CHAPTER TWO

Tuesday afternoon – 14.30

"Zac, how many times have you done this now?" Taylor asked of Zac, they were standing outside the hotel doors, they were supposed to appear at Princes Street Gardens for their free concert within the next half hour when Zac had suddenly remembered he'd left Taylor’s tambourine up there – Taylor had asked him to grab it on their way out, but Zac had been so lost on his own thoughts that he’d neglected to do so.

"Look, I said I was sorry," Zac rolled his eyes, he looked sneakily over his shoulder to see that Don was talking with their father.

You can't see his eyes, Zac thought. How do you know when he’s looking at you or not looking at you? He thought, frowning slightly.

"Well, don’t just stand there, go up and get it for heavens sake," Isaac instructed.

Zac was momentarily somewhere else, and confused, he looked at Isaac. "Get what?" he asked stupidly.

"The tambourine, brainiac," Isaac slapped Zac gently on the head. "We’ll wait here for you…" Isaac held up the room key.
Zac groaned, grabbed the room key from Isaac, and turned on his heel and began a quick pace off.

He got into the elevator, and pressed the button of the seventh floor. The elevator was moving, gently vibrating, making him feel unsteady and weak. He gripped onto the handle at his left side and held onto it for support. Yesterday had been one of those bothersome nights, the photo-shoot had been a complete disaster, the camera had exploded! Although Isaac and Taylor had thought it was pretty funny, for some reason, Zac couldn’t see the funny side to it. He’d been more concerned that Don had been following him about – it seemed to be him in particular, not Taylor or Isaac.

I can’t even go to take a piss without the giant following me into the bathroom, Zac thought miserably. At least Jason wasn’t like this.

The door of the elevator slid open and Zac stepped out, walked a few doors down into the hall and found the room. He opened the door, and he stepped inside, closing it behind him. He found the tambourine on the windowsill – where Taylor had left it last. Zac walked over to the window, and picked the tambourine, listening to the rattling it made as he did. Absently, he looked out of the window, his view on Princes Street Gardens, he could see it from there, and he could the crowds already formed up, he wondered how long they’d been there already.

He and his brothers hadn’t even arrived at the gardens, but he could already hear the impatient and adoring fans screaming the name Hanson at the top of their lungs – it was faint, but noticeable even from here.

Looks like we’re really gonna need our earplugs, he thought to himself.

He looked at his watch, it was twenty-five minutes until three, his brothers were going to kill him if he didn’t hurry up and downstairs with the tambourine.

Quickly, he left the room holding tightly on to the tambourine – scared he would forget it again – and then he locked the door securely and just to be sure, he checked it, he was just about to turn when he saw Don heading for him.

"How long does it take you to get a tambourine, kid?" Don asked.

"I got held up," Zac lied, he tried to think of a reasonable excuse and he found absolutely none.

"You got something in your hair…" Don pointed out.

"Where?" Zac asked shaking his hair wildly, trying to get whatever it was out.

"Hold still," Don instructed, and he reached over and tenderly picked something out of Zac’s hair with his huge hands. Zac watched that hand as it moved, it was swift, and could probably break someone’s neck with one crush. Zac swallowed, but tried to remain calm.

Don held out a feather that had been embedded in Zac’s hair. "See?"

"Must have flown in through the open window," Zac shrugged.

Don was looking at him again.

"Do you always have to wear those glasses?" Zac asked. "Its not even sunny today."

"I think it makes me look cool, what do you think?" Don asked, a strange smile appeared on his face.

"I think it makes you look like a wannabe member of the Men In Black," Zac answered.

Don gave a smile, and he reached up, taking off his sunglasses, showing Zac exactly why he needed them. One of his eyes were pale blue-and there seemed to be no pupil – the other eye was just normally dark green, it looked terribly freaky, and Zac stepped back in slight surprise, and bumped against the wall.

"Uh…that’s weird…" Zac choked out, he’d never seen anyone with an eye like that.
"Someone stubbed a cigarette out into my eye because I got on their nerves."
If you don’t stop following me around I’m gonna get Taylor to do the same, Zac thought, suppressing the urge to smile evilly,

"That must have hurt…"

"I’m blind in this eye," Don admitted. "But it doesn’t bother me," he said, he took one step closer.

"Uh…" Zac nervously looked down at his watch. "Its twenty til three…don’t you think we should go down?"

"You have all the time in the world – the gardens are only across the street…"

"Yeah, but—"

The guy shushed Zac by placing a firm hand on Zac’s shoulder, sending Zac’s skin crawling immediately, Zac felt his breath come out in nervous rasps and his skin turn to gooseflesh, he could actually feel the hairs on the back of his neck beginning to stand on end.

Was this what real fear was?

Zac couldn’t remember ever feeling something like this. Not going on stage in front of thousands of screaming girls – not being tugged at and pulled at trying to make his way safely through a crowd, this was very different.

He felt cold, so cold he was shaking.

"Cold, Zac?" Don asked in a soft voice, even from so low down from the guys face, Zac could feel his hot breath – he could smell the nicotine, coffee and something else – possibly alcohol – Zac wasn’t really sure, he hadn’t taken time to really notice the smell of alcohol.

Where did this guy find time to drink anyway if he’s been following us around all day? Zac wondered, it broke through his fear, he managed to get up the courage to move. "I’m gonna be late," Zac muttered, and pulled right out the guys reach, he was about to enter the elevator – but then thought about it, there was no way he wanted to be alone in an elevator with this guy all of a sudden. Zac turned around the corner to where the staircase was and he began making his way down all seven flights – not even waiting to see if Don was following.

He’s a freak, Zac thought. I better tell Dad so he can fire him.

But would he believe me? No one ever takes me seriously.

Zac finally reached the ground floor after five minutes of going down the stairs, Taylor was seated on a chair in the lobby, Isaac was standing around with an impatient expression on his face. Walker was apparently waiting in the car.

"Where have you been?" Taylor demanded. "We sent you up like…fifteen minutes ago!" he looked at his watch, he frowned. "We’re due to perform in fifteen minutes!"

"Sorry," Zac mumbled, paused guiltily feeling that he was responsible for being late – but then quick memory of Don standing over him in that weird way, the way he'd put his hand on his shoulder. "Guys…I need to talk to you…"

"Save it for when we’re in the car," Taylor grabbed Zac by the arm and began dragging him along forcefully. "We’re gonna be late!"