The next morning all was going well on 77th and 78th street. Their electicity had been turned on again and most of the
neighbors were out and about cleaning up their yards and homes from the damage. Phoebe called Judy the minute she awoke
and told her all that had happened... except what went on between Taylor and herself. Judy was very excited that she would be
getting a ticket soon, and she informed her that as soon as it was placed in her hands, she was out the door and on her way to
Tulsa. Maddy and Joey were alright that morning as well. Isaac and Zac had visited for about an hour before returning home.
Joey's foot was sprained but it didn't seem to bother her as much when Zac was over. Maddy, on the other hand, felt very
lightheaded and went to lay down shorty after Taylor and Phoebe left. Isaac managed to find some thrill in watching Zac get
along with Joey. Now, on the other side of their street... Macy and Tisha were busy cleaning up their yards as well. Nothing
serious happened over there... just a few branches and leaves to rake up. Zac had crossed Macy's mind that morning. She was
really curious as to whether or not she would hear from him. Her guess was no. Maybe, maybe not. All in all, the town of Tulsa
was pretty busy that morning.

Taylor headed out the door with his brothers to join his dad with the yardwork. He was feeling a little grumpy... the live
broadcast of the tornado was repeated that morning. He really enjoyed the part where he flipped out on the news woman. You
would see that in the headlines soon. Isaac laughed like a mad man when he saw it. He declared that Taylor was a little
emotional at the time... Zac on the other hand, thought it was the best thing to hit the news in a long time. "Taylor, next time...
throw a punch!!" He commented to him earlier that morning. So, you would have to say that this was the most exciting thing to
hit Tulsa in a long time. Well, besides their band and popularity that is.

Phoebe changed into her clothes, pulled her hair back into a pony tail and went outside with her parents to clean up their yard.
When she stepped outside, the scene was very amusing to her. Almost every parent and kid were out in their front yard
cleaning up. It looked like a contest for the "best looking yard" was in order. She laughed and slid her sunglass on even though
the sky was cloudy that morning.
Taylor looked up from his rake when she stepped outside. He waved at her.
Phoebe ran over to see him for a second. "Hey! Can you believe this?" She motioned to all the yard work going on.
He grinned at her. "Yes, I can. Amusing in a way though, isn't it?"
She giggled. "Hey it's a way for me to see who lives around here!" He laughed and shook his head.
"You're in a good mood this morning I see." He observed.
"Yeah, I am. I talked to Judy this morning. She was all excited about coming here. I guess I picked up the vibes."
She looked around his yard. "Is your mom inside with the kids?"
He nodded. "Yep. Mackie and Zoe are a little under the weather. I think they caught dad's cold."
"Oh, I feel sorry for them. Are Jessie and Avery feeling down too?"
"Not that I know of... Jessie's really relieved that Joey is ok though. She was laughing at some t.v. show when I came out here."
Phoebe brushed a stray hair out of her face. "Well, I'm glad she is not worried now."
She looked back at her parents. "I'm gonna head back over and help out the parents. I'll see you later on today, ok?"
Taylor looked up and smiled at her. "Of course! I'll talk to you later."
She smiled one last time before walking back to her yard.

Joey put down her bag of twigs from the trees and wiped the sweat off her face. She had insisted that she could "sit" and pick
up the yard. It was harder than she thought. She figured that she looked like a nut crawling around the yard on her hands and
knees. But, who cares? Nobody was really interested in her way of yard work anyway. They were too busy with their own
duties. Their mother came around the side of the house. "I'll be right back. I'm going to the store to pick up some more clear
bags. Be back in ten minutes." She took the car keys out of her pocket and walked over to the car. Joey waved at her mom
before she pulled off their street. Maddy came outside with some water.
"Here you go, you hard worker you." She gave her little sister a friendly smile.
Joey laughed and took the bottle. "Thanks."
Maddy picked up the bag of twigs and started collecting the rest that lay on the ground. Joey crossed her legs "indian style" and
watched her sister. She decided to bring up last night.
"So, that was nice of Isaac and Zac to stay and visit, huh?"
"Yeah it was. Too bad I felt like crap though."
"Yeah, I think Isaac missed talking to you. He just stayed with us the rest of the time."
Maddy looked at her. "Really? He missed me?"
Joey nodded. "Duh! Who wouldn't?"
Maddy rolled her eyes. "What's this with Zac that I seem to notice lately?"
"Huh? What do you mean...?" She blushed.
"You know what I mean Joey. You like him a lot I think."
She thought for a moment. "Well, ok. I do like him. Gosh, that's so embarassing to say!"
"Why? Zac's a nice guy. You shouldn't feel embarassed at all. You'll have to deal with this sort of thing as you get older."
Joey pulled a leaf that was stuck off of her bandaged foot. "I guess so."
"I know so. It's all a part of growing up."
"Well what about you? You like Isaac right?"
"Yes, I do."
"Does he know?"
Maddy laughed. "Yes silly!"
"Did you tell him?"
"Well... it just sort of developed over the night Joey. We both feel the same. At least, I think we do. First dates can be very
complicated." She shoved another handful of twigs into the bag.
"I hope I will have a first date."
"You will! Don't worry about that. You're young... you have plenty of time for dating. And, finding out what you like and what
you don't like."
Joey smiled a little. Her big sister did have a point there.
"Thanks for the talk. I gotta go inside for a minute. I'm too hot." She stood up slowly and made her way across the yard.
"I'll be in shortly!" Maddy called out to her. She watched Joey go in, then she returned her attention to the yardwork.

::::Seven Hours Later::::
Taylor dragged his tired body up the stairs and into his room. He had just finished rollerblading with Phoebe and he needed a
break. They had pretty much completed all the yard work around dinner time, so he decided to have a little fun afterwards.
Which was not a good idea. He was dead tired.
Zac sat on his bed with Isaac playing cards when he walked in the door.
"Hey Tay!" Isaac smiled at him.
"Hello."
"Ok... not to thrilled to see me but, that's ok."
"I'm just tired." He fell down onto his bed and shut his eyes.
Zac looked over at him and then to Isaac.
"Anyways... I still don't know why this Luke guy has to call Jessie. How old is he?"
Isaac looked at his worried little brother and laughed.
"Why do you care so much about her talking to him?"
"Because! He is a guy! Jessie is too young to have a boyfriend."
Isaac rolled his eyes. "Oh, and you're not too young to have a girlfriend?"
"Hey! I'll be thirteen in October! Look at how Tay was at thirteen!"
Taylor cracked his eyes open.
"I wasn't like anything Zac. Phoebe is my first girlfriend, ok?" He closed them again.
"Well... whatever. Jessie is a girl though!"
"Zac... just chill please! This is all new to her... I don't think anything will come of it."

::::The Next Day::::
"Mom, Luke wants me to go skating with him today."
Zac dropped his spoon full of cereal. "What?!!"
Jessica shot him a look.
Diana folded another towel, then stopped to talk to her.
Isaac and Taylor looked up from the t.v to watch.
"Ok, who is Luke?" Diana asked her.
"He is a boy that I met at the skating rink."
"And how old is he?"
"I think he said eleven."
Zac almost choked. "That's only a year younger than me!"
"Zac, mind your own business and stop slinging your cereal all over the table." Diana gave him a stern look.
"Ok Jessie, and is anyone else going with you and Luke?"
"No..."
"Well, I want you to bring Joey. You're too young to go by yourself with a boy that I haven't even met."
Jessica thought for a moment. Then an idea hit her. "Ok, I'll bring Joey. But, Zac has to come with me as well. You see, she
can't skate because of her foot. She'll need someone to keep her company."
Isaac and Taylor laughed a little to themselves.
"Oh great. I have to go with her now?" He looked at his mother in frustration.
"Do you have any other plans?" Diana asked.
"Well... no."
"Then fine. You will go with your sister and Joey. End of subject. Jessie, go on upstairs and get dressed. Zac, you do the
same."
He looked down at his comfy alien pajamas and sighed. Taylor got up from the sofa and went to get some orange juice. Diana
went outside to hang the wet clothes.
"So, Zacky... look what you got yourself into. Babysitting Jessie while she skates with Luke." He laughed and got a glass out of
the cabinet.
"Oh that was good Taybear. Aren't you the funny one this morning?"
Isaac laughed at the "Taybear" comment.
Taylor just rolled his eyes.
"Ugh, I hope your eyes roll so far back into your head that they get lost!" He stood up and stormed out of the kitchen.
"Man, what is up with Zac? He is so on the edge lately."
Isaac shrugged. "He's just all confused about this whole growing up thing with Jessie I think. Plus, he has a crush on Joey. At
least, he acts like he does."
Taylor took a sip of his juice. "Yeah, you're probably right."
"I always am." He smiled and headed off to the room.
"Always stuck babysitting her... keep Joey company, yeah right. Stupid Luke and his stupid ideas..." Zac was spitting these
words out as he shoved his feet into his shoes. Jessica knocked on his door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me. Jessie."
"What do you want?"
"To come in."
"Why?"
"Ugh, Zac! Just let me in already!"
"Fine."
She slowly opened the door up and walked inside. She rolled her eyes at the sight of him.
"Why are you so mad at me?"
"Because."
She sighed. "All I am doing is going skating. And I'm even bringing you along!"
He looked up at her. "I don't want to go."
"Duh! Like I didn't realize that." She stopped talking and just stared at him. "Why does this bother you so much! What am I
doing so wrong!" Her voice shook a little.
He felt guilty when he realized how upset she was becoming.
"Nothing... I'm sorry ok? I'll go."
She looked at him and he looked at her.
"Fine." She turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Zac, Jessica, Luke and Joey walked into the skating rink. Joey sat down as fast as possible. Zac joined her.
Luke handed Jessica her pair of skates.
"Thanks." She replied with a smile. They both put them on and headed out to the rink. Joey picked at her shorts being bored.
"This is fun." She said to Zac.
He kinda smiled. "Oh yeah. The thrill of a lifetime."
"You don't like that Luke guy, do you?"
"Nope... I just have this feeling about him." He eyed Luke while he spoke of him.
Joey knew why he didn't like him. He was Macy's brother... and that was bad enough.
"Um, Zac?"
"Yeah..."
"I have to tell you something."
He looked at her. "What?"
She clasped her hands together and took a deep breath. "I know why you probably don't like him."
Zac looked a little confused. "What do you know?"
"Well..." she began, her eyes falling on the two of them skating. "we know something about him."
"What do you mean by we? Who's we?"
"Jessie and myself."
"Ok, so what is it?"
"I promised her I wouldn't tell you."
Zac rolled his eyes. "Then why did you bring it up. You obviously want to tell me then. Spill it Joey... you picked the wrong day
to play these kinds of jokes on me."
She huffed. "Ok... he is Macy's brother."
He stopped breathing and stared at her. "HE IS WHAT?"
"Macy's brother!" Joey looked down at her lap. She was going to get it from Jessica. He stood up. "Oh my god... I can't
believe this. I bet she put him up to this! I bet he is evil and is going to do something to her! I've got to stop him!"
"Zac! Where are you going!" She shouted to him as he ran into the rink, almost tripping a few kids.
Joey was now very upset. She couldn't chase after him!
Zac carefully made his way over to them. Jessie looked up and saw the look on his face.
"Uh..."
"Ok, we are going home Jessie." He took her arm.
"Zac! What are you doing?" She exclaimed, very confused.
"I'm taking you away from him." He pulled her closer and whispered into her ear, "He is Macy's brother."
"I knew that already." She whispered back.
"I know... and that's why we are going."
Luke decided to speak up. "I can hear you. What about my sister?"
Jessica shot him a look, pleading with him through her eyes not to bring her up.
"Your freak sister has been tormenting me for days now! I've had enough of her and anyone who is related. That means you as
well, buddy." He stared at Luke.
"But I didn't do anything to you or your sister." He stated.
"I don't care what you did or didn't do. It's the principal of it."
Zac pulled Jessie along and she rolled behind him. "I'm sorry Luke!" She called out to him.
"Oh just stop that. You barely even know the guy." He helped her onto the floor and she skated over to where Joey was sitting.

"You just wait Zachary Walker Hanson! I'll get you back for this!" She sat down and yanked off her skates.
"It's for your own good!" He exclaimed.
"Who are you, my father?"
He rolled his eyes at that. "I'm your brother. You should listen to me over him. And I figured you would understand why I don't
want you around that guy!"
Joey kept looking back and forth while they were speaking... amused in a way.
"Whatever Zac! You are in big trouble when we get home. I'm calling mom." She pushed by Zac, almost making him fall, and
headed over to the pay phone.
Zac sighed and sat down beside Joey.
"Ohhh Zac. You've got it coming."
"Yeah well so do you. You told me."
"Oh yeah..."
Jessica walked back over a few seconds later. "Mom will be here in FIVE minutes. I'm waiting outside. Come on Joey. I want
to talk to you."
Joey looked down at the ground then got up, following her outside the door.

NEXT CHAPTER