“OoH! I like that one! The Arm-y! I think that might sell better.” Victoria smiled and giggled. “We could make all kinds of cool designs with a play on the word Army. Make stuff with camouflaged back grounds. Maybe make like fake rank insignia.” Again she giggled. It was a fun idea that was for certain

“My wings are invisible to all but other fairies.” That was thinking on her feet. After she had mentioned being a fairy she wondered if he was going to ask or comment on her wings. So she had already started thinking of possible responses. “Unfortunately, I used up all my wish granting for myself.” She gave a playful little shrug.

Victoria’s nervousness over what time it was came to a screeching halt as Bailey began trying to give the girl reassurances that he meant no harm with his invitation. She just stared at him with a wide-eyed stare. Her posture straightened up and leaned back a little. “That was unexpected. I’m glad you don’t want to murder me…. because I like talking to you too. Besides, I wouldn’t want to leave you in a pool of your own blood either.” She paused to give him a moment to process what he said along with her statement then she reached over and lightly smacked his hand and laughed. “Do you know what time it is? I don’t have a watch.”

Bailey grinned at Victoria as she suggested more things to go along with the drawn out joke. Not a lot of people understood his sense of humour, or were willing to go as far with jokes as he was, but clearly he and Victoria were on the same wavelength. He couldn't help but think about how much he was enjoying talking to her.

"I can already see the record deals. We'll be huge," Bailey opened his hand and gestured to the great beyond, "or, at least, we would be, if we had the necessary arms."

Bailey frowned, "a pool of my own blood? Yuck, no thanks." That didn't sound fun, so he was glad that it was not her intent. 

Time. He did not own a watch. Too much of a hassle. He just used his phone instead. "Just a sec," he told her, and then pulled out his newly recovered device. Just past 1 am. How did it get that late? He supposed that time flew when you were having a good conversation.

"Just past one," he informed her as he moved toward the door. "You don't have to come if it's too late for you, but if you wanna keep talking, I'm all for it."

Bailey’s gesture and description of their imaginary success made Vitoria giggle. He was fun to talk to and she liked that. He didn’t seem worried about what he said, until he thought he was crossing some boundary in his head. Victoria shook her head slightly thinking the boy was silly. “Yeah, can’t really do it if we’re missing the key to it all.” She smiled and sat back in the chair.

Only 1 AM? She thought for a moment. There was still time before sunrise. That was more time to keep talking and making jokes with Bailey. That sounded good.

Getting up from her seat she walked to the door as well. “I’d like to keep talking if it’s ok for me to be in your house this late.”

"Awesome, perfect, great," Bailey said, unable to stop all the words that tumbled from his mouth at once. His eyes widened slightly and then he looked at his feet. Man, he had been doing so well before. "Sorry. That was way too many words. I think I'm just excited. You're... like... really cool."

Awkwardly, Bailey opened the door and stepped outside. He held the door open for Victoria to walk through afterward, hoping that it might make up for his weirdness. "Oh yeah, it'll be fine. If we don't wake up my brothers, then no one will care."

Of course, not waking up his brothers would likely be easier said than done in their little apartment with minimal soundproofing, but he didn't mention that to her. "No one's expecting you home, right? I mean, I know you go out a lot at night, so it's probably a no?"

After she'd followed him outside, Bailey closed the door and locked the store back up with his key. It was a little cold outside, but nothing too horrible. In fact, it was a little unseasonably warm, if nothing else. "It's just a few blocks down this way," he told her, pointing to his right. 

Victoria couldn’t help but smile at Bailey’s obvious excitement. She kind of liked how he’d stumble over himself every so often. It made her giggle at the very least, but more often she’d laugh. It was so nice to find someone who didn’t have a problem being silly just for the sake of being silly. It helped keep the conversation going as well as making it interesting and enjoyable.

Following the boy’s lead Victoria got up from her seat and walked to the door, stepping through while he held it open for them to leave. “Oh, how many brothers do you have? Do your parents live with you?” The girl had surprisingly never thought about siblings before. What would it be like to have a brother or sister? Would they have the same problem she does?

When Bailey had locked up the store she started walking with the boy in the direction of his house. “No, I don’t think anyone is expecting me. Most times no one is awake when I go out to explore and especially when I get back.” She stopped for a second and gave a slightly exaggerated worried look and spoke in a teasing manner. “You’re not still planning on kidnapping me and keeping me locked away, are you?”

They walked along the streets of New York, the city that never slept, in the direction of Bailey's house. Despite the absurd hour, there were still plenty of other people out on the street, though they weren't always the most friendly. Cars zoomed past them, driving, as New Yorkers did, like they had somewhere very important to be any minute.

"Four brothers, but only two are living with me and my dad right now. My other two live with my mom back in Canada," he shrugged. Sometimes he liked his brothers, and sometimes he really didn't, but if there was one thing that space could do, it was make you miss someone. He really did miss the other half of his family, not matter how much he tried to deny it.

He nodded, glad that they could stay out late and not have anyone freak out. Helicopter parents were kinda the worst. "I guess your parents must be pretty used to it now, huh?" He mused.

>> “You’re not still planning on kidnapping me and keeping me locked away, are you?”

Bailey froze where he was. "Aw man, am I still giving off that vibe? I really don't mean to. I have no intention to kidnap you - scout's honour."

They were just a block or two from Bailey's apartment. It really was very close to the ice cream shop.

Victoria was used to seeing the city at night, but it never ceased to intrigue her with all the different people going about their business or having fun. There were still people in business clothes around, though she figured it was much less than during the day time. More people in casual relaxing clothes filled the walkways at night. Walking, riding bikes, roller skates and skate boards passed by often.

“Oh, I’m sorry your family isn’t together. I’m glad you have some of your brothers and father though. I don’t have any siblings.” Her tone had a feeling or sorrow for Bailey’s family, but when it came to being an only child her tone was more ‘matter-of-fact’ like. She was used to being alone, but it was always nice to find friendly people to be around.

“Yeah, you could say my parents are used to it. They’re still in Estonia.” She thought for a moment wondering how her parents were doing and if they were happy, or if they missed having their daughter around.

Victoria had been walking right beside Bailey so when he stopped it took her another step to noticed. Turning back she laughed at the boy’s awkwardness. “I’m just joking with you Bailey. I just wanted to see how you’d react. It’s ok. You need to relax a little.” She giggled a bit more.

Bailey cocked his head at her apology. "Not your fault. Just the way things happened," he shrugged. If he was being completely honest, the distance made him appreciate his family members more. Back when they were all together, he'd taken his mum and brothers for granted. Since they were apart, Bailey missed them more than he ever thought that he would, and he knew that if they were ever all together again, he'd be far more thankful for them all.

No siblings. What a life. Bailey tried to imagine it but ultimately failed. "That must get really lonely," he whispered, more to himself than to her. He looked at his feet awkwardly afterwards. "Sorry, that's kinda rude. I just... couldn't imagine life without my brothers..."

Her parents were still in Estonia. Bailey felt a pang of sympathy for Victoria. They both had family members that lived far away, but at least Bailey still had some of them with him. From the sounds of it, Victoria was all alone. Plus, Estonia was way farther away than the six-hour drive back to Stratford. "I'm really sorry. That must be hard. Where do you live, then? You don't live on your own, do you? You're, like, my age, right? 17 or 18?"

He really hoped that she didn't live on her own. That would be really lonely. Although... it would also be kind of cool. She would be able to do whatever she wanted without anyone telling her no. Bailey suddenly felt both sorry for her and very envious of her.

They had continued walking and talking, two things Victoria was enjoying at the moment. Even when Bailey was apologizing again for something he had said. So, she quoted him. “Not your fault. Just the way things happened.” She smiled at him. “It was sort of lonely because I didn’t have siblings to play with, but I had my parents who gave me attention. Especially my mum. We did all kinds of things together. Most of it was music related, but she made it fun.”

“I think you’re lucky to have a big family. That’s more people who care for you and look after you.” She was genuinely happy for the boy. It was always nice when she found out good things about people. Though sometimes the people didn’t see it the way she might, but she enjoyed giving her perspective on things and it often times opened others eyes to something they might otherwise have missed.

“No, I don’t live on my own. I actually live in a wonderful school. It’s a great place and everyone is so nice there. I’ve made a few friends there.” She really did love the mansion and the people there. It was her home away from home. “Actually, I’m a little younger than you if you’re 17 or 18, but I’ll be 17 soon.”

She smiled at the boy again as they continued on to his house.