Chapter 11 - Herbal Brownies, Tango & The Bet

 

"Stand still, I can't see if this looks good on you." Madeline commanded.

Isaac nodded his head and agreed.

"Don't roll your eyes on me Ike, we have to at least look presentable on Sunday."

"I didn't roll my eyes!" Isaac argued.

Madeline didn't bother to answer Isaac's last statement.  She continued to fix his collar and buttoning the top button of the polo shirt that he was trying on.

"Hm.. why don't you try the other one?" Madeline suggested.

"Which other one? I've tried more than 10 shirts already, and they're all the same Mads." Isaac replied, whining

"No, they're not the same.  Now be a good boyfriend and try this last one." Madeline said, handing Isaac a light gray button down polo shirt.

Isaac took the shit from Madeline's hand and closed the door in the dressing room.  2 minutes after, he opened the door and stood in front of Madeline, waiting for her reaction.  Isaac was getting tired of going shopping for something to wear for the wedding on Sunday.  As much as he wanted the shopping day to end, time seemed to pass by very slowly. 

"Oh my god! Isaac, this is perfect. You look gorgeous!" Madeline exclaimed.

"So, are we done shopping? This will be the shirt?" Isaac asked, pointing at the shirt that he was wearing.

"Wait, turn around."

Isaac slowly turned around, hoping that Madeline would finally decide that the shirt that he was currently wearing was the shirt that they were looking for the past hour and a half. 

"Ok, Honey you can go change back to your clothes now." Madeline said, closing the dressing room door.

 

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Zac and Taylor was sitting on the living room couch, watching MTV.  TRL was on and Carson was blabbing about some new artis t that released a remake of the song, 'Too Close'.  Taylor rolled his eyes, acknowledging that another stupid talentless boyband was exposed to the music industry.

"Don't you have any plans tonight?" Taylor asked, looking at Zac's direction

"I think so. Why?"

"Nothing." Taylor answered, looking back at the screen.

"Are you and Nicole's sister still dating?" Zac asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Don't you think she's a little young for you Tay?"

"I know.  I can't even ask her out for a date on a Saturday, you know?"

"What?"

"Well apparently, your girlfriend's sister has a 6pm curfew." Taylor informed.

"That sucks."

"Holyshit check this out Tay!" Zac said, focusing on the TV.

'On The Line' video was on MTV.

"That Mandy chick sure is HOT." Taylor said, agreeing with Zac.

"Have you ever seen her though?" Zac asked.

"No. Have you?"

"Well, yeah. I saw her on this MTV thing. I met her backstage. 

"And where was I during all of this?!"

"You were with Ike, drooling over Cindy Crawford who was standing 3 feet away."  Zac replied.

"You gotta meet this chick though. I swear your mouth's gonna fall. With those fucking long legs!" Zac added.

"Tell you one thing, that's one girl I'd loved to fuck." Taylor said, laughing.

"In your dreams man!"

"Dare me." Taylor said, looking very serious & extending his hand.

"Not if I beat you to it." Zac replied, shaking Taylor's hand.

"You honestly think she'll let you touch her?" Zac smirked

"I don't know.  It's not like she's never had a boyfriend before."

"Really? Who was she dating?"

"This Billy Crawford guy.  I heard his name once when we toured UK."

"Who's he?"

"He's a singer, half American I think.  And I heard that they dated, back then."

"Oh. That's cool." Zac replied, taking the remote from the table.

"So, the bet is still on?" Zac added.

"Hell ya." Taylor said, laughing.

 

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"Hello?"

"I miss you..."

"Who's this?!" Nicole asked, through the phone.

"I miss you..."

"Who is this?!" Nicole asked, getting annoyed.

"It's me. Zac! Who else?"

"Oh god, I thought it was some weird guy who had nothing to do." Nicole answered, laughing.

"Nope, it's just plain old Zac."

"So anyway, why are you calling?"

"I wanted to tell you that I miss you."

"Really Zac, why are you calling?" Nicole said, more serious.

"Can't I just call you and tell you that I miss you?" Zac said, in his cute little voice.

"I'm sorry. I miss you too Zac." Nicole replied.

"So, you wanna come over?" Nicole added.

"Actually, why don't you come over? My brother Taylor is here with me, but he'd probobly leave in a hour. So, we have the whole house." Zac suggested.

"Ok, I'll be there in 2 hours."

"2 hours? We live in the same neighborhood!"

"I making brownies right now, and I'm the middle of mixing everything together. So, you have to wait."

"Baby, can you at least work faster?" Zac whinned.

"Ok I will. Listen, I gotta go, ok?"

"Ok, Bye."

 

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Nicole was standing in front of the Hanson's front door, waiting for someone to open.  She was holding a box brownies that she baked for Zac earlier.  As soon as Zac opened the door, she gave him  a quick kiss and entered the house.  Nicole walked into the kitchen, asking Zac for a glass of milk.

"Why milk?" Zac asked, opening the refrigerator and getting the milk carton.

"It's not for me Zac. The milk's for you."

"Uh?" Zac questioned, looking at Nicole.

"I baked you brownies." Nicole said, opening the box of brownies and asking Zac to sit beside her in the dining table.

Zac sat down beside Nicole and took one brownie.

"This is good Nic. But something's different. What's in this?" Zac asked, taking another bite.

"I don't think you want to know Zac." Nicole said, smiling.

"Hey! You're making me eat this. I deserve to know!"

"I added some herbs." Nicole said, looking down.

"What?! Herbs? What kind of herbs?"

"Uh.. Marijuana." She murmured.

"What did you say?"

Nicole just giggled.

"Did you say marijuana?" Zac questioned.

Nicole nodded trying hard not to laugh.

"Are you planning to get me high?" Zac asked, giving her a look.

Nicole laughed harder.  "God no!"

"I just wanted to know what it tastes like."  Nicole said, smiling innocently.

"Well, start eating one! It's good actually."

2 hours later, the two of them finished the whole box, which contained 4 dozen pieces.  After eating, they went into the garage to watch some TV.  They were sitting in front of the TV, watching cartoons.  Zac had his head on Nicole's lap and she was stroking his hair with her hands.

"This sucks Nic, we're not even laughing. And I'm about to throw up." Zac said, looking up.

"Zac, we ATE the weed, we didn't smoke it."

"SO? It's still in our system! And I ate more than like 30 brownies!" Zac said, pouting. 

"It's different Zac. But if you wanna smoke, I brought with me some with me."

"What? Nic!! I don't want you smoking weed." Zac said seriously.

"It's not like I'm addicted to it Zac.  I just smoke when there's a party or I'm with a friend."

"I just don't want you smoking without me. Something bad might happen, when I'm not there."

"You don't have to worry Zac. The last time I smoked was when I was still in France."

"Just promise me you won't smoke without me?" Zac said, sitting up.

"Yes, baby. I promise." Nicole said, kissing his forehead.

"Now, where's the weed that you brought with you?"

Nicole stood up and took her purse that she left on the table near the door. "Here." She said, handing him a full plastic of marijuana.

Zac took the bag from Nicole's hand and placed it inside his pocket.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm confiscating it." Zac said, confidently.

"Fine. But you better not loose that Zac. That's some expensive shit."

   

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  "Justine, I need to tell you something." Taylor said, looking at Justine seriously.

"What is it?" Justine, asked, looking at Taylor

"I can't... " Taylor started, looking at his lap.

"Can't what?"

Taylor looked at her, Justine knew that he was having a hard time.

"Listen, I have to honest with you.  Just don't get mad. Please." Taylor continued.

Justine, looked at him and gave him a smile.

"I can't go out with you anymore.  What I'm saying is.. " Taylor said. pausing before he continued.

"This would be more easier if you weren't so nice to me... But, I think we have to break up." Taylor said, looking at Justine, waiting for her reaction.

Justine took his hand. "I not mad Tay."

"Really?" Taylor squeezed her hand, smiling.

"Yeah. I know this relationship won't work. I'm not stupid. I know we live in different worlds. And, you deserve a better girl, not just some 13 year old, who knows nothing about life. You need someone who would take care of you. Someone who would really make you happy." She said.

"Wow. You sure don't think like any 18 year old girl I know." Taylor replied.

"You know, my sister thinks that I don't take life seriously, but believe me, I do. We can't be together, cause we're just friends."

"Why?" Taylor asked, shocked that those words came from Justine.

"Cause when we are together, there's nothing special between us. We care for each other, but that's it. I know we had a great time, but the laughs and smiles that we exchange, is different. It takes two to tango. And neither of us is dancing."  Justine answered.

"Thanks Justine. I never expect that you'd understand me." Taylor said, giving her a hug.

"I didn't either." She said, smiling at Taylor.

"Let's just put the past behind us. Ok?" She added.

"But, we're still friends, right?" Taylor asked.

"Of course we are. Now, let's go something to eat." Justine said, standing up, and going to the kitchen.

Taylor followed her to the kitchen.  He looked at Justine who was looking for food inside the fridge.  He felt relieved that she understood him.  He never thought that she would understand.  From the outside, she looked like a kid.  But from the inside she was something else.

"How bout this?" Justine said, holding a box of frozen chicken nuggets.

"It's frozen, and I can't cook." Taylor answered, opening the fridge to look for something else.

"Aw come on! We just have to fry it. Don't worry, I can cook." Justine said, laughing.

"You sure?"

"Yeah don't worry. I won't burn it."  

Chapter 12 - Auditions, A Favor & The Big Brother
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