| "OH NO!!! No, you guys come on..I CAN WALK.." I whined and then groaned. Both were laughing and had already hoisted me up. "Oh no...god you guys..TAY..let me walk dammit.." I protested against their ever increasing laughter. I groaned again. "TAY....god...PUT ME DOWN.." "Jess, hold still, you know you'd just find a reason to sit..and I wanna go HOME.." Zac said with a laugh. I released my grip on him long enough to smack him. "You guys... PLEASE..." I whined as I could see us aproaching a large mass of blond-haired people, Lacey and Ike among them. "Tay...c'mon...I CAN WALK.." I protested again as he laughed. "Jessie! Stop fighting me.." Tay chuckled. "we're almost there and I'm gonna wind up dropping you.." "Maybe we should drop her, Tay...that'd teach her..." Zac muttered, but not with a straight face. "Shut up Zac, or you are in big trouble when my leg is better." I grouched and smacked him again. "Tay, pleeeeaaaseee, baby. Put me down. God! This is so embarrassing.." I shook my head and gave up. "That's better.." he answered with a grin. |
| As we neared the group that was his family, Taylor whispered in my ear, "Jess, relax, please..it's okay" and kissed me on the cheek. I closed my eyes a moment and let out a small sigh. "I'm alright.." I whispered back. I looked to the group and noticed that both Ike and Lacey were grinning at my predicament. I groaned again. There was a line of little kids, ranging from about 13 to 2 or 3, and a very sweet looking lady and handsome man who HAD to be Taylor's parents. Tay and Zac strode to them, still lugging me, and greeted them. They set me down with more dignity than when they had lifted me up, and Tay grabbed my hand and squeezed again. "Hi, Mom, Dad, " he began, kissing his mother on the cheek, "This is Jessie Reid. Jess these are my parents, Walker and Diana." "Hi, It's nice to.." I started to say, "It's nice to meet you..." but Diana reached out, hugged me and exclaimed. "Jessie! It's so nice to finally meet you! They never stop talking about you..all good of course.." she held me from her and smiled. "How is your leg?" she asked and Walker chuckled, "Diana! Let the girl catch her breath... Hi Jessie." He took my hand and gave it a small squeeze. I grinned at Tay. Like father, like son. "Hi.." I giggled, then smiled at Diana. |
| "My leg is ok, just sore after trying to get these jokers to put me down...thank you." I said, shooting both Tay and Zac a mock-threatening look. She smiled knowingly and then began introducing younger ones. I was surprised to learn that Tay had a sister named Jessica. "I am Jessie, too." she grinned. She was a pretty blond girl, who LOOKED about 15 or16 I thought. "Well, the boys and Lacey call me Jess, sweetie. You can too, that way no one gets confused, okay?" I grinned back. There were two more sisters and a brother, Avery and Zoe, the girls, also were both very pretty, and Mac was going to be as good looking as his brothers. Finally all the introductions were made and we piled into the large vehicle. I sat next to Tay with my leg propped on Zac's knee. They dropped Lacey and me at Lacey's apartment, Tay and Ike helping to get our things inside. We would get settled and go to Taylor's house for dinner later. Taylor helped me get settled on Lacey's couch and grabbed my ice pack and stuck it in the freezer. "You'll need it later, I'm sure." he grinned. he leaned down and kissed me, running a hand through my hair. He rested his forehead on mine, and smiled. "Ike and I will be back for you in a little bit, Jess. I'll bring you something for the pain in your leg then, okay?" "Okay," I grinned back at him and lifted my lips to kiss him again. "See you later..." I kissed him again. He pulled me into his embrace and hugged me close. "I love you.." he said softly in my ear. "I love you, too. Get going, your parents are..." I began as the door flew open and Zac came bounding in. "Hurry UP! I wanna go HOME!" he hollered, "you guys can smooch later..jeez! Come on Tay, Ike..." Taylor and Issac looked at each other and the grins began to spread across their faces. The were up in a flash and Zac was down. I laughed as Tay and Ike tackled him, Ike holding Zac down by his legs, and Tay pinning his chest to the floor. "Shut up, Zac." they said in unison, then let him up. Lacey and I giggled, then Lacey scolded them. "You guys are gonna get me evicted! Save that for your house, where the neighbors are used to the noise level. Go on, now. Jess and I will be ready when you get back, Tay. See you later." she said. Then she turned to Ike and kissed him very thoroughly, brushing the curls out of his eyes. All three of them left, grinning. I breathed a sigh of relief. |
| Lacey sat down on the chair across from me and gave me a funny look. "What?" I asked expectantly. "That wasn't so bad was it?" she giggled. "Oh god Lacey, not you too?" I groaned, which only caused her to giggle more. "I know why you were so nervous, really I do," she began, "but the Hanson's are such sweet people. We'll have fun his week, Jess, and you NEED a break." She got up and went to the kitchen. I heard her rattling around and hollered, "Hey can I help you with something?" "No," she replied, "I was just getting something to drink, airplanes always dehydrate me. You want something?" she asked. "Oh, please tell me you have a diet coke in there...I'd love one if you do..or water." I told her. "Coming up!" I heard her ratlle some more and then she appeared with two glasses. She set mine where I could reach it and sat and chatted with me while we drank them. She stood and said, "Well, I think I need to shower and change before we go. The phone is right there if you want to call your brother. I'll save you some hot water. Make yourself at home, Jess." "Thanks, Lace. I think I will call Jakey now... he's probably wondering if I gave myself a stroke." I giggled. She giggled with me and headed off to get herself presentable for dinner. I heard her start the water and I picked up the phone and dialed. |
| "Hello?" "Hi Jakey, it's me Jess." "Hey you! How's it going? His parents didn't eat you I see.." "Jake! Don't be a smart ass!" I giggled. "you find everything ok at my place?" "Yeah, Jess. Ummm...I still think you should stay with me when you get back, ok?" "Jake what happened?" I asked. He sounded like he was keeping something from me. I wanted to know what it was. "Nothing happened Jess. Take it easy. How's your leg?" he asked. "Aww still sore, but I think it will be fine by the end of the week." I told him. We talked a while longer, making sure Jake knew when to meet me and things like that. "Okay, Jess. I'll see you next week. Give my best to Tay. He's a good guy." "I know, Jake" I grinned. "I will tell him. See you, bro." "Bye." Just as I hung up Lacey reappeared. "I left you hot water," she grinned. "There's a towel and everything right where you can find them. Hurry Jess. We don't want to keep the boys waiting!" she giggled. I laughed and shook my head and went to get myself ready for dinner. |