Chapter 12 - Auditions, A Favor & The Big Brother

 

Isaac was walking around the mall, looking for something to get for Madeline's birthday.  He walked in a jewelry store, thinking if he should get Madeline a ring or not.  Knowing that, if he gave her a ring, she might think that we were proposing or something.  He finally decided that it would be too soon for jewelry.  So, he headed to the CD store.  He walked around, looking for something to buy.  He scanned through the CD racks and picked up the 'Queen Of The Damned' CD.  He read through the list of the songs, thinking if he should purchase the CD or not.  Just then he heard someone calling his name.

"Isaac..."

Isaac turned around, to see Rachelle standing in front of him.

"Hey." She said, with a very seductive look on her face.

"Oh, hey Rachelle." Isaac greeted her.

"How you've been Ikey?" She said, sliding her hands on Isaac's arms.

"I've been ok." Isaac quickly replied, trying to ignore that Rachelle was trying to seduce him.

"You, know.. I missed you." She whispered.

Isaac just looked at her, not knowing what to say.  He just smiled at her, and turns his attention back to the CD that he was holding. 

Rachelle handed him a piece of paper, and smiled at him.  Isaac looked at the small note that was on his hand.

"Don't open it yet. Open it later." She said, closing Isaac's hand.

Isaac nodded.

"Call me tonight." She whispered into Isaac's ear, as she walks to the other direction.

 

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Taylor was walking around the mall looking for Justine.  They were suppose to meet up at the record store, 20 minutes ago.  Obviously, Justine was late.  He walked around the mall, looking for something to buy.  He figured since Justine was late, she'd have to look for him.  He was walking pass a bookstore, when we heard his phone ringing.  He looked for it inside his pocket and pressed the call button to answer it.

"Hello?" Taylor said, as soon as he placed the phone in his ear.

It was Roger their manger.

"Oh hey Roger. What's up?"

"Oh I see. When are we going to record the new album?"

"That's cool. But do we have to tour anywhere else before that?"

"Oh. Are we going alone or are we touring with someone else?"

"Why don't I ask Ike and Zac first then I'll call you back. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Alright. Cool. Thanks man."  Taylor said, pressing the end button on his phone and placing it back inside his pocket.

As soon as he placed his phone inside his pocket, it rang again.  He sighed and answered the phone again.

"Hello?"

It was Justine.

"Tay! Where the heck are you?" She asked.

"I'm here by the bookstore. Where are you?" Taylor asked, as he started walking the other direction, back to the record store.

"I'm at a pay phone. Where else would I be?" She laughed.

"I'll meet you at the record store in 5 minutes. ok?"

"You better be there Taylor." Justine said, as she hung up the phone.

Taylor placed his phone inside his pocket and started walking faster towards the record store.  When he got there, he saw Justine standing at the entrance waiting for him.  She spotted Taylor and waved at his direction.

"So, why did you want to meet up with me here at 10am?" Justine asked.

"I wanted to go shopping for a gift." Taylor answered.

"A gift? For who?"

"Nah.. It's not really a gift. It's more of a 'would you go out with me' kinda gift."

"Alright then, who's the girl?" Justine said, pulling Taylor inside a gift shop.

"This girl I met the other day at a restaurant."

"Oooh... she pretty?" Justine teased.

Taylor nodded.

"Prettier than me?" Justine asked.

Taylor just looked at her, not knowing what to answer.  He and Justine were just friends and he didn't want to give her the wrong impression.

"I'm just joking Tay!" Justine laughed, as she slapped Taylor's arm.

Taylor let out a sigh and laughed along with Justine not wanting to show her that he was uncomfortable.

"Hey, I didn't mean that." Justine clarified.

"I know." Taylor replied.

"We're going back to LA to record our new album.." Taylor said, out of the blue

"When?" Justine asked, looking through the racks.

"I don't know, but our manager just called. I still have to talk to Zac and Ike about it."

"How long will you guys be gone?"

"5 months tops. Cause we have to write, compose & record at the process."

"Oh. Nicole is going to go crazy." She said, a little disappointed herself. 

"You know Justine, I'm going to miss you." Taylor said, putting his arm in her shoulder.

Justine looked at Taylor and smiled. "It's going to be different without you guys for a while."

"I'm going to miss having a little sister like you."

Justine laughed. "I'm going to miss a big brother like you too."

   

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"Wow! Piano! Can I play it Zac?" Nicole asked as she made her way to Taylor's keyboards.

"Go ahead." Zac said, following her to the instruments.

"You know how to play?" Zac asked.

"A little. I can only play one song though."

"Which song is it?" Zac asked, as he sat behind his drums.

"You know that song.. by Boys 2 Men? 'On Bended Knee'? That one."

"Could you play it?"

Nicole smiled and started to play the piano.  Zac watched her as she played the piano, with a small smile on her face. 

"Sing the first part Zac." She said, still playing.

Zac cleared his throat.

'Darling I ... I can explain. Where did loose our way? Girl it's driving me insane." Zac started.

"And I know I just need one more chance to prove my love to you. If you'd come back to me, I'll guarantee I'll never let you go." Nicole sang along.

Zac glanced at her and smiled.  He never thought that Nicole could sing.  He started to play his drums along with the piano and sang along with Nicole.  By the end of the song, Zac was looking Nicole with a huge smile on his face.  He never felt more attracted to her.  As soon as Nicole finished the last line, Zac walked over to where she was standing, and stood behind her and gave her a kiss.

Nicole looked up and asked, "What was that for?"

"Nothing. I didn't know you know how to sing." Zac said, sitting beside her on the piano chair.

"Well, it's not one my best talents." She laughed.

"Are you kidding? You sing better than me."

"Whatever Zac." Nicole said, smiling.

"I'm serious! You could be like Hanson's forth member!" Zac laughed

"Come on! It's not even my last name!"

"Then you'll have to marry me!" Zac suggested.

"Was that a proposal?" Nicole asked, laughing

"Not really. I didn't even get you a ring."

"Whatever." Nicole replied, giggling.

"So, tell me... what else can you do?" Zac asked, standing up

"You seem to know a little about everything. You know how to dance, sing, play the piano, what else?"  He added.

Nicole laughed.

"How bout the guitar?" Zac asked, holding up Isaac's guitar.

"Give me that." Nicole said, extending her hand.

"Oh god, you know how to play that too?" Zac asked, surprise

"I can't even remember a damn chord." Zac added, laughing.

"Yeah, but again.. I only know one song." She answered, laughing.

"Then play." Zac instructed.

"What is this? Auditions?" She laughed as her started to play 'Wish I Was There'

In the middle of her playing, Zac spoke up and stopped her. "Hey.. I know that song!"

"You should know this song.  It's one of your songs."

"I thought you didn't like our music.?"

"My sister loves your band, remember?  She made me learn this one song." She answered.

"Why don't you sing, while I play?" She added.

 

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Isaac sat in front of the telephone, debating with himself if he should give Rachelle a call or not.  He picked up the phone, and dialed Rachelle's number thinking that he wasn't doing anything wrong after all.

"Hello?"

"Uh, can I please talk to Rachelle?" Isaac said through the phone.

"Hold on."

"Hello?" Rachelle said, as she picked up the phone.

"Hey Rachelle." Isaac said.

"Oh hey Ikey! You called!"

"Uh-huh. What's so important anyway?"

"Hm.. You.. me, Saturday night at Tulsa Hotel. My treat." She answered.

"What? You expect me to meet you there?"

"Yeah." She answered him very confidently.

"Rachelle, I have a girlfriend."

"Listen, I'll be there on Saturday. I just want to talk to you. Just ask the front desk what the room number is." She informed.

"I gotta go Ikey.. Bye." She added, hanging up the phone.

Isaac placed the phone back and walked to the living room.  He saw Taylor watching TV and eating popcorn.  He sat down beside Taylor, and picked up the remote from the floor.  He flipped the channel, not knowing that Taylor was watching something.  

"Hey! I was watching that!" Taylor said, getting the remote from Isaac's hand.

"Sorry man." Isaac replied.

"Hey Tay, could you do me a favor?" Isaac asked.

"No." Taylor replied flatly.

"Please? You see Rachelle wanted-" Isaac was cut off by Taylor.

"Rachelle? I change my mind. Go on!" Taylor suddenly paid attention to Isaac, 

Isaac rolled his eyes.  "You see, Rachelle wants me to meet up with her on Saturday. But I can't go."

"Why?"

"You doufus! I have a girlfriend. And it's Madeline's birthday on Saturday." Isaac explained.

"Ok, so.. what will I do?" Taylor asked.

"Go to the hotel and meet up with Rachelle. Tell her that I can't come."

"Alright!" Taylor said, with a big smile on his face.

"Which hotel? What's this dinner?" Taylor asked for information

"No, this isn't dinner. Knowing Rachelle, this will definitely NOT be dinner." Isaac laughed.

"So anyway, when you reached Tulsa Hotel, go to the front desk and ask the room number.  The room is under her name" Isaac continued.

"Am I going to get laid?" Taylor smiled

"There's a 90% chance of you getting laid so, you better be there."

"Wait a minute! Won't she mind that I showed up instead of you?"

"She won't probably care. Everytime she asks me to go there, we don't even talk."

"What do you guys do?"

"She strips her clothes and fuck the brains outta me." Isaac informed

"Oh yeah!!" Taylor exclaimed, running his hand through his hair.

 

Chapter 13 - It's All About Mandy
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