Isaac, Taylor and Zac were all in the kitchen eating some leftover pizza when their mom walked in.
"Hey boys, how was your night?" She asked, taking a seat with them at the table.
"Good. Tay's girlfriend is really talented." Zac said, glancing at Taylor to see what he said about it. Taylor was resting his chin in his hand and staring at the table. Zac looked over at his mom and winked.
"So Taylor, hunny, Zac tells me that your girlfriend is really talented. Is that true?" She asked, winking back as Zac. Everyone wanted to see Taylor's reaction to the g-word. Usually Taylor got mad when people 'accused' him of having a girlfriend when he really didn't. But tonight was different. When Mrs. Hanson began talk to her son about Andrea, his eyes lit up.
"Oh mom, she was so good! I literally couldn't believe how good just her voice and a guitar could sound together. I was watching and had a hard time looking at anything but the stage because she was so good." He said, grinning from ear to ear. Mrs. Hanson gave her son a warm smile.
"I'm glad, Tay. It sounds like she's a nice lady. Why don't you invite her over for dinner some time?"
"Mo-om," Zac whined "we're in the middle of making an album. We don't have time for dinner parties."
"Well, I'm sure it could be arranged. Maybe on a Sunday night she could come over and have dinner with the family and then you and her could spend some time together." She suggested, patting Taylor's hand as she spoke.
"That's a great idea mom! But it won't work this Sunday because we're working on the project and afterwards we're going to a movie or something. But I really want you and dad and the rest of the kids to meet her. I know you'll like her as much as I do." He said, nodding. Isaac, who had been listening quietly the whole time raised his eyebrows at Taylor's enthusiasm. Usually Taylor didn't like future girlfriends to meet his parents.
"Well, maybe the week after that if you guys are still together then." Said Mrs. Hanson. Taylor rolled his eyes.
"Mom, we're not together now, but I bet by then we will be." With that, Taylor stood up and walked to his room, calling "I'll see you in the morning guys" over his shoulder. For a few seconds, no one spoke. Isaac let out a low whistle.
"Man, I've never seen him this excited about a girl before." he said. "Not even when we met Cindy Crawford!"
"I know. I hope he doesn't turn into a little ball of sentimental mush." Zac offered.
"You never know, it could do wonders for the music." Isaac said, standing up. "I'm going to bed you guys. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, I'm coming up too. 'Night mom," Zac said, planting a kiss on his mother's forehead.
"Goodnight sweetie. And don't worry about Taylor. Either he'll move on in a few days or he'll marry her." She said, laughing. It was a family joke that if Taylor could stand to be with one person for more than a month, he'd end up marrying her. Zac walked upstairs and entered his room. Taylor was writing in his journal and Isaac was pulling a sweatshirt over his head.
"Oh, Zac, I was meaning to talk to you about something." Isaac said from inside the sweatshirt. Zac disregarded the question of how Isaac knew he was in the room.
"What's that?" He asked, rooting through the drawers for something to wear to bed.
"You like Katie and she likes you." He said simply as he climbed in to bed. Taylor glanced up and capped his pen, waiting for Zac to say something.
"What? How do you know?" He asked.
"Zac, look who you're talking to." Taylor offered from his bed.
"I can just tell with these kind of things. I told Taylor he liked Andrea before I even met her, and look at them now. I think you should trust me." Isaac said.
"Well, I knew that I liked her, but I don't know if she likes me or not. And plus, I hardly know her." Zac reasoned.
"But you like her, right?" Isaac prodded. Zac decided to be truthful.
"I like the way she looks."
"Zac, you can like the way anyone looks. But I think there's more to it." Isaac said.
"I don't really think so. I mean, she looks good. I hardly got to talk to her all night. I know that I'm attracted to her physically, but I don't know about the other stuff yet."
"You can't blame him for being truthful." Taylor quipped from his side of the room.
"But would you want to see her again?"
"Sure. If I get to know her and I like that, then I'm set if she likes me too." Zac said with a shrug.
"Ok, then we can plan to meet them again. Oh, Tay, Zac and I thought it would be fun to get the three of us and Andrea, Katie, and Shirley together some night to hang out."
"Yeah, it's a good idea. But really guys, I'm so tired. I need to go to bed." Taylor said. He reached over and turned his lamp off. Isaac and Zac did the same.
"Goodnight guys." Taylor said.
"'Night."
"'Night." The room was silent. Inside Isaac's head, he was glad that no one knew that he had a few small feelings for Shirley. He liked keeping those kinds of things to himself until he was more sure about them. He was so greatful that Zac said they should all get together again because that meant more time with Shirley for him. Isaac rolled over and closed his eyes.