The next day Abby woke up to none other then the bathroom
toilet flushing. Katie walked out and jumped back into her bed.
“Man I needed to pee SO bad!” She said noticing my eyes fluttering
open and close. I smirked.
“Is it just me or is it HOT in here?!” I stumbling to my feet and over to the air conditioning. After turning it up a few knotches I walked into the bathroom and ran the shower water. “I’m taking a shower” I said shutting the restroom door.
“Okay” Came a muffled voice from the next room.
I jumped in the shower and washed my hair. I had put so much hair
spray in it last night it felt nappy. Soon I was dressing and Katie had taken the shower. I walked into the kitchen and started up the coffee maker. I needed some caffeine bad. My head was pounding for some reason. I reached up into the cabinet and retrieved the advil. I decided
on making breakfast for Katie and I. I was a vegetarian and Katie often bugged me about it. When we’d eat out or something she would always try to slip a piece of meat into my food without me knowing. Haha, it never worked. I always found it.
I made two omelets with cheese and veggies and threw ham into Kate’s.
She always liked Ham for breakfast...It grossed me out. Ugh!.. Katie emerged from the bedroom with her hair wrapped into a towel to dry.
“Here’s your omelet” I said, handing her the plate of food.
“Oh, yum. I’m starving.” She grabbed a for from the counter and took a seat at the table. I leaned against the counter with my elbows down and head rested on top of my hands. The sun shown bright into my
whole apartment. That’s the one thing I loved about this place. I loved how the sun peaked threw the curtains and little bits of dust doing a golden dance. I could sit and watch them forever, mesmerized by them.
“Abby..hello?? You there Babbs?” I heard Katie say. I looked over at her as if she was speaking some foreign language.
“Sorry.” I cracked a smile. She must think I’m nuts. I had just zoned out on her for like five minutes.
“Okay...your scaring me girl, what were you just doing?”
“I was thinking..haha sorry.” I sat down next to her and picked at my breakfast. I wasn’t very hungry... but screw it, I’ll end up eating it sometime today, weather it be lunch or snack. So why not now. I lifted the first bite to my mouth. “So, what do you want to do today?” I asked Katie, mouth full of food.
“I don’t care, what’s there to do? Is there a beach near by?”
“Hey you know, I haven’t really thought about that. That would be a
blast to go swimming and tanning. I’ll call Taylor and ask if he knows some directions.”
“Yeah, see if he wants to tag along.” Katie said while I stood and reached for the cordless off the wall.
“OKay.” I said. Now remembering Tay got me all jittery feeling inside. I dialed the newly memorized seven digits and waited for him to pick up. After what seemed like forever finally a groggy voice spoke into the
receiver.
“H-llo” Slurred Taylor.
“Okay, get your ass out of bed!” I yelled.
“Good morning to you too.” Came a simple reply. I just giggled.
“Morning babe, how are you?” I said quietly slightly turning away from Katie. She was to busy eating and watching the High temperatures for the day on the TV beside her to notice the way I was talking to him.
“I’m good.. tired. How bout’ you?” Tay asked with a soothing voice. I
loved his voice on the phone. In the past week of me being with him. It made me want him right there with me.
“Fine. Sorry I woke you up.” I apologized.
“Oh it’s okay, I needed to get my ass up sometime today. What better
time then 7:30 in the morning. He made fun.
“Hey! It’s not my fault Katie took a piss in the wee hours of this
morning and woke when she flushed the toilet!!” I said laughing.
“You guys are strange.” I heard him sigh on the other end of the
phone.
“Oh the reason why I called you was that I wanted to know if you know of any beaches around here. Katie and I wanted to get some sun
today.” I said.
“Yeah, I do actually. There’s one about Twenty-five minutes form here
down by Easton.
“Yay! Okay kewl. I need to get tan! I’m so pale.” I said looking down at my arms.
“Yeah me too.”
“Okay then, your coming with us.” I smiled. I knew he wanted to go. It was just a matter of seconds that he would hint it.
“I’m not inviting myself by that statement you know. I don’t have to
come. You and Katie should go and spend the day together. I don’t
have to tag along.” He said, I could tell he felt bad.
“No Tay. We want you to come. Right Katie..” I said turning to see if Katie had any clue I was asking a question. She didn’t. He eyes were pealed onto the TV screen. Animaniacs. She could be so retarded sometimes. “Katie..” I asked calmly.
“Yeah she said not turning her head from the screen.
Why are you watching cartoons?” I said laughing. Taylor did the same
“She’s watching cartoons??” He said busting up.
“Yeah. Katie, your pathetic”
“What were you trying to say a second ago?” She turned and looked at me.
“Oh, Do you want Tay to come with us to the beach?” I said taking a
strand of my hair and aimlessly playing with it.
“Yeah that would be fun.” She said once again eyes locked to the TV.
“See, told ya boy.” I said to Taylor getting back to the phone call.
“Okay, what time will you two be by?” He asked with a yawn-filled
voice. I could tell he was stretching.
“Oh maybe about Nine-thirty - Ten. Sound good?
“Yeah, Now I can get a couple hours more sleep!” Tay said laughing.
“All right, you do that.” I said. “Good night sweetie...” I trailed off in a whisper.
“Night.” Tay laughed. I hung up the phone a second after I heard the dial tone.

*********

“So this is the thing.” Zac said to Warren.
Warren had been his best friend ever since he could remember. The
two boys were sitting outside Warren’s house on the front steps. Zac had stopped by this morning to say ‘hey’ and ended up staying longer then expected, not noticing the time flying by. Warren didn’t go to Tulsa High. He was still home schooling through his senior year. So Him and Zac did a lot of stuff together. It was kewl for both of them during the past couple years because when Hanson went on tour, Warren would sometimes tag along with them and help set up for concerts and stuff. The guys told each other everything. Zac continued his
conversation,
“I called Kari up last night, after talking to Ike. It totally hit me.
Warren, she likes me. It’s just that she didn’t want to come out and say it. And risk scaring me away if I didn’t feel the same way about her.”
“So did you tell her how you felt?” Warren asked, leaning back against the cool brick of his house.
“Yeah. I did.” Zac looked down.
“Well?! what did she say?” Warren persisted.
“We’re going out tonight.” Zac stated with a huge grin on his face.
“YES! dude. Your so lucky. Kari’s like.. gorgeous! Warren said shifting positions.
“I hope this works. It’s my first relationship with a girl that’s not going to freak out when she sees me.
“It will. You have nothing to be afraid of. Kari’s WAY different then those other chicks that blew out your ear drums.” Warren said
laughing.
“Yeah. I guess your right.” Zac stood. “I’m ganna get going, wish me luck.”
“I will... have fun, later.” Warren turned and walked into his house.
Zac walked along the sidewalk with his keys jiggling in hand. He
approached his car and hoped in. He pulled out of the space along the street and headed home. Zac was picking Kari up at 6:30. He looked at the clock on the dash board, it read 3:17. ‘I have a little over two hours to get things set up! This is ganna be a night Kari’s not going to forget.’ Zac thought with a smile.

**********

“AHHHHHH! Taylor No” Abby screamed. Taylor had her held in
the air ready to throw into the cool water. They had been at the beach ever since a little after noon and Abby insisted on tanning... for the past 3 hours. That left Katie and Tay to do all the swimming. Finally Taylor decided to do something about it. He ran up to where Abby was laying, grabbed her by the stomach, flipped her over his shoulder, and ran towards the water.
“Well you should have come in when we wanted you too, ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO!” He burst out laughing and threw her in with a splash.
“All right, your a moron!” Abby yelled when she surfaced, wiping the salty ocean water from her eyes. All she heard were two people, not the slightest bit trying to control their laughter. “Not funny!’ She wined.
“Thanks to you retards my eyes are burning!”
“I’m sorry...” Taylor said swimming over to Abby. He reached his hands around her small waist bringing her into a hug. Forgetting all about Katie standing there. They looked at each other for a second and quickly broke apart.
“It’s okay. Now that I’m in the water, I might as well stay.” Abby said, looking in Katie’s direction. ‘I know she noticed how close Tay and I were just now.’ She thought to herself. ‘Or maybe not, hopefully not..’
“Hey Tay! go get the surfboard from our spot over there.” I said
pointing to where our towels were sprawled out on shore.
“Okay, be right back.” Tay made his way to the shore.
After a while we decided to pack up and leave. The sun was going down and I felt all nasty with the salty water sticking to me. Taylor invited us over for the evening so we excepted. This was going to be one difficult
night being with Taylor but trying at the same time to hide our
feelings in front of Katie. I hated the fact that I was always so lovely dovey with any guys.. and flirty. Ugh! We weren’t sure why we weren’t telling Katie about us... but for whatever reason we thought it to be best, for now at least. Katie should have noticed something by now though. She would have asked me about it already but obviously she had no clue. Taylor dropped us off at my apartment and pulled away.
We were planning on driving over there when we were showered and
dressed.

*********

“Ike? You wanna come with us man?” Asked Jake, one of the guys staying in Ike’s dorm building. Jake was a party animal. He was always running around doing something. Weather it be getting drunk or fucking some girl every night. Ike didn’t think any less of him though. It was none of his business anyhow. Ike conversed with him but never thought Jake would influence him in any way. In fact, He wouldn’t let it happen.
“Nah, that’s okay.” Ike declined the offer. He was sitting on the edge of his bed strumming his guitar.
“Dude, come on. We’re just going out to Starbucks for some coffee.”
Jake said leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest.
It was convenient for the college students. Starbucks was a couple
blocks away, so anytime anybody wanted a quick study drink, It wasn’t a far walk... or drive for that matter.
Ike thought for a minute. ‘Hell, why not...’ “Okay sure. Let me get a shirt on.” He jumped up and walked over to his closet and pulled out a button down baggy shirt. He didn’t see any harm in just going out to grab a coffee. None at all.
Soon the 6 boys were sitting in Starbucks ordering their drinks and taking a seat on the large couch in the corner.
‘Why did I talk myself into this?’ Ike thought to himself. All these boys were known as the college skanks. And Ike defiantly didn’t want to fit into that category. Jake, Daron, Abe, Mike, and Aaron were very well known at Southwest. They were party animals. Ike didn’t see himself being with these guys. ‘But what would a cup of coffee hurt?’ He argued with his conscience.
“So Isaac.” Daron spoke up once they were all seated. “Why did your
brothers and you quit doing music? Weren’t ya’ll making big ass bucks
on that shit?!”
“Well, Yeah but things started going down hill so we laid off. Now we’re all just focusing on school.” Ike said matter of factly.
It was true. All three of them wanted to get school and college taken care of. After the music went back under ground again the boys all decided, continuing full time with their education was their number one priority.
They wanted to have some sort of career. Their music wasn’t near
number one on the charts anymore. So money wasn’t a constant flow like before. Walker had went back to his managers position at the Oil
Company and Diana still being a house wife, looking after her younger kids.
“Oh.” Daron replied.
All the guys knew Ike was a ‘Hanson’. They never really said much about it until now. The guys poked lame ass jokes and came up with the most crude nicknames for him. He wasn’t crazy about any of the names and he never really fought it. Didn’t see the point. He thanks God to this day he
decided to cut his hair a couple years back. He wouldn’t even want to start imaging what they would say about that. Still haveing his old teeniebopper image and all. His plan’s weren’t to hang around this college very long. Just until he got started off a little more, then he would think of something. A transfer maybe. Their music just wasn’t wanted anymore and the band left just as quick as it came. People move on with their musical tastes. Hanson just happen to not be it. Isaac wasn’t complaining. He loved being free again. He love being able to go to the mall and not get harrassed by fans. But there is always a part of him that missed it so strongly.

The six boys talked on a little longer till their drinks were finished.
Then Daron stood. The comment he made caught Isaac totally off
guard.
“Ready to party?”
Ike looked up at the rest of them standing over him. “Party?” He said
confused.
“Yeah. We thought we’d take you out for a good time tonight.” Mike
said with a smirk.
“No..Nah, Sorry guys I have a test of Tuesday and I was planning on
looking up stuff for it tonight.” Ike looked down at his watch. “And I have about an hour to do just that.”
“Ike, man come on. You need to chill. Your brains ganna fry if you keep studying like your doing! It’s making me sick just thinking about it.”
Jake said leaning forward with his hands in front to show emphasis.
“Sorry guys.. I really need to get this done.” Ike said seriously. He was planning on making a trip home this next weekend so if he wanted to do that he couldn’t bomb this physics test. Saturday college wasn’t a choice.
“Okay whatever.” Daron said, turning towards the door.
“I’ll just go ahead and walk back. The library’s on my way.”
“Sure, later.” Jake said following the rest of the guys out the door.
Ike took a deep breath. ‘God I hate it when they try to talk me into things!’ He thought to himself. He picked up the empty cups from the large coffee table and threw them away on his way out. The library was only about a block away so Isaac had no problem walking.