Chapter 9

"My Monkey!, I'm fine!" AJ was happy to hear her voice.

"Do you miss me yet?" She asked.

"Yeah, of course I do."

"AJ!" Baylee yelled.

"Twenty seven, twenty eight, twenty nine, thirty, thirty one..."

"AJ, baby, why are you counting?" She asked.

"Cause I'm playing hide and go seek." He explained.

"With yourself?" She asked. Her voice sounded as thought she thought he was crazy.

"I'm not crazy...I'm just babysitting."

"Who?" Rochelle asked.

"Baylee and Mason."

"Awww!! That's nice of you to offer."

"I didn't offer...Nick told Howie that I'd love to babysit even though I never said that...the bastard...It's been hell!! I've been peed on, a glass broke, Mason wet himself..."

"UNCLE AJ!!" The boys yelled.

"...ninety nine...one hundred!! Ready or Not, here I come!!!" AJ yelled then stomped his feet.

"There, so how's your day been?" He asked.

"Pretty good, I'm lonely without you..." She replied.

"Real-"

"AJ!" They both screamed.

"Babe, I'm sorry. I really need to go." AJ told her.

"It's fine. I understand. Have fun." She told him.

"Fun, right, He sarcastically replied.

"Bye."

"Bye." She then hung up.

"Ok, let's see." AJ said looking around.

He had no idea where to look.

He looked to James who laughed.

He began to search the downstairs. First the kitchen. The the bathroom and next the office.

"Baylee? Mason?" He yelled out.

Nothing.

He took a deep breath and began up the stairs.

"Mason you better not be in my closet!" He yelled.

Mason tried not to giggle from underneath the bed but it didn't work, AJ heard him and looked under the bed, "Alright I found you, now its time for you to help find Baylee."

"But I can never find him."

"Well, your coming with me anyways."

"Aww." Mason said sadly as he followed AJ.

"Baylee?" AJ called out.

"Bay wee!" Mason followed suit.

They got no reply.

"Where did you see him last?" AJ asked him.

"Uh... I forget." Mason told him.

"Nu-uh. Where did you see him last?" AJ asked him again.

"I can't tell you." He said in a very child like wine.

"Why the hell not?!"

"Cause it's cheatin' and I dont know!" Mason explained.

AJ rolled his eyes and continued down the hall, "Baylee!"

They checked all the upstairs rooms and headed down to check out the lower level.

"Baylee Where in the f-" AJ stopped himself when his eyes hit James.

James giggled.

"Where are you!" He finished

"Good job." Mason smiled.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," AJ said and began to search.

He checked the Kitchen, Bathroom, Music Studio, laundry room and Living room.

"Ok, Uncle AJ doesn't like this game anymore." He said as he began to panic a little.

"I told you he was hard to find." Mason huffed as he stood playing with James through the screen on the playpen.

"Seriously Baylee it's time to come out!" AJ yelled.

Mason laughed but didn't say anything.

"Baylee!" AJ yelled up the stairs.

No response.

"Son of Bitch! Brian's gonna kill me!" AJ cursed as he began to pace his living room.

"AJ!" Mason warned.

"I'm sorry; the least of my worries is a stupid fucking curse word!" AJ told him.

Mason shook his head and turned back to James.

"I'm gonna kill Nick for telling me to play this damn game!" He said as he kept trying to think of some place he had yet to look.

"Mason, where haven't I looked yet?"