It was around 11 a.m. the next day when Paige stepped out of the shower. She threw on a pair of her Old Navy Cargo Pants and her light blue American Eagle sweatshirt.
Even though she was about to go rollerblading with Zac, she couldn't stop thinking about Taylor as she finished blowdrying her hair.
I'm going to miss him so much.
It was around 11:45 when Paige finally stepped out of her house, rollerblades in hand, on her way to pick up Zac.
"I can't find my rollerblades anywhere!" Zac said, frustrated. "Tay, have you seen them?" Zac asked his brother who was on the top bunk listening to an old Aerosmith CD.
"Nope, I haven't," Tay replied, "Why are you going rollerblading? We need to start packing for Cali soon."
"I...er...uh...just need some fresh air."
"Oh," Tay said, then slid his headphones back over his ears.
When Paige rang the door bell to the Hanson's house, Zac hurried to it before anyone else could answer it.
"Hi, Paige!" Zac greeted her.
"Hey, Zac; are you ready?"
"Yeah-hold on, let me grab my rollerblades."
Zac didn't notice Tay coming up behind him, "Zac who's at...oh, hi Paige! What are you doing here?" Tay asked, surprised.
"Zac and I are gonna go rollerblading."
"Oh, Zac didn't tell me he was going to be accompanied," Tay said, glaring Zac's way, "Could I join you guys?"
"Well, Tay, we have OUR thing tonight. Zac just wants to talk."
"Oh, um, okay," Tay replied jealously, "Have fun and I'll see you tonight. " He gave Paige a quick kiss on her hand and headed for the kitchen.
"Ready?" Zac asked, relieved that Tay wouldn't be joining them.
"C'mon Zac, hurry up!" Paige yelled behind her.
"I'm trying. I never have time to rollerblade anymore so I'm kinda out of practice."
"It's okay," Paige said as she stopped to let Zac catch up. Just then, a rabbit ran across the road in Zac's path. When he swerved to miss it, he knocked Paige to the ground and fell on top of her.
"Ouch," Paige yelped.
"I'm so sorry, Paige! Are you alright?" This is my chance, Zac leaned his head closer to Paige to kiss her.
"Umm...Zac?"
"Yeah?"
"You're hurting me."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Zac said as he got off Paige and held out his hand to help her up. Paige grabbed his hand and pulled him back down to the ground, "There-now we're even," she said as she stood up. They both just laughed.
"I'm kinda hungry; Wanna rollerblade to Mick-E-Dee's?" Zac asked.
"Sure," Paige agreed, but then remembered something, "Only, I didn't think I'd need money so I didn't bring any...oh, well-I'll just get a water 'cuz I'm really thirsty."
"Oh, Paige-it's alright. I've got some extra money."
"Aww, are you sure? I'm sorry! I'll pay you back when I meet Tay at your house later to go out."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Zac chimed, "It's on me!"
"Really? Thanks, Zac! You are truly my hero-my stomach has been rumbling for the past thirty minutes!" Paige helped Zac up, leaned over, and gave him a quick hug. "Now let's go get some Mickey D's!"
After seeing the big golden arches of the McDonald's sign, Zac sped up and passed Paige on his blades. He opened the door for her and smiled a big, gap-toothed grin.
"Thank you, Zachary," she smiled and entered the fast food restaurant, pausing so Zac could catch up with her, then linked her arm through his. They walked up to the counter together.
Ten minutes later, they were sitting at a two-person booth, eating their lunch.
Paige was telling Zac all about her adventures earlier that morning, "And theeen, my mother's curling iron burned a hole through my favorite shirt, so I..."
Zac wasn't listening too well. He looked across the table and watched as Paige took a bite of her Big Mac and continued on about...well, he wasn't sure what.
All Zac could think about was Should I do it? Should I do it? Or would she never speak to me again? Would it make it awkward for her to talk to me? Or could she possibly be happy about it? Ugh-what about Taylor?
Yup-Zac was a nervous wreck.
"Well, what do you think, Zac?"
"Oh, what Paige? Sorry-I'm kinda out of it."
"Well, I just wondered whether..." Paige asked his advice on a hair cut she was considering, blabbed on about a new movie Zac just had to go see with her, and then brought up the subject again that she would miss Zac and she's little conversations so he had to call her every night no matter what!
This last note gave Zac a slight amount of courage, so before he could even think, he just blurted out, "Paige-I really need to talk to you about something that's been bothering me for awhile now."
Paige set down her Big Mac and met Zac's gaze, "Is something the matter, Zac? Are you alright?"
"Oh...it's nothing bad. I just need to tell you about it." Maybe 'cuz Jessie would if I didn't..., Zac thought to himself wistfully.
"Oh, alright. That's good! For a minute there I thought you had to tell me about something life-threatening."
Oh, gosh-I sure hope it's not, he worried, but thought, Oh, screw it, and cleared his throat.
"Ever since that day we were at your house playing truth or dare, I um, er...have liked you."
"Oh, well, I like you, too, Zac. You're one of my best buds."
"Paige, it's more than that. Remember that girl I was telling you about? The one whom I had feelings for?"
"Yeah..." Paige replied nervously, knowing where this was going.
"Well, thatgirlwasyou," Zac spit out.
Paige just sat there, speechless.
"I'm sorry to do this to you, Paige. More than anything I don't want this to ruin our friendship. It's just that I have had this on my chest forever, and I just had to tell you how I felt."
"It's okay, Zac," Paige managed to blurt out, not sure how to react or even how she felt.
"So," Zac continued on, "I know you are with my brother and that you like him a lot. And I'm happy for you. Just remember that I'll be waiting patiently if you and Tay don't work out."
"Oh, Zac, umm...that's really sweet of you. I don't know what else to say."
"Don't say anything. Just don't forget how I feel about you."
Paige smiled, covering the apprehensive feeling that was overcoming her.
"Well, now that that's over with, we better head back. I still gotta pack."
"Sure, Zac," Paige said, already knowing that she wouldn't feel the same around him any longer.
Zac gave her a big hug when they stood up to leave. This is so weird, Paige thought to herself as they headed out the door.
"Are you guys ready?" Sierra questioned as Taylor answered the door and saw two gorgeous girls standing before him.
"Yeeeah; Isaac is just finishing brushing his teeth. You look great, Paige," Tay commented as he looked her up and down.
"Thanks," Paige replied shyly.
"Ready?" Ike asked as walked up to the door. Taylor just gave him a "what do you think; we've been waiting on you" look.
"So, where am I dropping you guys off again, Taylor?" Ike asked as they were driving down the highway.
"Um, at Outback Steakhouse, and then we are just gonna walk across the street to that new theatre and watch a movie," Tay answered.
"Oh, how sweet," Ike said as he grinned at Sierra knowing that their date together would be way more expensive than Tay and Paige's little "get together". First, Isaac was going to treat Sierra to dinner at the Spinning Eagle's Nest---the restaurant actually goes up into the air and spins...kind of like the thing they have at the State Fair every year. Then, he thought he would have a little fun showing off his horrible bowling skills at Brunswick. He would then take her to see whatever movie her heart desired, and then last, but not least, take her to the lake for a little heart to heart. Isaac smiled as he thought about the night ahead of them.
"What are you grinning about? Am I missing something? Are you planning something embarrassing?" Sierra asked, worried.
"Sierra, simmer. I'm just thinking about what an awesome time we are going to have."
"Oh, okay. No matter what we do Isaac, when I'm with you I always have a good time." After Sierra's comment they shared about a minute eyelock just knowing that they were meant for eachother.
"Well, here we are, Mat,." Isaac said in a mock Australian voice as he pulled up to "the land down under".
"Thanks, Ike. And don't worry about picking us up. Paige and I decided that we want to walk home."
"Whatever you say, Tay," Isaac said as Tay closed the back door.
"Shall we?" Tay asked as he held out his arm for Paige to loop hers around.
"That we shall," Paige said, smiling.
"Now don't peek; I want it to be a surprise," Isaac said mysteriously as he held his hands over Sierra's eyes even tighter.
"I'm not, Ike-stop worrying. I love surprises."
"Okay, you can look now." Isaac said as he took his hands away and Sierra's eyes opened wide as she craned her neck up to see "The Spinning Eagle's Nest".
"Isaac! I've only dreamed about going here! It's so expensive! You don't have to do this!" Sierra exclaimed.
"You're right, I don't HAVE to do this. I WANT to do this," Isaac grinned.
"Isaac Hanson, you are something else," Sierra said, grinning, and gave Isaac a huge hug.
"Get ready to have the night of your life," Ike whispered softly into Sierra's ear. And then he kissed her on the cheek. "Ready, my lady?"
"Yes, Isaac. You are too much."
"So, you are gonna call or email every day while you're gone, right?" Paige asked.
"Of course," Taylor said as he reached across the table and took Paige's hands in his.
"Here's your blooming onion," the waiter said.
"Thanks, Mark." Tay replied.
"Anytime, Tay."
When Tay saw Paige's confused look, he explained about him and Mark going way back, playing together in their treehouse when it was first built even.
"So.....where were we?" Tay asked
"I was telling you how much I am going to miss you."
"And I, you, Paige."
"Another strike!" Sierra exclaimed when she knocked all 10 pins over for the 3rd time in a row.
Isaac just smiled.This is great. I look really stupid. I mean, she is kicking my butt! "Good job, Sweetie. You didn't tell me you were so good at bowling. You should be in a league or something."
Sierra just blushed, "Nah, I have a life. Bowling constantly would be soOoOo boring!"
Isaac stepped up to the lane and clumsily threw the ball. "Not the gutter again!" Isaac exclaimed, embarrassed.
"It's okay, Isaac. If you didn't have such a serious music career, you could have spent all that free time bowling, and then maybe, just maybe, you could have gotten as good as me," Sierra said jokingly.
"You are so cute, Sierra, thinking you are all that and stuff," Isaac said, grinning. "No, I'm just playing with you."
"But I am so cute, Isaac," Sierra said jokingly.
"Well, actually, come to think of it, you aren't really that cute."
"I'm not?" Sierra said as a frown came across her face.
"Nope, you are so HOT!" Isaac said as he took Sierra into his arms and started nibbling on her neck.
"So, are you sure this is supposed to be a good movie?" Taylor asked, still not convinced as they settled into their seats about to watch "There's Something About Mary".
"Yes! I heard it was hilarious," Paige said excitedly.
"Too bad we'll never know," Tay said as he turned Paige toward him with a sly grin. He put his hands on her face and kissed her passionately as the lights started to dim. How he wished he could do so much more, but it was too soon for them- they weren't even going steady, plus they were in a public place which just wasn't his style. But if everything went as Tay planned, Paige would be his.
"Isaac? What do you say we just skip the movie since I know for a fact we won't even remember the title the way I'm feeling right now," Sierra said between breaths as they were sharing their saliva at each red light.
"Maybe you're right," Isaac said, panting, "So, you just wanna go straight to the lake?"
"Sure," Sierra agreed.
"So, how did you like the movie?" Paige asked as the credits rolled and the lights came back on.
"Oh, it was....delicious," Tay said as he moved toward Paige again.
"Taylor! You are such an animal!" Paige commented, laughing.
"No, I think that's Zac's nickname," Tay said, grinning. At the mention of Zac's name, Paige's face lost her smile. "Did I say something wrong?" Tay asked Paige worriedly.
"This is my favorite song!" Sierra said excitedly as Blessid Union of Souls' "Hey Leonardo" came on the radio while they were sitting on the hood of Sierra's car.
"She likes me for me. Not because I sing like Pavorotti," Ike sang jokingly.
"Or because YOU'RE *such* a hottie," Sierra continued.
Isaac just smiled at her, "I am going to miss you more than anything," he said as he gave himself a weird look for the irony of what he just said.
Sierra didn't notice, "I'm gonna miss you more. Just promise me you won't find some hot Cali girl to replace me."
"I can't believe you would ever think that, Sierra! You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I think that I uh, um, uh, I think that I LOVE you.
"Woah, Isaac. I wasn't expecting that." Isaac frowned at her negative reaction. "But, I think I like it," Sierra said, grinning. "I think I may LOVE you too."
"Oh, God Sierra, I don't want to leave," Isaac said as he leaned over, giving Sierra long, slow kisses. Sierra responded by opening her mouth slightly and slipping her tongue down Isaac's throat. Isaac's hands started to move off of his lap and onto Sierra's chest. "Woah, Isaac. I know, I seem a little old fashioned, but I think it's too soon for that," With this Isaac frowned. "But who knows, too soon could have been a minute ago," Sierra said, grinning. Isaac's face lit back up, and he began kissing her again, this time moving slower so Sierra wouldn't become upset again.
"So......Paige," Tay said as they were walking hand in hand back to Tay's house.
"Yes, Taylor?"
"Do you wanna date other guys besides me?"
"Of course not, Taylor. No guy compares to you."
"Well, if you aren't interested in anyone else, would you be interested in being mine?"
"Being yours? As in being your girlfriend?"
"Yeah, that's what I'm trying to say. So, how 'bout it?"
"Does this answer your question?" Paige asked as she grabbed Taylor's face and forcefully kissed him.
"I guess so," Taylor said, surprised. "No girl compares to you either, Paige, no matter what you think-you are so special to me."
"Taylor, you are such a sweetheart," Paige said grinning. "I can't wait until you get back."
"Omigosh! I know what I'm gonna do," Isaac said as he pulled away from Sierra suddenly.
"What's that, Ike?" Sierra couldn't help but start giggling.
"I'm going to write a song about us, about tonight."
"Oh Isaac, that's so sweet of you!" Sierra said as her eyes became a little watery. "But what are you gonna write about? Going round and round and round in a restaurant?" Sierra laughed at her own joke, but Isaac was deep in thought. "The moon looks so beautiful!" Isaac commented, "It's a beautiful Crescent Moon."
