'I don't know what his problem is' Carl told his brother sullenly when he had gotten home. 'He's always trying to push me away.'

'He was just going to visit his grandparents' Cid replied, his older brother. 

'Yeah why are you so jealous?' his younger sister Lucy said to him. 

'I'm not jealous' Carl replied glumly. 

'Possessive then' Lucy corrected.

'I'm not that either' Carl scowled. 

Lucy tilted her head back, rolling her eyes. 

Carl sat at the bottom of the stairs, his older brother sitting above him, and his younger sister hanging off the banister. 

'Do you think there's something wrong with me?' Carl worried.

'Like what?' Lucy said. 

'I don't know' Carl sighed unhappily. 'Am I in the wrong? I mean.... is it wrong that I'm complaining about him like this? I just wish I had more of his attention.'

'You're asking me that?' Lucy grinned at him. 'I don't even like boys, they smell.'

'Maybe I should ask someone whose actually been in a relationship' Carl said turning to his older brother above him. 'Cid?'

'Sorry what was the question?'

'Am I wrong to complain? Am I wrong to....want more of his time, to insist we stop keeping what we have a secret?'

'I don't know man' Cid groaned. 

'Oh come on' Carl persisted. 'What if your girlfriend kept brushing you off? What if she didn't want to spend time with you out in public?'

'Come on man he's just visiting his grandparents.'

'He wants to keep me a secret' Carl spoke angrily now, his voice a little loudly. 'Why would he do that?'

'I'm sure he has his reasons. Not everyone likes....you know....'

'Gays?' Carl offered. 'Why should we care what other people think? I love Jay, but he makes me so frustrated and exasperated sometimes.' 

'You should tell him all these things yourself when he gets back' Cid said to him, as Lucy moved off down the hallway, bored now with the conversation.

'I have told him.'

'Tell him everything you told me just now, let him know how much it bothers you.'

'Or maybe I am being too pushy' Carl mused to himself then.

'God you're unbelievable' Cid groaned tiredly. 'Just do what you think is right, tell him or not, its up to you.'

'What if I chase him away?'

'If he's so easy to chase away then maybe he's not right for you' Cid told him. 'Anyway' he said rising to his feet and moving down the stairs, 'I smell dinner nearly ready. Are you coming?'

'Yeah in a second.'

Cid walked down the hall towards the kitchen, leaving Carl alone on the step. 

Carl groaned to himself, feeling frustrated and lost, not knowing what to do. 

He stood, following his brother down the corridor, towards the smell of food.