The next morning when I finally decided to tell dad the truth, it was already past breakfast, and Taylor was outa sight. (We had avoided each other all day) I saw dad talking to Isaac and fooling with Mac, and real meekly I walked to him.
"Um, dad?" I began, straightening my shirt out. All three heads turned to me.
"Zaky!" Mac exclaimed. I ignored him.
"Dad, can...could we um..talk?" I babbled. Dad looked at my eyes.
"Sure son," he said. We walked away, and I took a deep breath preparing to tell it all.
I really was avoiding Tay that day. I didnīt know why, but I didnīt know what to say to him, if maybe he asked something about last night. So I really got shoked when I bumped into him as I was getting out of the living room.
"Sorry..you ok?" He said. I nodded.
"Yep." Tay looked at me till I got nervous. Then he blushed a bit and stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Do....do you think we could go out on that date today? To the mall maybe..and then to a movie or something?" He stammered. I smiled.
"Okay.." I said. I felt kinda guilty for going out with him, but I wanted to clear things out, and that was the perfect chance to do so. Jessie appeared with a bag of some blue liquid that looked icy.
"Taylor, mom wants you to put this on your face" She said handing the ice pack to him. He thanked her puting it in his face. He winced a bit.
"Did Zac do that to you Tay?" Jessica asked. Tay and I exchanged looks.
"Yeah." Tay said.
"On purpose????!!" Jessica got anxious and a weird face.
"Um-Humm...tsss!! ouch!" Tay took the ice pack off his face rubbing his cheek.
"But why would he..."
"Jessica, it's not nice to make so much questions..." Diana came to action. I sighed.
"But mom I was just..."
"Do you want me to drive you to Caseyīs or not?" Diana looked at her daughter deeply. Jessica frowned.
"Yes mom..." She walked out the door as she muttered that all she wanted to know was why they had fought.
"Taylor, you and Zac try not to get into much details about your fight with any of your brothers or sisters ok?" Diana said. Tay nodded, putting the ice pack in his face again.
"And Taylor, maybe you should try to make up with your brother..."
"ME?? Mom!! I didnīt even start it!!" Tay wailed.
"But honey youīre older.."
"But heīs pretty old himself! Its only two years! Mo-om!" Tay wined. Diana rolled her eyes.
"Listen Taylor, if you havenīt noticed, you have a very, VERY sensitive brother, and you two have had the worst of fights! I realy think both of you should at least talk. Realy sweetie. You havenīt a clue whatsoever how your brother looked yesterday, Heīs distroyed, and his face denotes sorrow. " Diana said as she left.
"Mom?" Tay called, Diana turned around.
"Joey and I are going to the mall today ok? Then weīll go to the movies..um..ok?" Tya blushed at the end. Diana shot him a strange glance.
"Tell Ike to take both of you, I donīt want you driving with Jo with you...yet, and be home early. Remember tomorow you have a intrerview with national Tulsa TV. In the Music Channel, and please stay out of trouble. Oh, also tell your father, and the body guard, whatever his name is..the new one?" Diana finished her orders.
"Joe, yes mom, ok...fine..thanx!" Tay said.
"Mommmm! Hurry up Iīll be late!!" Jessica wailed as Diana rushed out the door. Just at that moment, I heard Zacharyīs voice and saw him and Walker approach the door. Zac stopped abruptly when he saw us. Then kinda reddening, not "blush" reddening I guessed. Waited for Walker.
"Taylor, whereīs mom?" Walker asked.
"Just left."
"When she gets back tell her Zachary and I went out and will be out all day ok?" Taylor nodded. Zac was looking down at his wiggling shoes. Then he looked up and shot Taylor a tiny "mad" glance.
"If you or anyone decides to go out, tell mom and Joe before doing so ok? Donīt forget tomorowīs..."
"Yes Dad, interview with Tulsa TV. Blah blah..I know" Tay interrupted. Walker smiled and hugging Zac by the shoulder walked out with him. Zac looked at me before dissapearing and I smiled weakly at him.
I let out a huge sigh once Dad and Zac were out. Johanna was looking at me steadily. I sorta smiled.
"Weīll talk ok? Promise. Besides, I think Zac and dad are going out cause Zacīs gonna tell him everything" I said, smiling.
"Yeah, he is." Johanna sighed. "Lets do something."
"Like what?" I asked. Johanna shrugged and her tee crumpled. (she had on a small tee and jeans.)
"I-donīt-know."
"Me neither."
"Lets go for a ride!" I shook my head.
"Grounded. No rides.....rollerblading??" I asked. Joīs turn to shake her head.
"Got no blades."
"Lend ya some."
"Canīt blade." I widened my eyes at this.
"HUH?"
"Donīt know how to!!"
"Teach ya!"
"No thanks," Jo said raising her eyebrows.
"I wont kill ya promi..."
"NO THANKS and stop the tapping GOD youīre getting on my nerves!"
"Well stop the stomping!"
"I like to stomp my feet, and besides it doesnīt bother you!" Jo said defensively. I mimiked her phrase. She smiled and shoved me.
"Ugh! TAYLORRR!" She complained.
"Ok Ok...I know!!" I said brightening up.
"What?"
"Lets go for a walk...Iīll introduce ya to some of my friends ok?"
"Oh that sounds cool!" Johanna said. I looked at her knee.
"Your knee better?" I asked worridly.
"Yeah! It donīt hurt no more! Iīll be carefull not to hit it or anything..promise...DAD!" Jo joked.
"Yeah...pick on the poor guy for wanting to help!" I said putting a puppy face. Jo shoved me again.
"Not the puppy face will ya!"
"Whatīs with you girls and shoving!!" I joked smiling at Jo. She laughed.
"Lets get outa here!" She said. We walked to the door.
"ISAAC!!! Going outside for a while ok!! Iīm going with Johanna!! Tell Mom when she gets here and pleassssse tell Joe ok??? OK???" I yelled. After a few seconds Ike yelled ok back at me. So we left.
I looked at Johanna as we walked. Her reddish hair was real shiny, and matched with the dark-red stripe across her tee. (That was a cream color). She looked happy. I got closer to her, and stuck both hands in my pockets. We were coming close to my friend Willīs house.
"Ok, that white house over there with the fence is Willīs house. Heīs real cool, but heīs probably at the club right now.
"Club?" Johanna inquired.
"Yeah, most of my friends go to the school club. Its a club maintained by all the public schools around here, were all the students of any of the schools can go to and have fun. Its real cool. They have soccer, tennis, swiming pools..." I began explaining.
"Ooh I love to swim!" Jo interrupted.
"Itīs realy awesome..Iīll show it to ya..it's not such a long walk.." I said.
"How come you can go in...you donīt GO to school right?"
"My brothers and I have played there a couple of times already, so weīre allowed to go in like all the other kids. Weīre allowed to take company sometimes, so you can come in with me" I said. Jo smiled.
"Thank goodness I only had to wear my head-band until yesterday, Iīd be real embarassed to walk around with it on" I smiled.
"Yeah" We kept on walking.
"This is Jonathan...this is the one I was tellng ya about..Will...this is David..Brian, Justin..Christine...Craig...Gabe...Michael..Marian and Prudence" Taylor introduced me to a group of his friends that we found inside the club, near the baseball and kick ball field.
They all said hi to me real nicely...until Prudence, she looked at me up and down like if I was scum or something. I ignored her, and looked at the other guys. Jonathan looked a little younger than Tay, maybe my age, he has brown hair and eyes and was with swiming trunks and a t-shirt. (Actually, all of the guys had swimming trunks and t-shirts) Will was tall, and with shiny light brown hair, which was straight and he kept below his ears. David was real cute, he was blond, real blond and had the cutest green eyes. And freckles. (a killer huh?) Brian had light brown hair, and real dark eyes. He had creamy skin. I already knew Justin, and I had seen her sister (Christine) the other day. She was frowning at Justin, her black hair the same color as her bothers..they were realy alike. Then Craig, who had hazel hair and eyes, Gabe and Michael who looked a lot like each other..(Curly dark brown hair, brown eyes) All the guys smiled at me as I said hi, with my best smile, and trying not to get too shy. (I could feel myself real hot and blushed).
Marian had short blondish hair, and black eyes. She had frekles too. She smiled at me. She had on shorts and a non-sleeved shirt, from underneath it, you could tell she had a bikini on. Prudence said hi dryly. Her curly hazelnut hair was tied in a pony tail. I must have looked shy, cause Tay gave me a little push of encourageent. Then we all began talking about what to do.
"We could have a game of baseball..." Justin said. Prudence let out an "UGH" of dissapointment.
"I thought we were on our way to the POOL." She complained.
"But Tay and Johanna don't have swimming suits.." Craig said defensively, looking at Prudence wierdly. I gave him a thanx smile, which he returned.
"Taylor has the ones he left the other day...CīMONNN!! We allready have our stuff on!" She kept on wining.
"We can play baseball too Pru..donīt be childish" Marian said. Prudence gasped and gave me the evil eye.
"So now, even if weīre ALL ready tro go to the swiming pool, just because little Jo comes around with no swimming suit, we all have to change our plans?!! I donīt think SO!!" Prudence said putting her hands on her hips. The others put disgust faces.
"Sheīs new ok? How was she supposed to know? It would be rude if we..." Craig began.
"We can just find something as fun and do it together." Taylor said.
The third world war was about to begin.
"It doesnīt matter..I..donīt mind, really," I said.
"SEE," Prudence widened her eyes.
"Well we mind." Christine said, putting an ugly face at Prudence.
"Shut up," she shot back.
"I can just watch, and afterwards we can have some baseball," I said smiling Tayīs face lit up suddenly.
"Instead of making a storm on a teacup.." He began, shooting Pru a look. "My houseīs only like five bloks away or so, Johanna and I can run back so she can get her stuff an.." He was saying, but was interrupted by Prudence who grabbed Tayīs arm.
"Taylorr please!! You promised the other day you were gonna help me on you-know-what!! Itīs closing in five minutes!! She can go back on her own or something! You promised! And then on your way you can put your trunks on and all! Please??" Tay glanced at me as Prudence yanked him along. He shrugged. I giggled and motioned for him to go. Justin sighed.
"Come on Jo...donīt pay attention to Pru. Her parents got divorced a month ago, and its kinda made her so babyish...Iīll walk ya to Tayīs house ok?" He said. I nodded.
"Thanks."
"Iīll go too" Christine said. Justin signalled for her to hurry.
"Anyone else?"
"I have to go over to my place for a while" Will said. So we all walked out of the club. They asked me a lot of questions, which I answered. I was practically over my shyness. Taylorīs friends were real nice. (OK, except for little Prudence there).
The water in the pool was really warm. I was kinda embarrassed cause I had only found my bikini. And it wasnīt was I was planning on wearing. (It was cute actually, but with so much unknown boys...It was turquoise and all the borders (and the strips) were brown) I almost died when I appeared in it.Tay was looking at me and smiling. He was flushed. I smiled, getting over my embarassement.
"Nice bikini!" Christine said. I smiled. Hers was nice too. I told her so. We decided on a volleyball game in the pool. Pru refused to play.
"I wanna get tanned for next weeks party" She exclaimed. She was pretty "posh" to me. She had on sunglasses, and a totaly black bikini. She began talking to Tay, who I guess talked her into playing, cause she giggled and shoving him said:
"Ok Tayles if you WANT me to!!" With such a stupid face. Tay and I looked at each other, remembering out talk on "Girls always shoving boys" And we both laughed a bit. Prudence crumpled her face at me and Tay when we laughed.
"Lets pick teams..." Brian (I think) said. So they went like this: In my team:
Tay, Justin, Brian, William, Marian (Pru made a big fuss about Marian being on my team too) and David. In the other team:
Prudence, Catherine, Jonathan, Craig, Gabe and Michael. We began the set. I had noticed how Jonathan kept looking at Prudence. Maybe he liked her or....
"Johanna!!! That one was for you! didnīt you see it!! I sent it specially for you!!" Prudence said playing "nice girl" I smiled broadly at her "Pretenting"
"Oh my! I am sorry I couldnīt answer such a good throw Pru!!" I said sarcasticly. Some of the others giggled, the rest smiled. Pru crumpled her face.
Maybe Pru liked Traylor, she did look at him a lot...maybe...
"JOHANNAAAAAA!!! CīMONN! Are you gonna play or not!!!??" This time Marian wined. I smiled sheepishly.
"Woops..sorry..Iīll do better ..I promise.." I said. Marian smiled encourently at me. And boy did I get better! I am actually a good volleyball player, I realy like it, My team won at the end. I scored lotsa points.
"Wow! I though you were a lousy player, from the way you were playing at the begining!" Craig said smiling. I smiled back.
"Never judge someone from the very start" I replied.
"Oh, the poet," Prudence murmured passing by us. I frowned.
"Donīt listen to her, sheīs actually a real cool person, real nice, but sheīs an only child, and sheīs rich, and sheīs going through some family trouble, so she can get realy childish and conceited..youīll see the real her soon..hopefully.." Craig said. I smiled as I wrapped my green towel around myself.
I was putting my tee shirt on, a few minutes later (While the others did the same as they talked eagerly about some party next week) When Tay charged towards me.
"We are SO late!! Cīmon!! We gotta get home now!!" He exclaimed grabbing my arm and pulling me out. I turned towards the others.
"Bye!! Nice meeting you all!! I had a great time" I yelled. They all yelled bye at me too.
We ran all the way. And by the time we got to the Hansonīs house, I was outa breath. Diana was waiting for us in the kitchen, boiling something. When she saw us comming, she turned her body towards us.
"You two are late.."
"I know...(pant pant) Weīre sorry..time just...(pant) flew..." Tay excused himself. Diana looked at her son.
"Let this be the last time you get home AN HOUR AND A HALF later than what you promise ok? I was getting worried, and you didnīt even SAY were you were going to be at! Honestly Taylor, Itīs as if you had no responsability over yourself, nor consideration over me!" Diana was exasperated. Taylor looked at the ground. I could tell he was hiding a smile. Diana sighed.
"So did you have a good time?" Taylor raised his head smiling.
"Yeah, Jo met some of the guys and all, and we had a real cool game on the pool...so..am I forgiven??" He put a puppy face. Diana rolled her eyes.
"Drop the pleading face thing. Will you want to get to the mall for lunch or not? I thought thatīs what you wanted. Its one-thirty mind you!!"
"Nah..weīll have lunch here..we were planning on going to the movies at around seven though" Tay said.
"Youīll have to ask your brother to take you son. alright..go upstairs and call your brothers and sisters for lunch..." Diana said. Tay and I both began running up the stairs.
"And wash your hands!!" Diana yelled after us.
"We have them clean from the pool!!" Tay screamed back. I laughed.
"TAYLOR..Iīm warning you.."
"Yeah mom..just a joke.." Tay yelled back as we got in the bathroom.
"Youre momīs pretty cool...considering sheīs had seven kids and all, you would think sheīs paranoic or something.." I said giggling.
"Actually I think thats why sheīs cool, with so much kids and all, just relax..you get my point?" Tay answered.
"Yeah" I laughed. Then we called the others and we ran to eat lunch.
"And I really didnīt do any of it on purpose Dad..I mean, I did, but I had no idea Taylor could crash or anything..I am sorry.." I confessed. My father had his eyes glued to mine. He had a real understanding face, and I really just wanted to throw myself at his arms and for him to calm me down, cause each time I rememberred what Iīd done..I felt all sick.
"I forgive you Zachary, but Iīm not the only one you have to apologise to.." I looked at my dish of hamburger remains and french fries.
"Iīll apologise to mom tonight.." I muttered.
"You know I donīt mean your mother..although you should apologise to her" Dad said. I sighed.
"I know I know..I have to apologise to Taylor...but dad its so humiliating..!" I exclaimed.
"Zac, You always have to think about the consequences your acts will bring before doing them..how many times have I told you so?" Dad lectured. I had already told him about my crush on Johanna. And my reasons for doing what I did the other day. Dad hadnīt yelled at me at all. I was feeling like if we were closer than before.
"What if Taylor bugs me when I apologise, or acts all cocky or something..."
"I highly doubt thatīll be your brothers reaction to your apology Zachary. You just have to find the right words. Donīt go and say.. "Oh yeah..and sorry`bout the other day" you gotta be more tactful, or I have the feeling you two will end up fighting again..." Dad said. I groaned.
"But Daaad..Iīm so mad at him!! I canīt help it! I canīt apologise to someone I donīt want to apologise to!!" Dad shrugged.
"Its up to you Zac. Youīll have to start talking with him sooner or later.You must act noble. You did wrong, you remend it. Iīm not saying any more about it. Wether you apologise now or in three days..just think about what weīve been talking all day long" He said. I mooshed a soggy french fry in ketchup and stuffed it in my mouth. It tasted sour. I chewed silently and slowly, thinking on what I would do. Dad ruffled my hair.
"Cīmon son. Lets forget about all these problems..lets have some fun!" He said cheerfully.
"Like what?" I asked setting down a french fry I was thinking of eating.
"How about we go somewhere with laser quest, video games...uhh" Dad began, I was already smiling. "Lets go son, weīll find plenty cool games and stuff.." He finished.
"Allright!!" I said happily. "Dad?" I asked. My father nodded towards me.
"How come youīre taking me out and all, if I just confessed Iīve done the worst of things..." Dad patted my shoulder.
"For confessing, and.." He began.
"You wonīt punish me?" I pushed him.
"Yes I will, but It will be a little punishment, I think youīve suffered some already." Dad said. I smiled broadley as we took off.
"Hey Ike...can you drive us to the movies?" I asked my brother later that day. It was around seven already. Jo, Ike and I had been doing nothing for the past like, 4 hours. My brother nodded.
"But why canīt you just drive?"
"Mom doesnīt want me to, with Jo in the car too and all..."
"Yeah" Ike said, then he turned to Jo. "Very few people that go in the car with Tay come back with no broken bones, or bumps..or band-aids all over their.."
"IKE! She gets the point ok! Besides, itīs not that bad. Everyone in my family jokes about how bad I drive, but they just say it, itīs not true.." I explained to Johanna, who was laughing at Ikes comment.
"Iīll be right back.." She said taking off. I faced Ike.
"So will you take us?"
"I gotta go somewhere near there anyways..." He muterred, as he frowned at his paperwork. He groaned.
"Mom left ya something tough again?" I asked.
"More than tough, investigating, finding info, and then making a report, analysing it, PLUS exposing it to her...and you guys I think..." Ike complained. I laughed a bit.
"So that way we can all learn from each other," I quoted my mothers lines. Ike nodded rolling his eyes. Then I looked to see if Johanna was anywhere around.
"Ike..cīmon, I don't wanna be late..."
"Yeah yeah yeah..I hope you donīt mind we pick up Wayne on our way there, and another friend, cause theyīre gonna help me, and then weīll go some where.." He began. I looked at him, a big questionmark on my face.
"Some party you were invited too as well?...." I still didnīt remember "Betīs party? GOD Taylor..got amnesia or what?" Ike exclaimed as I rememberred. So we had to pick up Wayne, AND Larry, and finaly my brother dropped us off at the movies. We sat in the middle row, at the middle seats, of "The Truman Show" And we were silent the whole movie. (Man that movie makes you go silent) Since Ike wasnīt anywhere close us when the movie was over, we went to the Mc Donalds to grab some shakes. Johanna asked for vanilla, and as I took my chocolate one, we sat in some chairs. Johanna smiled at me.
"Iīm having a lot of fun Taylor" She said. I blushed. "I honestly dinīt think Iīd have such good times with you all, when I first moved to your house" She continued.
"Well, you ARE with..the guys" I joked. Jo smiled. We talked and talked. Never stopping, for what seemed a thousand hours. When I looked at my watch I gasped. "A quarter to eleven..um..I only have permission till eleven..." I began muttering standing up. Jo, wide-eyed, imitated me. I motioned for her to follow me and broke out running.
"We have to get home in fifteen minutes....ohmygod!" He said.
What happened next is way too crazy. We ran as far as we could, took a cab, got stuck in traffic. (there had been some accident) and ran from the traffic to my house. I eyed my watch as I knoked the back door.
"Two minutes early" I said grinning. Jo giggled. Her cheeks were bright red from running, (probably like mine were) and we were both sweaty. My sister opened the door. She smiled.
"Almost late eh?" She said giggling at us. We said good night to my parents, (Oh wow, dad was home) and began running up the stairs.
"Oh Taylor, William called, he said something about a party next week, to invite all of you I think...well, he says for you to call him " My mother said.
"Ok," I breathed.
By the time I was in my room, it was nearly eleven thirty. To my surprise, I saw Isaac on his bed reading something (as he frowned) and the light of our bathroom turned on.
