"In or out?"
   The question brought far too much to an over active imagination like his. Shaking his head of those thoughts, Isaac tossed in two red chips. "I call."
   Technically, it was a great night. His beer was cold, the pizza was hot, and the game was real good for a change. But it still was not enough to make him content. He was still restless and uninterested.
   Which, by now, was really grating on his nerves.
   Cards were laid out on the kitchen table of Daniel's. He wrinkled his nose as Brad put out a cigarette on the tabletop.
   The black circular spot seemed to grate his nerves too now.
   Clamping down on his own cigarette a little bit tighter, his eyes never wavered as Tim laid two of a kind, and Jason, with great gusto and importance, laid out four deuce's.
   Brady and Jeff, who'd already folded gaped wildly at the hand, then turned expectantly at Isaac.
   Rubbing at his forehead some, and removing his cigarette, Isaac heaved a gusty sigh and eyed Jeff as he itched to reap in his winnings.
   Sighing again, he laid out his cards. "Sorry, Jace." He murmured gently.
   The gaping had turned to disbelieving stares and shocked statements.
   Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of hearts stood staring up at the group proudly.
   Jason slammed down his empty beer bottle, leaving a crescent shape dent in the tabletop to match the burn mark.
   Isaac stared hard at it for a moment, before raising his eyes to the fury of his friends'.
   "It's just a game, Jace."
   Walking off in disgust, Daniel instantly took his seat and started piling the cards together as Isaac raked in the pot to his section.
   Picking up his new hand, he ignored the yelling out front. Suspecting Jason was letting off some pent-up steam he needed to let loose.
   He was getting dealt the two cards he asked for, and concentrating on the betting that was about to start when angry voices moved into the kitchen and interrupted the game.
   Before he could look up and analyze the situation, Emma was in his face.
   Isaac smiled up at her and disregarded the anger he saw, "Want a beer?" He questioned, holding up his bottle.
   She was about to say no, he knew it, but she surprised him and grabbed it from his hand and started gulping quickly.
   He took the time to notice how short she really was, and that even in her high sandals she was wearing, standing next to his sitting form, she was barely taller than him.
   Wiping at her mouth with the top of her thumb, bottle still in hand, she glared down at him. "Do you know where your brother is right now?" She asked with false sweetness.
   Shaking his head, Isaac tossed in his cards and picked up his chips. "Brad take my chair. I think I'm gonna be busy for a while, and someone has to beat Brady for me."
   He let his friends take the announcement anyway they wanted to.
   Which when Daniel replied, "There's a guest room down the hall, first down to the right." Everyone understood which way it was taken.
   Smiling through their lewd comments, Emma waited patiently for Isaac. Taking his cigarette as well, and pulling madly off of it, as if it were some lifeline. And kind of at the moment, it was.
   It was keeping her other hand busy from trying to choke him as well.
   Once they moved off into the front room, where empty beer bottles and opened cassette cases were strewn about. Emma wrinkled her nose, "and they say pigs are messy."
   Isaac chuckled, but took no offense as he shoved off some of the debris from the couch and motioned for her to sit down as he did.
   Glaring at him, Emma ignored his offer and started pacing. Stepping over the trash as she did. "So do you know where you brother is right now?" She questioned sharply.
   Rolling his eyes, Isaac groaned. "No, Em. Don't know where. Don't even know which brother you’re talking about."
   Stopping, she nearly kicked him in the shin. "Zac!" She shouted, "Do you know where Zac is?"
   He shook his head tiredly, getting bored with this conversation quickly. "No, I don't, Em. Sorry, I stopped keeping tabs on him a while back actually."
   Baring her teeth, Emma stepped towards him and leaned her face down into his again. "Zac is with Grace. They were together. Kissing, at McDonald's!"
   She taunted, "You do know who Grace is right?"
   The tightening of his facial muscles proved he did, but Emma continued on anyway. Just to make him as mad as she was. "My best friend. Taylor's ex. The one who started all of this?" Her eyes darkened, "Understanding yet, Isaac?"
   Getting up, he nudged her to the side. "Got your ride here?" He growled lowly, heading for the front door.
   "You damn right I do." She muttered darkly, following close behind.