Ashley glanced up at the calendar above his desk, clicking his pen boredly.
He'd been bored for the past few hours, that was the problem.
With a sigh, he picked up the phone and dialled in the number for Isaac and Taylor's apartment.
Isaac
Isaac looked up in the general direction of the phone when he heard it ringing. He supposed he should answer it... but he just wasn't bothered getting up.
Of course, after his display at the tournament, he wasn't all that inspired to try and pick it up telekinetically either, so he figure he should actually physically get up and answer it after all, and with a sigh, did so.
"Hello?"
Ash
"Hey Ike, it's me," Ashley said, much less than enthusiastically.
"I'm bored out of my brain since you guys almost put me out of a job. What are you up to?"
Isaac
"TV," Isaac replied. "TV, and whilte I'm at it, TV. Oh, and did I mention TV?"
Even as he said it, he felt a smile cross his face.
Ash
"Sounds exhilarating," Ashley raised his eyebrows.
"Where's Tay at?"
Isaac
"Umm, I think he's on the piano..." Isaac paused for a second listening. "Yep, he's on the piano."
He didn't recognise the song. Maybe Taylor was composing.
Isaac tried not to think about it.
"So what about you? Other than being bored, that is?"
Ash
"Mindy's jetted off with her parents to spend some time with her Aunt in Colorado, apparently she's not doing very well," Ashley shrugged.
"I would have gone with her, but I don't really know that part of the family and it seems it's too late to get involved anyway. So I'm left here bored, because I have no work to do. Heard from Zac recently?"
Isaac
"Zac is... Zac," Isaac replied. "I think he's tossing up between going solo and signing up other artists. I mean, just because Hanson's... Hanson's broken up doesn't mean that 3CG Records has to collapse, right?"
Isaac swallowed. He had to get his mind off this whole thing with Tay and Zac somehow.
Ash
"Yeah, true. You know that's the only way I'm getting work," Ashley almost chuckled.
"We have had a lot of artists approach us, and not just recently you know. But it all comes down to what you guys feel is the right thing to do * or who are the right people to sign. You'll have to get back to New York sometime to sort it out."
Isaac
"Yeah..." Isaac said slowly. "I guess I'll have to find out what Zac wants to do, one way or the other, and then find out from Tay if he can stand being in the same room with Zac long enough to have a CEO meeting, if Zac decides to go with signing artists... Esh. I hate being a go between. Why, why, why can't they go back to being friends? I mean, really, why? I really want to know."
Ash
"I can't tell you Ike," Ashley shook his head sullenly.
"I don't know the half of what's going on between you guys*Things just aren't what they used to be. I mean when was the last time we spoke? When the tour was still going ahead. Months ago."
Isaac
"Yeah, I know," Isaac answered. "What do you need filling in on? Had to rescue Taylor from Blakesley clutches - again. Zac's gotten a couple of girls pregnant and had a couple of children born - again. Y'know, same old, same old. Y'know, except for the whole, they can't get along any more, and so break the band up thing. Y'know, plus I haven't been able to write anything for a couple of weeks now, which completely sucks."
And... he hadn't meant to say that... At least not aloud. To another person.
Ash
"That's rather unlike you," Ashley said finally, rubbing his lap with his other hand.
"But I guess* none of you are acting like yourselves. You do realise you three are confusing the hell out of everyone around you, don't you?" he attempted a joke.
Isaac
"They're probably wondering who we are, and what have we done with the real Ike, Tay and Zac?" Isaac rejoined.
He managed a tired laugh.
"I just wish... I dunno... Everything was going fine. Everything was fine! And then that alien hunter killed Myra..."
Ash
"It was all out of your control, Ike," Ashley murmured.
"And it seems that everything has been. It almost seems like someone's just decided to take you on a rollercoaster ride to hell and they're not letting you off."
Isaac
"Yeah, well, things better start getting better soon. I mean, I just... I feel like I'm just going to crack, y'know? I have never lost control over my power like that before, and now I'm almost afraid to use it, because goodness knows my stress level sure isn't what it used to be..." Isaac shook his head. "I just... don't know."
Ash
"And we don't blame you," Ashley raised his eyebrows as he threw the pen down onto the desk.
"You'll be fine. Have you gone to see anyone about it yet? I mean maybe it's not just stress..."
Isaac
"Yeah... maybe," Isaac said slowly. "I guess... That's probably a good idea."
Somehow saying that seemed a relief, and yet a whole lot more of trouble. What if he had something like Verizik, like Diana did? Okay, admittedly Verizik was curable now, but that was hardly the point.
Ash
"Of course it is, I'm surprised your Dad hasn't made you go see someone already. He knows about it, I mean he's basically the one who told me what happened," Ashley scratched his chin.
"Maybe you should make an appointment for the next few days. Or maybe even a telepath could tell you what's going on."
Isaac
Isaac nodded slowly.
"Yeah..." he said. "Okay, I'll do that..."
He supposed he could ask Vicky, or Tanya for that matter. Actually, it would have to be Tanya for a telepathic examination, as she had put a shield around his mind, and was probably the only one who could bypass it.
"I should probably talk to a healer first... in case it's something physical."
Ash
"Good idea. Hey, maybe next time Tay goes for a to see Tanya you can go with him. She must work close with a healer anyway."
Ashley glanced at the nearby calendar, then at his watch.
Isaac
"Yeah... yet another good idea from Ash. You're on a roll," Isaac atempted to joke. "So, ahh, how are things with you and Minday lately, anyway?"
Ash
"Perfect, as always," Ashley quickly brushed over, knowing Isaac wouldn't particularly want to hear it even if he pretended so.
"I'm more concerned about you guys at the moment. You know if you need any help with anything we're open, right?"
Isaac
"Yeah," Isaac replied. "I really appreciate it too, man. Guy couldn't ask for better friends."
Okay, now he was getting soppy. What's with that?
Ash
Ashley grinned.
"Ok we're getting a little intimate here Ike," he chuckled, "and regretfully I have to meet a possible clilent in about five minutes, so I'm going ot have to let you go. Call me. Please."
Isaac
Isaac chuckled a little.
"Yeah, I will. Talk to you later dude."
And he hung up.