There's always one childhood memory that sits in the back of your mind, always wanting to crawl back into your whirlwind of thoughts.

That memory for me wasn't a happy one. I pushed it out before it could slip in, and had no plans of ever reliving it again. As I weaved through the quiet aisles of Target with Zane, the memory tickled the back of my mind.

The last time I had gone to a department store with anyone but my family, it had been Marcus at my side. He hadn't grown into himself quite yet back then and stood a foot taller than me and couldn't stay one pant size for the life of him. It had been a little after the Seven Minutes In Heaven incident and we had slowly started to drift apart. He even kept a few paces ahead, and it wasn't because his longer strides.

Catching glimpses of Zane out of the corner of my eye, I could feel my gut clench and the little I'd eaten at breakfast starting to come up. At certain angles, he looked so much like his older brother that I couldn't stare at him for any longer than a few seconds without feeling a mix of emotions. It wasn't fair for my anger and bitterness to be taken out on Zane, and it was going to take a lot of trust and compassion on my part to be able to treat him differently.

In ways, he was no more than the little boy who used to tag along everywhere I went with his older brother. He still had the boyish smirk and mischievous look in his striking eyes. In other ways, he was a different person entirely. He despised the thought of being mistaken for his brother; he hated his brother. He had grown into himself, even more so than Marcus ever had. The clean cut face I had grown so used to seeing was now shadowed with light stubble, making him appear a few years older. It was impossible for me to view him as that same little boy now, and I still wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"Liam's whimpering." Zane pointed out, slowing the cart. I shook all previous thoughts from my head and walked around to pull the blue blanket from where it laid over the carrier.

Liam was stirring, small hands clutching at the air as tears pooled in his beautiful Dryer blue eyes. I leaned in and plucked him out of it, caressing the back of his small head with my thumb.

His right hand took the collar of my blouse and gripped it tightly, head slowly moving as his whimpering died out.

"Oh My God! Paige Banner?" a familiar voice squeaked. "And you're Mark's little brother, right?"

I saw disgust break out across Zane's voice the second the voice registered in his head. I had only met the girl once before at Nancy's table at lunch a year or so ago. It was a miracle she remembered my name.

The girl was so tall and perfect that I felt like nothing more than a little girl in her shadow. With long legs, perfect golden locks, and bright green eyes, she looked like the stereotypical cheerleader out of every coming-of-age movie ever. From what I knew of her, she was far from a bitch and just tended to be a little dense.

"Hi." I offered the best smile I could. Before I could catch what she said, my eyes fell on the boy trailing behind her. He was one of the band and video geeks at school; that one guy that was always behind a camera or instrument. He had always been labeled as a little odd, and it was shocking to see him wandering after Molly like a lost puppy.

The moment she approached us, she slapped her hands against her cheeks. "Oh, look how precious he is!"

I bounced Liam slightly in my arms, laughing nervously as the band geek joined us.

"Is he yours?" she asked, clicking her tongue against her teeth as she stared lovingly at the baby in my arms.

Zane stepped between us. "Not that it's any of you business, but he's mine."

Molly busted out laughing at the seriousness of Zane's response.

"What are you, fourteen? You're a kid!"

"I'm sixteen." Zane said through his teeth, clearly irritated. "Can you please just leave, Molly."

The smile faltered as she turned her attention back to me, eyes on the back of Liam's head.

"You know, Paige, you could totally do better than a little kid. How about his brother? He's pretty hot and you guys have history." Not a good one.

"Thanks for the input," I shifted Liam, "but if I wanted your advice on my dating life, I'd ask. I'll see you around school, yeah?"

Nudging the cart forward, I gestured for Zane to take control of it. After shooting Molly a disinterested look, he grasped the handle of the cart and pushed it quickly across the store. I felt eyes following me and slowed to a stop, throwing a look over my shoulder. Molly's friend was watching after me, his dark eyes, head cocked slightly as if he was in the process of thinking about something. A cold shiver shot down my spine as I hugged Liam tightly against me and hurried after Zane.

*

We ended up in the back of a small diner for lunch, my foot gently tapping the side of Liam's old stroller. My mom had dug Petey's old one out of the garage and asked us to use it until we could pick up a new one. Zane hadn't wanted to deal with putting together the new one without eating; he didn't seem to want to do much of anything.

He was quiet, not saying a word unless it was to Liam. His blue eyes were hazy and distant, as if he were in another galaxy rather than at the table with me. I had a horrible feeling his new attitude had to do with what Molly said at Target, but I wasn't going to push or pry.

"I want to sleep with someone." Zane's sudden outburst snapped me out of my observation of Liam's small hands.

I held back a laugh. "That's nice."

"I'm serious, Paige. I'm tired of everyone viewing me as a kid." he grumbled, leaning back in his seat.

"And you want me to sleep with you?" I guessed.

"As great as that would be, I know you won't do it, so I'll just need your assistance in it." he answered.

Never in a million years would I let him know, but I felt my stomach flutter at the compliment.

"How can I assist you?" I asked.

He scratched at his neck. "Help me find a girl."

"You don't need my help, Zai." I mumbled. "Every girl in school worships the ground you and Marcus walk on."

"I want a real girl, Paige." he looked as if he wanted to say more, but kept his mouth shut after considering it.

I shifted in the booth, running my fingers along the cold surface of the table top.

"Why do you need my help, Zane? Ask Nancy or-"

"I don't trust Nancy or anyone else." he cut me off. "Can you just push your hatred for my brother aside and think about our relationship for a moment?"

"What do you want from me, Zane? I can help you get a girlfriend, if that's what you want. Just give me your criteria and I'll talk you up to a few girls." I replied, massaging my temples.

He reached across the table and rested his hand on top of mine.

"There's a party and a girl from my American Lit class I want-"

"I have American Lit with you!" my head whipped up in surprise, "What's her name?"

He averted his eyes. "Jessie."

"Jessica Morano? She's pretty and really nice. I'll talk you up to her."

"The party is tonight." he finished, acting as if he hadn't heard a word I said.

"Okay." I checked my phone for the time. "Then I'll go for an hour and talk you up to her, then head back home."

"Sounds good." he retreated back into his quiet shell as he stirred his black coffee with a spoon. I turned away and toward the stroller in front of me, giving my full attention to the infant inside so I wouldn't have to recognize the real reason behind Zane's sudden bout of silence.

*

As I changed in preparation for the party, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. There was a slight chance that Zane had no plans for another girl and was actually asking me to the party in an indirect way. It wasn't that the idea disgusted me, I knew it'd be fun to spend the night with him. I was just scared of what it might mean if I did.

Would he think I was leading him on? Would I actually start to have feelings for him? Did I already have feel-

"Sweetie, you be sure to keep you phone on you, okay? When you have a child at home, you have to be alert of getting calls." Mom popped into the doorway, leaning into the frame with a soft smile.

"Okay, Mom. Gotcha." I smiled. She stepped into the room and made her way toward me, gently prying my lip gloss from my hand and shaking her head.

"Do you want to tell me what your plans are for tonight?" she questioned, pointedly.

"I'm trying to get Zane a girlfriend because he wants to have sex." I retorted. "You asked."

"I did." she laughed.

"I'll be at Zane's house anyway for the party. I'll be safe."

She nodded, then ducked out of the room without another word. Thinking she was gone, I reached for my purse on the bed. I didn't expect her to come back in with a bag in her hand.

"Sit." she ordered. I gave her a skeptical look before obeying.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"You're going to show Marcus what he missed out on when he hurt you." she unzipped her make up bag. "Now shut your eyes and let your poor old mom be part of your life for once." 

***AN****

Hope you guys enjoyed! 

What do you think about Zane's request? Do you think Paige is right in assuming he may just be asking HER to the party? 

Let me know what you thought/think!

~ChasingMadness24