"You and I both knew he would."
Isaac shook his head violently.
"I still don't understand why you just volunteered us for this Tammy. I really don't. I don't want him here, and we could have bailed out an hour ago."
"Bailing out. Wow that's such a wonderful way to put it."
She frowned at him, sipping from a cup of orange juice.
"I know that, I know that the whole situation isn't a good way to put it. I wish it were sometimes…"
"Then make it that way."
"Easier said then done Tammy."
She shrugged, as if defeated, and turned around, placing her cup on the counter.
"Want to go to lunch?"
She turned around to look at him.
"Isaac, we do have to be here when Zac gets here you know. But nice try."
It was now one in the afternoon, the sun fairly warm in the sky, and birds twittering around the trees on the lawn.
"Fine."
"Your right it is."
She walked out of the kitchen and slumped down on the sofa.
"He should be here any time now."
Isaac sighed.
"I know."
"Don't be my mother."
"Well someone has to be now don't they?"
He rolled his eyes at her.
They pulled up in front of the apartment complex.
"Well, here's the place."
Zac stared at it.
He'd never really been here before, he'd heard his mom talking about it, and he'd heard everyone but him had been there, but he had somehow managed to avoid it.
"I'm glad you knew where you were going."
"Zac. I live like 2 miles from here. Of course I would know."
He shrugged.
She swung the drivers side door open and stepped out.
"Come on, lets go."
Zac frowned, shoving the door open he sat for a minute.
"Zac! Come on we don't have all day! We have to get all your stuff in there AND unpack."
She walked over to him to drag him from the vehicle.
"I'm coming!"
He stood and slammed the door behind him.
"Don't you slam Horrace."
A smile broke out on Zac's face.
"Why on earth did you name it that anyway?"
"Because Horrace is a respectable name. He looks like a horrace."
"He looks like a car."
She tilted her head.
"Too bad, he's not your car."
She spun on her heel and began up the walk. Zac jogging to catch up to her.
They looked for the apartment, scamming the door fronts for the proposed 7A.
"There she be."
Without being able to protest one last time, Kate had darted off up the lawn.
"Kate!"
She jumped up onto the wooden porch and stepped to the door.
"Well here here. Go ahead Zac, knock."
Zac frowned.
"Go on. We're here, I'll have no more complaints from you."
He sighed.
"Zac! DO IT!"
He rolled his eyes and lifted a hand to knock.
The door let off a fairly solid sound, and he let his hand back down to his side.
"Good doggy."
She gave him a pat on the head and giggled.
They heard footsteps within, and waited for the door to swing open.
Tammy's face lit up when she appeared behind the door.
"Ooooh you're here!"
She reached out both arms and gave him a hug.
Over her shoulder Zac gave Kate a glare as she held her pert smile in his direction.
"Don't be giving anyone any dirty looks there hun."
Tammy stood back and pointed a finger at him.
"I'll take you to your room."
She turned around and walked into the house, Zac ready to protest when Kate gave him a good shove and he went sailing into the house.
Kate followed behind him, making sure his pace didn't slacken.
"Here it is."
Tammy swung the door open to the dimmly lit extra room.
"It's not real bright in here, we can set up some more lights.."
"It'll be fine."
Zac's face had twisted into an ongoing frown.
Tammy patted him on the shoulder.
"Things will work out kid."
She walked further into the room and switched on a lamp that stood on a table in the corner.
"It's right off the kitchen, so if you get the hungries in the middle of the night, feel free to grab something, the bathroom is just down the hall there, past the kitchen.
Zac gazed around the lower level of the apartment from the bedroom door.
One thing missing.
"Where's Ike."
Tammy sighed.
"He's upstairs."
Zac nodded as if in agreement, and continued looking at his surroundings.
"Looks like you brought a friend to help you unpack."
Tammy motioned towards Kate, and smiled.
"You wanna get unpacked soon?"
Zac shrugged.
"Well hurry, I'll take you to the store and we can get some more food."
Zac stepped from the room, following Kate to her truck.
"It's a nice place Zac."
"Sure. If it didn't include one Isaac Hanson."
"Don't make him an item, just ignore him for a while, then maybe you two can live together."
"Doesn't look like I have much choice either way does it."
Kate smiled.
"Start grabbing boxes."
Hurrying over to it, she wiped her hands on a towel and picked up the reciever.
"Hello?"
"Hey Diana."
Diana's face lit up.
"Oh hi Tammy,"
Her voice sounded excited, then it grew sad.
"is he okay? Like, is he there and happy and alright?"
Tammy sighed.
"He's here. I wouldn't say happy, but he's here."
"I feel so bad…"
"Don't feel bad Diana, you really did the right thing. He needs this."
"I hope your right hun."
"Trust me."
Diana sighed.
"Well, I guess I should let you go, I have to go to the store and drop Jess off at her friends."
Tammy smiled on her end.
"Alright, I'll talk to you tomorrow then."
"Thanks for helping me."
Zac looked up at Kate who was leaning against a wall.
"No problem."
"Want to come with us to the store?"
Kate shook her head slowly.
"Nope. I gotta get home. I told my mom I'd be home in time to start dinner."
Zac nodded.
In truth however, she really wanted to leave Zac to Tammy, she figured they needed time to themselves. To get aquainted.
"Okay."
Kate grabbed the doorknob and pulled open the door.
"Call me soon okay guy smiley?"
Zac shrugged. Guy smiley was one of those 'cheer you up' kind of phrases. Only this time it didn't quite work.
"I'll get a hold of Scott and the guys, and let them know you're over here, give them your number?"
Zac nodded again.
He looked solemnly around the room. All of his stuff was unpacked, this room was considerably smaller then his room at home, but he guessed it would have to do. The small table in the corner was pilled high with magazines, CD's, and books, while the dresser that had been preinstalled in the room was crammed full of every article of clothing he owned. On top, sunglasses and toy figurines sat scattered.
"Why do you still have those things?"
"Cause. They like, mean something."
Kate sighed.
"Yeah, like all those toys in your closet?"
Zac smiled and nodded.
"Yup, like those."
He had to admit, he did have quite a collection of toys…most of which he would forget about til he had to move and get his own place. But he would probably keep them even til then.
"Okay dude, I'll see you tomorrow or something."
Zac nodded, waving goodbye.
He listened as she walked to the front door, pulled it open. The lock rattled when she shut it, and he waited for the sound of Horrace to interrupt the days quiet.
Tammy appeared at the door.
"You ready?"
He sighed, standing up and facing her.
"I guess."
Eggs, bread. Things you don't eat unless your on a health food binge.
When she reached the Deli, she turned to him.
"Why are you following me?"
Zac looked alarmed.
Mumbling he shrugged and responded.
"Well what else am I supposed to do?"
She let out a soft laugh and shook her head.
"Go shopping."
She looked at him as though insisting, and he shrugged.
"But it's your money…I didn't want to like.."
"Hey, you're staying with us, go find some good stuff that you want to eat."
She shooed him away and continued looking through the lunch meats.
Zac walked through the store, feeling rather uneasy about spending Tammy's money, and finally grabbed a hand basket.
Walking up and down the aisles, he began grabbing things that weren't too expensive, but he wanted to eat.
He had a pretty much loaded basket, when he decided enough was enough, and started looking for Tammy.
Walking up and down the back aisle, he looked down each one to spot her.
He walked up to the cereal aisle, looked down it and stopped.
Letting out a nervous sigh, he began walking towards Tammy.
Tammy stood, her back facing him, talking to his mother.
"How on earth do I manage to meet up with the wrong people in a supermarket."
He had an urge to turn around and wait until his mother had gone, but decided not to.
He slowly walked up to Tammy and placed his things in her basket.
Avoiding his mother's looks, he turned to look at the cereal boxes.
The conversation had stopped, and silence was pretty irritating.
"Well I should get going, I still have to get Jess."
Diana's voice sounded soft, and Tammy watched as a hurt expression crossed her face.
"I'll see you soon okay Diana?"
She nodded and continued up the aisle.
"Lets get moving Zac."
Tammy gave him a tug on his shirt and started up the aisle.
"We have to get home and start dinner."
"Be good."
Diana was just finishing cleaning up the kitchen when the phone rang.
Zac sat down on his bed, a little old and a little smelly, but all he'd have to do is wash the sheets, or so Tammy had told him.
Zac trailed behind Tammy, looking oddly at the things she was tossing into the basket.
