"Man, I had never EVER seen them fight in that way...in my life" Ike was real surprised. I sat on the border of a couch.
"Yeah...they nearly killed each other."
"Taylor was like, so agressive man.. its not like him..............Jo?"
"Yeah?....." I knew what he wanted.
"Tell me, what happened?"
"What on earth is going on in here!" My father said in a loud enough voice. Taylor and I looked at each other. But I looked away instantly. I was begining to feel that throat pain you feel when youīre about to cry..and are holding it in, and I didnīt want Taylor to see me. That kick in the stomach had hurt like hell, and it was still hurting so hard, each time I moved, I could feel pain shooting all over me. The tears that were about to come from my eyes were uncontrolable, I was about to cry, there, with my stupid brother. I did NOT want him to see me cry, at all. But then again, Tay had a sorta similar face, my kick must of hurt too. But he wasnīt about to cry. My mother noticed my face, and came towards me. She lowered herself to my level, and put her hand across my forehead. "Is something wrong honey? Does something hurt?" She asked softly. I wanted to bawl and tell her my tummy hurt, but then Tays glare made me just shake my head. My mother looked at Taylor.
"Look at your face! How did this happen!!" She asked.
"I want to know what happened..ALL what happened right now!!" My dad yelled. "Sit down both of you" He ordered. I sat in Taylors bed. Tay remained tanding up. My dad ignored him. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!!" He shouted. From behind him, mom was trying to calm dad down.
"Walker easy please." She said.
"We..we were..um..we got into a fight.." I muttered scared to death by the tone and attitud of my dad. My dadīs eyes rolled from me towards Taylor, and remained stuck to Taylor.
"We were fighting dad" He said looking down.
"Look at you!! Oneīs about to cry and the other has a red spot on his face!! What the hell did you think you were doing!! FIGHTING like that!!?? If you are going to act like that, pack your things and go to a boxing ring, because this type of things, I do not ACCEPT IN MY HOUSE!" My father roared. I had my eyes stuck to the ground.
"I want to know, WHAT HAPPENED right this second!! Taylor!" Tays head shot up. "What happened to your face?" He asked, like calmer now.
"Zachary punched me" Tay said. I looked at him angrily. He shouldnīt of ratted on me. Well, I had punched him..but did he have to say it like that!? Tay closed his eyes and looked away opening them. My father was killing me with his look, and my mom was so astonished. I looked at my parents surprised faces at the news of me punching Taylor. They were speechless.
"What did you do?" My father was giving me the evil eye.
"He kicked me first!" I wailed. How childish, but hey, what was I supposed to do? Plus, my poor stomach, now, was really killing me.
"Oh he kicked you, so that explains it all, one punches the other, and the other kicks like a horse, in return, is that it? or did I get it wrong?"
"He kicked me too!" Tay was defending himself. Shit. I had the mere feeling I was gonna come out loosing from all this. Now, again, all the looks were on me, and Tay had such a shit face. I looked at him mouthing "sissy" to him.
"Oh honey where?" My mom said worried. Tay looked at me as If he had the world at his feet. My dad was sorta softening now too, but he was still with his mad face, and was beathing fast.
"Letīs just say he kicked me where it realy hurts......right Zac?" Tay smiled in between his `painīI was begining to doubt on. Me, my stomach was now not only hurting, but like itching each time I rubbed it for the pain to go away. I was trying desperately not to cry in front of my parents, and less in front of Taylor, but then again, HE was acting really shitty, and I hated him didnīt I? Without thinking, I burst into tears hugging my stomach, which was not the only part of my body hurting, my face was kinda sweled up, or at least thatīs how I felt it, and it was sorta hot. My mom was beside me in a second.
"I will asume Taylor, your kick was aimed on Zacharyīs stomach" Dad said dryly. Taylor nodded. Then Dad shot me such a glance I held my weeps and sniffs and just stared at him.
"I do NOT want to even asume where your kick was aimed at... are you insane??? Look at your brother! How could you ever even THINK of kicking him there??? You as a man should know how much it hurts! Its a very delicate part of the body!" Ohhh boy..I couldnīt believe this was happening. I just looked at him and tried to hide a sniff. As a result it came out more as a choke.
"Answer me!!! Are you crazy?" Dad pushed it. I stood up.
"Why are you yelling just at me? HE also kicked me !! I could barely breath when he did!" I shot out. My father looked at me.
"You could barely breath but you still punched me huh?!" Taylor shot back.
"Enough of this..." Dad was saying. My mom was now telling him to calm down.
"Are you animals? Or are you just plain stupid? Canīt you solve your differences like human beings?? Talking and discussing? Not fighting for Christīs sake? Punching and kicking...animals thatīs what you are..." Dad was exhasperated. Mom was puting her hand on dadīs shoulder.
"Walker..calm down please.." She muttered. Then she glanced at us like saying `look what youīve provoquedī. Dad took a deep breath.
"I want to know what happened..." He said. Tay and I looked at one another.
"But we already told y.." I began.
"NO I want to know what happened BEFORE all this.. what on earthīs crust made the two of you get in such a fight!" Dad interrpted me. Now I was definately fucked up. I was praying Taylor would not say anything..but I was not going to tell him to shut up. I was not gonna beg to that sucker anything.
"Well?" Dad inquired. I looked at Taylor..And again, that asshole..had `the world at his feetīHe just smiled at me..a horrible smile. I gave him a mean look and lowered my head. Ready to recieve it all. To my surprise, Tay was silent.
"You donīt want to say anything? Fine, Youīre both punished for whatīs left of the year, with no friends, no motorbikes no NOTHING youīll be lucky I let you step on the yard!!" Dad roared as he stormed out the room, slamming the door shut. Now I wasnīt sure If the urge to cry I had was because my stomach still hurt, or because being punished till the end of the year with nothing in October just sounded like hell.
"Diana! Weīre late already!!" Dad yelled from somewhere in the house. Mom looked at her watch.
"My...we are late...and no one has had dinner...boys..just..just..just donīt touch each other ok? Stay away from one another..." Mom said leaving. I was so not wanting to stay in my room with Taylor there...We just glared at each other, not talking. My stomach was hurting less now, and I was calming myself down. It was horrible..but at that moment..I hated Taylor so much I wanted him to dissapear. Then, he just left room.
"I hope you know I saved you from a big one by not telling mom and dad what you did" He said as he left. I ran after him.
"You can tell them any time you want!! Iīm NOT scared! And you can stop talking in that stupid tone of yours as if you were the king or something!!" I yelled at him running downstairs.
"Zachary!! Taylor! Come down here this instant!" Dad called just as I reached the first floor. I walked to the living room were my family was. Tay appeared in seconds and walked towards Isaac.
"We think its better if you two stay away from each other tonight, so we have decided to take one of you to our dinner reunion." Mom said. I looked at my feet, then slowly raised my eyes towards Johanna. She looked so pretty, with that worried face she had...she noticed me looking at her, immediately I looked somewhere else.
"Zac...we think maybe you should come with us..since Isaac is staying to give your brothers and siters dinner and watch for them..Taylor should probably stay and help out..."Mom continued. It was not hard to tell that mom and dad both thought I had something to do with Taylor and I fighting. I looked at them sadly, and just nodded my head.
"Go upstairs and put on something nice ok?" Mom said to me in a sweet voice. I felt awful..just awful, but I fought my feelings and ran upstairs, I was NOT gonna let anybody see me like that.
"The fact that we are in a hurry right now does not..I repeat NOT mean that I will not find out what on earth provoqued this fight between you and Zachary, am I understood? I will deal with it later" Walker said looking at Taylor. He nodded. I felt real sorry for him, and for Zac, because man was he going to get it when Walker and Diana found out what happened. I began following Diana, when Avie suddenly tugged me. I turned around.
"Joey...did Zakky and Tay have a big fight?" She asked in a worried voice. I smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Yeah Ave, they did, but theyīll be friends again real soon" I assured.
"Promise?" Avery asked toying with my fingers. I nodded.
"Yeah, promise" Avery smiled widely and ran off calling for Jessica. When I found Diana alone a few seconds later, I walked to her.
"Um..Mrs Hanson..I was wondering.." I began. She turned her head towards me. "Yes dear?" "I was wondering if maybe I could come with you..and Mr Hanson..and Zac..because he might get bored or..well.." I blushed embarassed.
"He could need someone to talk to?" Diana finished for me. I nodded, redder by the second. "Thatīs just fine dear, I hope you can find out what in the world made those two fight in such way.." Just then Zac appeared, he had red marks around his eyes, I could tell he had been crying, or at least rubbing his eyes real hard. He was wearing black pants, black doc martens, and a shirt that also had some black in it. His hair was loose, and was real shiny. (he had probably just combed it) He eyed his mom, then looked down. "Dad chose this for me..." Zac began.
"Jo hon... do you have anything to wear...I mean, anything ellegant?" Diana asked me. I shrugged. "I guess so" I said. Zacīs eyes had widned and he was looking at me, a big question mark on his face. I smiled slightly at him. "Come with me, Iīll help you choose something..Zac, wait here ok? Tell your father he can wait for us with you in the car, It will only take a second" Diana ordered. Zac meekly left the room searching for his dad, and I went upstairs with Diana. Talk to dad...talk to dad! Dadīs about to bite my head off and `talk to dadīshe says... I was thinking as I found my dad checking some card. Very shyly I approached my father. "Dad..um..mom s...said for you to wait for her and Jo in the carr...with m.." I began.
"Johanna is comming as well?" Dad interrupted. I nodded. I was like three metres away from my dad, and I think he noticed cause he sighed and looked down.
"Listen Zachary..I donīt want you to think that I hate you or anything of that sort okay? I am very angry at you and your brothers attitudes, yes, but I do not hate you...and there is definately no need for you to be scared of me allright? You know I love you...whatever you do..whatever caused this horrible fight between you and Taylor...I will still love you.." He said. I nodded trying to walk fast to the carr. If he knew what Iīd done, he would not love me..at all.
"I feel weird..realy weird...could it be that this dress is too tight or something?" I was trying desperately to make an excuse for me not to have to wear some dress I had,(It was a none sleeved dress, above the knees, that was all black from under-breast to the end. The part that covered my breast was white..get it?) Diana smiled and finished combing my hair that was loose.
"Nonesense, you look gorgeous, and now hurry on put the shoes on and lets get going..."
"I hope no one laughs at this head band thing.." I was doubtfull.
"The people we are dining with are very well manered, and from my husbands job, surely they will make no comment what-so-ever on your headband, theyīll ask what happened, but thats all" Diana assured. I smiled, and as we left, made sure that Tay was no where near so he wouldnīt see me leave with Zac.
"Son, I would realy prefer it if you and your brother just told me what happened, because with this attitude youīre taking, youīre both forcing me to find out what happened the bad way..and that.." Dad was sermoning just as Mom and Jo ran out the house and hopped in the carr. I bet my eyes nearly popped out, man Jo looked good!! But I mean GOOD! She looked pretty uncomfortable as she sat beside me, so I gave her a little smile, she was as red as can be, and just smiled at me too. The ride to the "dinner" was pretty silent exept for my parentīs conversation, and some questions from mom to us now and then. Even though I felt a lot better with dad and all, I couldnīt help having this strange feeling inside me..I mean...damn had I made it good, running my motorbike right in front of Tay! Dad WAS gonna kill me.
"Whereīs Jo? Ike have you seen her?" I asked my brother a few minutes after Jess, Ave and Mac had finished dinner, Zoe was asleep luckly. Ike took a bite of his macaroni and cheese he had made with my help for dinner.
"She left with Mom and dad, I thought you knew" He said as he chewed his food away. I shook my head. Ike rolled his eyes.
"DUH!! If sheīs nowhere to be seen you should of figured that out yourself" I frowned at Ikeīs `duhī
"Why did she go? Did mom and dad make her? Did she go `cause she wanted to? Why?" I inquired.
"She went to keep Zac company I guess" Ike said. I set my fork down.
"Why would she want to `keep companyīto that brat?" Isaac sighed.
"Taylor, give the kid a rest will ya! Dadīs yells towards Zac could be heard all the way downstairs! Donīt intend to put the whole world against him!" My brother critized me. I frowned at Ike again. "Do you have any idea what mom and dad will do to him when they find out what he did? Theyīll punish him forever!" He continued.
"How do you know what he did?" I asked.
"Joey told me."
"Well, just so you know, Iīm not planning on telling dad what Zac did, so stop looking at me as if I was the bad guy in the movie" I said.
"Youīre not the bad guy, man! Did you two have to fight like that? Dad IS going to find out what happened Taylor. What got into Zac...do you know why he did that?" Ike asked.
"I dunno, maybe he was jealous of me riding with with Jo and all...he nearly killed us" I said.
"Why? Does he like Jo?" Ike asked. I shrugged. He grinned.
"YOU like her." he stated. I blushed and ate the rest of my macaroni nervously. Isaac kinda quieted down for a while, as if he was thinking. "HA! I knew it! Ohhh..I get it now... You and Zac both like her...Thatīs why Zac passed in front of you like that..some sort of revenge huh? And thatīs why you two look at each other like that when sheīs around! Oh boy...oh man..he he he" Ike exclaimed. I wrinkled my brow, feeling not only my cheeks, but my whole head hot and red, probably.
"Shut up Ike..." My brother stood up and went to wash the dishes. I followed to help him.
"Tell me Tay" Ike said. I looked at my dirty dish angrily, and did not answer. Isaac sighed. "Okay Iīm sorry, but itīs true isnīt it? I hit the nail right in the head didnīt I?" Ike said looking at me. I rolled my eyes, what use lying to Ike? I was gonna tell him anyways wasnīt I? So everything just spilled out, I told everything to Ike, about Jo, it wasnīt much, but it felt good to let it out. Ike always listened.
"So how is it that you fell honey?" The lady seemed to have amnesia, or to be deaf. It was like the fourth time she asked. Zac and I exchanged looks. I smiled politely.
"I fell down a couple of stairs and landed on my head" The lady nodded smiling. Then she turned and began talking to a couple.
"We could try getting away from the multitud of people.." Zac said. I agreed. We were entering the patio when we heard Zacīs and my name being called. We turned our heads. Walker was calling us. We walked to him.
"Now I donīt want you two to go anywhere out of my sight is that clear? You may walk around but I need to be able to know where you are. To see you" He said. The man that was beside me, talking to Walker before we came laughed.
"So this is your son Walker...itīs the first time I meet him I believe.." He said.
"Yes it is...Zachary, say hi to Mr. Rickets, heīs a good friend of mine, and recently arrived in Tulsa" Walker introduced.
"Call me James" The man said as Zac shaked his hand. Then he turned to me.
"And this young lady?"
"Iīm Johanna" I said shaking his hand and smiling my best. Walker put his hand on my shoulder.
"Johanna is staying with us for a few months" He said. "Go on" He added sorta shoo-ing us. We walked away.
"Good thing we left before that James guy could start asking about my head.." I said as we walked. What had happened so far was that the 4 of us had arrived at the house...a sort of mansion I must add...and by the time we did, it was full of people. We had been given a lecture about not wondering off before we were set free to walk around, And thatīs what we have been doing ever since, walking around..some people would come and talk to us, but for a few secs only. Zac suddently stuck his hands in his pocket and sighed.
"Um..Jo.."
"What?" I asked. We walked pass a big group of laughing people, and found ourselves in front of the glass door that opened to a big balcony, since it was open, we just walked to it, I leaned myself on the balcony, resting my arms in it, Zac did the same beside me. For a second I turned my head and looked inside the room, and I saw Walker looking at us, checking I guess. Zac saw him too. He sighed again.
"Iīm...Iīm sorry" He said. I turned my head towards him, his eyes were looking at mine allready. I understood perfectly well what he meant.
"Donīt worry" I murmured. I kept my mouth open, wanting to say something else to Zac, something comforting to him, but no sound came out, at all. I felt stupid. Zac walked away from the balcony as a group of elder people walked in the same area as us, they were speaking loudly, Zac motioned for us to go somewhere else. He lead me to the indoor patio, I caught Walkerīs glare as we walked, We each sat on a metal sort of (white) bench that were all put outside, and were all empty. Lucky for us.
"I...I just donīt.." Zac began, he sighed. "I donīt know what got into me..I was mad at Tay..I just.." He blabbed, he leaned his elbows on his knees, and flopped his head on his hands, he had a real upset face. I decided I didnīt want to force him to tell me what GOT into him, and I decided I realy didnīt care, so I just gave him a affectionate pat in the back.
"You know what you should do, and what you better do?" I began. Zac raised his head towards me. "You better tell your dad, I mean, just confess what hapened, no lies, just tell him ALL the truth... because... what youīve told me..thats not it, is it?" I searched Zacīs eyes. He shook his head no, as he blushed.
That was an idea, Jo was right! I could tell dad all the truth, from the very start, including my reasons to it and all! It was better that way, than him finding out for himself, and murdering me...I turned my head towards Jo when I heard voices behind us, a chubby lady wis a big smile all dressed in cream-yellow was beside Joey. The lady laughed.
"So these are Walker and Dianaīs companions huh? Zachary HANSON! My lord is that you?" She spoke in a country-type accent, as she ran her eyes up and down me. I smiled in a goofy way that sometimes relaxes me.
"Yeap, thatīs me allright"
"The last time your daddy brought you around you where this high." She continued, puting her hand about a meter high from the ground. She had a southern accent, or at least I thought so. "You must be Johanna" Mrs. Cameron turned towards Johanna. (I remembered her name know, Cameron).
"Yeah, nice to meet you.." Jo said politely. The lady looked at her smiling widely.
"Iīm Mrs. Cameron dear, Zac..I havenīt seen your daddy yet..."
"Heīs inside somewhere..."
"This is a very nice girl you got yourself Zac...what good eye you have!" Mrs. Cameron shot out. I felt blood trickle up to my face, as my heart began to fast-beat. Jo had a similar face to mine.
Without letting us say anything in our defense (We werenīt girlfriend and boyfriend!) The Cameron lady lead us to the second floor of the mansion, were she installed us in a huge room, with a bed and TV. And without letting us say a WORD she left us there!
"But wait, I want a picture of you two!! Hold on a second kids!" As soon as she left Jo turned to me.
"Who the hell.."
"She knows me since I was a baby..she must want a pic.."
HA! She charged in and made us hug real tight, and took like a hundred pictures! (ok, just 5) Then she left us, there.
"Well, I guess weīll watch TV or something.." Jo said flopping into the bed. I sighed.
"Yep.." And we began watching televition.
"But right now they might be kissing!!!" I wailed to Ike. He rolled his eyes.
"Look at it this way, YOU have a DATE with her, not Zac ok? Besides, he doesnīt go that fast with girls..." Taylor looked at his watch.
"Its half past eleven!! Why arenīt they back? Maybe this time Zac DID go fast! Maybe.."
"Taylor shut up will ya! You cinical man! Calm down a bit! Theyīre not back cause they were late and they want to make it up or something! Besides, havenīt YOU thought about Joīs feelings at all? I mean, maybe she likes someone else...maybe she likes Zac.." I said "OR you" I quikly added. Tay rolled around in bed, I popped my head from the top bunk. "Chill ok, I think you and Zac should have a little talk about it, not just man! evil looks all the time...I mean..look how far it got today! Hiting each other..sheesh!"
"Good night Isaac" Was all My brother said , sighing to my ideas. I shrugged to myself and shut my eyes. "I guess Zac and I should talk or something.." Tay mumbled to himself, loud enough for me to hear.
"Walker honey, you hurry up ok? Iīll go get the kids while your at it" Diana said. It was around twelve thirty or more, and Mr. Cameron had asked Walker to go up to his library to see some economic book, just before they left. Walker disapeared in the library while Diana entered the main room, where her son and Johanna were.
"Zac..Joha.." She interrupted herself as she saw what she saw. Zachary and Johanna, were leaned against the back part thing of the bed, to the right side, Zac was in the hedge, he had one foot on the bed and the other on the floor, he was asleep, with his head rested on his shoulder, and breathing lightly. Jo was beside him, with her head over Zacīs shoulder. Dianaīs face lightened a bit. She saw tenderness in her son and Johanna. At that moment, Jo wiggled a bit and lowered her head to Zacīs chest, getting comfy. Zac sighed in his sleep.
"Um Honey..Zachary..dear...Johanna? we have to go kids" I heard a distant voice call. Weakly I opened my eyes and saw Dianaīs face. I was blushing when Walker burst in.
"Are they...OH" He cut himself. I was allready on my feet, turning the TV off. Zac was slowly noticing what had happened. He too blushed. Walker eyed us like saying "AW cīmon u kids know better that that" or something. Blushed to death, Zac and I got in the car (van sorta) and forced ourselves to stay up till we got home.
All I was wishing when we got home was...`God let my brother be asleepī. Ok, so I admitted I had some fault, so I shouldnīt of rode in front of him, but now I wasnīt gonna go say I was sorry..no way!! I have dignity! I was kinda hoping we would eventually start talking to each other and forget bout it. (like it usualy happens) Anyways, Jo and I said goodnight, and after yet another speech from mom and dad (this time including some hormone junk) I got in my room, and in my bed. Both Tay and Ike were asleep, I could tell by their breathing. Plus Tay was sorta snoring a bit. Silently I got in bed and covered myself with my sheets. I turned sideways and shut my eyes. I looked at Tay. (I was facing his bed)
"Iīm sorry Tay.." I wispered in my lowest wisper. He didnīt even wiggle. I sighed and shut my eyes again. Maybe I should tell him I was kinda sorry. I didnīt like to be mad at my brothers. Allthough I sorta hated him for also liking Johanna. Plus now I feared he might take her from me, since heīs all "that much and more" BLAH. I decided to sleep on it.
