I watched Mark walk through the door with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His black hair was tousled and his dark, blue-grey eyes held a lightness to them. One I hadn't seen in a long while.

"How was the meeting with your friends?" I asked him. I had done a lot of wrong things to him lately, and I decided it was best to creep on the thin ice between us.

He nodded. "It was nice." His voice held a daze that I had first heard when he told me he liked Brittany.

"Who is it?"

He stared at me in slight confusion, doing his best to keep a blank expression. "What do you mean?"

"Who's the guy that's caught your heart?" I teased.

He pursed his lips. "None of your business," he coldly replied and walked to his room.

I sighed as my shoulders drooped in defeat. I picked my phone up from the kitchen counter in front of me and texted Ava.

Lila: he wont talk to me

Lila: what to do???

Ava; does he like smne?

Lila: yeah

Ava: try to match him up

Lila: r u sure thats a gd idea?

Ava; yes

Ava: u want him to be happy, right?

Lila: yeah

Ava: trust me, its a good idea

Lila: i dont knw who he is tho

Ava: join whatever friends he has and find out

I stared at Ava's message. She told me to match up Mark with whoever he liked. I contemplated the idea in my mind. It seemed like a sound idea, but I knew better. I had already tried to match up Mark with someone and it ended poorly. If I tried this again, I could lose my brother completely. I had betrayed his trust by letting his secret out to the school.

When he came home today after his meet-up with those strange people, he was smiling. Something he hadn't done in a while. For once, I realized that I needed to take a step back and not interfere.

I walked to Mark's room and knocked on the door. "What do you want?" He called out.

"I want to apologize."

I saw the door knob slowly turn as Mark opened the door. He eyed me with uncertainty. "You truly want to apologize?"

I nodded as he crossed his arms. I took a deep breath and began. "I'm sorry for betraying your trust and telling the entire school. I know that I shouldn't have done that, and the worst part was when I apologized only so you protect my school reputation. I've been an awful older sister and an awful sibling in general. Can you please forgive me and give me a second chance?"

He sighed and stared at me. He nodded slowly. "I forgive you Lila, but I have one question to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Are you embarrassed of me being your brother?"

My blood ran cold realizing that he had heard my conversation with Ava. I clenched my fists, but surprisingly, instead of a cruel voice encouraging my actions, I heard a nicer one. Its voice was small and could easily be missed, but its words were heartfelt.

Be true.

I took a deep breath before replying. "Yes. I once was ashamed to call you my brother. You were the school loner and I was popular. I agreed with others and went with what they said because I valued my rank in school. More than I valued you, and that was wrong. I truly am sorry Mark."

He gave me a hard stare before opening his arms in a hug. I hugged him back as he held me tightly and he asked, "Can you promise that you won't ever do something like this again? That you won't interfere with anything? That you'll love and accept me as your brother in and out of the house?"

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. I tried to make a sound, but couldn't. I couldn't promise him that I wouldn't do it again. I simply couldn't. I was holding on to it too tightly and I was too scared to let go. The little voice that had whispered to me previously had faded away.

Mark slowly let go as his blue eyes narrowed and burned in a silent anger. "Thanks for the apology, but I was a fool. I should've known you weren't willing to change."

""Mark..."

He slammed the door in my face as I trudged to my room. I took my phone out of my pocket to see that I was flooded with texts. I didn't bother to answer any of them as I flopped onto my bed. The harsh voice came back.

You did the right thing. You may have lost him, but now your popularity will last.

I remember wise words that my grandmother had imparted on Mark and I before she died. She had told us that materialistic things and abstract things such as popularity, rank, and power were fleeting. If you had to give up those you loved to gain it, it wasn't worth it. So there laid the question: Was it really worth it for me to give away my brother to hold onto popularity-something that would soon disappear after I left school and began my life as an adult.

Of course it is worth it. If you never lose anyone to gain anything now, you will become nothing. Sacrifice is always needed. Always.

I closed my eyes and imagined myself in college. Drinking, partying, studying.

Your family's love is not eternal. They will never worship or treat you as those in school did. They will never understand your need to rise above the rest and be considered the best. Cut loose anyone and anything that will get in your way.

I contemplated those words. Did I truly want to become a cruel person who kicked others out of their way just to rise higher?

How do you think some people become politicians and celebrities? They were willing to get rid of anything and anyone. You should learn to do the same.

I heaved a heavy sigh as I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. I was the worst sister ever. My parents had always reminded me that family was more important than popularity. Even when I became famous, I had to accept the reality that I could fall just as easily as I had risen. And once all of my fans had left me, the only people who would remain would be those who loved me the most. My closest friends and family. Mark had always stood by my side. He had supported me when I came out as trans. In return of all he had done for me, I told the entire school his secret. I refused to acknowledge him as my brother.

I finally realized that I had to stop. He was my brother. My sibling. My family. I wasn't going to abandon him for something that was fleeting. Even if it meant giving up my popularity to be by his side, I would do it. Mark took the chance to meet with people from a different dimension. He faced his problems head on while I ran away from them. I needed to stop.

I opened my phone and shot a quick reply to Ava.

Lila: changed my mind. I won't match him up with someone. I'd rather chill

Ava: u sure?

Lila: yeah

I dropped my phone and ran out of my room and to Mark's room. I banged on his door until he answered. He glared at me. "What the hell do you want?"

I took a deep breath. "I know that it could possibly take you weeks to forgive me for what I've been doing to you. I should never have abandoned you just for the sake of being popular. It's wrong and the way I've been acting is wrong. You've always stood by my side and it's my turn to stand by yours no matter what. I understand if it's going to take you a while before you can trust me, but I promise to accept you as my brother regardless of what anyone else thinks."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "What made you come to this realization?"

I shrugged. "I really don't know." I gave him an awkward smile and turned away, heading back to my room. 

'Author's Note'

I am so sorry for updating a day late! 

Who enjoys the fact that Lila seemed to understand her mistakes? 

Bad habits are hard to break, but with enough time and effort, you'll slowly let them go.

I love you all, I want you to be loved, and I hope you are loved! 💕

-DiTrix