The day that I predicted would be chaos for me actually turned out pretty smoothly. Taylor and I rollerbladed for a while, Zac and I .. well, you know-ed for a while and right now both family's were sitting around the dinner table enjoying some nice chinese take out. "This food is making me sick" Zac announced suddenly. "That's because you ate too much of it" Isaac shot at his brother "Or maybe" Taylor said in a funny voice, then looked at me. It took a minute for it to register, but i finally got it. I burst into giggles, joining Taylor who had already started. The actual inside joke wasn't all that funny, but just the laughing that was going on between the two of us was enough to keep me going for about a year. When I finally calmed down a bit I opened my eyes and found my self looking at a bunch of confused faces. "Why were you guys laughing?" Zac asked me, trying to get in on the joke. "It's nothing" I said, wiping some fallen hair away from my face "Right Taylor?" he was still laughing "Right Taylor?" I'm sure he had no clue what I was talking about, but he agreed and as he straightend himself out he answered "Right" "Moving on" Zac said, rolling his eyes a bit. At that moment I realized that having a relationship with Zac wasn't going to be as easy as I initally thought it would be. I feel bad saying it but I have a better relationship with Taylor than I have with Zac. I know it's a horrible thing to say, but it's the truth and one could only expect Zac to get jealous of the bond Taylor and I share. It also dosen't take a genius to figure out that there really is no solution to this problem. There's no way in this world that I would stop staying with Taylor or cut down my time with him. Zac would just have to get used to it. End of story. "Well" my dad started "While we're all here.. Mel what are we doing for your birthday?" "Well" my sister, who would be turning 17 four days from now, swallowed her food "I was looking through the yellow pages and I found this club. But it's for teens. 13 to 21" "That elimanates half the family, sweetheart" my mom interjected A grin spread across my sister's face "Exactly" My mom's face turned sour at the sound of my sisters last comment. She was very family oriented and hated when us older children didn't want to do something with the whole family. Noticing this, my dad spoke up. "That's alright Grace. It's her choice" he grabed my mom's hand "And besides I think we could use some peace and quiet" The we he was refering to was all four parents. My mom nodded "Okay" she nodded again "Tomorrow you'll call the club Melanie and find out everything. Okay?" "Ok" After dinner we all went our respected ways and as I walked passed Taylor's room, I saw Walker and his three eldest sons deep in discusion. I wonder what about. Figuring I'd found out from Taylor later I just walked on and into my room and turned on the radio. Melanie was sitting on the bed just staring at the wall. "'N Sync?" I offered Melanie snaped out of her trance and looked at me. Surprisingly a smile spread across her face "Number 5" I smiled back and put on track number 5 "God Must've Spent A Little More Time On You" Despite our little arguments, Melanie and I really do get along. She's cool in her own way and I'm hoping she thinks the same of me. "You're not supposed to mix buisness with plesure" I heard someone, who I presumed to be Zac shout and heard a door slam. Melanie and I looked at each other and at aproximatly the same time ran to our door. I saw Walker stamp across the hall and put his face to Zac's closed bedroom door "You're doing it, wheather you like it" he turned away "Or not" Not seconds after Walker flew down the stairs, Isaac and Taylor emerged from Tay's room and walked over to us. "What happened?" I asked both of them, but I'm sure Isaac wouldn't answer me. "Let's go inside" Isaac pushed me back a little "So Zac dosen't hear" All four of us huddled into our room and we all sat on the floor. "We have to do interviews tomorrow and Friday and Zac's all pissed about it" Taylor explained, as he ran his hand along the rug. "We don't wanna do it either" Isaac started "But we have to" "That sucks" Melanie commented "Yeah, then Zac started arguing with dad and it's just all a big mess now" Taylor said, as he picked at my carpet. "He'll get over it" I said, trying to lift everyone's somber mood "Wanna play a game of baseball. We have enough people" I'm definitly not good at sports, but that dosen't mean I don't like to play them. Besides, there was a real method to my madness. Baseball was Zac's favorite, he never refused a game. Everyone nodded and I clapped my hands together "Yay. I'll go see who wants to play" I made my rounds around the house and gathered Walker, dad, Molly, Isaac, Taylor, Melanie, Jessica and even Mom for the game. Everyone waited out in the street while I went up to fetch Zac. As I reached his room I knocked three times, our code. ||||| "Madison?" Zac addressed me a couple of days ago "Yeah" I was coloring with Melissa at the dining room table. "I'm sort of tired and I'm gonna go up and sleep for a while. If you want me, knock three times in a row. I'll only answer the door for you" "Okay" I said and gave him a kiss on the cheek, keeping my five year old sister in mind. So now we had a "code". This boyriend and girlfirend thing was becoming more real everyday ||||| Zac opened the door in seconds and let me in. "Wanna play baseball?" "Yeah" I began to walk out of the room "Wait" I turned around "Yeah?" He lowered his voice a little "Is everyone mad at me?" I assume he was referring to his little "stunt" earlier. "No" I smiled at him "Why were you so mad anyway?" He came close to my ear and whispered "It's not about the music anymore" With that, he left the room ||||| Due to the heat we had decided on only five innings. We were know at the top of the fourth and my team, which consisted of Melanie, Molly, Mom and Dad was up. Dad was at the plate. "Go Daddy" Melissa cheered from her position on top of our parked van. The game went on for another half hour and when it was finished the Hanson team came out on top. Twelve to seven. Dad blamed it on him being the only guy on the team. Bleck, a sore loser. ||||| As I walked out of the bathroom, just finished with my shower I was pulled into Taylor's room and the door was shut behind me. "What's your problem?" I said as Taylor led me to his bed. He ignored my question and sat next to me "Look" He pointed to the t.v I felt my eyes water as I watched the screen. Displayed on the television was me and Taylor, we were maybe five years old sitting in the lap of my grandfather, who I refered to as Grandpop. Many a day would me and Taylor sit with him, as he would tell us stories of his days. When a candy bar was a nickel and everyone knew everyone else. Grandpop died when we were 8, due to a heart failure. I was devested, and Taylor who wasn't even part of our family was devested too. Grandpop was such an important part of our little lives and when he left, a hole was left in our soul. "Where did you find this?" I asked Taylor wiping a tear away. He did the same "I packed it, but then I forgot about it until now. It was in the basement back home" Taylor and I continued to watch as we held each other. We were both so attached in this way. Grandpop wasn't just my grandfather, he was Taylor's too. We watched the tape over and over and I cried the whole time, ocassionaly glancing at Taylor who shed a few tears. I'm so glad I had Taylor and I'm so glad I had grandpop. Not many people have special people in there lives, I'm glad to say I'm not one of them. home || next