Taylor
Taylor looked curious as he stepped off the platform into the space station. Of course, he'd been here plenty of times before, but not for the same reason.
"Did she know you were coming?" came Bee's deep voice from behind him.
"No..."
"Any idea where she might be?"
"Absolutely none."
Avery
Avery was wasting time during her free period, and instead of going to the library to study with the rest of her class, she was taking a quick walk around the station when she thought she saw...
"Tay?"
Taylor
Taylor's eyes darted across when he heard her voice, and his face lit up slightly.
"Avie!"
He rushed over and gave her a hug, picking her up and spinning her around.
"Hey girl... how are you?"
Bee followed him over silently.
Avery
Avery hugged him back tightly.
"I'm good, how are you... no latest drama?"
She looked at Bee.
"Um..."
Taylor
Taylor noticed her line of sight, and chuckled.
"Oh sorry Ave. Don't let his size fool you, he's ok. Avie, this is Bee..." he began to introduce them.
Bee held out his hand.
"And this is my sister Avie, in case you hadn't guessed. Bee's my ah... bodyguard. Mouse has one too. Her name's Clarissa, I think you'll like her."
Avery
Avery took his hand and shook it shyly.
"Hi."
She turned to Taylor.
"Well it's about time you and Mouse got bodyguards... speaking of which, how is Mouse? How's everyone back home?"
Taylor
"As far as I know, good," Taylor shrugged.
"I think you know Sheldon's staying at our house... well, your house now," he chuckled, "haven't heard from Jess, which isn't unusual, and I think something might be up with Dad. He's been acting kinda weird. Apart from that, craziness as normal."
He ran his fingers through his hair.
"We've moved into our own house. It has four bedrooms, which is pretty cool. You should come and see it sometime... depending on how your schoolwork is. But come on, your turn. What's been happening here?"
Avery
"Um... not much."
Avery shrugged.
"Been having lessons off Tanya, which is so cool, I'm learning a lot from her. School's ok... a lot to adjust to after homeschool... but not too hard."
Taylor
Taylor raised an eyebrow.
"So you mean to say..." he reached out for her arm and pulled her to him, "that all this time, you've done nothing but schoolwork? Forgive me if I don't believe you."
And he began to tickle her.
Avery
Avery giggled.
"Well I've been to the movies, and went to the arcade a few times too."
She poked him in the side.
Taylor
"Hey!"
Taylor poked her back, then continued to tickle her.
"So you've been having fun without me, huh? Typical."
Avery
"Noooo!"
Avery poked him and tried to wriggle out of his grasp.
"But thanks to you, Ike and Zac always making me play video games, I beat the guys I was with."
Taylor
Taylor moved his arms to around her waist so she couldn't get away.
"Guys huh?" he grinned.
"Are you not telling me something?"
He leant in and kissed her cheek.
Avery
Avery smiled.
"Maybe."
She struggled to get free again.
Taylor
"Don't you go and get pregnant on me," Taylor wiggled his eyebrows, "and if anyone gives you crap, let me know. Bee'll fix 'em."
"Indeed..."
Taylor chuckled.
Avery
"Tay, I'm 12... I'm not planning on getting myself pregnant. Besides, we're not even officially... shutting up."
Avery nodded and smiled innocently.
Taylor
Taylor hesitated, then squinted with one eye.
"We're not officially what? And who are we talking about?"
He messed her hair up a little, before letting her go.
Avery
"Not officially anything, and we're not talking about anyone."
Avery smoothed her hair down and smiled, looking angelic.
Taylor
Taylor sat on the floor near the wall, leaning back on his hands, and grinned up at her.
"Avie has a boyfriend..." he taunted in a soft voice so only they could hear.
Avery
"And you're how old, twenty? And he's not really my boyfriend anyway."
Avery grinned.
"Come on, we can go to my room or the caf or something."
Taylor
Taylor held his hand out for her to help him up.
"I believe you owe me a tour. I've only been here a few times."
He glanced at Bee.
"I dunno about..."
"Once I have. Came to visit someone."
Taylor nodded.
Avery
Avery reached out and pulled Taylor to his feet.
"Alrighties, come on then, Tay."
She led them down a hallway.
"Here we have a hallway."
Taylor
"Oh... wow..." Taylor almost whispered in mock awe.
He looked up at the ceiling, and pretended to study the walls.
Bee followed at a distance with a smile on his face.
"How's Jade anyway?"
Avery
Avery grinned.
"She's good. You can come visit her after the magnificant tour I give..."
She indicated to the caf.
"That's the caf. Where we... eat... and have tables and chairs."
Taylor
"Amazing," Taylor's eyes widened and he slapped himself in the face.
"Actually, food doesn't sound like a bad idea."
Avery
"Mmmkay."
Avery led him into the caf.
"Food it is then."
She waved at a table of her friends.
Taylor
"Friends of yours?" Taylor grinned, hugging her from behind.
He kissed her again, then began to head for the caf.
"Don't forget to introduce me to your boyfriend."
Bee followed him over as he began to check out the menu.
Avery
"Oh, shush, Tay."
Avery smiled at him, then focused on the menu.
"And he's not my boyfriend. I don't think."
Taylor
"I don't have to shush if I don't want to," Taylor grinned, ruffling her hair up again.
He made his order, then stood back a little.
Avery
Avery made her order and then smoothed her hair, turning to look at Taylor in mock indignation.
"I don't mess your hair," she said.
"Hey Avie," Matt said as he walked past.
"Hey," she replied. She watched him sit down at a table with some friends. "That's Matt."
Avery
"You don't mess my hair because you can't reach my hair," Taylor chuckled.
He watched Matt as he sat at the table and raised an eyebrow.
"Is that the boyfriend?"
Avery
"If I could reach your hair, I would mess it," Avery retorted.
She shook her head.
"No, the one with the spikey brown hair, in the white shirt... that's him. And he's not my boyfriend. Millsy and I are just friends," she said softly.
Taylor
"Ohhhh... Millsy, eh?"
Taylor nodded slowly with a dorky grin on his face.
"I see..."
Avery
Avery shook her head.
"You're a dork."
They got their lunch and went to sit at a table.
Taylor
"I've had twelve years to learn from the best," Taylor raised an eyebrow, beginning to eat his lunch.
Bee chuckled.
"So..." Taylor looked towards where her friends were sitting, "gonna invite him over? So I can embarrass you? Wait, did I say that out loud?"
Avery
Avery shook her head.
"Nope, not gonna. Meanie."
Taylor
Taylor poked his tongue out at her.
"Then I'll just have to invite myself over there..."
And before she could stop him, Taylor made his way over to their table and pulled up a chair so he was sitting behind Millsy.
"Hey there," he grinned.
Avery
Avery jumped up and walked over, shooting Taylor evil looks.
"Hey," Millsy said, turning around.
"This is my brother Tay, and we're just leaving... aren't we Taylor?"
Taylor
"Well I think that would be particularly rude, seeing as though you haven't introduced me to anyone yet," Taylor pulled a face at his sister.
He turned and held his hand out to Millsy.
"Millsy, right?"
Bee followed Avery over, but stood back.
Avery
Millsy shook his hand.
"Yep, that's me."
Avery groaned.
"Ok, that's Matt, Josh, and Daniel."
Taylor
"That's better," Taylor nodded at her, "and now I think you should have more girls in the circle."
He smiled at Millsy.
"So Millsy... has Avery been any trouble since she's been here? I bet she's been a real little..."
Avery
"She's been an angel," Avery said.
Millsy chuckled. "She pinned my arm behind my back and tried to break it."
"Yeah, but only because you tried to get me in a headlock," she shot back.
Taylor
"What, like this?"
And Taylor grabbed her into a headlock.
He chuckled at the boys.
"She can't win against me, see?"
Avery
"That's coz I'd be too scared I'd break one of your girly little arms," Avery retorted, not even bothering to fight.
Taylor
"Oh really?" Taylor drawled.
He messed her hair up for a third time, then let her out of the headlock - grabbed her instead - and began to tickle her again.
Avery
"Ah!"
Avery wriggled and poked him in the sides.
"Girl," she said to him.
Taylor
"Well if I'm a girl, then what are you?" Taylor raised an eyebrow.
"A man? With these puny little... arms."
He tickled her under the arms to make his point.
Avery
"Makes me a girl, who is better looking than her older sister."
Avery struggled out of his grasp.
"And I don't mean Jess."
Taylor
"Oooooh, that's low," Taylor chuckled.
"Avery pauvre, obtenant toujours chatouillé. Doit le compenser."
He stopped and scratched her ear.
"I'll Mmmbop you all the way home in a minute."
Avery
"Bah, you and your languages."
Avery straightened herself out and smoothed down her hair.
"Come on, come visit Jade!"
Taylor
"Oh yeah."
Taylor got up and nodded to the table of young boys.
"Nice to meet you. I'll no doubt see you again sometime."
He grinned at Avie.
"Maybe at your wedding..."
Avery
Avery poked her tongue out at Taylor.
"Shoosh."
She waved to the guys.
"See ya's later."
She started to lead Tay from the caf.
Taylor
Taylor waved as well, and he and Bee followed her away.
"You know... maybe next time I should give him the 'you do wrong by my sister, I kill you' talk," he grinned.
Avery
Avery shook her head.
"Thanks Taaaaay," she said, opening the door to her room.
"Jade!"
Taylor
Taylor grinned when he saw the small fuzzle.
"Hey Jade," he began in fuzzle, "I brought someone to see you... a little ah... stow-away."
He chuckled as he reached into the pocket of shirt and pulled Mya out.
Avery
"Oooh Mya," Avery cooed.
She sat down on her bed and lifted Jade from her box.
Taylor
Mya cooed a little as she swayed from side to side, then when Taylor reached over so she was next to Jade she waddled over to the edge of his hand and smelt her sister.
She cooed again, then bounced a ittle on the spot.
Avery
"So how's Flavian and Meena and all the other fuzzles?" Avery asked, as Jade bounced around.
Taylor
"They're all good," Taylor sighed a little.
"Malory's starting to play up a little. I heard he bit Sheldon before Ike and I got back, and he's just... he seems to be in a foul mood 24/7. I'm hoping he'll get over it sometime soon."
Even though he knew he wouldn't...
Avery
Avery nodded.
"Is Sheldon still there? I saw him when I went home a few weeks ago."
Taylor
"Yeah, he's still there," Taylor nodded.
"I think he's kinda taken over my room now that I've moved out. If it was up to him he'd probably have the basement to himself."
He put Mya down on the bed.
"His father's dying of cancer, if you didn't know. But he's still going at the moment."
Avery
"Ah... I didn't know that."
Avery tickled Jade.
"Just came home and he was there... and no one gave me any answers. But oh well."
Taylor
Taylor smiled.
"Well then it's probably not my place to say anything."
He watched Jade and Mya for a moment.
"So are you wagging school today or what?"
Avery
"Half."
Avery shrugged.
"I only had one class left anyway."
Taylor
"You can blame me, I don't mind," Taylor leant over and hugged her.
"Say your big brother stole you away from class 'cos he missed you."
Avery
Avery grinned and hugged him back.
"Aww, I missed you too."
She poked him.
"Stop getting kidnapped."
Taylor
"Hey," Taylor hit her hand.
"And I plan to. Why do you think Bee's here? Because he looks good?"
"Was that an insult?"
Taylor chuckled.
"Anyone who insults you is definately not thinking clearly."
Avery
Avery grinned and hugged Taylor again.
"Good, I hate it when you get kidnapped. Oh except when we got taken together, then I was kinda relieved you were there."
Taylor
Taylor's smile faded.
"Yeah," he sighed.
He hesitated for a moment, just holding her to him.
"Have you been seeing anyone about it? A counsellor or anything?"
Avery
"No."
Avery looked at the floor.
"It didn't seem right at the time... to be thinking of myself when Jess was all... you know, the way she was... I didn't want mom or dad to know I wasn't happy."
Taylor
Taylor ran his fingers through her hair, comfortingly. Bee stepped back through the door and closed it behind him.
"They knew you weren't happy," Taylor began softly, "everyone knew. And when soemthing like that happens you need time to think of yourself. It takes a lot to get over it."
Avery
"I'm ok... I really... I know this is going to sound really mean, but things kinda actually got better when Jess left."
Avery bit her lip.
"That makes me really horrible, doesn't it? It was almost like, relief, when she left, because I didn't have to worry about hurting her, and I didn't have to be careful of what I said..."
Taylor
"Well if you ever need to talk to anyone... about that or anything else, you know I'm open, right?" Taylor insisted.
"And I know what you mean about Jess. But I guess I'm used to tip- toeing around anything."
Avery
Avery nodded.
"I know, and thank you."
She gave a small smile.
"I love you Tay."
Taylor
Taylor smiled back.
"I know. And I love you too. Of course, I don't have a choice, but you know..."
He chuckled.
Avery
Avery narrowed her eyes in a mock evil glare.
"Well, you're no longer my favourite brother. I think Zac is now."
Taylor
Taylor coughed.
"I think I'm hurt. I might have to go now, seeing as I'm not wanted."
He pouted.
Avery
"Nooo!"
Avery hugged Taylor again tightly.
"You're staying."
Taylor
Taylor laughed.
"Fine, fine, I'll stay. God, anyone would think you loved me or something."
Avery
Avery giggled.
"Yeah, you'd think that, wouldn't you?"
Taylor
"Well I don't know about anyone else, but it's kinda hard to when she... tickles me..."
Taylor tickled her.
"Pokes me..."
He poked her.
"And tried to mess up my hair."
He messed her hair up.
Avery
Avery wrinkled her nose.
"Meanie."
She pouted.
"You just miss picking on me, don't you?"
Taylor
"Oh yes, very much so," Taylor nodded.
He chuckled again.
"I'm aloud to pick on you. You're my sister. And you should also be in school. I'm gonna dob."
Avery
"Ah, but said you gave me permission to blame you."
Avery grinned.
"Yup."
Taylor
"That's true... I did," Taylor nodded.
"But if it was an important class it's not like I dragged you away from it kicking and screaming."
Avery
"It was only maths."
Avery grinned.
"And I'm never going to need that."
She rubbed her head.
"Besides, sometimes people think awfully loudly."
Taylor
"Oh you are going to need maths eventually. At some point in your life. There's always those times where you have to stop and think 'didn't I do that in school...?'"
Taylor reached down onto the bed and picked Mya up.
"I guess I could stay for another couple of hours. As long as Bee doesn't mind."
Avery
Avery nodded.
"Thank you... it gets pretty lonely here... I don't think I'm used to... you know, being on my own all the time."
She paused.
"I might come home for the weekend."
Taylor
"Now that's an idea," Taylor nodded.
"It'd be good to have you back. You can even come and stay with us if you want."
He held out his hand as his other put Mya back in his pocket.
"We never finished that grand tour."
Avery
Avery put Jade back in her box and nodded.
"Ok, let's go..."