Isaac returned to the kitchen, with Zoe and Mackenzie both out like a light, to find Zac following suit.
"Great,"he huffed,"One bandmate asleep and the other nowhere in sight."
Ike glanced at the stove clock. 5:00. Woah, wonder what Tay's up to? he thought, a mischieveous grin on his face. He and Zac always bugged Taylor, asking about Jayden and whether he had 'scored'. It was basically out of fun, but each confrontation ended in Taylor mumbling a few choice words in his brothers' direction, and stomping out of the room.
"Woo-hoo, isn't this just a whack of fun,"Isaac groaned,"Disecting my brother's sex-life, or more likely, lack thereof."
"Well then maybe you should go out and get one of your own!" Zac cracked sleepily, making his brother jump,"Oh wait, scratch that... Poor girls..."
"Ugh, Zac, not to be rude or anything, but you're way more enjoyable to be around when you're asleep!" Isaac retorted. A quick peek into the den revealed Jessica and Avery abandoning their crayons and paper, and now flouncing around the room, trying to imitate the graceful moves of the dancers on-screen. He shook his head, chuckling, and returned to the kitchen.
After a moment of bored silence, Isaac spoke up,"Whaddya say we practice, with or without girl-crazed Tay? The video isn't gonna be over for a bit."
"Anything to get away from "The Nutcracker"," Zac nodded, referring to the classical music straining from the rec room,"And some people say 'MMMBop' made them go nuts..."
Isaac smiled, as the two headed for the garage.
"Oh, wait, maybe we should tell Jessie and Avie where we're gonna be if they need us," Zac suggested.
"Um, Zac, playing the drums, the electric guitar, and singing aren't exactly the quietest activities possible," Ike pointed out,"They'll be able to hear us clearly from the den."
Zac shrugged,"Ok, I guess you're right. But if something happens and Mom and Dad find out, It was all your fault."
"Sure, sure, whatever," Ike said, ruffling Zac's hair,"Oh, wait, let me set up those old baby monitors in Mom and Dad's room in case Mackie and Zoe wake up."
He ran upstairs, two at a time, while Zac made his way to the garage. The world famous Hanson garage, Zac mimicked Hanson's first long-form video. Yeah, right. He thought, glancing at the scrap papers with bits of lyrics and song ideas covering the floor, along with other miscellaneous bits of refuge. World famous, all right...
"Ready to rock?" Ike asked, bursting into the room and setting the baby monitor on Taylor's keyboard, all the while playing 'air-guitar'.
Zac rolled his eyes,"Yeah, i'll 'rock', but on one condition."
"What's that?"
Zac stepped towards Ike, staring directly into his eyes,"Never ever do that in public!"
"Do what? Oh, you mean this?" Isaac asked innocently, gallavanting around, now alternating between air-guitar and air-drums.
"Yeah, that," Zac said witheringly, taking his place behind his drum kit. Isaac grabbed his guitar, strumming a few chords to make sure it was in tune.
"Since Tay's not here, why don't we start with "A Minute Without You"?" Ike suggested,"He doesn't have the majority of vocal parts."
Zac nodded,"Whatever."
Seconds later, the two were fully engrossed in the song, stopping every so often to re-do a chord or lyric they were unsatisfied with. After a few songs, they realized their sound was very hollow without Taylor's keyboard and vocals, and the practice conditions wouldn't really help their tour performances.
"What time is it, Zac?" Ike asked, sitting down on the small staircase leading to the garage.
Zac quickly glanced at his wrist,"5:19, and might I suggest wearing a watch? You know i'd love it, but I just can't be by your side 24/7 in case you need to know the time."
"Awwwww, but I luver you, widdle bro!" Ike said, sounding more like a sarcastic 3 year old than an 18 year old.
"Ewww, i'd say the same.." Zac started,"But then i'd be lying."
"Gee, I feel loved," Ike said, placing his head in his hands and releasing fake sobs.
Zac put on an annoyed face,"Fine, Ike, I luver you, but there is no way, and I repeat, no way we're having one of those male-bonding, hugging moments, k?"
"Sure," Ike shrugged,"Besides, it just wouldn't be complete without the corny 'Full House' music in the background."
"I agree," Zac laughed,"Hey, I think I heard someone come in the front door."
Isaac started up the stairs, with his brother trailing behind,"Hmmm, maybe we shoulda made sure the door was locked before we came down here. A psycho-killer coulda snuck in."
"Uh-huh, sure. Just remember: 'It's all your fault', but I bet it's just Tay," Zac said,"Although, if he's in the grouchy mood he's been in lately, i'd gladly welcome the psycho..."
~Chapter 8~
~Chapter 6!
~Home~
