At about 4:00 that afternoon, the Hanson's and Tamara had arrived back at the concert venue and Ike, Tay and Zac were going over the set list. Finally, Zac asked,
"Okay, this is killing me, Tay. Why were you and Tamara holding hands at the zoo?"
"They were holding hands?" asked Ike. "Where was I?"
"It was right after me and Jessica came out of the bathrooms," Zac told him.
"Oh yeah, I saw them sitting next to each other in the van. I thought it was a bit odd, but I thought 'wow, they're actually being civil to each other."
"Yup, they were holding hands," Zac said. "It was so weird because they hated each other and then..."
"Um, guys," interuppted Taylor. "I'm right here. You don't have to talk about me right in front of me."
"Well, what happened?" pestered Zac.
"I don't know," Taylor started. "I mean we were arguing in the room and then we just looked at each other and started making out." His brothers stared at him incredously.
"You kissed her?!" Zac exclaimed. "Eww, gross!"
"Shut up, Zac," Ike told him. "Gee Taylor, wait until mom and dad find out."
"No!" yelled Taylor. "I mean, they're not going to find out, right?" Ike nodded. Taylor looked at Zac. "Right Zac?"
Zac looked up from watching Telletubbies on TV. "That Tinky Winky. He is just so gay, look at the guy..." he looked up to see Ike and Tay staring at him. "What?"
"Mom and dad can not know about me and Tamara, Zac."
"Sure whatever, okay uh huh," Zac said as he turned back to the Telletubbies.
"He won't talk," Ike said. Tay nodded.
"I don't know Ike, it was really weird, but I liked it, you know? Tamara might be really mean to me, but I think that she actually really likes me. Ike? Ike?" Taylro sighed as he saw his older brother watching the Telletubbies with Zac.
"Hey, Tinky Winky really is gay!" Ike exclaimed. "Upside triangle, wearing purple, carries a purse. You can't even watch kids shows anymore."
"Yeah Ike." Taylor left his two retarded brothers and went outside. There were people outside, lining up for the show already. He sat down at one of the picnic tables and watched his fans for a while. He liked seeing this side of them, when they weren't screaming and grabbing at him. Of course, he liked that sometimes too, but it was cool to see that the fans were normal human beings.
He looked over to the other bus, where Tamara and Diana were playing something with the kids. He caught Tamara's eye and gave her a little smile. She looked back and smiled back. He was liking this side of her too, although he kind of liked when she was mean to him too. It was good to know that all girls didn't like him- it kept him down to earth.
He went back inside and much to his relief the Telletubbies were saying their goodbyes and Ike turned off the TV. They had to be getting backstage soon. Tay went into his bunk and put on a fresh shirt. He opened his calander book and looked at his schedule for the next week. His heart sank as he looked at the June 27 date. It said New York gig with the name Sierra inside a heart. He felt extremely guilty and quickly shut the book, as if to block out the fact that he would have to face her in a couple days.
"Hey Tay? We gotta go okay?" Ike said through the curtain.
Tay answered okay back and followed his brothers outside. They to the building and on the way in, he saw Tamara stop to say something to a security guard.
"Hey! I remember you!" she said to the guard. "You wanna see something? Here, this is my pass. You know, that thing that you kicked me out because of this morning? Well, here it is pal. Kiss this, " she said as she pointed to her rear. The guard looked speechless as she sauntered by him and into the building. Taylor just laughed and ranby the guard so he wouldn't beat him for saying he didn't know Tamara.
The rest of his family was hanging out in a private room backstage and outside of the door was Tamara waiting for him.
"Do you know how many times I had to pretend to tie my shoe so it wouldn't look like I was waiting for you?" she asked.
"Sorry," he said. "I had to sneak past that guard that you chewed out so he wouldn't kill me."
"Yeah, thanks a lot for that this morning. I really enjoyed getting kicked out of this place, really. 'I've never seen her in my life'," she mocked.
"Sorry sorry," he laughed. "How ever can I make it up to you, your majesty?"
"Hmm," she pretended to think as she put her arms around him. "That's going to be tough." They kissed softly and then broke apart. "Have fun tonight Tay!" Tamara said as she left and went into the room.
"That's all I get?" he called after her. He went into a seperated room, where Ike, Zac and the backup band were waiting.
"Where have you been?" asked Ike impatiently. "We're on in like 10 minutes. Admiral Twin's finishing up."
"They're not booing them yet, are they?" asked Zac. Ike peeked his head outside the room.
"No, it doesn't sound like it." The last couple of concerts had been rough for Admiral Twin because the crowd had been so restless to get Hanson onstage that they booed Admiral Twin. "Poor guys. It must stink to have to be an opening act."
Soon Admiral Twin was done and Hanson was taking the stage. The show went well, they performed great and the crowd was energetic. Taylor began to hope that this show wouldn't end, so he wouldn't have to go the New York concert and face Sierra. he quickly shoved her out of his mind and concentrated on performing.
Later that night, after the show was over and all the fans had gone home, Taylor, Zac and Ike were watching TV in the bus, when Walker asked them if they wanted to go get some ice cream before they hit the road. Ike and Zac jumped up to go, but Tay decided to stay.
"I'm kinda tired," he told them.
"Are you sure you don't want to go?" Walker said. "The whole family is going."
"Yeah Tay," said Zac. "Don't you want to be with US?!"
"Um, that's okay. I'll just stay here. Go ahead." They left and for once he was all alone. He was sitting down to watch some music videos, when someone knocked on the door. He walked over to the door and to his surprise, Tamara was standing their holding Zoe in her arms. "Hey, I didn't know you stayed."
She nodded. "Yeah, your mom wanted me to watch Zoe, so I was going to just hang out in the bus when I saw the light on over here. What are you watching," she asked as she placed Zoe gently on the floor.
They looked at the music video that had just come on. "Um, it's Britney Spears," said Taylor.
"Ewww!" shrieked Tamara. "Kill it, kill it!" she said pointing to the screen.
"I take it you don't like Britney Spears," Taylor said.
"Ughh, I can't stand her. Look at her, little anorexic twig. She can't sing, can't dance, her tan is fake, her hair color is fake, she's fake!"
"I think she's hot," Taylor replied.
Tamara looked at him with disgust. "You would. Change the channel," she ordered. Tay flipped it to another channel where the Backstreet Boys were being interviewed. "Now that's what I'm talking about."
"You like the Backstreet Boys?" Taylor said incredously. "Now that's just wrong."
"Whatever! Nick is like soo hot!" Tamara said, trying to sound like a Valley Girl.
"He's too skinny."
"And you're not?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "I love his hair. I love yours too, of course," she said quickly. "But Nick is goregous."
"Okay, whatever you say." They found a movie on HBO that they both wanted to watch and settled down on the couch. Tamara leaned against Taylor's shoulder and he put his arm around her. "You're awesome, Tay," she murmered.
"So are you Sierra."
Tamara shot up and looked at him. "What did you say?"
"I mean, uh, I said Tamara..." he stuttered.
"Who the heck is Sierra? Taylor? You better tell me right now or you're dead!" she said with tears filling up her eyes.
"I'm sorry Tamara! I wasn't going to tell you..."
"So you were going to LIE to me, huh? You have a girlfriend, don't you? You do! I can see it on your face!" She slumped back on the couch. "I feel like such a moron. You played me Taylor. You're nothing but a freaking player!" She got up and picked Zoe off the floor and walked towards the door.
"Tamara! I'm sorry! I really like you..."
"Oh yeah, you really like Sierra too. How many other girls do you have? I hate you!" She ran out the door crying, carrying Zoe along with her. The door slammed in Tay's face and he stood there stunned.
"What just happened here?" he said to himself. "Why am I such a screw up?" He stared at the TV for a couple of minutes, but couldn't concentrate. He looked at the phone and went over to it. He picked it up and dialed the number of the other bus. After two rings, Tamara picked up.
"Hello?" she said, sounding strained.
"Tamara I didn't mean to..."
"Drop dead," she said coldly and hung up the phone. The dull buzz rang in Taylor's ear. He decided to try again.
"Hello?" Tamara said again, sounding pissed.
"Just listen to me for a second. Please," he begged.
"Why should I? Do you know how much you hurt me? I've liked you since I was 12 and I thought maybe you liked me too now, but you were just using me. You can have your little skank girlfriend, Srieea or whatever." She hung up the phone again. Taylor gave up and went back to the couch.
It's useless. She hates me. Sierra's my girlfriend, I love her. I don't need Tamara.
But Taylor knew that this wasn't completley true.