27 Ch. 27 Followed

Francis and Isaac arrived at their destination at 3:00, because their apartment was on the far side of town. Before they had bought the apartment Isaac had offered them his own home. He wished now that they had taken the offer, because his home was so empty. Maybe Spencer could actually live with Isaac like they had said to Lila. Isaac wondered where Spencer even lived... Where did he sleep? *

Francis parked and together they exited the vehicle. Isaac followed Francis up the stairs to the apartment. They ran into no one on their way through the massive apartment complex. Francis stopped before the door labeled 1713 and dug out his keys from his pocket. He unlocked the door with little struggle and turned on the light and entered the apartment casually. The living, kitchen and dining rooms were all connected. A large window was facing the city and overlooked the area. Before the window was a couch and flat screen television with gaming systems set up before it. Beyond that was a small desk with a computer pushed against the wall in the normal dining room space. The kitchen was small, but it had a built in Island that was partially in the dining room space for a breakfast nook. This is where they usually ate. The bedrooms were off in the same direction their doors separated by a foot of space on either side of the bathroom door which was in between the two rooms.

The whole space was lived in and slightly cluttered, but not too much. Isaac loved the homey and lived-in feeling of their apartment. He truly wished he had a roommate to create a lovely clutter like this. Living alone he found it difficult to justify leaving messes when he had the instinct to clean so deeply instilled. He removed his shoes in the door way as usual and followed Francis as he fell onto the couch. Francis' body was stretched out. His arms rested atop the top of the couch and his legs were spread apart in his usual casual manner. He leaned his head back against the leather cushions and closed his eyes with a sigh.

Isaac started up the console and turned on the television preparing to play a game with Francis. With Josh's new part time job as a bouncer he wouldn't be home until late. With the familiar sound of the console turning on Francis's left eye opened to look at Isaac. A smile spread across his face as he opened his eyes and lowered his head.

"A challenge?" Francis' face was twisted into an expression of malice and excitement. Isaac smiled back and threw a controller in his lap accordingly.

They played aggressively, swearing and shoving each other. They were noisy and joyful like how they used to be. They were used to playing games like this with each other a lot. Isaac was always the best, beating both the brothers equally to smithereens. Although he was younger and weaker than the brothers he always beat them at games. He had grown up helping them with academics and they had helped him at school by being his friends. They weren't paid to do so, they genuinely liked Isaac, and walked him home daily. He hung out at their house and they his -often. The trio were inseparable even into college.

The two who were engrossed in their game barely heard the sounds from the a hall until their door slammed open. Joshua followed by a figure Francis didn't recognize entered the room shouting at each other. Without much warning the two engaged in an awkward wrestle. Isaac shouted in alarm as Francis began jumping in the fray.

"Guys wait-" for a moment they separated as the figure in the middle was fighting off the two angry bears of the pair of brothers off simultaneously. That figure was Spencer! The three paused for a moment to look at Isaac as if the three were all dogs awaiting orders.

"That's the guy I was telling you two about." Isaac finished limply. Josh and Francis shared a look as if debating whether or not to continue.