Chapter 2

"ZACHARY WALKER HANSON…where the hell have you been?" A person of about nineteen stormed into the house quickly followed by another man.

"Taylor…mouth." The other warned. His eyes reflected his anger but he did not yell. "Zac, where were you? We tried paging you, no answer…we tried calling…no answer…"

"Ike, I’m sorry. And I’m fine. The phone rang and I thought it was some fans so I didn’t answer. My pager was turned off…sorry man. I should have called, I know." Zac cut him off, smiling innocently. Isaac sighed. It was just like his brother to be absent minded. Isaac was twenty-one and was the oldest brother. He cared for both of his siblings and often worried about them. He sighed again and glanced at Taylor. He seemed…calmer than he had been when they had returned home to find Zac’s car in the driveway. He shook his head. Taylor was always so…compulsive and self-assured.

"Well, that’s no excuse. We were worried about…who’s that?" he narrowed his eyes and stared at the girl sitting beside Zac on the sofa.

"Uh…Ike…Tay…this is Madison." He glanced over at her and she smiled nervously. He noticed that she was shaking slightly and without thinking enveloped her hand in his.

"What’s she doing here? Who is she?" Taylor asked curiously, the corner of his mouth twitched up in a smile.

"She’s a friend up mine, and well, she…uh…well…she lives here now?" Zac stuttered and swallowed nervously.

"WHAT?" The two young men exclaimed in unison.

"You know, you couldn’t have planned that better even if you tried…" Zac smiled nervously, and glanced down at Madison. She seemed as nervous as he felt. She was stiff and her bottom lip trembled. He wanted to reach out and hug her, but instead just squeezed her hand.

"Zac…meeting…kitchen…NOW." Isaac smiled sweetly at Madison as he dragged his two younger brothers into the kitchen. "Care to explain?" he whispered furiously.

"Well…uh…I know since we’re living here temporarily while we record a new album…and you’re technically in charge, oh wise one, and since you’re like…my father and brother all in one, you have to take care of us…and uh…make decisions…"

"What’s your point, Zac?"

"Well, she’s…uh…she’s homeless and she’s nice and she’s sweet, and alone. And scared. Please let her stay." He pleaded as his brown eyes bore into another set of identical brown eyes.

"So, you just met her and she’s homeless and you think she can stay with us? Where are her parents, Zac?" Taylor demanded, plopping down at the kitchen table and placing his head in his hands.

"I know you have a soft spot for homeless people, Zac, but really…" Ike shook his head and joined his brother at the table. Zac stood staring at his two brothers. He couldn’t believe it. Could they not see what he saw in Madison? She was alone…no one should ever be alone. Not even homeless people. He sighed. He had to organize his thoughts so that he sounded responsible, intelligent, and apologetic all at the same time.

"I don’t know where her parents are. She mentioned her father but she wouldn’t go into detail. Something tells me there’s something wrong there. She can barely talk about him without getting physically sick. Just please listen to me. I have a gut feeling about this. At least let her stay with us for a little while. If anything happens, I swear I’ll take full responsibility."

"We just can’t take in every homeless person we meet Zac…" Isaac’s voice softened and he placed a hand on Zac’s shoulder. Isaac…always the voice of reason. Zac shrugged his hand off and walked over to the window overlooking the backyard. How could he explain it so they would understand?

"I know, Ike. And we don’t. Only this once…I swear. She’s special…I can tell. Please…just please…" he sighed and looked down and shook his head.

"Zac…"

"Please?" he was close to tears and he didn’t know why. If anything ever happened to Madison…he knew he would blame himself.

"What do you think, Tay?"

"Eh…I don’t know. She seems nice. Well, I don’t know her, but yeah. I guess it’s up to you…" he shrugged his shoulders and traced patterns on the kitchen table. Isaac sighed. Everything was always up to him.

"Fine…but if anything, and I mean anything, happens, she’s gone!"

"Deal!" Zac proclaimed happily and bounded toward the living room where he would tell Madison the good news.

Chapter 3
Leaving To Stay Index
Stories index