CHAPTER 9 - Before the Concert, the Concert & After the Concert

"Guys, are we done yet?" Isaac asked

"Quit it Ike! You've asked that like more than 20 times!" Zac answered, slightly annoyed.

"Yea. What's the hurry?" Taylor asked, still playing his keyboards.

"I have to meet Madeline in 30 minutes guys." Isaac explained.

"It's not like you didn't saw her yesterday Ike!" Taylor pointed out.

"Yea, but I haven't told her about the concert tonight."  Isaac replied.

"What? You didn't give her a pass?" Zac asked

"Not yet." Isaac said, putting his guitar on the floor.

"Ok, I guess we're done guys." Taylor said, turning off his keyboards

Isaac, Taylor & Zac were down stairs at the garage, practicing some songs.  They have been practicing for 3 straight hours now, and all of them were exhausted.  Taylor looked at his watch, 2:00pm he read.  He decided to give Ashley a call.  He went to the phone, and dialed her number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Ashley." Taylor greeted

"Hey.. what's up?"

"Nothing, just called to make sure if your coming later."

"The concert?" She asked.

"Yea. So, are you going?"

"I think so." She answered, unsure.

"What?!" Taylor said immediately.

"I'm joking Tay! I'm going..ok?"

"Oh.. That's good."

"And.. what’s good with that?" she asked.

"I was thinking we could go do something after the show."

"Tay, your concert ends at almost midnight.." She reasoned out.

"And besides, aren't you going somewhere with that model girl?" She asked.

"Nah.. we broke up before she left for UK." Taylor explained.

"So... Can you? It's not like you have a curfew Ashley." Taylor pointed out.

"Fine fine. Where we going?"

"I don't know.. We'll find somewhere to go later."

"Ok...sounds ok. Look, I gotta go.  I'll just see you later."

"Bye" Taylor said, putting the phone down.

====================

Zac was standing in front of Nicole's front door, deciding if he should press the door bell and take the risk of letting Nicole's sister jump on him again.  After standing there for more than 10 minutes, he realized that he had no other choice.  He lightly pressed the doorbell twice.  He took two steps to the right, thinking that maybe if Nicole's sister opened the door, it would be a little safer from the distance.  He rang the doorbell again, and looked at his watch.  4:00pm.  Just then, the door opened.  A guy who was about Ike's age who was standing 6'3, was standing in front of him. 

"Yes?" the guy said with a French accent.

"I'm here to pick Nicole up." Zac answered.

"And you are?" the guy asked, giving him the 'look'

"Zac." Zac replied, trying to smile.

The guy stepped aside from the door and asked Zac to come in and wait inside the living room. He heard the guy shouting for Nicole to come down.  Zac sat on the sofa, trying to feel at home.  Zac turned to his left and saw the guy, sat on the other end of the couch.

"You're Nicole's date?" the guy asked.

"Yeah." Zac said, nodding.

"Where are you taking her?"

"Uh.. to our concert.  And Justine's also coming." Zac answered casually.

"What concert is this? Are you famous or something?"

Not really knowing what to answer, Zac replied "Uh.. we're Hanson."

"You mean.. Hanson that my sister Justine listens all day?"

"Yea. I think so. The other day when I came here and Justine opened the door, she literally jumped on top of me." Zac said, starting a conversation.

"I'm Mike by the way. I'm Nicole's brother." he said, finally introducing him.

Zac shook his head, and smiled.

"You know, if Justine finds out you're dating Nicole, she's going to kick Nicole." Mike informed Zac.

Zac laughed.

"I know, Justine talked to me the other day begging me not to date Nicole cause she loves me." Zac said laughing.

"Told ya!" Mike said, laughing

"But I made a deal with her that I'll give her backstage passes and tickets in our concerts as long as she doesn't bother Nicole & me."

"Sounds like you really like my sister." he said, patting Zac's shoulder.

"Yeah.  She's very important to me." Zac said, smiling at Mike

"I like you Zac, and I trust you with my sister.  Don't do anything that will make her cry."

"Don't worry man, I won't."

"Looks like you two met already!" Nicole said, standing from the bottom of the stairs.

Zac & Mike turned around to where Nicole was standing.  Zac stood up and walked towards Nicole. 

"Are you ready to go?" Zac asked, placing his hand on her waist.

"Yea. But Justine is still upstairs." Nicole informed.

"JUSTINE HURRY UP!" Nicole shouted.

"I'M COMING! I'M COMING!!" Justine shouted back from the top of the stairs.

2 minutes later, Justine came running down the stairs.  Zac and Nicole looked up from where she was coming from.  Nicole took Zac's hand, squeezing it and signaling Zac to took at Justine. 

"WHOA Justine! What's up will all the make up?" Nicole asked, trying her best not to laugh.

"Yea. We're taking you to a concert. And it's hot there." Zac added.

"Hi Zac. You look nice today." Justine answered, smiling at Zac.

"You're going to melt there." Nicole said, snapping her fingers in front of Justine.

"I don't care." Justine replied.

She looked at Zac, and smiled at him.  And stepped closer to him.  She gave him a kiss on the cheek and smiled again.  She backed away, and walked towards the front door.  Leaving Zac confused & Nicole and Mike trying to hide their laughter.

"What was that about!?" Zac asked confused.

"Just don't mind her Zac." Nicole replied, giving Zac a kiss on the lips.

"Now, let's go. You've have to be at there at 4:30.  You might run late." Nicole informed him.

"You guys have fun!" Mike said, closing the door.

====================

"The sun has fallen, another day gone without you..My heart keeps callin', and I just don't know what to do...." Zac sang while beating on his drum set.

Nicole sat on chair in the middle of the stage.  She was watching the guys practice.  This was actually the first time she heard the guys perform live.  Justine was sitting beside her, with a HUGE smile plastered on her face.  Justine was flipping her hair from shoulder to shoulder, obviously trying to get one of the guy's attention.  Nicole looked at her sister and laughed to herself.  'She's so pathetic'

"Ike! you played the wrong chord!" Taylor said through the microphone.

"Wha?" Isaac asked, stopping to strum his guitar.

"Ike, when the chorus starts, it's C minor." Zac informed, sitting behind the drum set.

"Urgh.. Sorry. Let's start over." Isaac said, looking at Zac waiting for him to count off.

"1...2..1..2..3..." Zac counting banging his drum sticks together.

They started to play their instruments, trying harder to concentrate this time.  Zac looked to where Nicole was sitting.  She was smiling.  Zac smiled to himself, happy of the thought that maybe Nicole was enjoying their music.  Zac's eyes met Nicole's and she smiled.  After practicing 5 songs, they were all convinced they practiced long enough for the concert.  They all got up, and grabbed their towels from the table and wiped their sweat. 

Just then, a woman in a suite came running to the stage.  She walked near Isaac and gave him a  hug.  Zac who was standing beside Nicole, had a confused face.  And Taylor who was standing beside Isaac, couldn’t help but interrupt the moment.

"Uh Ike? Who's she?" Taylor asked, interrupting the moment.

"This is Madeline.  Madeline this is my brother Taylor." Isaac introduced.

"Hey. It's Tay. Nice to finally meet the girl that my brother talks about non-stop." Taylor said, extending his hand for Madeline to shake.

"Nice to meet you too." Madeline said, shaking Taylor's hand and giving him a smile.

"Sweetie, you talk about me all the time?" Madeline said, looking at Isaac and taking his hand.

"Uh.. No." Isaac replied, blushing.

"Whatever man. Me and Tay know you talk about her every night." Zac added, standing beside Taylor.

"Fuck you man." Isaac said looking at Zac, giving him a look.

"Aw..come on Ike, be nice to your brother!" Madeline said giving him a light punch on his stomach.

"I'm Zac by way. And this is Nicole." Zac said, introducing Nicole and him.

Nicole smiled at Madeline and Madeline smiled back.

"Nice to meet the two of you."

"Hey how about you guys, play something?" Madeline suggested.

"I've never heard you guys play live lately." she added.

"Mads... we just finished practicing." Isaac argued.

 "Please Honey?" Madeline smiled sweetly.

"Alright." Isaac said, kissing her forehead.

"Come on guys, last song." Zac shouted.

Isaac, Taylor & Zac went back to their instruments, preparing to play one last song.  Nicole stood beside Zac at the back of drum set, with her hands on his shoulders.  Madeline, sat on a chair beside Justine and focused her eyes on Isaac.  Taylor, started to practice the notes on his keyboards and gave Isaac the signal to start playing.  He glanced at Zac, Nicole was standing behind him, her hands traveling from his shoulders to his chest.  He glanced over at his right, he looked at Isaac, singing.  He was looking directly at Madeline.  He was singing 'Love Song', and Madeline was smiling back.  They were obviously very attracted to each other.  He glanced at Justine, Nicole's sister who he noticed was staring at him.  He smiled in return, and she smiled back. 

"I wish someone would have told me before...." Isaac sang the last line. 

"Zac you were great." Nicole said, pulling Zac backstage.

Taylor looked at the empty seats in front of him.  He sighed, 'Another sold out concert'.  He looked at the keyboard key in front of him, and played a song.  He figured that he should practice more, to be sure that he won't mess up later.  He looked from left to right, up to down.  He noticed that Justine's seat was empty.  He looked back at Zac's drum set, maybe Justine is there.

"Tay?" a girl whispered on Taylor's ear from behind him.

"AHHH!!" Taylor jumped.

"Oh Justine.  It's you!" Taylor said, turning around to face Justine.  For a second, he thought it was Chutney.

"I was just wondering if you're planning to go somewhere after the concert." Justine asked.

"Why?"

"Can you join me later? I'm going to grab a pizza."

"Uh...Justine, I kinda have a date later."

"With a friend or a girlfriend?" she asked, a little disappointed.

"A friend." Taylor informed.

"But, you can come with us. If you want." Taylor offered.

"Cool." Justine, smiled and left the stage.

====================

Two hours later, the concert was over.  It's was already 11:30pm and the boy's parents already went home with the rest of the family.  Isaac, was getting dressed and Madeline was waiting for him, outside the dressing room.  Zac and Nicole already left, leaving Taylor with Justine, waiting for Ashley to arrive.  Ashley's late for 30 minutes, and it's not like her to be late.  Taylor glanced at Justine who sitting beside him & staring at him with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"I guess Ashley's not going to show up." Taylor said, standing up.

"Won't worry Tay, I'll keep you company!" Justine said, dragging Taylor outside the door.

"Ok." Taylor said, walking behind her.

Taylor opened the door of his car, and started the car.  Justine sat beside him, closing the door as she sat down.  She immediately turned on the radio as soon as she the car started.  Taylor rolled his eyes.  He tried to concentrate on the road, but his thoughts keep drifting off.  'Why didn't Ashley show up?' He kept on wondering why his best friend, didn't came.  'Maybe she found a date...'. Taylor tried to brush that thought away.  He knew that Ashley wouldn't do that to him. 

"Where're we going?" Justine asked, trying to fix her hair.

"I'm really tired Justine.  So, can we just drive thru McDonalds?"

"Oh, it's ok I understand." she replied, with a little disappointment in her voice.

"You were fabulous a while ago, you know." She said, pushing Taylor's hair behind his ear.

Taylor was not sure how to react. "Uh...thanks."

"Is she flirting!?"

"How old are you again?" Taylor asked, starting a conversation.

"13." she replied, proudly.

"You don't look 13, you know." Taylor looked at her.

"Really?"

"Yeah you look, 16."  

====================

Isaac and Madeline were walking on the parking lot, outside where Isaac and his brothers just had a concert earlier.  They were walking towards Madeline's car.  She opened lock, and they both opened the door to enter.  Madeline sat on the driver's seat, and Isaac sat on the other side. 

"I had fun Isaac.  Thanks." Madeline said, smiling at Isaac.

"I'm glad you had fun." Isaac said, smiling back holding her hand.

"Madeline, can I ask you something?" Isaac asked, still holding her hand and looking at her eyes.

"What it is?" she asked

"Remember the other day..at your apartment.."

"Yea, when you sent me flowers?" she smiled.

"Yes. I told you I love you, and you didn't say anything."

"That's not true Isaac and you know it. You know I feel the same way."

"Really?" Isaac said, with a big smile on his face.

Madeline nodded and smiled.

"You know what I love about you the most?" Isaac said, running his hands through her hair.

"What?"

"I love the way you smile when I know you're happy." Isaac said, kissing her forehead.

"And you're so sweet, you always make me smile." Madeline added, kissing Isaac's lips.

Madeline started the car, and tried to look back to see if there were cars.  She placed her right hand on the gear stick and pushed it to 'R'.  Isaac, placed his hand over her's and lightly brushed his thumb over her hand.

"I love you Madeline."

"Ditto Isaac." she smiled at him, and continued to back up the car.

Chapter 10 - Right Side Of The Bed, Ice Age & The Little Sister
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