"You’re so lucky to have such a great girl like Christene." Isaac said to Taylor, watching Christene play water tag with Eric, Reagan, Dan, and Jared in the pool, illuminated against the night with lights and the by the moon.
Taylor’s eyes grew wide with amazement as he turned to Isaac. "You’re jealous of me?"
Isaac cast his eyes down at the ground, then his eyes came in contact with Taylor. "Yeah. I’ve always been. You’ve always had more signs and websites in the crowd than me. And I’ve never had a good girlfriend. I mean, please, Zac even has a better relationship with Nicole that I’ve had in my life with any girl I’ve gone out with," Isaac sighed. "They all fell for you."
Taylor was in shock to hear this from his older brother. "I...I don’t understand.
Isaac smiled warily. "But, I still love ya, bro. You’re my brother. I’m happy for you and stuff, you know? I just never told you..."
"Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?" Taylor demanded.
"Because I knew if I did, you wouldn’t of gone out with Christene, which I really wanted you to do."

"Andrew, would you like more pie?" Diana offered a slice of pie to Jared’s father.
"Ahh, thanks. Sure." Andrew grinned.
"Andrew," Lisa, his wife said disapprovingly, but didn’t say anything more.
"I like pie. Sorry if I offended you, honey."
Laughter broke out among the adults.
They didn’t notice that Zoë was no longer playing in the playroom with the rest of the younger kids.

"That was fun." Christene laughed as she wrapped herself up in a towel.
"Yeah. Why didn’t you guys play? You should’ve. Maybe we can go for another round." Reagan looked at Isaac and Taylor.
"Oh, we had to talk." Taylor shrugged.
"Oh."
Dan walked past Christene and grabbed her butt playfully.
Christene jumped. "Dan!" She stuck her tounge out at him.
"What?" Dan asked innocently.
Christene didn’t know it, but that one little act was going to be something she would regret letting off so easily in the future.
Taylor frowned. "What’d he do?"
"Oh, nothing." Christene laughed.
"Isaac, where’s Zoë?" Diana asked.
"I dunno. Isn’t she inside with you?" Isaac asked.
"No. She was. We can’t find her anywhere."
"Did you check the basement?" Taylor asked.
"Yes."
Christene noticed the back door open. "Was the back door open the whole time?"
"Yes." Diana frowned.
Christene’s gaze fell on the pool, and she started running, dropping her towel, and dove in.
Diana paled. "Oh dear God, don’t tell me..."

Christene looked for a dark shape or anything that was resting near the bottom of the pool. She came up for a breath before going back under, and finally came up with Zoë.
She quickly swam to the side of the pool and placed Zoë on the ground.
"ZOË!" Diana sobbed, in shock.
The adults ran out onto the patio to see what was wrong.
"Oh Christ." Walker said under his breath and jumped into the pool.
"I’m calling 911." Taylor ran into the house and grabbed the phone.
Christene put her ear near the baby’s nose. When she didn’t feel or see any sign of breathing, with her thumb and index finger, she squeezed Zoë’s nose, to block off any air.
Then, she did a quick finger sweep with her other hand, and gently gave Zoë a tiny puff of air.
She repeated the procedure, and watched in triumph as the baby coughed up water, and started to cry.
Christene picked up the wailing baby, and handed her to Diana, who was crying as well as she comforted the crying baby.
Reagan reached over and picked Christene’s towel off the ground, and wrapped it around Zoë.
In the far distance, they heard sirens, and knew that everything was going to be all right.
After the paramedics came and Zoë was carefully checked over, they put her inside her crib and locked the back door tightly. That incident sure wasn’t going to happen again.

"Hey, let’s play manhunt." Dan suggested.
"Ok." Taylor agreed readily.
"Ike, you’re a captain. I wanna be a captain too." Dan said.
He chose Christene, Eric, and Jared.
Isaac chose Taylor, Zac, and Reagan.
Although Taylor wanted Christene to be on his team, he didn’t object. Little did he know that he should’ve objected when he had the chance to.
Christene followed Dan, Jared and Eric into the woods, careful not to step on any branches that might give them away.

"Hey, let’s split up. Jared, Eric, you go that way. Me and Christene will go the other way. It’s harder that way." Dan whispered.
"Ok." Eric said.
"Let’s go."
After twenty minutes of walking, Dan lead Christene into a little shed. "They’ll never find us here."
"Whatever. I don’t care." Christene shrugged.
Closing the door, Dan sat down, his back against the wall of the shed, facing Christene. "So, tell me about yourself."
"There’s nothing much to tell." Christene said.
Dan’s anger was rising. He wanted to know so much about her, but didn’t know anything. She was being stubborn. "Are you virgin?"
"Why the hell do you wanna know that?"
"Well, are you?"
"Yeah."
A smile broke across Dan’s face. "You’re virgin?"
"Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? Why, are you?" Christene didn’t have time to scream when Dan attacked her.

Chapter 24

"STOP! GET AWAY FROM ME!" Christene screamed, and with her legs, she kicked Dan off of her, and instantly jumped into a fighting stance. "You want some? You want some of me? Then, come and get some."
Dan reached into the pocket of his swimming trunks and withdrew a sharp Swiss Army Knife. "Oh don’t worry, I’ll get some all right."
Christene narrowed her eyes and faked a punch, and kicked at Dan’s shins.
He laughed. "Oh, you’re a feisty one, aren’t you?"
Christene searched the room for some way out. There must be a way.
But the only way was past Dan, and he was advancing on her.
"You’re not gonna get away with this." Christene growled.
"I already have," Dan said, and grabbed Christene, placing the knife to her neck. "And if you scream, I swear I will kill you."
"Then kill me. They’ll know it’s you anyways. Eric and Jared will tell them that it was you. And you’ll go to jail good and long for this." Christene snarled.
"Eric and Jared? They’re my best friends. They’ll lie for me. It’s not like they haven’t before." Dan said with ease.
God, he’s done this before. Christene’s eyes widened in fear.
"And besides, you can scream all you want. No one can hear you. We’re at least two miles away from the house. Knowing Ike and Tay, they go about one and a half miles before turning back." Dan said, smiling.
Christene screamed as Dan pressed his lips against hers. "No, no, no, no, no!"
She tried to push him off her, but he gauged her once, not deeply with his knife, and she knew he meant business. Christene felt tears run down her face. Taylor...

"Eric, he’s gonna rape her." Jared whispered, when he came to the realization what Dan was up to, and why he had told them to separate.
"Huh?"
"Dan. He’s gonna rape Christene." Jared hissed.
"Oh God."
"He can’t rape Christene. She’s too good. We have to tell them."
"Who?"
"Ike and Tay! We have to tell them!"

Christene felt tears of guilt and pain run down her face as she gave up all attempts to fight.
It was no use anyway, he had already cut her seventeen times.
There were four cuts on her left arm, five on her right, two cuts on her stomach, three nicks on her neck, four cuts on her left leg, and two on her right.
She laid on the cold ground, fully exposed, while Dan kissed and touched her in places that she didn’t want him to.
Yet, she still fought. She couldn’t let him take her virginity away. No! I can’t give up! I can’t! I must fight! If I die, I’ll die! But do I want to die?
"Part your legs." Dan ordered.
"No." Christene said, defiant.
Dan placed the knife against her neck. "Do you want me to hurt you again?"
"Yes! KILL ME! I WON’T LET YOU TAKE AWAY MY VIRGINITY! I WON’T!" Christene yelled.
Dan’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
"You’re CRAZY!" Christene gasped as he nicked her neck again, and in pain, she cried out as he grabbed her legs and parted them, placing his head between her legs. She knew how it was going to feel.
Paul, her ex-boyfriend from New Jersey had done it many times before.
But she didn’t want Dan to do it to her.
Sure, it was pleasure, but she loved Taylor, and that would never change.
Dan kissed her again, and this time with an anger she never knew she had, she kicked him off of her, and jumped up, slamming him against the wall with all her might, knocking him unconscious.
Then, she retrieved her bathing suit and put it on her, wincing as the material clung to the cuts.
Suddenly, Dan attacked her from behind, pressing the blade of the knife to her neck.
"You’re gonna die. And then I’m gonna rape you." Dan hissed.
Christene whimpered as tears ran down her face, then, defiantly, she narrowed her eyes. "I’d rather die than give into scum like you." And she spat into his face.
"That’s it. I’ve put up enough with you." Dan said.
Christene closed her eyes. This is the end. Taylor, I’m sorry. I love you. I hope you know that.
Suddenly, the knife blade was no longer against her neck.
She opened her eyes.
Isaac, Taylor, and Zac were all ganging up on Dan.
Eric, Jared, and Reagan ran to Christene.
"Are you ok?" Reagan asked, aghast at the sight of the blood.
"As ok as a person who was just about raped and killed." Christene whispered.
"We gotta get you outta here." Jared said, shaking his head.
"I’m gonna go back and get an adult, ok? Just uh, try to stay awake." Eric said, taking off.
"You  asshole. Don’t you EVER, EVER try to do that to Christene, you hear? You’re gonna get put in jail, and we’re gonna make sure you stay there." Zac felt tears of frustration run down his face as he kicked Dan in the stomach hard, twice.
"And I’m gonna make sure you suffer. If I can kill you with my bare hands now, God help me, I would," Taylor yelled and punched Dan with all his might. "If you ever come close to my girlfriend again, I will kill you on the spot, and I swear on God’s name, I will do that."
Taylor’s eyes were black with fury as he punched Dan again.
"He....has...a...knife." Christene murmured drowsily, from the loss of blood.
"Christene, Chris, stay with me here. Chris, don’t fall asleep. Stay awake, Christene." Reagan reached over and gently patted Christene’s face.
Taylor found the Swiss Army knife was pressing the knife against Dan’s neck. "I’ll make sure you never come near Christene again."
"TAYLOR, DON’T KILL HIM!" Isaac tried to grab Taylor, but his brother was mad with fury, and pushed him away.
Zac kicked Dan again. "He can die for all I care."
"I...love...Tay." Christene murmured, loud enough for Taylor to hear.
"Christene, stay with me here. Don’t croak on me." Jared begged.
Taylor suddenly dropped the knife, and slumped the floor, in tears.
Dan was groaning, cringing on the floor from every kick Zac let fly out.
Isaac crawled over to Taylor, and hugged his brother. "It’s ok, Tay."
"I...I almost killed him." Taylor sobbed.
"Why didn’t you? You should’ve killed him! He almost killed Christene!" Zac yelled, still kicking Dan.
Suddenly, Walker ran in, with Eric at his heels, and he grabbed Zac, restraining him from Dan.
"Oh, dear God." Walker couldn’t believe that he was seeing Christene lying on the floor in such a state.
Harry and Janet ran in after Walker.
"CHRISTENE!" Janet shrieked, and ran to her adopted daughter’s side, taking her hand.
"Janet...hi...I feel dizzy...I’m really sleepy....Can I go to bed? Can I call you mom, Janet?" Christene drawled sleepily.
"Christene, don’t go to sleep. You can’t go to sleep, ok honey? Sure, you can call me whatever you like," Janet said. "Don’t worry, help is on the way."

Chapter 25

"Christene Coffman has been, what it seems like almost raped and killed. This night, while at a family barbecue, Christene was partners with a guy named Dan Kelsey, who attacked her during a game of manhunt in a shed in a secluded part of the woods in her backyard. Her boyfriend, Taylor Hanson and his brothers, Isaac, and Zac of Hanson found her and Kelsey, who was at the point of attacking her.
Coffman was brought to the St. Harry’s Hospital in Oklahoma. When being questioned, friends and family of Coffman made no comment. Kelsey was in bad condition and was brought to a local clinic. Coffman is pressing charges. Coffman had over 20 wounds made by a Swiss Army Knife on her body. Nothing more has been said about this incident."
Taylor watched glumly as the news anchor for NBC was talking as footage was being shot of Christene being carried away to St. Harry’s Hospital. I should’ve killed Dan when I had the chance to. But I can’t take a life. Not even the life of someone who just about raped my girlfriend.
Two months passed, and the incident died down. Christene still had a few scars that would constantly remind her, but otherwise than that, she just wanted to forget the whole thing.

It was now October, and Zac was turning 14.
As Christene watched Isaac, Taylor, Zac, and Mackenzie throw a ball around the yard, she realized that Zac had matured a lot over the years that she had known him.
But, to Christene, he’d always be the kid brother that she’d never had.

**October 22, 1999**

"Zac, it’s your 14^th birthday huh? So how does it feel to be old?" Rosie O’Donnell joked.
"Well," Zac stretched and pretended to groan, then he said in the voice of an old man. "why don’t you tell me Rosie?"
Rosie laughed. "Was that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Always, Rosie." Zac grinned.
"So, Tay, are you still together with Christene?" Rosie asked.
Taylor blushed. "Yeah."
The audience started cheering and whistling.
Christene grinned.
"Taylor, what’d you do if I asked you to kiss her?" Rosie laughed when she saw the look on the young couple’s faces.
Isaac, Zac, and the audience erupted with laughter.
"Go ahead, it’s not gonna kill you, Tay. You’ve done it before." Isaac grinned good-naturedly at his brother.
"No, I really don’t think...It’s national TV...You...GRRR..." Taylor groaned.
Rosie laughed. "Kinda put you on the spot there, huh, Tay?"
"Oh yeah, that you did."
"Rosie, I’m sure you ask every celebrity couple to kiss on your show." Christene laughed.
"I was just kidding. You don’t have to." Rosie laughed, and looked into the audience, and was about to say something when Taylor reached out and kissed Christene unexpectedly.
The audience roared with whistles, screams, and applause, and the camera whipped from Rosie to Taylor and Christene within seconds.
The talk show hostess’s mouth dropped to the floor when she saw the unexpected.
"You didn’t expect this did you?" Zac pointed at Christene and Taylor.
"I sure didn’t. Um...guys, that’s good enough." Rosie said.
Taylor pulled away from Christene slowly, smiling slightly. Then, he blushed a deep crimson red.
"I think it’s time for a commercial break. We’ll be right back with more of HANSON!" Rosie said.

**A Few Days Later**

"Taylor, I want you to sing to me." Christene edged close to Taylor, tired from the day’s events.
Taylor slipped his arm around Christene, gently kissing the top off her head. "All right, what do you want me to sing?"
"Anything." Christene looked up at Taylor, her big sensual green eyes looked up into his beautiful blue ones. Her eyes were glowing with love and admiration.
Taylor bent his head down and started to sing softly into Christene’s ear. "As surely as the sun rises each day, so my love will never change, and though the years may come and go, my love, will only grow and grow. Sometimes I wonder what you see in me...For I’m only a man, flawed in so many ways you see...I want to share every moment of the day with you, and I want to share every sunset and every sunrise, and every moonlit night..."
Christene reached up and gently kissed Taylor’s cheek softly.
"As surely as the sun rises each day, so my love will never change, and though the years may come and go, my love, will only grow and grow..." Taylor held the last word out long.
"Thanks, Tay." Christene smiled.
"My pleasure," Taylor brushed some hair away from Christene’s beautiful face. "You have no idea how much I love you."
Christene’s heart was pounding in her chest. "I think it’s the same here."
Taylor brought his lips down on Christene’s softly and gently.
Zac accidentally walked into the room, and saw his brother kissing Christene. He winced for walking in on Taylor like that, turned and walked back out of the room.
The doorbell rang, distracting Taylor and Christene.
"Zac’s having a party." Taylor laughed.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Today’s the 25^th! I completely forgot! Um...I’m gonna go to my house and get the present....and Reagan." Christene stood up, gave Taylor a light kiss and ran out the door.

"Laser Quest, I should’ve known." Reagan mumbled under her breath as she waited on the bench for her vest.
On the red team was Isaac, Taylor, Zac, Christene, Reagan, and Andy. The blue team consisted of Jessica, Avery, Matt, Jared, Eric, Stephanie, and Jeff.
"We’re gonna whup yer ass." Jared stuck his tounge out playfully at Reagan, who snorted and rolled her eyes.
"No, I’ll see about that," Zac grinned and said something in gibberish to Taylor.
"What? C’mon, teach me gibberish already." Reagan whined.
"You know gibberish? Cool, so do I." Christene grinned, and said ‘hi’ in gibberish.
"Hey, hey...that’s not fair! HEY!" Jared’s eyes grew wide. "NO FAIR!"
"What?" Christene said in a whiny tone.
Jared stuck his tounge back out at Christene. "MEANIE!"
"Jared, don’t be like Zac." Reagan said.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHH! DISSED!" Taylor laughed.
Zac stuck his lower lip out. "MEANIE!"
At that moment, the music started so they ran into the arena.
Christene ran up to the second floor, following Taylor closely.
His code name was ‘Biker’, and Christene had picked ‘Bubble Gum’ for no apparent reason.
Christene saw Jared and shot at him, hitting him squarely.
"Perfect aim." Taylor commented.
Christene just shrugged and ran up to the fourth level, where she bumped into Zac a.k.a. ‘Cheese Puff’.
Zac started shooting at Mat, who had dodged behind a board, one hand out, shooting back at Zac.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Eric popped out, and started shooting at Zac, who screamed.
"NOO! NOO! Don’t shoot me! AHHH! No! Don’t shoot me! HEY...you shot me!" Zac pouted, waiting for the light to go back on again on his gun.
Christene took the time to shoot both Eric and Matt in two minutes flat when they came out into the open.
Pretty soon, Zac was back in gear, and shot Jessica.
Christene bumped into Taylor again who was behind a board, would wait for a few seconds, jump back out and shoot, then dodge back behind the board.
"Hi." Christene whispered.
Taylor smiled. "Hi."
"Let’s kick some major ass." Christene whispered.
Taylor nodded. "On the count of three...one...two...THREE!"
Jeff, Avery, Stephanie, and Jared were instantly down.
"Great going." Christene murmured.
Taylor nodded.

"I’m MVP! I’m MVP!" Jared crowed as he waved the results card in the air wildly.
On the Red Team, both Christene and Zac were named MVP...they had scored an equal amount of points, and had taken down an equal amount of people. Both were shot only once.
"Well we still won." Zac stuck his tounge out at Jared.

Chapter 26

"Merry Christmas baby, you sure did treat me nice," Taylor sang in the shower as the warm water beat down on him. "Merry Christmas, baby, you sure did treat me nice..."
"I can hear you singing Tay!" Zac called from outside the door.
"Um...I’ll be out in a minute, Zac. I need to wash my hair." Taylor called.
"Ok."
Taylor squirted some shampoo into his hair, and created a lather, then rinsed his hair out. We getta host SNL, we have to do Letterman, and a buncha other appearances. Let’s see...we have about two months of rest before tour number three starts. Hmmm...Two weeks before Christmas. We’re gonna throw a major party.
"TAYLOR!!!" We’re gonna throw a major party.
"Ok, ok, I’m coming." Taylor turned off the shower, and grabbed a towel, and quickly toweled dry. Then, he changed quickly, grabbed a towel, a comb, and a hair dryer, then let Zac into the bathroom.
Taylor walked down the hallway, drying his hair, and went downstairs into his parent’s room. He walked into the master bedroom bathroom and started on drying his hair.

Avery cut into her pancake, licking her lips. She ate four pancakes, dripping with melted brown sugar and soaked in maple syrup. Yummy.
She gulped down a glass of milk, and picked up her dishes, and rinsed them in the sink before putting them in the dishwasher.
"COMING THROUGH!" Taylor laughed as he and Mackenzie approached the breakfast table.
Taylor set down Mackenzie, then turned around, picked him up, and sat him down on his chair. "Thanks Tay!" Mackenzie grinned up at his brother.
"No problem, Mac." Taylor chuckled softly.
Isaac came down after Taylor, and his eyes widened when he saw what they were having for breakfast.
"Mom, you are the bomb." Isaac whispered, and quickly sat down at the table.
"Your mother is definitely a good cook." Walker said, finishing the last of his omelet.
"What do you want for breakfast Tay, Ike, and Macky?" Diana asked her sons.
"Waffles!" Mackenzie exclaimed.
"Pancakes, eggs, and bacon, please." Taylor sat down at the table.
"Everything." Isaac murmured.
"Isaac," Diana said disapprovingly.
"Huh? Oh sorry mom. I’ll have the same as Tay, but can you please add sausage links in that one too?" Isaac asked.
"Sure, honey." Diana smiled.
Zoë gurgled as she ate her oatmeal. "Tay...good...yum, yum."
Taylor grinned and kissed Zoë on the cheek.
Zac came downstairs, following his nose. "Morning Mom. Can I have French toast, ham, eggs, and bacon?"
"Ok, Zac." Diana said.
At that time the doorbell rang.
Mackenzie and Jessica ran to answer the door. "Hi Christene!"
"Hey Macky! Hey Jessie!" Christene picked up Mackenzie and gave him a tiny kiss.
"Ahh, Christene, you came just in time to sample Diana’s good pancakes!" Walker grinned.
"Oh, no thanks. I’ve had breakfast." Christene said.
"No, really, Christene. I insist." Walker gave Christene a pointed look.
"Well, all right," Christene pulled a chair up to the table, and took off her coat. "We’re gonna get a lot of snow this year."
"YES!" Mackenzie and Avery jumped up, laughing.
Diana handed Taylor his food, then Isaac, Mackenzie was next, and finally Zac.
Then, she gave Christene three pancakes, soaked in syrup and melted brown sugar with a lump of butter, melting in the middle.
Christene cut into her pancakes, and sampled them. "Whoa, these are awesome!"
"What’d I tell you?" Walker chuckled.
"Chris, I’m telling you, you’re not gonna eat any pancakes so good in your life." Taylor smiled at Christene.
Isaac was so busy shoveling down food, he didn’t have a chance to talk.
"Ike, you look like you haven’t eaten in years." Christene burst out laughing.
Isaac swallowed the mouthful of food down. "Gee thanks, I feel loved."

**Two Weeks Later**
"Christene, we’re having a Christmas party at Tay’s." Jessica said.
"Great." Christene brightened up.
"It’s gonna be this Friday, so help out a bit, ok? Christmas is gonna be in two weeks." Reagan said.
"That’s good to know..."

**Friday**

"WILD PARTY!" Andy yelled as he caught up with Taylor and Christene.
"I know!" Taylor grinned and poured himself some hot chocolate.
"Tay, do whatever you want. Zac, do your DJ stuff. Ike, take over lighting." Christene said as she entered the room with a platter filled with food. Reagan walked in after her, carrying a tray as well. No sooner did they set the food down on the table, it was half-gone.
"They’re like hornets or something." Christene whispered to Reagan.
Reagan laughed. "I know what you mean, sis."
Christene caught sight of Christina Alfano, flirting with Anthony. "What’s the bitch doing here?"
"Dunno. She probably crashed the party."
"Taylor, look up." Christina said, flashing a smile and rubbing Taylor’s shoulders.
Ugh, get off me! Taylor frowned as he looked up and saw the white-green berries of mistletoe. "Mistletoe."
"Which means-" Christina was cut off by Taylor.
"The hell I’m kissing you! There’s no way on Earth that my mouth would come anywhere near yours! I am not kissing you." Taylor said, brushing Christina’s hands off him and taking two steps back.
Christina advanced slowly on Taylor, her hands behind her back. "Oh, but, Taylor, it’s a tradition that when a guy and a girl are under mistletoe, they have to kiss."
"To hell with tradition!"
"Ooh, bad mouth. You better watch what you say." Christina said, slowly walking towards Taylor as he backed up.
Taylor felt the wall rub against his back. Dammit, she cornered me!
"You have no where to go. What are you running from?" Christina wrapped her hands around Taylor’s neck. They were freezing cold.
Taylor winced. "Get off me, Christina. I don’t want to kiss you and I never will."
"Speak for yourself." Christina tightened her hold on Taylor and pressed her lips against his in a kiss so hard that Taylor tasted blood.
GET OFF ME YOU WHOREBAG! Taylor’s mind screamed as he struggled to get out of Christina’s grasp.
He tried to raise his hands and push Christina away, but before he could, he felt a slender, soft, warm hand pull him away from Christina.
He recognized the hand. Christene’s.
Taylor wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Indeed, there was a cut on his lip.
"Thanks a lot Christene." Christina sneered.
"First of all, what the hell were you doing kissing my boyfriend, second of all, you have no right to talk to me that way, so, shut up, third of all, why is Taylor bleeding?" Christene put her hands on her hips, her eyes darting from Christina to Taylor.

"Something’s wrong. Look." Reagan pointed at Taylor, Christina, and Christene.
"Oh, they’re fine, I’m sure." Jared leaned over and kissed Reagan again. She pushed him away.
"No, I think something is seriously wrong."
"I don’t think so, come on babe, stop that." Jared tried to kiss Reagan again. "I’m sure everything’s all right."
Reagan gave one last look at Christene before giving into the kisses.

"First of all, who do you think you are, second of all, go away, you’re annoying, third of all, he’s bleeding because we’ve been kissing for a while." Christina said before Taylor could say anything.
"WHAT? Do you believe her? Don’t believe her! She’s lying! I-" Taylor was cut off by Christene.
"First of all, I’m Taylor’s girlfriend, and I’m better than you are, second of all, look who’s talking, third of all, why should I believe you? You’ve been trying to break me and Taylor up forever." Christene snapped.
"You don’t believe me, look here!" Christina pulled out a picture that Taylor recognized as one of the pictures that when he had liked Christina and gone out with her. That is, two years ago.
"Um…that’s from two years ago," Taylor said. "You’re pretty pathetic when you’re trying to prove something, Christina."
"No it’s not." Christina said.
"LET ME SEE THAT!" Christene grabbed the picture before Christina could object and checked for the date. "No date, and it’s in mint condition."
"Christene, use some common sense. If it were two years old, it’d be all fucked up and crappy." Christina said.
"Oh please, she has that picture and a million others framed. I went out with her two years ago. She grabbed me and kissed me." Taylor said slowly.
Christene backed away from Taylor slowly. Taylor’s eyes widened and he paled. His heart pounded in his chest. She couldn’t possibly believe Christina! As he watched in terror, he saw Christene’s eyes fill up in tears, waiting to overflow and stream down her cheeks. Taylor looked down and saw Christene slowly pull off the one-month-anniversary ring that he’d given to her. NO!
"Oh my God, Christene-" Taylor was cut off by Christene.
"What was once a strong symbol of love is now a memory waiting to disappear." Christene whispered and dropped the ring near Taylor’s shoe. Then, she clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle a sob, whirled and rushed out of the room.
Moments later, the front door banged shut.

"DAMMIT JARED!" Reagan pushed Jared off her and ran after Christene after she saw a nearly hysterical Christene run out of the house.
"CHRISTENE!" Reagan ran after Christene, who was running down the sidewalk, towards their house.

Chapter 27
Taylor was in shock. For him, time seem to stop. The world seemed to stop turning.
He bent down and picked up the ring. Taylor looked at it for a second, then looked up to Christina, who had her arms crossed over her chest. "Thanks a lot, bitch. You know I don’t usually start with people, but I really seriously had feelings for her, and you...you little....spoiled....brat would always come between me and my girlfriends because you’re jealous about them. I feel as if my heart has just been ripped out of my chest and stamped on. Well, let me tell you something. I’m never gonna go out with you again, so get away from me, and leave me alone, and by the way, don’t bother to talk to me. I should’ve said this earlier but I didn’t want to hurt you, even though you’ve hurt me all those times. LEAVE ME ALONE and STAY OUT OF MY LIFE! " Taylor felt his eyes burning, and he knew that there’d be tears soon.
He didn’t fight the tears. He rushed upstairs and into his room.
Isaac ran up after his brother, leaving Zac in charge, but soon, Zac too ran up the stairs after his brothers.

"Christene, tell me what happened." Reagan demanded.
"Nothing. Go away." Christene said.
"Christene…" Reagan knew she wouldn’t have her way with Christene. She turned and walked out of the room.
Christene grabbed a pillow off her bed, and slumped onto the floor, hugging it to her chest.
She sobbed into the pillow. For the loss of her parents. For the loss of her friends. And for the loss of Taylor.

Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you and I wish on a star
That somewhere you are thinking of me too

"As long as the stars are in the sky, I’ll love you till the day I die." Taylor whispered, holding Christene close to him.
The stars shined like diamonds in the black velvet sky.
"Me too…" Christene whispered.

"Tay, what happened?" Isaac asked. Seeing his brother in such a state was a rare one.
"What’s wrong?" Zac asked.
"Go downstairs Zac." Isaac said.
"Fine, fine, fine. Don’t tell me." Zac turned and walked downstairs.
"Nothing. I just want to be left alone for a while. Please." Taylor said.
"Ok. If that’s what you really want. If you want to talk about it, just tell me." Isaac turned and went out of the room.
Taylor hugged the pillow tightly to his chest.
He felt as if his heart had just been torn out of his chest.
Then, he buried his head into the pillow and cried silent tears. For the loss of his grandmother. For the loss of Christene.

'Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight
'Til tomorrow I'll be holding you tight
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
Than here in my room dreaming about you and me
Wonder if you ever see me and I wonder if you know I'm there
If you looked in my eyes would you see what's inside
Would you even care

"I love you." Taylor whispered.
"I love you too." Christene smiled, and their lips met.
"Kissable close with Scope." Taylor quoted.
Christene grinned. "Yeah."
"You’re so beautiful, you know that?" He pushed the hair away from her ear, and cupped it in the back of her ear, holding it back with his hand.
Christene blushed. "Thanks. You know, you’re the only guy that ever used the term ‘beautiful’ with me."
Taylor grinned. "What did the other guys use?"
"Hot, sexy, you know the rest."
"Which do you prefer?"
"I don’t care as long as it’s from your lips." Christene whispered.

"Christene, it’s Taylor, isn’t it?" Reagan asked.
Christene nodded soberly.
"Oh…Christene…" Reagan went over and hugged Christene.
"Where’s Janet?" Christene asked.
"She and Dad went out with Diana, Walker and the kids for the night." Reagan said.
"Oh."
Christene laid back on her bed, her face wet with tears. "I can’t believe he’d do that."
"What’d he do?" Reagan asked.
"He was cheating on me."
Reagan snorted. "Please. You’ve got to be kidding me. If anyone’s more faithful, it’s Taylor. Who was it?"
"Christina."
"Oh please."
"She had recent pictures." Christene sobbed
Reagan’s face softened. "Oh, I’m sorry."
"I thought he really loved me. I can’t believe I believed him. That bastard. I hate him!" Christene sobbed.
"Hey, it’s ok...I’ll talk to him...figure out what’s going on..." Reagan offered.
Christene continued to sob. "I can’t believe he’d do that to me...I thought he really loved me. But I guess in the end it was just a bunch of BS! I feel like my heart has just been ripped out of my chest and stamped on."

I just wanna hold you close but so far
All I have are dreams of you
So I wait for the day and the courage to say
How much I love you

Taylor skidded to a stop, and unfastened his rollerblades, and put his Airwalks on.
He quickly kissed Christene.
"What was that?" Christene asked teasingly.
"Hey, kiss her again!" Zac grinned.
"What are we, your personal entertainment?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah." Isaac laughed.
Taylor shook his head, but kissed Christene again, this time slowly and softly.
Christene gazed into Taylor’s intense blue eyes, which were glowing with love and admiration.
"I love you." She whispered it so softly that only Taylor heard.
Taylor smiled, leaned over and whispered into her ear, "I love you more."
"No you don’t, we’re equal," Suddenly, Christene was aware that four pairs of eyes were on them. "Um...Tay, I think everyone is staring at us."
"So let them stare."

"It’s Christene, isn’t it?" Isaac asked.
Taylor nodded soberly.
"I found out from Cassia. She heard everything. I’ve already asked Christina to leave. You have to call Christene and straighten out things." Isaac said.
"No!" Taylor almost yelled.
"Whoa, calm down. I mean, tomorrow." Isaac said, turning around and walking out of the room.

I'll be dreaming of you tonight
'Til tomorrow…

**The Next Day**
Taylor poked at his soggy cereal.
"GOOD MORNING!" Avery screamed at the top of her lungs.
Taylor winced. He was groggy and tired, and had cried himself to sleep the night before.
"Avery, please." Taylor pushed his bowl away and buried his face in his arms.
"Oh. Ok…" Avery climbed on one of the chairs and reached for the box of cereal.
Taylor had been up since five, and Avery, usually the last one up on a weekday had woken up two hours later.
Now that they were home, the whole Hanson clan usually sleep late.
Taylor didn’t know, but Christene, too had a bad night’s sleep and had woken up early.

Christene dumped the rest of her toast in the garbage can. Her throat hurt from crying, and her eyes were a little puffy and pink.
She wandered into the living room and plopped onto a couch and turned on the TV, flipping through the channels.
Finally, she glanced at the clock. 4:07. Christene reached over and picked up the phone. She dialed a familiar number that she’d dialed many times before.
"Hello?"
"Hey Kristen! It’s Christene!"
"OH MY GOD! CHRISTENE!"
"Hi."
"What’s up? You didn’t call me like you promised you would when you left!"
"Sorry. A little busy."
"I’d say. I completely spazzed out when I saw you and Hanson and all, ya know?"
"Yeah."
"You should visit again."
"Yeah, I want to." Christene sighed.
"Ok, spill the beans, what’s wrong?"
"Um…I really don’t wanna talk about it." Christene said.
"Ok, fine, don’t tell me."
"Ok, fine I won’t."
They laughed.
"You’re like, medicine or something. I’m not that depressed anymore." Christene said.
"Don’t be depressed! Look, I gotta go to school now. Call me."
"I will."
"You better."
"Bye."
"Bye, love ya."
Christene put down the phone, and a feeling of depression washed over her again. She went outside and picked up the newspaper.

Taylor tried to call Christene, but whenever he got to the seventh digit, he chickened out and hung up.
Come on! You can do it. He finally finished dialing 315-0591.
It rang…
"Hello?"
"Christene…it’s me."
Taylor heard Christene sigh deeply, then he heard a click.
He looked at the phone as if it was about to bite him. She hung up on me.
It looked like this Christmas would be a sad and gloomy one.

"Isaac, ya know what, stay out of my love life. I took your advice and called her. Well, guess what? She hung up on me before I had a chance to explain. Now I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest and stamped on twice. Stay out of my love life and out of my business, and leave me alone!" Taylor yelled, turned on his heel, and ran out the door, crying.
"TAYLOR!" Isaac ran after his brother with a heavy heart.

"There’s nothing on." Christene flipped through the channels, and stopped on MTV.
Four girls that looked very familiar were dancing on the screen.

I feel like yelling and crying
There’s no one to hold me
I’m in pain and reach out in vain
For someone to understand
I need your love back
It’s the only thing in my life
I lack

Even after all that you’ve done,
Baby in my heart you’ll always be mine
It was a slap in the face
A look of disgrace

My heart’s never dealt
With this kind of pain
One kiss started it all
But as I watched in despair
Our love started to fall
I feel like yelling and crying…

Christene switched the channel to Vh1, where to her surprise, a video with her in it was playing. Taylor flashed on the screen, and she threw the remote at the TV, and then turned off the TV.
Why did you do that to me, Taylor? Why? I loved you…I still do….
Christene raised her knees up and buried her face into her knees and cried silent tears.

"Sure. Christene’s been acting really miserable lately, and if this will help her, I guess it’s the only way." Janet said.
"She has a weird idea that Taylor’s been cheating on her with Christina." Harry said, frowning.
"I know." Reagan rolled her eyes.
"It’s only ‘coz Christina showed her a picture of me and her…I mean, Christina, from when we were dating two years ago." Taylor said glumly.
"That girl frames those pictures," Janet sighed. "poor Taylor."
Taylor felt a familiar burning sensation in his eyes. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. He fought back tears.
Reagan looked at Taylor. He’s gonna cry. She wrapped her arms around him. "It’s ok, Tay. Everything’s gonna be ok. We’re going to talk to Christene and even up things a little. She’s really confused and doesn’t know what to believe."
"I’m just confused," Zac frowned. "I mean, why would Christene believe that Taylor was cheating on her? Hasn’t Christina Alfano tried to break those two up for the longest time?"
"Yes, she has," Janet said. "and this time, that girl has succeeded. I’m going to have a talk with her father. Her mother wouldn’t care. Christina is a complete replica of Danielle Alfano."
"Thanks, but I really don’t think-" Taylor was cut off by Reagan.
"Taylor, listen to my parents. They know what to do. What if you and Christene get back together, but Christina comes and breaks you two up again?"
Taylor didn’t say anything.
"Ok, thanks, guys, but we gotta go." Isaac said.
Reagan gave Taylor a pat on his back, and let go of him.
Taylor soberly followed his brothers home.

**Christmas Eve**
"Christene, you sure you don’t want to come with us to the Hansons’ tonight?" Janet asked.
"Positive." Christene said.
"Ok. You have pot roast in the ‘fridge, heat it up for about 5 minutes." Janet smiled.
"Ok." Christene said.
"Bye, honey." Janet reached over and gently kissed Christene’s cheek.
"Bye."
Christene followed Janet to the door, and locked it after she left.
Then, she went upstairs and climbed onto a window seat, and drew her legs up, wrapping her arms around them.
Christene buried her face up to her nose in her arms, and as the soft snow fell, a tear fell along with it.

"Taylor, go now." Isaac said.
"All right, all right." Taylor said. He grabbed the letter and went out the back door, and started walking briskly.
His feet made a crunching sound in the soft, new snow as he approached Christene’s house.
His heart was pounding in his chest as he rang the doorbell.
Christene opened the door. "Taylor. What are you doing here?"
"Christene we need to talk."
"There’s nothing to talk about." Christene whispered. I will not lose it! I can’t give him the pleasure of seeing me crying.
"Yes there is. Can I come in?" Taylor asked.
"Whatever." Christene stepped aside and let Taylor in.
"Christene, Christene, Christene, why don’t you believe me? Those pictures Christina showed you were from two years ago...Before I met you. Long before. I don’t even like the bitch. You know that." Taylor said.
"No I don’t." Christene was being stubborn.
"Christene, listen to me. I don’t like her. She forced that kiss on me. Ask anyone." Taylor’s eyes were big and pleading, and as Christene’s green eyes met with his she knew he wasn’t lying, but she refused to believe so.
"You’re lying." Christene said.
"Would I lie to you?"
Christene fell quiet, and looked away.
Taylor grabbed Christene’s shoulders, and started to sing softly.
"They’re singing deck the halls, but it’s not like Christmas at all...I remember when you were here. And all the fun that we had last year. Christmas, oh, the snow’s coming down, Christmas, now I’m watching it fall. Christmas, all the people around. Christmas, baby please come home. Christmas, now the church bells in town. Christmas, oh, they’re singing our song. Christmas, oh what a happy sound. Christmas, baby please come home," Taylor sang, as he watched a lone tear slide down Christene’s face. Then he realized that tears had fallen from his own eyes, and soon his face was wet with tears, as he struggled with his voice. "Now the snow’s coming down, and I’m watching it fall, all the people around, baby, baby, baby please come home. Baby please come home, baby please come home, now I’m feeling all alone, baby, baby, baby please come home. Now the snow’s coming down, and I’m watching it fall, all the people around, baby, baby, baby please come home. Now the snow’s coming down....baby please come home..." Taylor let go of Christene and stood looking at Christene.
The two teenagers gazed at each other, both crying softly.
"Christene, I love you, and I’m not about to let you go," Taylor whispered. "There’s always going to be an us, and I want you back."
Christene sniffed, and smiled apologetically as she edged towards Taylor. "I’ve never left."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her face in his shoulder, letting out a sigh of relief, then she looked up at Taylor, and kissed him softly as the snow fell outside.
Taylor knew that he almost lost Christene again that night, but he also knew it would be the last time he would come close to losing her again.
She was his forever.
There was a special bond between them that could never be replaced....love.

**Now you can read Remember Me, the partner romance novel to Love You Till the Day I Die, which is currently in the process of being re-written!**

 
**AN: How did you like THAT? Hehehe..Smile smile...buh bye...**