Isaac
"Listening, guys?" Mr Hanson asked.
Isaac looked up from his paper and nodded. Taylor and Zac followed suit.
"I have a history project that'll take awhile, so be prepared to work your butts off."
Ike gulped. Tay and Zac exchanged nervous glances.
"I want you to research important battles that helped to end WWII.
"Important battles from every country fighting?" Zac asked.
"Nope! I'm going to assign you each a couple of Allied countries. You can work on it on the plane ride home."
"Tay, can I use your laptop?"
"Yeah, sure! I'm sick of this assignment."
"Me too," Zac chimed, "Who knew the US fought so much? Why can't we all get along?"
"You have it easy! I have France and Canada!"
"Well, I have England, and Russia, and Italy! And not only do I have Italy, I have to include why they switched sides."
"Can I get your autographs for my daughter please?"
They stopped their debate, and looked at the flight attendant, who was around their mom's age.
"Sure," they said, far too eagerly, because they were more than willing to take a break.
Zac took the CD she extended and scribbled his name. He was glad to be going home. He loved home more than anything.
Taylor was more reluctant to be going home. He wasn't in a hurry to see Britt, who had been "out with friends" everytime he'd phoned, which was 8 times. Britt's mom hadn't been pleased. He'd left the hotel number, but she'd never called.
Isaac was stuck in the middle. He wanted to go out with Shae again, but knew that if he saw her lots, his parents would want to meet her. He knew Shae would be fine, but he worried about what his parents would think about Sam and Sydney.
Zac
"I saw your appearance," Cassie muttered, flicking the station.
The Hansons had been home for three days. During those days, Zac had had two brief phone conversations with Stephanie, slept over at Jared's, and was now at Cassie's.
"Oh. What did you think?' Zac asked, nonchalantly.
"Er, the song was faster than usual," Cassie mumbled, playing with her hands, "You, ah, seemed kinda distracted during the interview."
"Yeah, I guess. But let's not talk 'bout it. I've already taken enough crap from Ike and Tay."
"Well, I'd say it was well deserved crap. I've never seen you drum that bad in my life!"
Those stupid tears were coming again. He turned away so that she couldn't see.
"Zac, don't be mad."
"I'm not mad," Zac blinked and turned to look at her, hoping they were gone.
"Good. I don't wanna fight."
"Me neither."
Cassie smiled wickedly.
"Do you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to phone Stephanie."
"Okay. Tell her I say hi."
"Oh, I'll tell her more than that."
"Oh. Like what?" Zac asked, pretending to be bored.
"That you like her, that you think she's pretty and nice. And you can't deny it. You told me and Jared."
"No, you aren't!"
Zac dove for the phone and so did Cassie. Zac got it first.
"Ha! Now I'm going to phone Taylor and tell him that you like him."
"Taylor?!? I don't like Taylor!"
"Oh well. He doesn't have to know that," Zac said wickedly.
Taylor
"How's your report coming?" Mrs Hanson asked.
"Okay," Taylor muttered. He was tired. He'd worked on the Canada part until 4 in the morning.
"Can I read it?"
"Sure, Mom."
Mrs Hanson sat down across from Taylor at the table. She had a pitiful smile on her face.
"What's wrong?" Taylor asked, nervously.
"Well, it's very accurate. But, Tay, it's the wrong war."
"Huh?"
"Walker and I meant for you to do the second war, dear," Mrs Hanson reminded, gently patting Taylor's arm.
"No!" he exclaimed, banging his head on the table.
"Stop, honey, you're going to hurt yourself! Tell you what. I'm taking Mackie to the doctor, and I'll drop you off at the library, ok?"
Taylor sat behind a pile of books and yawned. The report was really tiring. Yawning again, Taylor tackled the biggest book.
"Ahem."
"Hmm?" Taylor murmured, looking up. Before him was the short, brunette girl, with the long, long hair, from the mall.
"Hi. Uh, those books won't help you."
"What do you mean?"
"Those books don't tell the whole story. I, uh, I could.
"Could you?" Taylor asked sarcastically.
She smiled, "No need to be sarcastic! I could. But, if you don't think you need help..."
Taylor frowned, but nodded, and she sat down. He thought it was very weird that some total stranger wanted to help him. Odd.
"Yeah, I guess I need your help. Thanks. So, what's your name?"
"That's not important," she said, tilting one eyebrow. Okay. Her name isn't important. She's nameless. This is too weird.
"Well, I'm Taylor Hanson."
"Yeah, I know. Anyhow, your report is on Canadian battles?"
"Yup," Taylor told her uncomfortably. Sheesh! For once, I would like to have somebody not know me. What's with her? Maybe her name is awful.
Isaac
"Hold on, Ike."
"Okay, Shae."
He heard a clunk, which meant she had put the phone down. He was incredibly nervous. His mind drifted back to the conversation with his mom and dad earlier.
Earlier that day.....
"There was a message for you on the machine from a girl named Shae," Mr Hanson said, taking his paper and coffee to the table.
"Shae? She was here before we went to New York, right? She seemed very nice and sort of maternal with Zoe. How old is she?"
"17," Isaac had replied, ignoring the maternal part.
"Your age. Have you seen her since?"
"Yeah. We saw a movie," Isaac told his mom.
"We would love to meet her, wouldn't we, Walker?"
"Yes, we should. She should meet us, too."
"Isaac?"
Ike jerked back to present times.
"Hey. Where'd you go?"
"Sydney needed her soother."
"Oh. Are you busy tomorrow?"
"No. But I work until 6."
"Want to come over for dinner?"
"Okay! But it'll depend on the twins."
Taylor
"I don't understand."
"You just don't listen," Taylor's mall girl exclaimed.
Taylor stared at his notes. Not only was this girl weird, but she was strong-willed and didn't seem very patient. They hadn't even gotten started on the research, and their stubborness was already clashing.
"Sorry! But I don't see why you know more than these books!"
The girl blinked and frowned.
"Because my grandpa was there! He was Canadian. My mom was too, but she met my dad, who was from Tulsa, so they moved here. We moved back to Canada when I was four, and just moved back here two months ago. Grandpa was my best friend, so he told me all about it. Only Grandma and I knew. He only told those who would listen!"
Taylor looked at her rather sheepishly, "Hint taken."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude. But you make me feel so frustrated. Will you listen?" she apologized, blushing, and not looking mad anymore.
"Yeah, gladly. I'm sorry, too. You don't have to help me."
"No, don't be dumb! I want to."
"Okay. But I don't understand."
Taylor's mall girl actually laughed and began to fiddle with her hair. Taylor picked up his pen.
"Okay, no name. I'm ready."
She tilted her eyebrow at 'no name', but began to tell her grandpa's story.
Zac
"Bye Cassie!"
"See you, Zac."
Zac tripped off her porch and rollerbladed down the street, debating whether to go straight home or to fiddle around.
"Zac, hey!"
Zac spun around on his blades and faced Stephianie, who was running to catch him. He stopped and waited for her.
"Hi, Stephanie."
"What are you doing?"
"Blading home."
"Oh cool. Conan O'Brien was good."
"You don't have to be nice, I know it wasn't."
Zac could see two boys ahead, both in Manson shirts. He gulped. Manson shirts on big boys never meant anything good. So he wasn't totally surprised when one yelled, "Oh, Ben, look! It's a faggy Hanson girl!"
Zac bit his lip, and muttered to Stephanie, "It's best to ignore them, unless you want the crud kicked out of you."
"Ah, so it is, James. The littlest pansy. Mmmbop! Mmmbop!"
"Oh, Ben, stop! You're hurting my ears."
"Sorry, James. But, you know, I'm a faggy Hanson girl! I'm a faggy Hanson girl!" the bigger boy recited, doing a stupid little dance.
Zac glanced at Stephanie, and she grabbed his hand and held it tightly. Despite the circumstance, Zac smiled.
"I mean, look! You can't tell the Hanson from the chick he's with."
"Zac," Stephanie said, suddenly, "We're home."
Zac shot a confused look at Stephanie, but followed her to the small white bungalow, gladly leaving his tormentors behind.
"Bye!" the smaller boy yelled, "Can't wait for your next video! Will you be dancing on another pansy? Cause, you know, you and that flower have a lot in common."
Zac winced. He had been against that stupid flower since the beginning. So had his brothers. But, even though these boys' words hurt, they only pushed Zac closer to the decision about the band that he was close to making.
Isaac
"I talked to Shae," Isaac told Mrs Hanson, who was taking her coffee to the living room, and was being trailed by Mac.
"Did you ask her over?"
"Uh huh. She seemed excited."
"That's good, dear. I can't wait to really meet her. Tell me about her."
"Okay," he said slowly, "She's 17. Lives downtown. Has an older sister named Whitney. Doesn't get along very well with her. And more, but you should wait and ask her, because she is very interesting." Good. Avoid the mother issue.
The phone rang and Mrs Hanson answered it.
"Hello. Hanson residence. Oh, hi honey! Are you sure? Okay. Half an hour? Sure. Bye, dear," Mrs Hanson hung up the phone, "That was Tay. What should I cook when Shae comes over?"
"I really don't know. How about-"
The phone interrupted him and Mrs Hanson rolled her eyes and answered it.
"Hello? Oh, we were just talking about you. Hold on," she handed Isaac the phone, and left the room, Mac still trailing her.
"Hey?"
"Hi Ike."
"Shae! What's up?"
"Uh, the twins can stay at Tracey's."
"That's good. So-"
"Ike, we have to tell them. It's not like we can avoid such a big part of my life."
"I know, I know. But the question is how to tell them?"
"I don't know. You're the first guy I've liked since they were born, so it's not like I've practised."
Zac
Stephanie held the door for Zac and he scooted in. He was ushered to a TV room, and was left there, with Stephanie saying that she would be right back.
It was a cozy room, with beige carpets and an over stuffed maroon couch across from two maroon arm chairs. The TV was off to the side, but could be seen from the chairs or the couch. There was a little bookshelf, that was packed with books. On top of it were 4 framed photos. Zac moved in to get a closer look at them. He was doing this when Stephanie came in.
"That's my family."
Zac jumped.
"Oh, Steph!"
"Sorry."
"Yeah? Thanks. We get lots of idiots like that. Sorry you had to hear it."
"No problem. Sorry you have to live with it."
Zac grinned, "Well, I'd better be going. Mom expected me home half an hour ago."
"Okay."
Stephanie led him to the door and smiled at Zac.
"I'll, uh, phone ya," Zac muttered, fiddling with his hands.
"Will you?"
"Course! Bye."
He had wanted to kiss her, but chickened out and gave her an awkward hug.
