CHAPTER 12: RYAN

To anyone, whoever thought Rose wouldn't be cold: deny something she wants and you'll see how cold she can get.

She has been giving me a cold shoulder for a week. Mostly, I wouldn't have mind because this way, we don't have to talk much but the house has a disturbing presence now that she has started being cold. She doesn't even make eye contact with me. She leaves the dinner table as soon as she's finished (she used to wait till I finished), she doesn't say "good morning" or "good night". I'm starting to realize that I miss the attention Rose used to give me. I hate that.

"you did something," Finn said, tilting his head.

Finn and Bree invited us over to have dinner. Of course they don't yet know that Rose is upset with me and I don't want them to know the reason why.

Bree and Rose already left to go upstairs with Sarah since Bree needed to feed Sarah and wanted to talk to Rose about "something".

That "something" will be her investigating why me and Rose are not as much even looking at each other.

"stay away from me," I said. He's leaning closer by the second I don't want my sister to think his husband is cheating on him with her brother.

"relax. I won't kiss you, my wife's a great kisser." He said.

Its disgusting how easily he talks about Bree in front of me, knowing I hate it.

"you're disgusting," I said

"yeah, well, too bad" he said and leaned back "but seriously, why does Rose looks so pissed?"

I let out an exhausting sigh. Finn knows about my health so does Bree but what they don't know is that I was forced to find out what was wrong with me and if I tell Finn about it, chances are him and Bree will gang up with Rose and make me take the treatment.

"I… forgot to tell her that… I'd come home late last night so she waited for me.." Finn looked at me with squinted eyes, even I wouldn't buy that.

"you're a bad liar.." Finn said. I sighed "oh well, its fine, I guess you two are giving your relationship a try and got into your first couple fight—"

"we're not giving anything a chance, don't keep your hopes up." The last thing I want is Finn to think I'll fix our marriage. Its fine how it is.

Finn turned his head towards the staircase when we heard Sarah giggling, he grinned and I turned my head to find Bree holding Sarah who was wearing a floral pink dress which Rose bought.

"look what Aunt Rose bought Sarah," Bree said bringing Sarah to Finn.

Finn took Sarah in his arms and kissed her cheeks making Sarah giggle "my baby looks beautiful in it," he placed her in his lap, Sarah pulled out her arms and touched Finn's face, he grinned wider. I looked at Bree who was standing, admiring her husband and daughter.

I can't lie, Rose is right, its cute how Bree and Finn are with Sarah, their bond with her will be unbreakable, Bree is a younger version of our mom and our mom was the best thing we had.

Its hard not to melt seeing Finn and Bree loving Sarah, they're adorable.

It took me a minute to realize Rose didn't come with Bree. we've already eaten and we're suppose to leave for the house.

"Bree," I said, she hummed without looking away from Finn and Sarah "where's Rose?"

"oh, she's upstairs. She said she's going to stay for a while, you can leave." She said

"what? Why?"

"I don't know."

I sighed. Rose is making this a big deal.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦?

Why do I care?

I found myself standing up and walking towards the staircase. I need to talk to Rose about this, her ignorance is killing me.

I took the stairs upstairs and as I turned right, I saw Rose walking out of Bree's room, she froze when her eyes found mine. We stood still in our spots with our eyes locked.

"you're staying here?" I finally spoke.

She blinked "I'm not staying the night. I'll take a cab home." She said

I didn't say I wanted to leave early. I'll wait till she's done.

"I'll wait till you're done—"

"you don't have to," she said "I can take care of myself."

"I never said you can't."

"Okay. You can go home, I'll get a cab"

"I said I'll stay till you're done."

She sighed "Ryan, just go. You have work tomorrow."

I don't give a fuck about work. I'll sure as damn won't sleep till she's home safe.

"I'm waiting downstairs with Finn when you're done, we'll go home together." I went downstairs before she could complain.

I sat with Finn and Sarah looked at me, I looked back at her, we both started staring till she broke into a giggle and buried her head in Finn's chest.

"oh wow, congratulations you made her laugh with your… smug face" Finn said.

Its weird how Sarah easily smiles around people. It's shocking that she smiles when she's around me, I'm famous for making babies cry not smile. But then again, Sarah's Bree's daughter and Bree was always a bright child even after loosing our parents, she didn't change. She's both sweet and savage. I'm sure both of her brother's personality got into her but I'm glad she shows Jack's personality. He was a better brother anyway.

After few minutes, Rose decided to come downstairs, she pinned me with an annoyed look, I gave her a boring look in exchange. She changed her expression and a smile broke on her face when Bree turned towards her.

"hi," Bree said

"hi," Rose replied and took a step towards Bree "I think I'm going to go with Ryan,"

"oh, why?"

"well," Rose looked at me then moved to Bree "he's going to stay otherwise so.. I'd better go"

What's that suppose to mean? She wanted me to leave? My eye brow shot up. Bree turned her head and eyed me then looked back at Aria.

"oh well, okay then," she said and hugged Rose after they pulled away, Bree turned towards me with her hands on her hips "you're not getting away with this, big brother,"

"okay," I said and stood up, shoving my hands in my pockets, "thank you for having us, little sister,"

"say 'bye bye' to Uncle Cold heart," Finn said, I tilted my head and he was holding Sarah's hand in a way she was waving at us.

"Uncle Cold heart?" I asked

"yeah, suits your personality way too well. Don't you think?"

I stared at him with a blank expression for a minute till Rose said "okay, let's go"

After saying proper goodbye, we exited their house.

Half of the ride was quiet with Rose glancing out the window every 5 minutes or playing with her engagement ring. None of us spoke a word, let alone didn't even glance towards each other.

After we reached home, we quietly washed up and instead of waiting for Rose to go to sleep while working in the study room, I decided to confront her.

She was making the bed when I entered the room, hands shoved in my pockets "were you going to tell Bree about my illness?" my question took her by surprise, she paused halfway setting her pillow then stood straight facing me.

"Maybe," she said as our eyes locked

"why?"

"you wouldn't listen to me, so I thought—"

"you don't get to decide what I tell to anyone,"

"yeah, that's why your sister doesn't know anything about your health,"

"because I don't want her to be worried," I said "and I never asked you to worry about me either."

She scoffed "are you glad that you're dying?" her question took me by surprise.

"doesn't matter if I'm dying or not," I replied

"you think your death wouldn't matter? What do you think Bree will feel like when she finds out? She'll be crushed—"

"she has Finn, he can take care of her—"

"I never said he couldn't," she cut me off "you're not understanding the real picture,"

"what picture?"

She took a pause before saying "Bree will loose another brother," her reply stabbed me in my chest "and your death will not only affect her but it will affect Finn," another pause "he will have no idea what to do. No matter how much he loves her, he knows he can never take your place in Bree's place. Just like you know you can never take Jack's place."

The room fell silent. We stood frozen in our positions, eyes locked. The cold breeze entered the room through the window running a chill over our body. The only audible noise was the sound of our breaths and the clock's ticking.

We stood frozen without looking away when I found myself asking "why do you care if I'm dying?" her face softened "what did I do for you to care about me? I never treated you the way you wanted someone to treat you."

Her shoulders relaxed "because…" she broke eye contact and lowered her gaze as if she couldn't look at me while answering "because… somehow I've gotten attached to you," she swallowed before continuing "I didn't know it was possible to be attached with someone you've barely talked with but… 10 months and few nice gestures can technically make a person get close without having to talk much.." she looked at me again after finishing.

We stood frozen till her words crushed into me again. I exited the room without saying a word leaving Rose in the uncomfortable environment I just built.