"I saw you just the other day, and I could not help but look your way. You see you’ve just got this special look, that has got me completely hooked," Zac sang on the top of his lungs as he strolled into the house, nearly walking right into Jessica, who was on the phone.
"Zac, watch it! Oh my God, he did? That’s so phat! Really? He did?" Jessica walked past Zac with the cordless pressed against her ear.
Diana smiled as she saw Zac enter the house, his mouth slightly open as he watched Jessica walk past him with the phone. Zac’s eyes met his mother’s.
"Is she surgically attached to that phone?" Zac asked, joking.
"I think she was born like that." Diana laughed.
"Where’s everyone?" Zac asked.
"Mac is at Brandon’s house...Avery is at a party...you just saw Jessie on the phone...your father is getting a car tune-up...Tay, Chris, Ike, and Reagan are all upstairs," Diana said, as she went into the coat closet and put on her shoes. "And I’m going to the mall."
Zac chuckled. "Can’t wait for us to all just take up and move out, huh mom?"
Diana smiled slightly. "Well, I don’t expect y’all to be around too long." With that she picked up Zoë was out the door.
Zac shook his head, laughing slightly as he climbed up the stairs and followed laughter into their room.
"Hiya." Zac opened the door.
"Hey Zac!" Christene waved towards Zac’s direction, laughing as she watched Isaac and Taylor, both bright red arm wrestling, yelling threats and obscenities at each other. Of course, it was just simple teasing and playing around, but, they were still yelling. It was a pretty fifty-fifty match. Neither one was winning.
"I’m gonna kick your sorry butt so bad that you’re gonna go crying for Mom." Isaac said teasingly.
"We have the same mother, Isaac." Taylor said, groaning as he tried to press Isaac’s arm down.
Reagan put a finger to her lips as she snuck behind Isaac, motioning for Christene to sneak behind Taylor. Raising three fingers in the air, she put one finger up, then another, then a third. With that, both girls grabbed their victims’ sides, giving them the jumper cables.
Taylor let go of Isaac’s hand, his knuckles white from squeezing so hard, and looked up at Christene, laughing as he waved his hand in the air. Isaac shook his wild mane of blond curls, laughing as he too, shook out the cramped muscles.
"Chris, why’d you do that?" Taylor asked, smiling up at Christene.
"Because she’s Christene." Zac laughed as he flopped down on the lower bunk, kicking away some blocks of lego on the way.
"Is that supposed to be a compliment or a diss?" Christene asked, leaning over so she could tousle Zac’s hair.
Zac grabbed Christene’s hands. "Watch the hair, watch the hair!"
Isaac chuckled. "Come on, if we wanna catch the movie we better go now."
"What movie are you seeing?" Zac asked.
"Um...we’re deciding when we get there. Wanna come along?" Reagan asked.
"Sure. Okay," Zac said. "Hey, can we pick up Dave and his cousin?"
"Who’s his cousin?" Taylor asked, kissing Christene’s cheek.
"Um...Some girl named Kara. She’s from Canton." Zac said, shrugging.
"Oh." Isaac shot Taylor a glance, grinning from ear-to-ear, then walked out of the room with Reagan.
"Well can we?" Zac asked Taylor.
"Sure Zac." Taylor said, punching Zac’s arm playfully as he and Christene walked out of the room.
Zac shrugged and followed after the couple.

Kara was lying on her bed, hugging a pillow tight to her chest. God, I miss you so much Mom.
Someone knocked on her door timidly.
"It’s open." Kara called.
David poked his head in, then threw open the door and walked in. "You wanna come with us to the movies?"
"Who’s us?" Kara asked .
"Ike, Tay, Zac, Chris, Reagan, and me." David said.
Kara frowned. "Mind using whole names?"
"Oh. Uh, sorry. Isaac, Taylor, Zac, Christene, Reagan and me."
"What movie are y’all seeing?" Kara asked, sitting up and putting the pillow down.
"We don’t know yet. We’re going to decide when we get there."
"Ok." Kara climbed off her bed and followed David down the stairs.
A tall, slender, and very pretty girl with big green eyes and very dark brown-black hair saw her, and smiled. She extended her hand towards Kara. "Hey, I’m Christene."
"I’m Kara." Kara couldn’t help but smile back. Christene was the kind of person that could make someone’s day light up.
"Guys, this is Kara. Kara this is Isaac," David started to introduce Kara to everyone.
"Just call me Ike." Isaac flashed a smile at Kara.
"Ok…Ike." Kara smiled.
"Taylor," David was cut off by Taylor.
"Just Tay." Taylor shrugged.
"Okay." Kara said.
"And Reagan." David finished.
"Just Reagan." Reagan said, giggling.
"Very funny, Reagan." Zac rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"I know." Reagan grinned.
"Oh, a little big on the ego there, huh, girl?" Christene laughed. Gee, Kara’s really quiet. I wonder what’s up with her. Maybe she’s just shy.

"We’re sisters." Reagan said, motioning at Christene.
"You sure don’t look alike!" Kara said softly.
"I’m adopted. My parents and me were in a car accident three years ago." Christene said softly.
"Oh, I’m sorry." Kara said, suddenly remembering what David told her.
"It’s ok. I deal with it." Christene shrugged.
"So, Kara, what brings you to T-Town?" Isaac asked, his eyes on the road.
"T-Town?" Kara echoed hollowly.
"Yeah, we call Tulsa T-Town." Taylor said, laugh

David and Zac both looked at Kara, who bit her lower lip. Obviously, she was trying hard not to cry.
"I’m just visiting." Kara’s voice was soft...very soft.
Christene frowned. There was something wrong in Kara’s voice. An emptiness. An emptiness like she had lost somebody she loved. Christene shook her head to clear her thoughts. Taylor noticed Christene acting bewildered and he glanced from Kara back to Christene. Then he realized that they could be mistaken for sisters. Except that Kara’s hair color was lighter, and she had blue eyes, while Christene had extremely dark brown-black hair and the most extraordinary green eyes. They also shared something...an emptiness that only Taylor could catch in Christene’s voice. He almost smacked himself on the head.
"I’m sorry, Kara." Christene said just as softly.
Kara’s eyes widened. "What?"
Reagan frowned as she turned around from the passenger seat. "What the hell is going on back there?"
Zac’s eyes wandered from Christene to Kara, then back to Christene again. She knows. His eyes wandered over to Taylor. And so does he.

The six teens sat at a table at Sonic, a fast food restaurant in Tulsa.
"That was a cool movie." Isaac said.
"Yeah, it was awesome. I have to see I Still Know What You Did Last Summer II again! Jennifer Love Hewitt is so hot." David said.
"I’m gonna go get our food. What do y’all wanna have?" Taylor asked.
"I’m not really hungry." Kara said slowly.
"Aww, come on Kara, you’re too skinny to go on a diet." Zac said, poking her.
Kara couldn’t help but crack a smile. "All right, all right, I’ll have a drink or something."

Chapter 4

"Tay, your brother is in love." Christene murmured.
"I think I know that." Taylor leaned down and gently nuzzled Christene’s neck.
"You’re getting really tall, hon." Christene smiled.
"You’re just getting more beautiful." Taylor grinned, and the dimple in his left cheek sunk in.
"You know what Reagan secretly calls you?" Christene asked, turning around so she could see Taylor’s face.
"What?"
"She calls you Mr. Dimple." Christene laughed.
Taylor shook his head and chuckled. "I’m surprised she didn’t mention that earlier."
"Well, it is Reagan we’re talking about. Oh, and don’t call her Reag...she hates it." Christene laughed.
There was a moment of silence.
Taylor pressed his forehead against Christene’s, his hands cupping her face. "You know what I love about you?"
"What?" Christene asked quietly.
"You’re so...perfect." Taylor whispered.
Christene laughed softly. "Me, perfect?"
"Yeah, you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me." Taylor looked deep into Christene’s sparkling green eyes.
"What about our ca—"
"No, not even careers sums up to how much I love you." Taylor interjected quietly.
Christene smiled, and Taylor gently tilted her face towards his and softly pressed his lips against hers.
He pulled away gently. "Chris, have you ever thought about...you know...doing it?"
"Well, yeah, sure," Christene blushed a little. "Why?"
"Well, I’ve been thinking," Taylor said softly.
"Yeah?" Christene asked. Her heart skipped a beat.
"And I think that I wanna stay virgin until I get married." Taylor concluded, his hand gently brushing her face.
"And who are you gonna marry, Baby Spice?" Christene joked.
"No," Taylor laughed.
"I was kidding."
"I know."
"Besides, I doubt she would." Taylor said, completely joking.
"Marry you?"
"Yeah."
"She would too!"
"Would not!"
"Too!"
"Not!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes!"
"No-no-no-no-no-no! N-O, NO!"
"Uh huh!"
"Nuh uh!"
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
"Too!"
"Not!"
"Yes!"
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"Non."
"Oui!"
"No-no-no!"
"Yes-yes-yes!"
"I won’t!"
"Good! I don’t want you to marry that slut anyway."
"So I won’t! I’m marrying a bigger slut!"
"Who?"
"You!"
They laughed.
"Here we are. Mature teenagers." Christene managed to say through her laughter.
"Completely mature." Taylor added.
"You’re a hoot Tay."
"You’re a riot."
"Slut-lover!"
"Vampire!"
"Vampire? Where’d you get that? HANSON brother!"
"Hey, you’re in Hanson too!"
"So?" Christene stuck her tounge out at Taylor.
"Um...um...um...Weirdo!"
"Dumb blond!"
"Inter-racial!"
"What’s wrong with that?"
"Nothing! Cat!"
"Baby Blues!"
"LeAnn Rimes!"
"What the—"
"Mariah Carey hater!"
"Back Street Boys hater!"
"Heart stealer!"
"Teen idol!"
"Hey you are too!"
"So?"
"Leo lover!"
"Jennifer Anniston lover!"
"Liv Tyler look-a-like!"
"Jan Brady look-a-like!"
"Bitch!"
"Bastard!"
"Flirt!"
"Male slut!"
"My girlfriend..."
"Hi Tay."
They burst out into fits of laughter.

Chapter 5

"Ike will you PUHLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE drive me to the mall? PLEAAAAAASSEE?" Jessica whined, running after Isaac.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Cuz’ I’m busy."
"No you ain’t, you’re just reading that stupid magazine or whatever you’re reading again!" Jessica squealed.
"Jessie.."
"No, don’t ‘Jessie’ me! Clarke Isaac Hanson, you are taking me to the mall!" Jessica stamped her foot down.
"What is it, hormones?" Isaac teased his sister.
Jessica stuck her tounge out at Isaac, then put on a sad puppy dog face. "Please Ike? I’ll do anything! I’ll do your chores for a day...okay, okay, two days? Three days? A week? IKE COME ON!!! I’ll wash your dishes for two weeks!"
Isaac set down the magazine. "Deal."

"TARYN!! TARYN!" Sloane yelled at the top of her lungs.
"WHAT?" Taryn snapped.
"GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE!"
"NO!"
"WHY?"
"I’M TALKING TO KRYSTAL!"
"SO?"
"SHUT UP! Um...hold on Krys."
Sloane heard Taryn come down the stairs.
"Whattya want?" Taryn asked, obviously annoyed.
"Can you drive me to the mall? I’m supposed to meet my new friend Jessie there." Sloane said.
"That’s great. Why don’t you drive?" Taryn asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
Sloane shot Taryn a look. "Taryn, quit being a baby and drive me already?"
"Eew. With that attitude? I don’t think so."
"PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASE???" Sloane begged.
"Oh God,"
"PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAASE?? I’ll love you forever and ever and ever and ever and ever!"
"Fine! FINE! I’ll fucking TAKE YOU TO THE MALL!" Taryn yelled and ran up the stairs.
Sloane waited at the bottom of the steps for Taryn to come back downstairs.
"All right, let’s go."

"If I have to hear the Backstreet Boys one more time, I swear I will strangle you, Jessie." Isaac said, his hands gripping the wheel of the car.
"Nick’s fine!"
"He’s dating that freak...whatever her name is!"
"So?" Jessie took the time to sing a few stanzas of ‘As Long As You Love Me’, a song that debuted three years ago.
Isaac gritted his teeth. "Jessie..."
Jessica smiled, then started singing ‘Mmmbop’ to the tune of ‘As Long As You Love Me’, which was more like poison to Isaac’s ears. Isaac gritted his teeth again, forcing himself not to kill his younger sibling, who was driving him crazy. Wait a good ten years later when it’s Zoë’s turn, Jessie.
Jessica stopped singing, and rolled down her window. "Hey, Ike, it’s Sloane. My new friend! I’m meeting her at the mall."
"What?"
"She’s in the car next to us."
Isaac glanced at Sloane, who was talking excitedly to Jessica through the car window.
"Whoa, that’s your bro?" Sloane asked, glancing at Isaac.
"Yeah. He’s real cool."
Isaac smiled. Mental note: Don’t kill Jess and get her a Slurpie on the way back.
"Cool." Sloane gazed at Isaac briefly, before the girls went on to talk about how cute Nick Carter is.
The light turned green, and they drove for a while, Jessica and Sloane yelling at each other through their windows.
"Jess, get your head back in the freaking car before I kill you." Isaac said calmly.
"Huh? Ok." Jessica pulled her head back in.
They were stopped at another intersection. "Since when did you have to go to Woodlands to shop?"
"Since now." Jessica said, and waved at Sloane, who was in the backseat of a red Porsche.
Isaac whistled. "That’s one sweet car."
The light changed again, and they reached their destination.
Isaac found a parking space near the entrance of the mall, where he quickly parked and got out. Jessica was running towards her friend, Sloane before he knew it. Isaac followed Jessica, a rather annoyed expression on his face, but it melted into a warm smile when he noticed the girl that was with Sloane. She had hair like spun gold, which cascaded down her back in waves. Her eyes were bright blue, as blue as Taylor’s, and her complexion was like cream. Her cheeks were slightly tinted pink, and to Isaac, he had just laid eyes on an angel.
"Hey, I’m Isaac." Isaac extended his hand for the girl to shake. His eyes wandered down to her chest and he quickly glanced back up.
"Hey! I’m Taryn." Taryn smiled up at Isaac.
"So, Sloane’s your sister?" Isaac asked. They still hadn’t dropped their hands.
"Yeah, she’s a brat in braids."
Isaac drew his hand back slowly. "So, what time should we pick you guys up?" He turned to Sloane and Jessica.
"Ike, can Sloane come over after?" Jessica asked. "PUHLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAASEEE?"
Isaac looked at Taryn, who nodded.
"Ok," Isaac agreed. "but you’re still doing my dishes for two weeks."
"Man, why didn’t I think of that?" Taryn hit her head with the palm of her hand.
Isaac laughed. "I’m sure you didn’t have time to think of it."
Sloane and Jessica had ran off into the mall, leaving Isaac and Taryn in the parking lot.
"So," Isaac started off.
"So you wanna do a little something?" Taryn asked, adjusting the strap of her fake impression cheetah-fur bag. Isaac reached down and looked at it. On the flap of the bag was a Geri Halliwelle pin and a few Hanson pins. There were two stickers, one of which said ‘I Got Beat Up In a Hanson Mosh Pit’ with the words ‘beat’, ‘up’, ‘a’, ‘mosh’, and ‘pit’ crossed out, and another sticker that said, ‘Movie Star’.
"That’s some bag." Isaac commented.
Taryn laughed. "Tay said the same thing. I met your before at your Meadowlands concert way back in 98. Remember me?"
Isaac frowned, trying to think. "Oh yeah!"
"Cool. Anyhoodle...So do you wanna do something or drive into a pole?"
"Well, driving into a pole sounds cool, but doing something sounds better." Isaac decided.
"Cool."

"You know you’re hot." Taryn said.
Isaac started laughing a little nervously. "Um...that’s the first time anyone ever went up to me and actually said that without screaming."
"Well, I say it a lot. If a guy’s hot, I’ll tell him he’s hot."
"So I’m just some guy?"
"No you’re special."
"Thanks."
No one spoke for a few minutes.
"OKAAAAAAAAAY.....I feel stupid now, but that doesn’t matter." Taryn said slowly.
"Oh um....sorry just thinking. What’s your number?"