"Well, I just figured that I would come for a surprise visit here because things were pretty boring at home." Ike told Tay and Casey back at the apartment.
"What would you have done if we weren't here and you couldn't find us?" Tay asked his brother. "Would you have flown back home?"
"No." Ike retorted, groaning at his brother's remark. "I would have at least stayed in the city for a while, you know that I've always liked coming to the city."
"Well, the novelty wears off after you've been here for a while," Taylor told him, "Sometimes I think it's more boring here than it ever was back in Tulsa."
"That's because you don't do anything all day, Tay." Casey told him.
"In Tulsa I didn't do anything either."
"You went to school or were out with your friends there." Casey told him. "Here, all your friends work or go to school during the day, so you can't see them then." Casey told him, shaking her head.
"Ok, I know you want me to start working." Taylor told her, " And I will, soon."
"They can't hold that position for you much longer." she told him, looking intently at the chipping polish on her nails. "Josh's boss keeps yelling at him for not hiring anyone yet, so I told him you'd start tomorrow."
"Casey!" Taylor yelled at her. "I can't work now, my brother just came to visit! You can't leave him home all day!"
"Don't worry." she told him, "I got it covered. You go in at 8 and get out at 4. Then you're home. I don't have any classes this week, and I told my manager that I was taking the week off, so I have to work overtime next week."
"I swear to god, Casey, you are something else." Tay told her, shaking his head.
"At least she's more organized that you." Ike told him.
"You-stay out of this." Tay frustratedly told his brother.
"Fine, but she's taking responsibility for you, like she's supposed to." he finished.
Tay disgustedly sighed, knowing that his brother was right, he'd heard all this before, and he was sure he would hear it again.
"Taylor, you lost him! How the hell could you lose him! He was here 5 minutes ago! You're older than him, you were responsible for him!" she yelled frantically at her friend."He's old enough to get back here himself."
"Maybe if you were home, yeah, he could get back by himself, but you're not home, you're in the middle of Manhattan!"
"Casey," he replied to her calmly, "he's 12 years old, he'll be fine."
"You know what, you can go on thinking that in your own little world, no one gets hurt, or killed, or raped, or molested when they're young and in a big city by themselves. But you know what, it happens, kids get abducted, killed, whatever! And it really doesn't help to know that you guys are like, famous, and everyone knows who you are, and could kill him or steal him for money!"
"Look," he said, "He can fight back, he's a strong kid."
"Strong until he meets some 300 pound 6 and a half foot tall guy with a gun, then he's a little kid. He doesn't even have anyhting like pepper spray with him."
"Come on Casey," he told her, "Do you really think he needs pepper spray?"
"Look," she angrily replied, "Two weeks ago my friend Jamie and I needed it when we were walking from school in the middle of the afternoon. Of course people need it! You don't know how many people carry this stuff around with them!"
"Yeah, I know, but will you ever let me hear the end of it? I swear, I screw up once and no one ever gives me a break." Tay sighed in frustration.
"What can ya do?" Casey shook her head and shrugged. "Anyways, I think we should take your brother out to dinner tonight, don't you?" she glared at Taylor.
"Yeah, great idea." Taylor glumly replied.
"Come on, it'll be fun," Casey told him, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Your last night without a job, no more boring days for you!"
"Fuck you." he replied.
"Don't worry, I appreciate the thanks and everything." Casey rolled her eyes. "So, Ike, where do you want to go for dinner?"
"I don't know, what's good around here?" he asked.
"Um, do you like sushi?" Casey asked.
"Yeah, that sounds good." he replied.
"Sushi it is." Tay groaned. "Sorry, that's where we're going, sweetheart." she told him, grinning. "You can't always get your way, you know."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Taylor replied, rolling his eyes and making a face at her. "Be like that."
"Oh please," Isaac interjected, "Aren't you a little too old to act like that?" Taylor rolled his eyes, keeping silent.
"Ok, time to leave now, and...go and make reservations at the sushi place." Casey told the two, clasping her hands together. "Come on."
Isaac and Casey walked out the door, waiting for Taylor. She glared at him, quickly glancing at her watch then back up to her friend. "Ok, I'm hurrying." he replied, exiting the apartment and shaking his head. "I don't know why I listen to you all the time anyway." he grumbled quietly.
"Because I'm your friend, I take care of you, and you know that I'm always right?" she grinned at him.
"Ugh, go away." he replied, smiling.
"Let's go," she laughed as they got into the elevator and headed downstairs.