Nervously, I took hold of my cherry coke and sipped a bit through the straw. We were now 15 minutes into the movie and Tay hadn’t taken his eyes off me.
“Don’t you share?” Tay asked cutely. I handed him my drink. He took a sip and set the drink in my cup holder. He inserted his fingers, which were cold and damp from the drink, through mine. I glanced over at Dominique and Ike. They hadn’t separated since the previews. I sat back in my seat. Tay slowly slid his arm off my shoulder and down my back where he settled it around my bare waist. My heart pounded immensely. I tried to relax. Tensely, I set my head upon his shoulder. I could feel his breath against my forehead.
“I have something to tell you,” he whispered softly in my waiting ear.
“what,” I managed to squeak.
“Tomorrow,” he paused and thought a moment,” tomorrow we are going to be traveling to California.”
“That’s great Tay,” I said happily.
“No, no, Gwen.....we’re going to California, and we’re staying in California,” Tay said with tears in his voice.
“you..you..you’re moving?” I stuttered.
“ya,” he said and hugged me tighter. I thought back to the day Tay and I sat in his room trying to think of songs. We were such good friends. I remembered how sad I had been the night at TulsaLand when we stood kissing in the rain. I couldn’t even fathom leaving Tay again.
“all our producers, managers....everyone, are in California,” Tay continued,” it’s not up to us...it’s up to them and our parents.” Tears dripped down my face, but I was quiet. I didn’t say a word. I just sat in Tay’s arms crying. I loved Taylor more than anything. More than my BeBe dress, more than my pink, velvet purse, more than my Polo Sport Perfume.
“can’t I come?” I protested.
“well...that’s up to your family you know..not me,” Tay replied. I thought about what my parents might say. Maybe I could live with Hanson, or travel with them and live by myself. I didn’t know what to do. This was the most confusing moment of my entire life.
“does Dominique know?” I asked.
“no, but Ike is supposed to tell her sometime today. It was such a shock to all of us, because we just got back from Europe and Mercury said ‘your moving.’” Tay replied sadly,” beleive it or not this is the last time we have to spend together.”
******************************************
After the Hansons’ plane had left for California, I went home. There was nothing I could do now. I thought of all the happy memories from the summer and Europe. I felt bad for myself. Although, I knew it was selfish to feel that way, because for at least a year I had had everything in the world that any girl could dream of. And now I felt like committing suicide. Everything brought the memories flooding back. I looked at the glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling and remembered the night I had walked home, a young 14 year-old, feeling like the stars were shining for me. I looked to the window and remembered my poor boyfriend hanging desperately from the wall screaming my name. And when I looked to my clock it reminded me of the morning before Hanson’s first performance with the FlyGirls, when the clock had struck 6:00 AM. I had been so nervous. So many things had happened that day. I recollected that Dominique had an awful crush on Taylor and I was mad at her. That was the day we had made up. And I remembered the cheers after MMMBop. The entire crowd had been yelling for Hanson.
I glanced to the side of my clock to a photo frame that had been laid face down. I hadn’t picked it up since Tay left me the first time. I looked at the small brown haired child smiling, sitting by her life-long friend Taylor Hanson. The child next to Taylor was me. We were both only 7 years old and Taylor didn’t have his front teeth. It was so cute. I remembered how he had a lisp and I had made fun of him. I only wished that we could be together forever. That night, I closed my eyes, only knowing that Tay would always be with me in my dreams.
