Brighter Than the Stars

Zach’s POV

My parents are sitting together on a couch in front of me, Vic was also in the living room doing something on his computer. I sighed and took a deep breath. My mom heard and turned to me.

“There is something I should tell you guys.” I said nervously and immediately got my dad’s attention

“Oh no, please don’t tell us you’re going to be a father.” my dad pleaded and I saw how much that thought scared him

“Honey, you’re too young for that.” my mom said, my brother turned to look at me hearing all the crazy stuff they were saying.

“That’s crazy you know that right?” I told them

“There is nothing wrong with your health right?” my mom asked franticly

“My health is fine, well I think it is…” I said

“If it is not any of that then get that look off your face, it can’t be that bad.” my dad said

“I’m moving out.” I answered and looked at their faces and I didn’t like the way my mom
was looking at me, Vic looked at me like I said the world was going to end.

“You know what? I’m going our for a while.’ I said standing up and walked to the door

“Oh no, Zachary get back here.” my mom ordered

“Where do you plan on living?” my dad asked

“Tomorrow I’m going to look at some apartments that I liked.” I said

“So you’ve been thinking about this for a while now, you’re sure about this?” he asked
and I nodded

My mom was being stubborn and wouldn’t agree wit me leaving, she was even more opposed to the idea when I told Vic I was moving to Los Angeles. My dad tired to calm her down but it wasn’t working. She insisted on saying that she wouldn’t let me go and that this was my home. I tried telling her that I wouldn’t live with them forever and I affirmed that I had already made a decision. She kept insisting that it was dangerous out there but I told her that it could be just as dangerous in the kitchen.

“You’re not leaving this roof.” she said rising her voice, I was about to respond but Dad spoke first

“Why are you so apposed to him leaving? He’s an adult, he wants to start his life. I see where he is coming from.” my dad said trying to talk some sense into her.

“NO. Zach stays here, in this house he is safe. Putting that aside, he is still my baby, I want my boys together with me.” she insisted

“Mom, I’m not a little kid anymore, I can take care of myself. I promise I will visit as much as possible, but I want you to know that I will chose a place, sorry Mom.” I said

“I wonder how Michael’s doing.” I muttered

“What about Michael?” Vic asked

“He’s also telling his parents that he’s moving out, he actually already bought a place.” I said

“Zachary, listen to me-” Mom was saying but got interrupted by someone who was at the door. She went to see who it was and I took my phone out and asked Mikey how hw was doing with his parents. He told me that his parents were against his idea of him moving out. I wonder why out parents are taking this so bad? I looked up from my phone and saw my mom talking with Maddie and some other guy.

“You have to convince him.” I heard my mom tell Maddie.

“I don’t understand her. She’s making me feel like I just did the worse thing in the world.” I told my dad, “Why aren’t you mad?” I asked

“There’s no reason for me to be mad, I’m proud that you’re becoming a responsible young adult, besides, I can’t wait till you’re out this house.” he said making me laugh

“Don’t tell him that kind of stuff.” Mom scolded him

“Zach, Vic, I’d like you to meet Alex, my boyfriend.” Maddie said introducing us

“Hi.” I said getting a strong hold as we shook hands

“Hi.” Vic said much friendlier

“So you’re my sister’s boyfriend.” It was more of a statement than a question

“Yes, I am very lucky to have her.” Alex said

“Yes you are.” I said and she whispered something in his ear and he chuckled

“How and where did you two meet? You better respect her, if you hurt her I-” I threatened but I was rudely interrupted…

“Zach, stop it, you’re worse that Dad.” Maddie complained, I looked at her with a whatever face, crossed my arms and looked down.

“So I’ve heard that you’ve been a very bad boy.” she said and I have her a black stare

“Please convince him.” Mom said

“oh THAT, yea I’m moving out.” I said

“My little brother is growing up.” she said with fake tears

“Isn’t my mom making a big deal out of this? It’s just an apartment.” I said

“I work in the real estate and right now it’s a good time to but a house, so why now buy a house instead?” Alex asked

“I actually thought about buying a house but I changed my mind. Since I’ll live alone I don’t need much space and I go out on tours so there’s no point in buying one. Yet.” I explained

“You’re not leaving, I won’t let you.” she quickly said before storming off

“You’re not mad at me too or are you?” I asked her

“Of course not. I can’t wait till I help you decorate and help you choose your furniture.” she said excitingly

Throughout the day I saw how happy Maddie was when she’s with her boyfriend and he seems like a really nice guy, I guess I approve. Looking at them brought back memories, back when Megan and I used to look at each other the way Maddie and Alex are. I still can’t figure out why she did it. I would have done anything for her, all I wanted in return was a smile and for her to be by my side. Why am I even thinking about Megan I had forgotten all about her? I don’t- My thoughts where interrupted by Maddie calling my name for who knows how long.

“Are you ok?” she asked

“Yeah I’m fine, I was just remembering something.” I responded

“By the look you had on your face it wasn’t something good, what did you remember?” she asked

“I was just remembering a time I used to be so happy and how bad things got.” I mumbled looking down, I have never told Maddie about my past relationships so I feel awkward telling her this.

“This is about a girl huh?” she asked, well more like stated

“Yeah, you have no idea all that she did to be, I don’t even know why I started thinking about her.” I said

“What did she do to you?” she asked, I’m not sure if she was mad or sad

“I-” I mumbled before someone was at the door. I quickly got up to see who it was and it was Kira.

“Perfect timing.” I said letting her in and she made a confused face

“Kira, that’s Alex, my sister’s boyfriend, Alex this is Kira, my best friend” I said introducing them and they just waved at each other.

“So what were you guys doing?” Kira asked

“We were talking about Zach’s love life.” Maddie said

“He was actually telling you about his past relationships? Wow, what did you do to him?” Kira joked

“You know what? While you continue talking about me as if I wasn’t here, I’m going to see if my mom will talk to me again.” I said and ran up the stairs. I went in her room and sat on the bed right next to her. We stayed quiet for a long time then I tried to get her to understand why I was moving out and tell her that is wasn’t like I was never going to comeback ever again. I tired to make her tell me why exactly she is so upset with this but all she did was give me a vague answers and kept telling me that what I was trying to do was a bad idea. I saw that this wasn’t going anywhere so I got up and left her room, on my way out my dad was going in and I told him that if I would have said that I was dying or any of the crazy things they thought I was going to say she would have been less upset. I whined like a little kid to Kira and told her to cheer me up because I wasn’t in a good mood and I laid my head on her lap. For a while she just ran her hand through my hair then she finally spoke, grinning, saying that she had an idea but wasn’t sure that it will necessarily cheer me up.

“What-” before I could finally finish asking my question she began tickling me. Soon enough my sister joined her until Kristen came in asking what was going on. Since they were distracted I used that as my chance to escape, but before I got up they dropped on me not letting me up. After a while Maddie got off of me and sat on Alex’s lap, Kira squeezed herself between me and the couch and Kristen went upstairs looking for Vic.

About an hour later Cam called inviting us to his pool, I told him that I couldn’t go because my sister and her boyfriend where home and he told me to take them with me. Even though it was kind of cold we decided to go, it was also kind of late but whatever. I jumped in the pool off the trampoline only to realize that the water was warm, since when does Cam’s pool have a heater?

Cameron is extra happy because Tori just got back yesterday. I saw Cam looking around at us then walked towards the garage. Quietly I went in his house and used kitchen door to then go in his garage. I hid behind some boxes and when I heard him pass by I jumped out and screamed. He jumped away screaming then grabbed a broom.

“Calm down, it’s just me.” I said pulling the most serious face I could make which didn’t last very long because almost instantly I began laughing uncontrollably.

“That wasn’t funny.” he whined and I nodded clutching my stomach from laughing too hard.

“What are you going in here anyway?” I asked curiously

“Nothing.” he answered too quickly

“What WERE you doing?” I asked suspiciously

“I’ll tell you if you help me.” hw said mischievously after I agreed to help him he told me the plan and I smirked. We filled up two bid water guns and hid them behind bed floaties. We walked out the garage normally then we locked eyes for a second and began our attack. Most of them where together so it was easy to wet them. After our water ran out they started chasing us. Clumsy me just had to trip so Vic a and Michael are dragging me towards the pool.

“Guys stop, remember what happened last time I threw him in a pool!” Cam yelled making Mikey stop

“What happened last time?” Vic asked still holding me

“Cam tired to kill me.” I said, “I’m joking, I’m joking! I know it was an accident.” I added after looking at Cam’s face, then Maddie wanted to know what happened. Vic kept insisting that I tell them what happened so I told them everything, he asked me why I never told them anything and I simply said because they never asked and I make a duh face then he looked at me like I was stupid. Vic’s behavior is kind of weird now that I realize it and I’m not saying it because he’s my brother, something just seeps off about him.

An hour later we were at the beach roasting marshmallows. Most of the time we stayed quiet just looking at the campfire. I noticed Michael was deep in though and looking a bit upset.

“What’s wrong?” I asked after sitting next to him, he shook his head as to say nothing making me give him a knowing look.

“It’s just- I don’t understand why my parents are so upset about me moving.” he said

“My mom too, she won’t even talk to me.” I said

“Yeah, they took it really bad. Zach what do I do?” he asked desperately

“I wish I knew Michael, I really do.” I said

“Maybe we can talk to them together and make them understand that us moving isn’t a bad thing.” he suggested

“That’s not a bad idea, it’s good to see you actually using that brain of yours.” I teased, he made an offended face and pushed me to the side. I looked up at my friends and smiled and how funny they looked right now, I’m so mean haha. I saw Vic whisper something in Anna’s ear making her blush, it must be a Porter thing haha.

I laid down on the sand and watched the waves come and go. I felt someone shaking me and I sat up with an annoyed look on my face. I tried to lay back down but Maddie stopped me saying that we where leaving. Kira asked me why I have been so tiered lately but I really don’t know.

I was peacefully sleeping in my bed when I woke up to some yelling, I looked at the clock and it was two AM. Who’s watching TV at this time? Then I realized that it wasn’t the TV, it was my parents. It seems like my dad is mad at something my mom did, but what could she have done to get him so mad? Few minutes later I heard my name, that’s when I really became curious and confused. After hearing them argue some more I couldn’t take it anymore and I tried to tune them out by listening to my ipod and closing my eyes. I felt someone shaking me to see Vic standing best to me.

“I couldn’t tell if you were sleeping or not.” he said sitting on a spot on my bed. I told him that I woke up because of their yelling and that I didn’t want to hear them argue anymore so I listened to my ipod. I asked him if he knew why they were arguing, he said he had an idea of why but he didn’t think that was it. I told him that I knew it had to do with us because I hear Dad say that we were his sons too. We didn’t say anything for a long time then I sat up abruptly.

“Zach, what are you doing?” he asked

“Leaving.” I said

“What? Where?” he asked shocked

“Out of here, where I don’t have to hear them fight all night.” I said and ran down the stairs

“No, don’t go, Zach come back!” he yelled after me

“I’ll come back later, don’t worry.” I said, he pleaded me not to leave but I wasn’t listening, I was going to walk out when I saw my parents standing behind Vic.

“Where do you think you’re going this late at night?” My mom asked

“Somewhere where I don’t have to hear you two fighting.” I said walking towards the door.

“Someone could be out there.” she said worried

“We’ll stop fighting, we promise.” Dad said

“I don’t want anything to happen to you, please don’t go.” she said and I saw tears forming in her eyes. Oh no. I don’t want her to cry, especially because of me.

“Don’t cry Mom, please don’t cry because of me. I’m sorry please don’t cry.” I said giving her a hug. She haled Vic and I close to her and she started shaking. Now I’m confused, and worried, what’s wrong with my mom? Mom and Dad shared a look then Mom looked at Vic, their hiding something, I can tell. But what are they hiding from me? Something bad happens when people hide stuff from me, I don’t like this. I took a look at them then I left to my room without saying a word.