Chapter 12

Zac couldn’t believe it. Yesterday he had driven all night and most of the morning just so he could see Madison and he couldn’t even see her. He wasn’t family…ha…he was the best family she had as far as he was concerned. He sighed. Now it was twenty-four hours later and he still hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the girl. Maybe he should just drive back home and forget that she ever existed. He fingered the keys in his pockets and started walking back to his jeep. No…no he wasn’t giving up…that would be stupid and not to mention the fact he had just wasted a tank of gas…no, he would see her one way or another…he was sure of that.

He slowly walked into the hospital waiting room and took a seat beside a lady who was reading the latest addition of Elle. He hoped that they didn’t recognize him or it would be harder than it already was. He picked up an issue of Sports Illustrated and began flipping through the pages pretending to be interested in the words that filled the pages. He scanned the pages and looked up at the receptionist’s desk to see if she was still present. Ten minutes later his chance presented itself. The nurse on duty looked around at the people in the waiting room and with a side-longed glance in Zac’s direction made her way down the hall, probably going for another cup of coffee. Zac stood up and ran to the desk and quickly scanned through the pages to see what room Madison was in. "C’mon…c’mon…" his hands shook as his eyes scanned down the page. "Ah…yes, thank you god…" he smiled and looked back at the people in the waiting room. Everyone seemed to be consumed with what they were reading and he nodded. He made his way down the long hallway hoping he wouldn’t get caught. He looked at the room numbers and silently swore as he saw a woman heading in his direction. He looked on both sides of the hall and saw a door that said "bathroom" above it and prayed that it was open…it was. He slipped inside and closed the door as quietly as he could. He leaned against the door and took a deep breath.

When a few minutes had passed he slowly opened the door and peered outside. The hallway was empty so he slipped out of the room and continued on his search for Madison. "There it is," he whispered seeing the room number that Madison was supposedly staying in. He grabbed onto the door handle and took a deep breath before pushing it open and entering the room.

- - -

Mary Coelson slowly made her way down the long hospital hallway, thinking about what had happened the past few days. In a way she had been reunited with her niece and she was grateful for that, yet she felt a twinge of guilt when she realized that if she had been there when Madison had needed her maybe it wouldn’t have turned out this way. She sighed and shook head. A blond haired boy was making his way down the hallway and she noticed that when he saw her he ducked inside a hospital room. Bewildered, Mary continued walking down the hallway, debating whether or not to inform the nurse on duty of this occurrence. She smiled, and shook her head, remembering how hard it was for her to get the nurse to allow her to see her own niece. She would keep it between her and this blond boy, no reason to cause a stir over a boy who was probably visiting one of his friends.

- - -

Zac shut the door behind him and gasped at the sight in front of him. Madison’s frail form was curled up in a ball on the bed and tubes and IV’s ran in and out of his friend in every direction. There was a monstrous bruise on the side of her face, and she was covered in cuts and abrasions. Her brown hair was matted on her head and her face was as pale as the sheet she lay upon. He slowly walked to the left of the bed and took a seat in the chair that sat beside the bed. Her eyes were closed and he presumed that she was sleeping. He sighed…he longed to touch her again and he reached for her hand. He took her hand in his and began massaging it gently, his thumb running over the cuts and bruises that also found a place on her hand. He sighed and forced himself to swallow. Her father was a sick, sick man. He hadn’t realized that he had been crying until Madison’s tender voice floated to his ears.

"Don’t cry Zac. Please…"

He looked up and saw her staring at him. He forced a smile and kissed her on the cheek. "Oh Mad…I’m so sorry…I didn’t know…I did…but I didn’t…"

"It’s okay Zac. I know. I don’t blame you…" she reached out and touched his cheek. "I’m gonna be okay."

"I…I hope so." Zac sniffed and wiped his face. He gave a nervous laugh. "I hate crying."

"There’s nothing wrong with crying Zac. Doesn’t make you any less of a man. In fact, it makes you sensitive, and that’s a good thing."

"Where did you get all the wisdom, Mad?" he smiled.

"My Aunt. She came here today."

"Really? Maybe that’s who I saw before I ducked into the bathroom."

"What?"

"Oh…I kinda snuck in. They wouldn’t let me in yesterday ‘cause I wasn’t family."

"You’ll get in trouble if they catch you."

"Doesn’t matter." Zac shrugged and reached for her hand again. She smiled and wrapped her fingers around his hand.

"I’m so glad you’re here."

"Me too."

"I’m gonna tell them what happened, Zac. I’m gonna tell them about my father. I think I’m strong enough now…it’s funny how these things make you stronger. I’m going to tell them everything."

"You don’t know how happy I am to hear that." He whispered, brushing a piece of brown hair out of her face as her eyes slowly closed and her breathing became even. "I love you, Mad." He smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead before standing up and slowly walking toward the door.

- - -

Taylor sighed before opening the door and stepping out into the bright sunshine of early afternoon. Where was he? It had been two days since Zac’s abrupt departure and he hoped that everything was okay. He sat down on the front steps and watched as children rode their bikes past the immense house, oblivious to the fact that Taylor Hanson sat only feet away. Zac was in love. However, running off at dusk to travel hours and hours to see a girl in the hospital was a little insane. But Taylor guessed, when you’re in love, it doesn’t matter how far away they are, you’ll travel the world just to catch a glimpse of them. He hugged his knees to his chest and placed his head on his arms. He missed Zac. He missed the exhilarating feeling of knowing that thousands of people loved the fact that they were alive, that they saw the same sun and moon as their fans did. He didn’t know when it had happened, but he had lost the connection he once had with his fans. He had a feeling that Zac and Ike had too and maybe it was time for them to move onto better things…like producing albums and managing up and coming bands. Taylor closed his eyes and smiled. He wished that he was in love, that he could find that amazing connection with a person that made them soul mates, that made them complete one another. He knew his day would come, but he was tired of waiting, tired of being lonely. Taylor promised himself that he would tell Zac how lucky he was when he returned…he would tell him to never let it go.

- - -

Zac flipped the station on the radio until he found a station that he thought he could listen to. He was cruising down the high way heading for home, or what would be his temporary home until he went back to Tulsa. He was glad to see that Madison was okay and relieved to hear her say that she was going to report her father. That man deserved everything he was going to get. He smiled and remembered how Madison had given her the address to her Aunt’s house where she would be staying at least for a good amount of time. Zac turned up the radio as an acoustic guitar floated through his speakers and a soft voice joined the beautiful riffs. As he listened to the words he was in awe at how much they related to the situation he was presently in. Once the song was finished he had already decided he would find and send the lyrics to Madison.

- - -

Madison let the warm Oklahoma sun seep into her soul and thaw her frozen form. She smiled as she made her way down the long dirt driveway toward the mailbox. The mail truck had just departed at its regular time and she was eagerly awaiting the arrival of a letter or postcard from Zac. She opened the rectangular box and peered inside. Two small envelopes rested just inside the opening and she grabbed them and looked to see whom they were from. One was from one of her Aunt’s friends and the other was unmarked but was addressed to her. Her heart skipping a beat ashe tore open the envelope eagerly and pulled out a folded piece of paper. There was no letter or words of advice, however, a set of lyrics stared back at her and as she read them, she realized whom they were from.



Lara (My Love)

By: The Moffatts

Searched this world all over
for that one special girl
Who was lookin for love
not diamonds or pearls
From outta nowhere
you entered into my life
Like a ray of sunshine
so warm and bright

Touched my heart all over
in a very special way
I'll never forget that moment
how it carried me away

The time that we shared
clings to my heart
I knew it was love
right from the start

I'll love you forever
forever and more
For all that you gave me
Its you I adore
I'll love you forever
forever and more
Forever and ever
Forever and more

Things of time have changed
you drifted away
But you left me with somethin
to cherish each day
A passion for life
the courage to be strong
the will to succeed
and a sense I belong

I'll love you forever
forever and more
For all that you gave me
Its you I adore
I'll love you forever
forever and more
Forever and ever
Forever and more

I'll love you forever
forever and more
For all that you gave me
Its you I adore
I'll love you forever
forever and more
Forever and ever
Forever and more…

[[THE END]]

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