms. It was a short and tender moment that Zane appreciated wholeheartedly. 

"Thank you." He said in a hushed tone. Aphmau nodded with a smile, which Zane gladly returned, even if she couldn't see a majority of it. 

In perfect timing, Kim popped her head in through the crack of the door.

"Hey! Sorry if I'm interrupting this sappy moment between you two, but Lucinda has an announcement in the living room."

They followed her, Zane struggling a bit due to his lack of energy. 

"Glad you guys can make it!" Lucinda beamed, hands clasped together.

"I know that things are a little out of whack right now, but I thin it's important that we just relax for tonight."

"Wha? How so?" Kim piped up. "What are you even planning?"

"A fun-filled night with friends!" Lucinda threw up some jazz hands as she smiled cheerfully. "I've invited Travis and Katelyn over so we can just have fun!"

"It's basically her way of passing time until the results come in." Garroth said bluntly.

"Hey!" Lucinda laughed, the others joining as well.

. . .

I'm dying right now, so I needed a happy ending to this chapter that would hopefully be posted tomorrow as a bonus! 

And as I predicted, I got sick! It's not even October and I'm SICK.

It sucks, but it could be worse. So why am I even whining?

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this! And look forward to the chapter hopefully coming out tomorrow; which should have happy (and possibly aggravating) elements to it.

Also let me know of any ideas of what fun things they could do at the sleepover!

Anyways, I'll see you next time! Goodbye! <3