Isaac
"I want to know what you think," Shae told Isaac. She had Sydney on one hip, and Sam on the other. Her hair was falling out of its sloppy bun, she had huge bags under her eyes, looked wiped out, but had a huge grin on her face.
"Okay," he agreed, relieving her of Sydney.
"Well, do you remember how I told you that I wanted to be a journalist?"
He didn't, but he nodded anyway.
"Well, I was on the school paper before I dropped out, and I found these articles that I'd written in high school. You'd tell if they sucked, right?"
"They aren't gonna suck," he reassured.
Reluctantly, she scurried off to her room, and returned with a stack of school newspapers. She handed them to Isaac, and smirked.
"Don't laugh."
"I couldn't laugh at you," he confirmed, taking a seat.
He had to admit, the articles were corny. But what high school paper wasn't? The writing style was witty (far more witty than Shae ever spoke), cute, and all around good.
"They're good. Too bad you had to stop."
Shae beamed, "Really? They're cheesy to me. Did you honestly think so?"
"Yeah, I did. Good, good, good."
Shae plopped a kiss on Isaac's cheek, "Thank you."
"I meant it," he assured her.
"I'm glad," she whispered, before stating loudly, "There's more to pack!"
Isaac rolled his eyes.
Taylor
Fiddling absentmindedly with a strand of Cheyenne's hair, Taylor racked his mind for something to do. Cheyenne yawned.
"This is fu-un," Cheyenne stated, sarcastically.
"Oh, too much."
The phone rang, and Taylor jumped a foot.
"The phone," Cheyenne told him unnecessarily.
"Mom'll get it," he yawned. As if on cue, they heard Mrs Hanson say hello. Taylor nodded, "Told ya."
"Who was betting?" she grinned, rolling her eyes, "Are you ever wrong?"
"Nope."
"Tay, phone!" Mrs Hanson called.
Taylor grinned apologetically at Cheyenne, and bounced clumsily to the kitchen.
"Y'ello?" he greeted.
"Wanna go over to Becca's?" his best friend, Josh, invited.
"Chey's here."
"Duh. Her too. Becca's got some friends and their boyfriends over. To watch some dumb Leonardo what's-his-name video."
"Becca's having a bunch of people over to watch a movie?"
"Don't diss my girlfriend, man. You coming, or not?"
"I don't know. If we're there, we're there."
"Okay, see ya."
"Bye," Taylor slammed down the phone and went back to Cheyenne.
"Wanna go over to my friend's girlfriend's house? She's having people over to watch a movie."
"What movie?"
"Some Leonardo Dicaprio one."
"Ooo, Leonardo Dicaprio and Taylor Hanson," Cheyenne said, standing up, and taking his outstretched hand, "What a yummy combination."
"If you dump what's-his-name," Taylor muttered.
"Jealous?" she grinned.
Isaac
Lazily, Ike flipped through the paper. Reading the paper was something he didn't make a habit of. It was boring.
Zac was laying on the floor, playing N64 with Jess. Zac was winning. It was no suprise, since he played it so much.
Ike flipped to an article on guitars for sale. Grinning to himself, he finished the article, and went to flip the page. Before he could, a title at the bottom of the page caught his eye. "ATTENTION BUDDING WRITERS!!! WE HAVE A CONTEST FOR YOU!!!" A contest? Quickly, Ike read on.
"Attention, young writers! Tulsa World has a contest for you! We want to give YOU a chance to work at Tulsa World, a college education (and/or high school finishing), and a $100 prize!! This is the chance of a lifetime! All you have to do is write a creative and original article for Tulsa World! All articles must be 5000 words or less. You must be a citizen of OK. Some conditions apply. Call 918-3468 for details."
Isaac couldn't believe the luck of it. He reached for the phone.
Taylor
"Josh, Becca, this is Cheyenne," Taylor introduced, literally pushing Cheyenne into the spotlight.
"Hi," she greeted, crowding back into Taylor.
"Hey."
"Hello."
Pleased, Becca drug the arrivals into the living room and held up the movie for the room to see: Marvin's Room. Taylor was disgusted. She actually had gotten Leonardo Dicaprio. Gag him!
"Kill me now," he muttered to Cheyenne.
"Shut up," she hissed, elbowing him good and hard in the ribs, "You're being rude."
Taylor opened his mouth, but Cheyenne beat him to words, "Looks like a good movie, doesn't it, Taylor?"
"Oh, marvelous," he muttered, sarcastically.
Smiling, Cheyenne settled down on the couch, yanking Taylor down with her. Deciding to make the most of it, Taylor rested his arm around her shoulders, and clasped her hand with his other one. His fingers met with a band of cool metal. He beamed inwardly with pride and satisfaction. She was wearing his ring.
Becca hit the play button and went to sit with Josh. Taylor yawned, and fiddled with the ring on her finger. Cheyenne squirmed beside him, rested her head against his shoulder, and squirmed some more.
"Ants in your pants?" he asked.
She nodded, and finally settled cozily in. The movie, Taylor had to admit, was pretty good. Cheyenne seemed to be enjoying it too, but he'd felt her whole body tense up when the aunt was diagnosed with cancer. He'd rubbed her hand with his thumb and had whispered, "You okay?" She had been, or so she'd said. She was smiling now, but it was obviously fake. She wasn't enjoying thhis one bit, and he knew it.
"Hey, Chey," he whispered, into her ear, "We can go."
"NO!" she hissed, sharply.
Taylor nodded and gave her a brief, understanding squeeze. Cheyenne sighed heavily, and leaned back into Taylor again. 15 minutes later, she began to shake. Not a small shake either, but only violent enough for Taylor to realize.
"Cheyenne?"
She didn't answer. She was fixated by the movie, mesmorized by the nightmare she knew. Her grip on his hand was almost painful, and it was tightening. Her breath was coming quicker, in short, sharp gasps.
"Cheyenne?" he asked, again, feeling a bit panicky.
Silence again, except for the rattling of her breath. She shifted, but her eyes never left the screen. She was very pale, and Taylor began to fear that she was going to pass out.
He heard it then. Quiet and calling. Almost begging. Definately pleading. It came out as such a soft, quiet whisper. Taylor had to strain to hear.
"Mommy."
Cheyenne shuddered and scrambled out of Taylor's arms. Pausing only for a second, she left the room, and they all heard the door slam. All eyes were on Taylor. Standing up, he glanced around.
"Her mom died of cancer," Taylor murmered, "They were really close. Sorry."
Shrugging, he went for the door, imagining Cheyenne half way home. She wasn't. He almost tripped on her when he ran out of the door.
She was crying very hard, and he wasn't at all suprised. Her head was in her hands, and she was shaking, but not at all as hard.
"You didn't go home," he stated.
"I don't know the way," she moaned, pitifully, "I'm so s-sorry."
"No!" he disagreed, sitting beside her, rocking her back and forth, "Don't you apologize. I brought you here."
He took her chin in his right hand, and stroked her hair off her wet cheek. Gently, he brushed her face with his sleeve, and kissed her softly on the lips.
"There now," Dr. Taylor said, "You're gonna be okay."
She nodded, and put her fist against her mouth. Her other hand had found Taylor's.
"I hate to cry," she sniffed, "Betcha didn't know."
"I betcha I did," he replied, quietly, "But it's not wrong to cry."
Cheyenne nodded again,, and moved into Taylor's arms, letting the sobs come freely. Taylor hugged her, and wished to God that he knew what to do.
Zac
"Killing me softly with his so-ong!" Stephanie sung, letting Zac twirl her. She giggled.
"Go Stephie!" Zac laughed.
She laughed louder and curtsied.
"Thank you, good sir," she replied, imitating a posh English accent.
"Hick," he chided.
Stephanie snorted, "That was English, you dodo."
"Oh, excuse me," Zac laughed, "Maybe you should work on that. It sounded HICK."
Stephani stuck her tongue out, "Oh, what do you know?"
Zac mimicked her, and headed outside. Stephanie followed, and they began to walk down the street. Zac had grabbed a baseball hat on the way out, and it disguised him enough.
"So," Stephanie drawled, "What are you doin' with the band?"
Zac sighed, "Stephie, I wish I knew. I just don't know anymore. Taylor gave me this talk... or rather this yelling, and he made sense. Man, Stephie, I'm so tired of it all. I... I just don't know."
"Guess y'all better just make yer ol' minds up!"
"Hick!" he laughed.
Stephanie took a swing at him, and laughed.