"Do you have girlfriends?"
"Well, currently, we..." Taylor glanced at Christene, who was watching backstage and sighed. "Isaac and Zac are completely girlfriend free. Me, there’s a special person in my heart that I’m thinking of."
*
"Is there anyone special in your life, Taylor?"
"Yes, there is." Taylor said, confidence was building up within him as the interviews started piling up.
"Can you tell me who this person is?"
"Yes. It’s...it’s Christene..."

*
"Did you hear that? Taylor Hanson finally hooked himself up with a girlfriend!"
"Oh, yeah, that he did." Isaac agreed.

*

"Why’d you do this?" Christene asked. "Aren’t you scared that you’ll lose your fans?"
Taylor looked deep into Christene’s green eyes. "If I lose them, it’s their loss. And they’re losers for liking me for my looks. You’re more important to me than anything in the world."
"Do you mean that?"
"More than you’ll ever know." Taylor reached his hand out and ran his thumb over her cheek bone, before lifting her head and bringing his mouth to hers in a gentle kiss.

"Tay, get your butt over here!" Zac said excitedly.
"What?" Taylor glanced at the computer monitor.
"Look!"
Taylor read what it said on the website.

"As the web-mistress of the Ultimate Hanson Page, I want to say, TAYLOR YOU FINALLY HOOKED UP AND YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF! If anyone does not like Hanson, due to the fact that Taylor has a girl, well, GET A F*CKING LIFE! (By the way, this proves that we’re not dealing with a case of prudeness. **Hehe, just a little bit of dark humor.**)
YOU’RE ALL LOSERS FOR LIKING HANSON FOR THEIR LOOKS AND NOT THEIR MUSIC!
They’re not GODS, get it through your HEADS! They’re just three normal boys that are very talented, and want to make MUSIC to make people happy. They don’t want fans that only like ‘em for their looks.
So, curse me off, do whatever you like, but spare me, I don’t want emails that diss me for liking them for their music, and not their looks. EXCUSE ME HERE!
Haven’t I always thought that there was no possible way that Taylor could stay single?
WELL I TOLD YOU I WAS RIGHT! :P
So, take that to all those MEAN people that emailed me with those MEAN emails.
I DESERVE AN APOLOGY. (Sorry, I’m on a sugar high right now.) **Ha, perfect.**
(Boogy woogie woogie woogie ) ANYWAYS, Taylor if you’re reading this, you should know that there really are true fans out there, and by the way, check your email.
You’ll see what I mean. Look for an email from the Ultimate Hanson Page.
-Sk8erChik, Hansongirl, or just plain Krystal

One last thing...If you ARE reading this Tay, Ike, and or Zac, tell Christene that Krystal says for her to get her buttocks back to NJ before I GET them to NJ."

"Whoa, that girl is hells-cool!" Zac grinned as he read the message again.
"Check the email." Taylor said.
"What?"
"Check our mail!"

**Two Days Later**
Zac read the email over and over again until his eyes hurt.

"Zac-
Hey man, what’s up besides the sky? *Yeah, yeah, I know, lame punch line.* Anyways, I have this friend that really thinks you’re cool, but she’s not obsessed with you or anything. (Don’t get me wrong here.) Anyways, thanks for sending me those tickets overnight. I really appreciate it. (Funny, I always imagined something like this, but it never happened...Why don’t all of ya get girlfriends?) **Just a bit o’ humor**
I know your neighbor, Reagan. Me and Rachel are friends with her. (Excuse my grammer, but right now I really don’t care.)
Ok, well I’m signing out. Later dude.
Tell Taylor I said that I still think Christene has the most gorgeous eyes.
I mean, tell Christene that I still think she has the most gorgeous eyes. And that she should come to New Jersey again, coz I was on vacation when she came down here and stayed at Kristen’s for a month.
Well, g/g.
-<3 ya like a bro-
Krys"

"She’s so cool." Zac said.
Isaac hit Zac over the head with a book. "Quit dreaming, little bro. She’s one year older than you, and she used to like Taylor...That is, until she realized we’re only people."
Zac rolled his eyes. "I don’t care, and she has a friend that’s my age and thinks I’m cool! Oh yeah, tell Christene that Krystal thinks she still has gorgeous eyes."
**AN: Yep, that’s me. (Krystal) hahaha!**

"Hey, Reagan, do you know a girl named Krystal?" Zac asked Reagan.
"Yeah...Why?" Reagan asked.
"Cuz we’re meeting her at our L. A. appearance. I mean, our next appearance," Zac grinned. "and Rachel too."
"Oh. A-ha, I see," Reagan raised her eyebrows. "You didn’t happen to send those tickets and backstage passes now, did you?"
"No, no, of course not."

**One Day Later**

"Ok, we’re just going to do, as in order, Give Me Some Loving, Thinking of You, Day Has Come, River, Where’s the Love, I Will Come to You, Weird, Surely As the Sun, and Mmmbop. For an encore, we do, A Man From Milwaukee, but if they don’t encore us, which is highly doubtful, we won’t do...Man from Milwaukee." Isaac received some weird looks for his last comment.
"Ike, don’t be so technical." Christene suggested.
"Good idea."
Taylor handed Christene a folder.
"What’s this?" Christene opened the folder, and gasped at all the music inside it.
"Well, we had you on trial for a backup, and we all decided that you’re too good to just be plain backup. We’re including you...permanently, as in, just the four of us," Taylor grinned. "I was the lucky one chosen to tell you."
"Seriously? You’re not kidding?" Christene looked up at Taylor.
"Seriously. Take it or leave it." Taylor shrugged.
"Oh, I LOVE YOU!" Christene squealed as she threw her arms around Taylor, and kissed him wildly.
Taylor’s eyebrows went up. "Geez, girl, calm down!"
Christene squealed one last time before running off to tell Reagan.

**Two Hours Later**
Zac signed on to AOL under his personal screen name to check his email. "You have mail!"
He clicked on the mail icon, and looked at the email addresses, then clicked on Krystal’s email address. All right, all right!

"Hey Zac, guess what? Rachel LIVES in Los Angeles! She never told me.
Well, See ya tomorrow.
Oh, is Reagan still having that strange relationship with Jared?
-<3 U all.-
Krys"

Zac read the last line about Jared and Reagan and he became curious. What strange friendship?
He signed off AOL and walked away from Taylor’s laptop, with questions running through his head.

**Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl Presents...Hanson**

"You can hear the screams a mile away!" Zac exclaimed, rubbing his ears.
"Here, wear this." Their stylist, Natasha handed Zac a pair of baggy black cargo pants.
"Cool!" Zac took the pants.
"Taylor..." The name was hardly out of Natasha’s mouth before Taylor raised his hands up.
"I’m not changing. I’ll just wear this, ok?" Taylor asked.
The stylist looked at Taylor’s baggy beige pants and maroon Adidas shirt. "Fine."
"Christene," Natasha looked at what Christene was wearing. "good selection. You don’t have to change."
Christene raised her eyebrows slightly. She was wearing beige jncos, clunky black sandals, and a tight navy blue shirt with jnco girlä on it. Her thick black hair was braided into two braids. **AN: She was dressed like a Skater Chick**
Isaac didn’t have to change either.
The boys and Christene were escorted down the narrow corridor and into the backstage area, where fans were waiting for them.
Most of the fans ignored Christene, but two didn’t.
"Hi. I’m Rachel, and I love what you’re wearing...anyways, can I have your autograph?" Rachel asked.
"Sure."
"Christene!" the voice was familiar as anything.
Christene hastily signed her name, and turned around to face one of her closest friends from New Jersey. "Krys!"
They hugged, and kissed each other’s cheeks.
"Hey, wa’sup?" Christene asked.
"The sky!" Krystal beamed.
Zac was looking at the two curiously, then he walked over to them. "Hey, you’re Krystal aren’t you?"
"No, I’m Christene....of course I’m Krystal. Hi!" Krystal shook Zac’s hand, grinning.
That’s when Zac noticed Rachel. "Hi, you know who I am, naturally, and you are..." He extended his hand.
"Rachel." Rachel smiled shyly and shook Zac’s hand.
"Oh, so this is the famous Rachel that Reagan and Krystal have been talking about!" Zac smiled back.
"They’ve been talking about me?" Rachel asked.
"Oh yeah!" Zac laughed. "Don’t worry, no disses."
"Oh."

"Hanson, Hanson, Hanson, Hanson," the audience chanted. "Hanson, Hanson, Hanson...."
Isaac, Taylor, Zac, and Christene waited for their cue to go onstage.
Lights were flashing as they ran onstage.
Screams ran out through the audience as Isaac started to play the opening chords of "Give Me Some Loving".

"So glad you made it, whoa-whoa, so glad you made it," Christene sang as she looked out into the audience, noticing a few signs for her. They really like me! "won't you c'mon, give me some lovin', give me some lovin', give me some lovin, everday."

"C’mon, ya people are sitting down back there! Stand up! I don’t want to see anyone sitting!" Taylor yelled and continued singing.
"Hey, how ya guys doing tonight?" Taylor asked the audience, wiping his forehead.
The audience screamed.
"Good!" Taylor grinned.
"We’re gonna have fun!" Zac yelled.
"I see you people sitting down back there! You can’t be that tired! C’mon, get your butts up!" Christene yelled.
"Remember, you’re at a Hanson concert. There are basically no rules at a Hanson concert." Taylor said.
"But, two. One is, you can’t climb onstage and kiss us all. Sorry girls. Two is, you have to scream and jump until you’re ready to drop. You have to have fun.You’re not allowed to be here if you’re not having fun." Isaac added.
Taylor and Christene exchanged looks, and she mouthed, "I want to play Thinking of You".
Taylor nodded in agreement.
Christene started playing the opening chords of ‘Thinking of You’, and the audience’s noise level went through the roof.

"Are you having fun?" Taylor yelled, and he wiped his forehead.
His response was enthusiastic screams.
"Ok," Isaac said. "we have a new version of ‘Weird’."
"Yeah, we actually sing..." Zac grinned. "No, I’m just kidding."
Someone squirted water at Isaac. He winced. It was freezing cold, even though the concert was half-way over.
The noise level dropped dramatically as Taylor started to play ‘Weird’.
"Isn’t it weird, isn’t it strange..." Taylor sang, and Christene joined in. "Even though we’re just two strangers, on a runaway train, we’re both trying to find,"
"Ooh," Isaac and Zac harmonized softly.
"A place in the sun, we’ve in the shadows, but doesn’t everyone," Taylor sang.
"Isn’t it strange, how we all feel a little bit weird sometimes." Christene sang by herself, and she received a good number of screams. I feel loved.

"I’ve been sitting here too long, thinking bout Milwaukee, I’ve been talking too long, on my yellow walking talkie, I’m talking to Mars, you might think that I’m wacky. I know they’ll come get me, come get me some day, I know they’ll come get me, and take me away, I know they’ll come get me, come get me some day, if not tomorrow, then maybe today!" Isaac, Taylor, Zac, and Christene sang for their encore.
"Thanks everyone! We love you! Have a great night! We love y’all! See you next time!" Taylor waved at the audience, and they rushed offstage.
Quick hugs were exchanged, before they ran out into the chilly night, and into the van.
What a night.

Chapter 14

**September**

"Ok, this is gonna be fun, not just backdrop after backdrop, and outfit after outfit," Frank Okenfels, the photographer said. "We’ll be putting you in the cool stuff and swim wear."
"Swim wear." Taylor echoed, looking at Isaac.
Frank guessed what Taylor was thinking. "No Speedos. Don’t worry."
Christene was given her own dressing room and a ton of clothing, bikinis, and bathing suits.
She looked through the pile.
The stylist, Sonia had told her to pick whatever she wanted to wear.
Finally, Christene picked out a silver two-piece with a black trim, and short-shorts.
Within minutes, she called Sonia in, and the stylist sat her down, and started brushing up makeup on her.
"Did you know I’m Cindy Crawford’s makeup artist?" Sonia asked, as she applied cover-up.
"No."
"Smile."
Christene smiled, and Sonia applied a cream blush to the apples of her cheeks, giving her a healthy glow.
"Ok, you can stop smiling."
Sonia put some silver eye-shadow on Christene’s almond-shaped eyes, and curled up her eyelashes with an eyebrow curler. She didn’t need mascara.
Then, Sonia applied a light, shimmery pink lipstick to Christene’s lips, and gently outlined her lips with a lighter color.
Using her finger, Sonia put some lip gloss over Christene’s lips, and handed her a mirror.
"How’s that so far?"
"Great!" Christene grinned. "I feel like a model already."
"You have the looks, dear. You have the type of looks photographers would cross seas for," Sonia smiled as Christene blushed. "You could be the next Cindy Crawford, or Tyra Banks."
"Oh no, I couldn’t be..." Christene was flattered.
"You’re gorgeous, honey, inside and out." Sonia smiled.
"Thanks."

Taylor saddled the wooden swing, attached to the tree, and overlooking the ocean.
After he was seated, Christene sat down, facing him, with her legs slightly resting on his.
"We want sexy." Frank said.
"Wait, how are we gonna do this?" Taylor asked.
Frank walked over to the couple, and tilted Christene’s head back, and with his fingers he pulled Christene’s hair back.
"Just nuzzle her neck or something. Right under her chin...yeah, that’s it." Frank measured the distance quickly, then snapped a few pictures.
Reagan, Jessica, and Avery were critically watching. Occasionally, one of them would comment on something.
"Ok, that’s good." Frank said.
Christene got off the swing, then Taylor got off it as well.
Isaac and Zac walked back.
"Taylor, I want you at the side of the tree, kind of leaning towards it, but looking towards me...no, the other side...That’s it. Isaac, go to the other side, and have one arm resting against the tree kind of bent...no, not like...yeah, there we go. Be natural. Zac, go stand in the middle of the tree, and Christene, sit on the swing. Act natural," Frank said, and he measured the distance.
"Taylor, don’t squint!" Reagan, Jessica, and Avery said at the same time.
"Your hair is in your eyes, Zac." Jessica said.
"Ike, you look like you’re gonna fall asleep, come on, wake up here." Avery exclaimed.
Frank started snapping pictures. "Love the camera, yeah, that’s it! There we go. PERFECT! Ok, you can go change now."

**October**

"Home, sweet home." Zac dropped his bags on the ground, and ran upstairs.
Taylor walked in, put his silver bag, containing his laptop on the kitchen table, put down his backpack, took off his shoes, and ran upstairs after Zac.

Christene hugged both Janet and Harry. "It’s so great to see you! It was so cool, the tour and all!"
"When we saw you and Taylor on the cover of Seventeen, we completely spazzed." Janet smiled.
Reagan walked in, gave her father a hug, said hi to Janet, and went upstairs to her room, exhausted.
"Um...which picture was it?" Christene asked.
"The swing one." Harry grinned.
"Oh, that one!" Christene felt slightly self-conscious.
"You must be exhausted. Do you want anything to eat?" Janet asked.
"No, that’s ok, I think I’ll just shower and go to sleep. Thanks though." Christene smiled, and went upstairs to unpack.

**The Next Day**
Taylor felt something lick his foot. He opened one eye. "Wickit!"
The little dog jumped onto his stomach, and started to lick his face. Taylor started to laugh, and he sat up, and scratched Wickit behind his ears. He buried his head into the little puppy’s soft fur. "I missed you."
Zac woke up from all the commotion. "WICKIT!" He sat up and reached over Taylor and petted Wickit, who started to wag his tail and bark happily, waking up Isaac.
"WICKIT!"

Christene walked past the little area of woods that separated the Coffman household from the Hanson household. She heard voices in the backyard, and she went around to the back.
Taylor was busy perfecting a 180° on the half-pipe in his rollerblades.
Isaac and Zac threw a ball back and forth, and a little dog was jumping for the ball.
Jessica and Avery sat on the patio, playing with Barbies.
Mackenzie was nowhere in sight.
"Hey!"
"Hey Chris!" Isaac, Taylor, and Zac said at the same time.
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."

**Thanksgiving**

"Nanny, Grandpa, this is my girlfriend, Christene. Christene, these are my grandparents." Taylor introduced Christene to Lydia and Clarke Hanson.
"Hello, how are you?" Christene smiled politely.
"Why, such a pretty girl! You have yourself a good catch there, Tayles." Lydia said.
"And so polite too." Clarke smiled.
"Thanks." Christene and Taylor said at the same time, looked at each other, and laughed.

**December**
"Hanson is releasing a new CD, titled, ‘See Ya Around the Moon’ on December 14^th."
*
"Hanson’s ‘See Ya Around the Moon’ is number one on all charts worldwide, and the song, ‘Just the Way You Are’ has been number one for the past two weeks."
*
"Hanson is expected to perform at Jingle Ball 1998 for Z-100..."
*
"I’m Isaac, I’m Taylor, I’m Zac, and I’m Christene, and we’re HANSON. This is TGIF, and we want to say, Merry Christmas everyone!"
*
"It’s New Year’s Eve, and it’s also Christene Coffman of Hanson’s 15^th birthday! Christene was born on December 31^st, 1983 in..."

**January**

"Christene and me have been together just about forever." Taylor said to Rosie.
"Oh." Rosie grinned.
"Yeah, when we first met back in April of 1998, we just completely clicked. At first we were friends but, as one thing led on to the next, it was just destiny, I guess." Christene smiled.
"Zac, what about you, do you have a girlfriend?" Rosie asked.
"Yes, of course I do! She’s tall, skinny, hot, ooh yeah," Zac grinned. She is. "Would you expect a good-looking guy like me to not have a girlfriend?"
Rosie laughed. "No, of course not. Now, really, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Yeah, of course I do!"
"That was not the response I was looking for."
"I’m having an affair with Cindy Crawford!"

Chapter 15

**February**

"Hanson Fever rises to a pitch again, but this time, the guys are after them...Or rather, Christene..."
*
"Christene Coffman is starting solo recordings on her own, while alongside still performing with Hanson. She plans on doing both, since, she can’t decide what she loves more."

**Valentine’s Day**
"Put on our song, Tay." Christene smiled as she looked at the fire, crackling happily in the fireplace.
Diana and Walker had taken the kids to visit their grandparents, Isaac was spending the night at a friend’s house, and Zac was on a date with Rachel, then he’d sleep over his cousin’s house.
Taylor walked over to the stereo and put in the LeAnn Rimes CD for ‘Sitting On Top of the World’ and put on track two.

Look at the sky
Tell me what do you see

"May I have this dance?" Taylor asked, walking to Christene, and taking her hand, kissing her fingers lightly.
Christene tingled at his touch. "Sure."

Just close your eyes
And describe it to me

Christene wrapped her arms around Taylor’s neck and rested her cheek lightly on his shoulder.
Taylor locked his fingers on the small of her back her back, swaying softly to the music.

The heavens are sparkling
With starlight tonight
That’s what I see through your eyes

"I remember the first time we danced to this. It was the first time you kissed me, and you broke away so quickly, it was funny." Christene smiled at the memory.
Taylor laughed. "Yeah, it probably was funny."

I see the heavens
Each time that you smile
I hear your heartbeat
Just go on for miles

"It definitely was." Christene said.
Christene looked beautiful. The fire seemed to give her an all-over glow, and her clear green eyes were glowing with love.
"You look beautiful." Taylor whispered.
"Thanks."
"My pleasure."

And suddenly I know
My life is worth while
That’s what I see through your eyes

Christene closed her eyes as they swayed to the soft music.
"Just coincidental that this song just happened to come on at my party, huh?" Taylor asked, smiling a little.
"I think it was destiny."

Here in the night
I see the sun
Here in the dark
Our two hearts are one

"Destiny." Taylor murmured.

It’s out of our hands
We can’t stop what
We had begun
Our love just
Took my by surprise
Looking through your eyes

"I just realized something." Taylor said, turning his head and kissing Christene’s head gently.
"What?"
"When you sang this song, at first I thought you were lip syncing, but you weren’t. You sound like her when you sing."
"Who?"
"LeAnn Rimes."
"I do?"
"Yeah."
"Seriously?" Christene asked.
"Completely."
"People said I sounded like Mariah Carey, Brandy, and now LeAnn Rimes." Christene smiled.
"Christene, you know what else I realized?" Taylor asked.
"What?"
"I haven’t kissed you in the longest time." Taylor murmured.
Christene’s pulse fluttered as Taylor’s hands came up to cup her chin, and his lips came down on hers, softly, sweetly, and gently.
Taylor pulled away slowly, his lips lingering near Christene’s.
With one hand lightly touching her cheek, Taylor kissed Christene again.

Here in the night
I see the sun
Here in the dark
Our two hearts are one...

**Meanwhile...**

"Walker, I think we should check on Taylor and Christene." Diana said.
"I don’t know...They’re both very responsible young adults, and I’m sure nothing will go wrong." Walker said.
"But, still..."
"Diana, honey, don’t worry. I’m sure everything is fine," Walker gave his wife a light kiss. "It’s Valentine’s Day, and we shouldn’t ruin their date. I’m sure no sex will be involved. You know Taylor, he’s the type that’s ‘no sex until marriage or engagement’."
"Oh, all right."

Taylor brushed a strand of hair away from Christene’s face. "Close your eyes."
He brought out a long black box. "Open them."
Christene opened her eyes, and she gasped when the saw the box. "Oh, you shouldn’t have."
"I should have." Taylor corrected her.
Christene lifted the lid, and in the middle of the box, was a 14k gold necklace, trimmed with tiny emeralds, sapphires, and amethysts. She gasped. "It’s beautiful Tay! How did you possibly-"
Taylor shushed Christene, and kissed her gently. He lifted the necklace out of the box and fastened it
Taylor led Christene to a mirrored wall **AN: They’re in the living room.** and whispered. "So, how do you like it?"
"I love it." Christene was speechless as she touched the delicate necklace.
"Ike helped me pick it out. I owe him twenty bucks."
"How much did it cost you?"
"It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you like it, and your happiness is all that matters to me. All right, I admit it...It was on sale...fifty..."

Taylor walked Christene home, and he kissed her softly in front of the door. "Good night. I love you."
"I love you too." Christene went inside the house, and watched as Taylor turned, and walked back home.
Christene then walked up the stairs, and into Reagan’s room. "You still up?"
"Yeah. It’s not that late, Chris," Reagan noticed the necklace Taylor had given Christene. "WHOA!"
Christene beamed. "Taylor gave it to me."
"Wow, whoa! I-THAT’S SO COOL! It completely sets off your eyes. He’s so sweet, that Taylor." Reagan was just about jumping all over her room.
"I know...ya gotta love him."