As yet another school year started, mine and Taylor’s friendship held fast, despite our distance from each other. If anything, the distance brought us closer together. I was now entering high school, which meant many new challenges, and he was going back into the studio with his brothers for a follow up album to Middle of Nowhere. We found time to talk whenever we could, which was quite a bit, he made sure of it. We dodged writing and recording time, plus my schedule of school, dance, and even some after school activities (basketball, softball, yearbook, octagon club, etc). Honestly, we were living in two completely different worlds, but somehow managed to grow even closer together, as if that were possible.

We didn’t get to see each other as often as we wanted, but during some time off, Taylor would escape to New Jersey just to come hang out and relax. That way, we got time together, and he would get a chunk of time to himself away from the chaos that was his life. New Jersey and our friendship became his sanctuary. Fans never knew he was away from Tulsa, and he was allowed to rest his brain from the insanity of the new album. Of course I would never protest to him invading for while, we were beyond close, and aside from a small handful of friends from school that I grew up with, I didn’t associate much with people around me. While he was around, we’d go to the mall or catch a movie, he’d sit in on a few of my dance classes, and if we had nothing else to do, we’d hang out in my room for hours while I listened to him talk incessantly about music, or if I was lucky, I got a preview of a new song.

Our hang time throughout the year was few and far between, but both of us treasured the breaks as the year pressed on. Before I knew it, my first year of high school was done, Hanson’s second album “This Time Around” had come out, and another summer had arrived.

Although they were about to do another tour, Taylor still made a point to arrange a visit, this time, his brothers Isaac and Zac would be joining him, with my permission of course. The time before they were to arrive passed quickly, and soon, they were all standing on my front porch. Ding dong. I raced to the door and threw it open, only to come face to face with one of my best friends.

“I’m so glad you’re back!” I exclaimed as I hugged him close.

“Me too! Tour is going to be insane and we really wanted the down time before we hit the road. How have you been?” he asked as he returned my embrace and picked me up as he invited himself in before he put me down.

“Good. I survived high school’s freshman year, and I get some time with you guys. Where’s your bro—“ and I was cut off as Zac raced in between mine and Taylor’s conversation, picked me up, and introduced himself. Not that I wouldn’t know him. He had interrupted many a long distance conversation between me and Taylor before I got to meet him up close and personal. As I was swung around, I could see Isaac stepping in as well, him and Taylor both laughing pretty hard at my misfortune and Zac’s typical attitude. When he finally put me down, I was able to say my hello to Isaac, and helped all of them get settled into my family’s house. After the grand tour for the other two brothers, and much catching up between all four of us, they were ready to take on our tiny town. Naturally, it being another hot summer day, I suggested a quick walk to the park or even to the local pool. I even invited Crista over to join us. Her and Zac had the same amount of pent up energy and I figured they would be great friends, and keep each other occupied if nothing else.

“So what do you guys say? We can keep your stuff up in my room, and we can all go get our suits on and take a stroll and see where we feel like going. My friend is getting ready too and then we can all head out.”

“Friend? What kind of friend?” Zac asked with a bright look in his eyes as Isaac and Taylor shook their heads and made their way upstairs to get settled and start changing. Taylor knew where everything was, he practically lived at my house, and showed his brothers where they’d be putting their stuff.

“Oh Zachary, maybe you should just be surprised. I may not know you as well as Taylor yet, but you’ll probably thank me. Now let’s go get ready.” I stated as I put my hand on his back and we marched up the stairs after Taylor and Isaac. I felt pretty evil since I didn’t give Crista any sort of heads up about the entire band staying in my house. She was a pretty big fan as well, especially of Zac. I’m sure I would pay for it later.

We joined Ike and Tay in my room, which had become a testosterone tornado in the fifteen minutes they had been in the house, and started our searches for bathing suits.

“Sorry about the mess already Liz, we’ll fix it, I promise” Isaac defended quickly.

“Really it’s no problem. I knew it’d happen having four people living temporarily out of one room, so really, I should apologize for lack of extra suitcase space” I replied as I shrugged and picked out my suit before heading to the bathroom to change.

Not long after we were all changed, Crista came over and met Ike and Zac and without warning, gave me a stern talking to in private about how her dream man was staying in my house, and I never told her. We all had our pool gear packed up into a book bag or two, and the five of us headed out for a walk around our one square mile town. As we made our way towards the town pool, Crista led the way chatting up a storm with Isaac and Taylor, while Zac hung back a bit with me, saying we needed to talk in private.

“What’s up Zac? Shouldn’t you be putting the moves on Crista already?” I laughed.

“Oh yeah, I will. I’m glad you knew to introduce us already. I knew I was going to really like you, but I have a bigger question, and it has to stay between us. Deal?”

“Alright. Starting off with secrets huh? That makes me nervous.”

“Aren’t you funny. Listen, I need to know if you like my brother” he stated in his typical blunt fashion. Luckily, I had already gotten tastes of it on the phone, and knew how to defend myself.

“You know you have several brothers right? Be more specific”

“Really Liz? Mackie is jail bait. That’s just wrong. You barely know me or Ike yet, plus you’ve already introduced me to Crista. I’m off the table. Think harder please.”

“Oh Zac, you really need to pick up on my sense of sarcasm more..” I sighed as we fell even more behind the rest of our group. At least they were still within sight.

“Good. I’ll work on learning your techniques, but until I do, I’ll just have to ask honest questions and make even more honest statements.”

“Sounds fair. So we’re talking about Taylor then?” I asked as I swallowed hard.

“Bingo. Now answer what I asked you. Do you like him?”

“Of course I do! I never thought I’d ever get a chance to meet or be near any of you ever. I’m very fortunate, had a letter delivered for me, and lucked out a second time when he made the move to call me. He’s become one of my best friends.”

“That’s great, but what about as a boyfriend?” That statement made me stop dead in my tracks and stare Zac down.

“Do you want an honest answer?”

“No Liz, a total lie. Yes honest!” He yelled as he rolled his eyes and grabbed my arm to keep us walking so we didn’t lose the other three entirely.

“Okay so in all honesty then, it took me awhile to warm up to you guys. The whole thing originally wasn’t really my style, but, once I was hooked, yes I was instantly attracted to Taylor. However, that was completely on a fan level. I hate myself for making a snap judgment towards someone I didn’t even know, he’s a person with thoughts, opinions, and feelings, and I was judging him based on looks and the songs he sang. That’s all I knew. Once I got to talk to him, and even met him, it wasn’t about that. He’s still attractive to me, yeah, but he’s so much more than that. We’ve become so close and I wouldn’t trade that for the distant fan thing, or even worse, going back and never being told about you guys for anything in the world.”

“That’s really great, but you need to know that he really likes you. I mean, REALLY. I think because despite whom he is, who any of us are, you never put out a typical fan girl attitude to him. You didn’t freak out meeting me and Ike either, and Taylor said you were the same with him. Plus, he said you mentioned having a similar lifestyle, and he loved that. He likes that you’ve always seemed to treat him like a real person, and even let him escape from the fame when he needed to. Just a heads up, he is crazy about you, and I suspect you two will be more than friends one of these days. You might even be married before summer is over” He finished as he patted my back and left me speechless as he jogged ahead, leaving me with my thoughts behind everyone else. Thank God we were almost to the pool. I really needed to cool off.

Chapter 4 | Guestbook