It was a bright sunny day in May. May 8th to be exact. The annaversary of the day heart surgery saved my brother Brian's life. As I walked home from the bus, I thought about how scared I was that day two years ago. I mean, I almost lost my best friend.

As I walked up the block to my house, I saw a car in the driveway. I'd never seen that car before, yet I felt like I should know it. Neither of my parents were home, but the front door was open. As I got closer, I saw that the license plate read 'BROK.' Brian was home!

"Brian," I yelled as I ran through the house. "Brian - where are you?"

He suddenly jumped from the livingroom into the hallway. "It's really you!" I screamed.

"My little sister has turned into some crazed fan now? Yelling like those girls in the airports?!" Brian mused. "Don't I get a hug anymore?"

We hugged tightly as if we hadn't seen each other in years. Really, we hadn't seen each other since his birthday, when he played a concert in our hometown - Lexington, Kentucky. He's in a band named the Bacstreet Boys. They're really popular world-wide. Sometimes, people even stalk them. My cousin is in the group, too.

"Brian, can't you send her to one of her friend's houses and get her out of here?" whined a voice.

I'd know that voice anywhere. It was my soon-to-be-sister-in-law Leighanne. We dispised each other. She saw me as competition from the beginning of her and Brian's relationship. I hadn't thought it was serious until a year ago. Anyway, she thought I was her enemy; I thought she might brain-wash Brian into ignoring me. I never told Brian though.

You see, Brian and I are very close - like best friends, only related. I stopped thinking about this when I heard Brian yell. He hardly ever does.

"Leighanne, shut-up!" Brian suddenly burst out, his face red. "I'm so sick of you trying to run my life and trying to make me hate my sister and best friend."

"I never tried to make you hate Nick," Leighanne said innocently. "As for your sister, maybe I did."

"MY LITTLE SISTER IS MY BEST FRIEND YOU SPOILED LITTLE BRAT! EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT, YOU TICK ME OFF WHEN YOU TALK BAD ABOUT HER. AND HOW ABOUT WHEN YOU GO ON ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW 'PERFECT' YOU ARE? NOBODY'S PERFECT - GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL AND INTO YOUR TINY BRAIN!" Brian exploded.

I fell dead silent. He'd never told me I was his best friend. Leighanne was about to respond when Brian cut her off.

"Get out of this house," Brian said more calmly. "Get out of this house. Go back to Florida - to your house. The engagement is off, the relationship is over. I'll send you anything of your's that's in my house. In fact, give me your key right now," Leighanne pulled the key out of her pocket and gave it to Brian. "Good. Now get out of here and out of my life."

Leighanne walked into the livingroom and picked up her suitcase. She walked out of the house, still shocked, not saying anything.

As soon as the door shut behind her, Brian broke down. He started crying hysterically. I thought he was going to go after her.

"Oh God Lizzie," Brian sobbed. "Oh God. I am so sorry! I should have done that sooner. Last time we saw you - two months ago - Nick told me to watch Leigh - I mean Leighanne and how she acted towards and around you. I did and it hasn't been the same between us. She almost talked me into not coming here today. But I had - I just had to see you."

Brian was crying so hard that he started hiccuping. I'd only seen get this upset once before - when he found out he was having heart surgery.

"Brian please calm down. It's ok," I told him soothingly.

"No, it's not. 'Cause now you're gonna be mad at me," Brian got out between hiccups.

"I'm not mad at you Bri - I never was," I was telling the truth. "Come on, let's go. There's macoroni and cheese in the cabinet that I was going to make," Brian calmed down. "And then we can go play basketball or go to the range."

Copyright Kentucky Girl 2001