"Oh man," Tay grimaced, pushing the food on his plate around with his fork, "I can't deal with Casey being like this all the time-she's like this all the time now! I thought maybe it would be OK when you were here, since she took off work and everything, and wouldn't have school, but she's worse than usual, and I can't even spend time with my own brother when he comes to visit because she made me start this shitty job when you come here." Tay hit his hand on the table in frustration.
"You can't start letting her get to you like that," his brother replied, putting his hand on Taylor's shoulder. "You managed to deal with her when you were younger, don't let her get to you now. You know how she is."
"But things have changed since we were 10, Ike. We grew up. She's used to living in the city, and it changed her. When we were younger, we didn't live together, she was the only girl that I didn't think had cooties, we didn't have to work, and had no worries about anything except when our next street hockey game was. Things have changed between us. Nothing I ever do is good enough for her. She's always on my case, like 'Taylor, you're going to be late for work,' 'Taylor, you should have done the laundry this way, 'Taylor, don't you dare smoke, it's bad for your health'. I'm so sick of her being like that all the time!" He slammed his hand on the table in frustration.
"Look," Ike replied, "Just tell her what's bugging you. She'll understand, especially since you two are older and more mature now. I know how Casey can be, I grew up with her being there too, but like you said, things have changed. She'll act differently."
"She treats me like I can't take care of myself. She checks up on where I go after work, has Lucie totally mad at me, and that isn't even the half of it. I never asked to have another mother. I don't see why she can't treat me my own age."
"Because she cares about you, Taylor, don't you see? She doesn't want you to get hurt by anyone who doesn't deserve you."
"So you're siding with Casey now, fine!" Taylor yelled. "If you're going to be like that, I'll leave!"
"Taylor," he pleaded, "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what you meant," he angrily cut his brother off.
"Look, just forget about it. You know that she'll be fine when you go back to the apartment, OK?"
"I know, she just frustrates me so much!" he replied.
"She frustrates us all."
"But you don't have to live with her!" he answered.
"That's why I don't live in New York," Ike grinned, putting his hand on Taylor's shoulder. "You could learn a thing or two from your brother."
Taylor laughed. "Yeah, good life advice- If you don't want to get frustrated, don't live with Casey. Wow, I really needed someone to tell me that because I couldn't figure it out on my own."
"Oh, please," Ike rolled his eyes. "You ready to go back now?"
"Casey, are you home?" Tay called, opening the door to the unusually dark kitchen. He flipped on the lights. "Casey, where are you?" He paused, and hearing no answer continued, "Come on Casey, this isn't funny. I'm sorry for before." He quickly scanned the counter and table for notes and found none. "Casey, are you home?!" he called. "That's weird," he said, turning to his brother. "She never leaves without leaving me a note."
"Well, she's not here," Ike replied. "I checked the other rooms."
"Oh well. If you don't mind, I think I'm going to go to sleep. I'm so tired from having to get up so early every morning now for work."
"Nah, it's cool. I'll just chill and watch TV."
"'Night," Taylor said, shutting the door to his room.
Ike watched TV for a few hours and around midnight finally turned off the lights in the living room so he could sleep. A loud noise jolted him out of his sleep. "What the hell?" he murmured, rubbing his eyes. The kitchen light flipped on, blinding him. "Casey, is that you? Turn off the light, it's 3 in the morning!"
Taylor's door cracked open as he stuck his head out. "Casey, what the hell is wrong with you! I'm trying to sleep. I didn't even stumble in here like this before!" He could see Casey stumbling around in the kitchen, dragging an emo kid behind her. "I think she's drunk," he whispered to his brother.
"I think she's more than that, look at her." he replied. "You didn't even bring any girls home ever, did you?"
"No," he hissed back. "Casey," he called, "Who is that?"
"My friend," she yelled, slurring her words. "A better one that you!" She looked at the guy with her, then at Ike. "Hey, Taylor's brother, move off the couch, he needs a place to sleep!"
"Um, OK...not complaning here," he mumbled.
"Oh, boy," Tay replied. "You can stay with me," he told his brother, "I hope I don't wake you up when I get up for work."
"Ooh, a whole two hours," he replied, "That's a long time."
Tay laughed. "Yeah, all I can do is wonder what Casey's going to say to explain herself when she's sober. She better come up with something good." he shut the door.