Misfits

Chapter 4 - Shane & Isaiah

CHAPTER FOUR — SHANE & ISAIAH

Shane was excited. He’d made plans to go back to the city for the weekend and spend some time with his cousins. He missed it so much—more than anything. Living in Page was almost unbearable. If it wasn’t for the new friends he and Ivy had made, he probably would’ve killed himself by now. 

He sat in the back of his mother’s car as she gave him a list of things that he’d better not do while he was away from home. “Jake is a bad influence,“ she was saying.  “The only reason I’m letting you do this is because he’s your cousin . . . and because it’ll look bad if I say no.”

“I don’t know why you’re trying to impress Dad’s side.”

“Just Jessica and Tom.”

“But you hate Aunt Jessica,” Shane reminded her.

“And she hates me just the same.”

“So what do you need to have a relationship with her for?”

“Because she’s your father’s sister,” she replied, “and she and your uncle helped your father find jobs here.”

God, he thought. What a fucked up family. He didn’t care whether his aunt and his mother were friends. It was just so sickening to watch them attempt to be cordial toward one another. But that didn’t matter. He just needed to get back to Manhattan as soon as possible. He missed Times Square and Penn Station, Central Park and Broadway. . . . He missed it all. He had to catch the bus at five, which would bring him to Times Square around nine. 

His mother pulled into the driveway and everyone got out of the car. They went inside. Shane went upstairs after Ivy. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Shane asked.

“I’ll stay,” she said, standing in her brother’s doorway. “Maybe next time. I have a date tonight.”

“Do you like him?”

“He’s cute,” Ivy said.

Shane shook his head. “That’s not an answer.”

“I don’t know yet,” she answered.

“Have fun,” he sang. “But not too much fun.”

“Shut up, dick,” she said before sucking her teeth and going into her room. Her brother shrugged and went in his own room. He took off his coat, turned on the radio, and began throwing some clothes into the duffel bag he’d started packing last night. 

He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and pulled it out. Kyla was calling him. He accepted the call and put the phone to his ear. “Hey,” he said, tossing a pair of socks into the bag.

“What are you doing tonight?” she asked.

“I’m going to Manhattan for the weekend. Why?”

“I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out with me . . . and Mina,” she replied. “We were gonna have a movie night.”

“Aw, am I going to miss the lingerie and popcorn fights?”

“Well there probably won’t be any lingerie,” she said, laughing. She had a cute laugh, Shane had to admit. “But yes to popcorn.”

“Wish I could.”

“At least you get to get out of here.”

“Why don’t you come?”

“What?”

“Come to Manhattan with me.”

“What about Mina?”