“Ike?” he asked sleepily. “What are you doing?”
“Sneaking back in the house,” he replied.
“Why?”
“Because that’s generally what you have to do after you’ve snuck out.”
“Why did you sneak out?”
“Because I wanted to.”
“But why?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Yes, that’s why I asked.”
“Zac, just go to sleep.”
“It’s a girl isn’t it? Someone you don’t want anyone to know you’re dating.”
“Yeah, Zac, that’s exactly it. Now to go sleep. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Zac sighed sleepily.
“Okay.”
And in moments he had returned to dreamland. Isaac smiled to himself and went back to bed, relieved that Zac had assumed it was a girl. It was dangerous having to share a room in his line of work, maybe he should move out after all? Oh he’ll think about it in the morning. He was way too tired to give the matter any more thought now.
**********
The following day, Isaac and Zac were playing computer games. There was little point on working on their album as Taylor was still on his honeymoon. Then there was a break between games:
“So, Ike.”
“Yeah?”
“Who’s the chick?”
“What chick?”
“The chick you’re secretly dating?”
“If I told you then it wouldn’t be a secret.”
“I can understand you hiding it from the fans, but from me? From your family?”
“Zac…”
“C’mon! I wanna know!”
“Well, I’m not gonna tell you,” Isaac replied, then added under his breath “mainly because there isn’t anyone.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“I wanna know!”
“Too bad.”
There was a pause.
“It’s not a guy is it?”
“What? No way! I’m a lot of things, Zac, but gay is not one of them.”
“Oh good. That’s a relief. So, why won’t you tell me?”
“Because I don’t deem you worthy. So there.”
“Aww…”
“And if you don’t drop it, I’m going to quit playing these games and go and do something productive.”
“Nooo! Not the dreaded ‘p’ word!”
“I thought the dreaded ‘p’ word was practice…” Isaac joked.
“There’s two of them,” Zac laughed. “Okay, fine, you don’t want to talk about her. I’ll have to kick your scrawny butt instead.”
“Good luck. You’re gonna need it, bucko.”