just the way you are

chapter sixteen: charlotte, north carolina (week nine)

"hey, what's up with you?"

"tired," bailey was waiting in the airport with molly and daisy when josh came over and laid his head on her shoulder. "don't feel great."

"i can see that, buddy," bailey grimaced. "why don't you sit down?"

the boy sat in the empty seat next to her while ben and brody, who were following him, sat on the floor. bailey gave josh a concerned glance as he rubbed his eyes. his usual energy was absent, replaced by an almost sluggish demeanor that didn't sit well with her.

"i'm pretty sure you've got a fever," bailey muttered, brushing a strand of hair from his face.

"no, i'm fine," josh protested weakly, but bailey wasn't buying it.

"right," she said, narrowing her eyes. "the fact that you're even sitting still tells me everything."

"it's the newsie plague," brody grimaced, pulling his hood down over his face. "i refuse to get sick, charlie. i refuse!"

"hush, cam," bailey rolled her eyes. "you didn't get sick last time the plague was going around, you'll be fine."

"i almost did!"

"i have an idea."

"oh boy," bailey was sitting on the bus in front of brody and ben with daisy on the way to the hotel in charlotte, north carolina. "what is it, cam?"

"you know how we have a layoff between miami and san francisco?"

"yeah," bailey looked back at the two boys who were grinning. "what about it?"

"can me and hoge take -"

"if you are asking about driving to buffalo again, the answer is no," bailey rolled her eyes. "hoge's mom said no, nany said no, and i said no. you are not driving to buffalo to see jersey boys. to add on to that, you are definitely not taking ben or josh, and neither of them are driving you either."

"damn it," brody sighed.

"don't you damn it me, brody cameron," bailey glared at her younger brother. "buffalo is six hours away from the apartment and only one of the four of you is eighteen, the answer is absolutely not. find a show in jersey, on broadway, or off broadway and we'll talk about layoff."

"fine."

"what in the hell is a harlot?"

"hello to you too, daniel," bailey had answered her phone and was greeted by dan deluca's question. "who called you a harlot?"

"zachary. what is it?"

"basically means a prostitute," bailey rolled her eyes. "it's one of zach's favorite insults."

"no wonder he looked so happy saying it. thanks!"

"anytime," bailey shook her head before hanging up. "what is wrong with them?"