Chapter 10- Arriving and Leaving

Taylor sighed deeply as his coffee arrived in the cafe. I wonder where Kyle and Casey are now, he sadly thought. I wish she wouldn't be so stupid keeping him over there. He quietly sat, reading a magazine and drinking a french vanilla latte.

Kyle walked past the cafe with the gallon of milk he had bought at the store. He saw Taylor sitting there by himself, and felt really bad that he was the root of his problems with Casey. He knew that what he had done was wrong, and that Casey had been friends with Taylor longer than himself. He sighed, kicking a pebble on the road, and trudged back to the apartment.

Goddammit! Casey thought to herself as she walked through the street hoping she would come across Tay or Chris or Greg or someone who knew where he was. "Casey, is that you?" a familiar voice asked her as she looked up in suprise.

Hey Casey, here's the milk I bought, just like you said. I went back to Connecticut now, if you want to call me anytime, feel free. If you don't, then it's OK, because I totally would understand. I had so much fun when I was here, meeting all your friends and getting to hang out with you again, just like we did in high school. Brings back a lot of memories, doesn't it. I know why Kristi came here before, and whatever she said was probably right, because she's never wrong, and I don't think she ever will be. Sorry about all the problems I caused when I was here, I hope you and Tay make up, and that you understand why I left without telling you. Taylor, if you read this, you're a good man, and a great friend to Casey, keep on being like you are, I wish I had a friend like you. Love you always, Kyle.

"Oh man," Tay sighed, as he finished his coffee. I'd better get going back to Chris and Greg's, before anyone worries where I am, they're getting home from work soon, Tay thought, leaving the money for coffee on the table and wheeling out of the shop.

"Oh my God!" Casey stammered, "When did you get here, you never told anyone you were coming!"

"I thought that I'd surprise you." he said, grinning. "I wanted to see my little brother again, and when I went to your apartment, no one was there."

"Well..." Casey trailed off, "Tay and I had a little falling out a few days ago, I'm actually out looking for him now, because I wanted to apoligize, I do know where he should be though."

"Well, we'd better hurry then, you never know with Taylor where he'll be," Isaac grinned at Casey as they headed off.

Kyle sighed, giving one last glance at Casey's apartment before he floored the gas on his car and sped off towards the exit leading to the I-95. Maybe next time will be better, he longingly thought.

"Hey Ian, where are you going?" Chris asked him on the street.

"I was just going to your apartment to look for Tay, Casey called before and I think she was pretty desperate to talk to him."

"Oh, I don't think he's there," Chris told him, "I called a couple minutes ago and no one answered, when did he leave your apartment?"

"About 45 minutes ago," Ian told him.

"How was the club last night?" Chris asked.

"It was good," Ian replied, "Tay met a girl Casey knew in high school and he called her today because she was going to go talk to Casey about the whole Kyle thing and I think she did because later, Casey called and she was like, freaking out on the phone."

"Oh man, that sucks." Chris commented. "I'd better get going back to the apartment now though, because Greg lost his keys this morning and won't be able to get in, maybe I'll find Taylor on the way there."

Tay dejectedly sighed as he wheeled along the sidewalk on a roundabout route to Chris's. Why does everything bad always have to happen to me! he thought.

"Greg, did you see Taylor at all?" Chris asked him as he and Ian got to the apartment building.

"No, he's not here, I tried to get in and the door was locked. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Ian sighed, "We're just looking for him and Casey and...whatever!" he shook his head in frustration, causing his hair to fall out of his ponytail.

"Ike, where could Tay have gone? Do you think he'll come back to Chris's? I feel so bad about what happened. I can't believe I fought with him again like I was 10 fucking years old!"

"Calm down Casey, he told her, giving her a hug, "You know my brother can be out of line sometimes."

"But he wasn't, it was me that overreacted and yelled at him, and he left, and he wouldn't talk to me, and it's all my fault he's mad at me, and now no one knows where he is, and-" Casey choked out a sob, "and I'm worried about him now."

"It's OK Casey," Ike told her as they came to the lobby at the apartment. Let's just wait for him in here."

"Casey, did you find Tay yet?" Ian asked her as they walked in.

"No, I didn't, I found Ike though."

"Well, we're all waiting here for him, so, it's all good." Chris interjected.

Taylor looked at the apartment from a block away and thought he saw someone who looked strangely familiar. He shrugged it off and kept at his slow pace, feeling sorry for himself.

"He's here Casey." Ian told her, looking out the double doors.

Casey ran out the door, towards a very surprised Taylor. "Oh my god, where were you! I was looking everywhere for you!" she called to him, a hint of relief in her voice.

"I was out." he replied. "What's up with you?" he asked her, an amused look on his face.

"Tay, I am sooo sorry for how I acted when Kyle was here. I can't believe I got so caught up with him being here, and I treated you like shit. I should have listened to what you had to say before I jumped down your throat. Will you please not be mad at me?" she looked at him hopefully, her eyes watering.

Taylor laughed. "Of course," he told her. "Casey, there is nothing in this world that would make me hate you, or make me not forgive you. You are my best friend, and I love you so much. You were always there for me, and I hope you will always be there for me. Nothing in this world can change that." he smiled at her.

"Thanks Tay," she told him, smiling. "By the way, there's someone inside to see you. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised." Casey grinned and laughed.

The two walked inside the lobby. "Hey Tay, I haven't seen you in a while." Ike told him, grinning.

"Oh my god, hi!" Tay told his brother, giving him a hug. "I didn't know you were coming."

"I know." he replied. "I was going to surprise everyone, but when I went to the apartment, no one was there. Then I found Casey when she was looking for you."

"Oh." Tay grinned. "This has been quite a day, huh?" he asked, grinning at his friends in the lobby.

"Here's your stuff Taylor. You should probably get back to the apartment." Ian handed him the bag of clothes he had brought.

"Yeah.," Tay replied. "Time to go back home."

Chapter 11
Chapter 9
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