The day goes by slowly for Isaac. And even though he doesn't mean to, he looks for Tari around every corner. Wherever he would expect her to be though, he saw Emmet instead.

At the end of the day, after hours of his eyes jumping from corner to corner, and his hand feeling way too empty, Isaac decides to approach Emmet. "Do you... Tari isn't here." He says, knowing Emmet will see it for the question it is.

"Thanks, Lahey. I didn't notice. Now, do I what?" Emmet asks, still walking towards his car. Isaac takes large steps in an attempt to keep up with Emmet's quick and efficient ones. Despite the boy being shorter than him, his stride, strong and confident - something Isaac lacks - makes him seem to be moving much faster than he is.

When he bumps into Emmet, the taller of the two boys realizes he's been silent for entirely too long. "Do you know where she is? Tari, I mean. I need to talk to her... about this morning." Raising his eyebrows in a someone help this boy manner, Emmet exhales in exasperation, "I don't know, Chief, try her house."

Isaac scratches the back of his head, "Can you, um, take me?" He asks slowly, afraid to get shoved to the ground for asking too many questions. "Do I have to do everything for you, Lahey? Seriously. Get in the car." Emmet scoffs, unlocking the doors to his Buick. It isn't until he's started the car that he realizes that Isaac isn't actually in it with him. "What is it now, Lahey? You gotta pee or something?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, can I please attach my bike to the back?" Peeling one eye open to find Emmet's glare, the boy winces, "I know! I know, I'm sorry, I am so sorry. It's just, my dad will kill me if I leave it."

He says it in a joking manner, his sheepish smile implying that he obviously means it as any other teenage boy would, but remembering Tari's constant angry rants about how the curly haired boy's father should be punished for the severe beatings he gives his son, Emmett feels his heart sadden for the boy - something he has to remember to curse Tari for later. "It's no problem, Lahey. Just, grab it, and be quick. I don't have all day." He says, pulling a hand through his hair before rolling up the window.

"Right, right. I'll go get it." Isaac says to the rolled-up window before running to his bike.

"Okay. Now I'm really ready. No more reasons for stopping." Isaac says with a wide smile on his face. The entire smile isn't exactly directed to his ride, most of it is because he will get to see Tari in a matter of minutes and he'll get to apologize for his behavior. For the way he spoke to her when all she wished to do was help.

As the boys ride through the streets, all Isaac can think about is what he's going to say. Not only that, but how much he missed the outspoken girl and her seemingly taboo ways at school. A little part of him is irritated that this girl, this girl he's only recently interacted with has such a hold on him, but then another part of him absolutely adores the attachment he has to her. The distraction she provides from his awful homestead.

"I said, we're here, Lahey. All you gotta do is get out and knock on the door. Now get out and get your bike." Isaac shoots the boy a grateful smile before sliding out of the car. "Bye Emmet. Thanks for the -" He speeds off before Isaac can finish his thank you.

Turning around, Isaac gazes at the petite brown house, hesitating a moment before actually approaching it. Taking a deep breath, Isaac takes one hand off of his bike and knocks on the door, three raps before stepping back a pace.

Nearly thirty seconds later, Tari appears at the door wearing plaid pajama pants, a black tank top, and a confused smile on her face. "Hey Isaac. How did you - how'd you find my house?" Shrugging shyly, Isaac gestures behind him as if there's anyone there, "I asked Emmet if he could bring me by." The two stand in a comfortable quiet for a few seconds before Isaac sniffles to break the silence, "Well, um, since I'm here, do you mind if I come in?"

Tari doesn't answer with words, instead, she pulls the door open and stands to the side so Isaac can make his way in. "You can bring your bike, we'll just leave it by the door off the carpet." The teen nods as he follows Tari into the quaint home. Looking around, Isaac takes in his surroundings. The clean eggshell walls, the pure beige carpet, the crisp pale rose furniture, the entire set up is much more delicate than anywhere that he could have ever pictured the girl residing. He wasn't exactly picturing a black hole with muddy brown everything, but kind of exactly that.

Spotting what seems to be a family picture on one of the tan bookshelves framing the window on his left, Isaac goes to inspect it, but Tari stops him before he can step on the carpet. "Wait a second, Isaac. Don't get too eager on me, okay? You gotta take your shoes off before stepping on the carpet." While Isaac is pulling his shoes off, Tari turns off the television and sits back on the couch, watching Isaac as he stares at the picture.

In it are five people, one of those being Tari, who has a wide smile on her face and a head full of gravity defying hair. "Is this your family?" Isaac asks, throwing a glance over his shoulder to the girl on the couch. She doesn't bother asking what picture it is. She knows. Tari looks at the picture everyday. Subconsciously running a hand over her now shorn hair, Tari smiles, "Yeah. It's me with my parents and my older brother and sister. We took that five years ago. My dad, he used to take my siblings out of town to hunt for a day, but I was never old enough. That picture was taken the day after my birthday. Jebediah and Brienne didn't wanna go, but since it was my birthday, we all went."

A smile found it's way onto Isaac's face with him just looking at Tari's own. Looking from her and back to the picture, Isaac chuckles a bit seeing the younger Tari squished between the older members of her family, her eyes practically closed, she's smiling so wide. "Are they here? Can I meet them?" He asks, moving to stand beside the couch - not sitting in case the strong man from the picture makes his way down the stairs and demands a man's man handshake from the boy.

When Tari shakes her head, Isaac chuckles, "Come on, you met my dad, no matter how unsavory the meeting. I'm sure this will play out much better than that." Now Tari releases a stale huff, "No, I uh, I meant they aren't here. Last year, I woke up and found they had all left without me. No one had even tried to rustle me from my sleep. I came down stairs, expecting to find them all eating breakfast, but instead I found a note on the fridge that said 'be back soon'.

Seeing that his handshake won't come anytime soon, Isaac sits beside Tari on the couch. "Oh, I'm sorry. And I'm sorry about what my dad said too. That wasn't right." Almost as if nothing happened, Tari smirks at the boy and grabs the pack of cigarettes sitting on the tan coffee table in front of them, "Nothing to apologize for. Daddy issues make you more appealing. You should know that just as well as I do." Standing up, she gestures towards the back of the house with her head, "Mind coming out back with me? I don't like the house smelling like cigarette smoke." Tari says, scrunching her nose.

She feels lighter, having told Isaac about her parents, more free. And in that moment, Isaac wants nothing more than to kiss Tari. He wants to grab her by the back of her neck and kiss her until they're both exhausted, just for being plainly and blatantly herself. But instead of kissing her, or even beginning to ask her for permission to kiss her, Isaac stands, "Sure. Let's go out back."