Chapter 22- Taylor heard a loud thud and his eyes flew open. He blinked a few times and sat up. "What are you doing?" he questioned. Zac's head flew up. "Uh, I'm fixing something." he replied, knowing Taylor wasn't oblivious to what he was doing. "Your fixing 'Lego Castle the 3rd' this early in the morning?" Tay laughed with annoyance as he got out of bed. "Why are you bothering with it anyway? We're leaving today." he stated grabbing a pair of light gray corduroy pants. Zac watched Taylor as he rummaged throughout the room for a T-shirt. "Why are you so cranky? Your never this cranky when we get ready to leave." he paused. "Your the one that tells us to get a move on! What's up Tay?" Zac urged. He knew Taylor was set for a state of crankiness., even if he had no real explanation of why. Taylor glued his eyes onto Zac. "I don't know what your talking about." he said restlessly just before jumping over a pile of lego's and running out of the room. "Sure you don't." Zac said loudly as he turned his attention back to 'Lego Castle the 3rd'. *~*~* Isaac turned the knob of the bathroom door and walked out. "Jezz. Some people just can't wait." he said as Taylor dodged Isaac and ran into the bathroom. Ike shrugged it off as he walked down stairs to join his family. "Hey mom." he said, sitting down at the kitchen table. "Ikey! Your home!" Mackenzie shrieked jumping out his chair and running toward Isaac. "Hey buddy." Ike laughed, while hugging Mackenzie. Jessica finished her drink before she said anything. "I knew Isaac was home. I was up when they came home." she lied to Mackie. Mackenzie exchanged looks with his parents and sniffled. Isaac jumped right in, knowing Mackie would start to cry. "C'mon Mackie-Bean. Jessica's only playin' she was sleeping too." he said blowing raspberries at Mackenzie when he finished. Mackenize giggled and jumped off of Ike's lap to regain his old seat., while Jessica snickered at them. Avery walked into the room, rubbing her eyes. "Ave!" Ike called. Avery stopped short with confusion. She dropped her hands by her side and gasped at the sight of her oldest brother. "Isaac!" she squealed before jumping up in his lap. Ike laughed as he kissed her cheek. Avery giggled and wiped his kiss away. "Where are your brothers?" Mrs. Hanson asked. She leaned over and handed Isaac and Avery their own glasses of orange juice. Mr. Hanson excused himself and went upstairs to pack the kids stuff up. Ike sipped his drink and cleared his throat. "Upstairs. Tay's most likely in the shower and I saw Zac playing with 'Lego Castle the 3rd'" he said casually. Mrs. Hanson arched an eyebrow. "Why do you say it like that?" she questioned. Isaac had a sudden urge to roll his eyes at his mother. She always knew when something was up, be she never said how she knew. 'Mother's just know' she would say. "No reason." Ike lied. Mrs. Hanson gave him a quick glance as she returned to her pancakes that rested warm and tasty on the stove. *~*~*~* I walked into my walk-in closet and looked around. "Arg! There is nothing I can wear!" I lied. I knew very well my waredrobe was large and very fashionable, but I wasn't in a clothes mood. My friend Scotty (from school) looked at me. "Why are you going to change?" he asked. I laughed and closed my closet door. "Dunno." I said meaninglessly. I had called Scotty when I got home from the airport yesturday night. It was around 8:00 when Scotty came over this morning and now is was about 9:00 maybe 9:30. "I don't wanna go to school tomorrow." I cried plopping down on my bed next to Scott. He looked at me. "I haven't known you very long..but right now I can see your depressed." he paused looking me over. "Am I right?" I nodded. "Maybe." I admitted. Duncan knocked on my door and came in. "Hey Scotty!" he said slapping hands with Scott. I rolled my eyes, I hated when boys did that. They pretended they were all big and bad and stuff like that. "Are you guys coming with me today?" Duncan asked. I feel back against my matress and groaned. "Have fun where ever your going." I said. "Oh and go in my top draw and pull out $10 bucks. That should be enough for you to get me atleast 3 things of ice cream." Scott and Duncan exchanged looks and then looked at me. "Amanda you can't stay here all day and mope around." Duncan said. He knew why I was depressed. I admitted everything to him last night before I called Scotty. Duncan didn't say much to reassure me, he just said "Go call Scotty, he's good with this stuff.", and saying that didn't help me much. "You both know perfectly well I can." I said closing my eyes. Scott and Duncan grabbed my hands and pulled me up. "Guys, c'mon don't make me do this." I begged trying to pull away. Duncan took me in his arms and pulled me close to him. I stopped struggling and looked into his eyes. "Please?" I asked. He shook his head. "Stop it Mandie. Your acting like a baby, and you know it!" Duncan said to me. I laughed softly as they pulled me outside. "Let's take her to the flea market. She'll like it there!" Scotty said to us. I rolled my eyes and let them lead me to a town flea market. *~*~* Zac struggled with his duffel bag as they stepped out of the large plane 5 hours later. "Ohh, um, Dad?" he questioned as he read over all the teenage girl's faces that we're crowded around their renta van. Mr. Hanson whistled and about 7 security men and women approached the family. Taylor ran hurriedly to the green van that rested ahead of them. His mind raced and the expression on his face was emotionless. Isaac touched Taylor's back and shoved him into the van. Jessica, Avery, and Zac dove in after them. Mrs. Hanson, with Zoe snuggled in her arms, calmly sat herself and the baby in the front seat. Mr. Hanson slammed the front door shut and jumped into the driver seat. Starting the car they drove off, everyone watching the swelled crowd that followed after them. "What fun." Tay whispered softly under his breath.
