This explained everything.

He wasn't naïve when it came to their relationship. He was observant of the way she'd try to mask her guilt whenever they were together, or the last minute tendency of consulting her conscience before they kissed - or never showing up to established dates. He snorted bitterly, reminding himself he fell for her every lie. How long had they been together? Could what they have be something more? Did she even love him? The four letter word she continuously spout days on end when they first started dating.

He shook his head, his heart tugged, forcing him to look away from from his sister who scoffed at the piteous display of her heartbroken brother but withheld any snide remarks. She, like her brother was shocked at the discovery.

"She isn't picking up."

It wasn't a question.

He nodded.

"This just makes it more a fact that they have something going on," Tara remarked. "or have had something going on long before you guys hooked up."

Cole's shoulders seemed to slump even further. This was appalling in every sense of the word incest. A taboo. Phoebe was the most levelheaded person he knew yet she goes and...does this. He should have sensed something was up when her behaviour shifted whenever her brother was around. They pretended as if they barely tolerated each other, but that changed into an unknown indifference. She cheated on him, continuously, with her twin brother no less. He bet that crystalline watch she wore was a gift from Max.

"What are you gonna do?" Tara asked. The only solution here was divine confrontation. She really liked Max, as in really liked him, but for him to be involved with his sister, painted a horrid impression of him. When her brother said nothing, she went further. "Do you want to go over there and confront them?"

His back was turned to her so she couldn't really get a read on him. God, she couldn't even imagine what he must be going through. She wondered if she should have kept it to herself until she conjured legitimate evidence, but decided against it since she couldn't help herself. She was fond of her brother, but he was too timid and softhearted for his own good.

"Talk to me."

"Tara..."

"Look, even if you choose to deny it, it happened, okay; Phoebe is seeing you and Max at the same time. There's no way around it. You couldn't have found out anyway, and I bet she was just biding her time until she broke up with either of you...mostly likely you from what I saw." Tara snuck a band of blonde strands behind her ear, placing a hand on her brother's shoulder. "I don't like seeing you like this, bro. I know you really love her but you're a good guy, and you don't deserve her shenanigans."

If it hadn't been Max, Tara would have taken joy in keeping that knowledge to herself - watching as her foolish brother unknowingly sustain a relationship that spelled dishonesty right to its roots just for the sake of getting back at him like the countless times he did to her. Their parents barred her from an allowance and she was still sour about that little fact.

But this was different.

Cole sniffed, wiping his face. "I can't believe she did this to me."

"I think its better I was the one to see it," Tara commented idly, "they looked so into it.."

"Tara, I don't need to hear the details." Cole interrupted, his face still withholding an overt sadness that made him look older. "She's still not picking up my calls.."

"Which means we're only left with one option."

Cole shook his head. "I don't want to see her, not after this, not after what she's done...been-doing behind my back with her brother. Its disgusting."

"I know, but you will have to face her at some point, Cole," Tara replied sternly. "and now is the right time to confront her."

"Why do you even care? You attempted to ruin my relationship with Phoebe before. What do you hope to gain from this? Is it Max, because as far as I'm concerned he's content with Phoebe." Saying that hurt more than he let on, but hid it behind a look of contempt.

Tara glared.

"Listen, you idiot. Phoebe's out there playing you for a fool and you're here balling your eyes out over spilled milk instead of taking it like a man and doing something about it."

"It won't change the fact that her and Max are...doing things they are not supposed to! She would be lifted with the burden of deceit and sail the ship with her brother!"

Tara smirked and crossed her arms. "She may think she's won, but we are Campbells, we're not gonna let them off with a happy ending."

"I think that's already established."

"Not unless we get her into trouble. Max too. Yes. They won't be able to deny it. We'll make sure they don't get away with this." Tara nodded to herself, her eyes lit with the prospect of getting payback on Max after dousing her face with a chunk of explosive ink...among other things.

"What are you talking about?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"I don't follow."

Tara grinned.

"...we tell their parents."