-CHAPTER 3-

I strode into the foyer. The floor was polished and the ceilings high. Just the kind of place you can't squeak your shoes in. Unfortunately for me, I had worn my only pair of boots that talked. Literally.

"Crrrk! Crrk!" they squelched as I walked to the huge front desk.

"Yes?" the woman asked archly.

"Oh, well." I began.

"Do you have an appointment?" she interrupted, raking me from head to toe.

I grew fed up with being eyed like a prized pig for today. "I'm Kristen Harmont. You know, here to record with the Hansons." I snapped at her.

She nearly sat back in shock. "Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Harmont. I thought..."

I rolled my eyes rudely. "Of course." I mimicked.

Her lips grew thin. "Yes, well. You are due to record with Hanson right away. You have..." she looked down at an appointment book. "You have," she began again "9 days. Plenty of time."

I leaned against the desk, pushing my sunglasses up onto my head. "And thats all?"

She glared at my elbows and glanced down. "Yes." She glared up at me again.

I yawned. "That all, eh?"

She nodded.

I nodded.

She blinked.

I blinked.

"You're first day is today. The studio is-" she stopped and shut up, gazing behind me. "Mr. Hanson will show you."

I stiffened, the once familiar goosebumps dotting my skin. I turned and met those steady blue eyes. My sunnies fell down onto my nose as if by majic.

He smiled. "Thanks, Carla. I'll take it from here." His eyes never moved and I shoved my sunnies up onto my nose.

"Yes sir." her voice came quietly from behind me.

I broke my gaze and glanced at my watch, my face heating.

He grabbed my elbow and led me away. "Hi, Kris."

I nodded. "Hi, Taylor."

He cleared his throat. "Tay." he corrected automatically.

I nodded again.

He led me down a maze of corridors. I followed, keeping my eyes trained on his sneakers. He had changed alot. He had filled out from that scrawny 15 year old I remember from 10 years ago. He was taller, broader and more, well, face it, manly. His voice has settled into a deep tone.

I had changed as well, of course. My hair was now a rich chestnut and fell nearly to my waist. I had grown nearly 6 more centimetres. And well, I was more grown up.

"You cut your hair." I finally noticed.

He nodded, not turning around.

It was cut to just above his ears. I could tell that if he leaned forward, it would fall into his eyes.

"You stopped writing." he said, suddenly, stopping.

I nodded once again. "Yeah."

He turned and looked down at me. "Why?"

I sighed. "Taylor, I've been fucked up for a while."

He shook his head. "That's no excuse. I'm your friend. You could have told me anything, you know that."

I knew exactly that. I just looked away, and pulled my purse strap up some more. "Alot has happened. Leave it at that."

He shifted. "I heard about you and Jami-"

I turned my head sharply. "Drop it, Taylor. Just drop it."

He frowned.

I threw my long hair over my shoulder, and his eyes widened. I pulled my hair back over my neck, but not fast enough.

He reached over and pulled my hair back. "What happened?" he asked, stunned.

I could only imagine what he saw. Purple and yellow bruises dotted my neck and jawline. I shook my head. "Nothing."

He lifted my chin so he could look closer. "Kristen, this looks like someone tried to chok-"

I pulled away. "Just leave it. That asshole regrets it."

He reached over again but I stepped back. "You should-"

I cut my hand through the air. "Leave it, Taylor. It's done."

He looked startled but closed his mouth. He pushed open the door and I followed him through, pulling my hair back over my shoulders.

I smiled as I saw two pairs of eyes meet mine.

"Kris!" Isaac exclaimed, propping his guitar in his stand and getting up. He wrapped me tight in his arms and I gasped for air.

"Ike!" I gasped and he let go. I turned to see Zac grin right into my face. "Kris, mon!" he greeted and gave me a hug. I hugged back, remembering the young boy who wouldn't hug a girl if his life depended upon it.

After a while I let go, but he didn't. "Uh, Zac?"

"Yeah?" he asked cheerfully, his breath brushing the hair against my neck.

I laughed, nervously, hoping he didn't get an eyeful of my bruises. "Let go, dammit!"

He shook his head, bumping mine.

"Ow." I winced, trying to pry his arms from around me. Futile. All that drumming had paid off - I couldn't budge him.

Taylor spoke up, watching me intently. "Let her go, Zachary."

I just blinked and looked away. He was freaking me out.

He finally let go. "It's been ages, Srik." he teased.

"Yeah, Caz, sure has." I nodded, fiddling with my hair. I turned and surveyed the room. It was tiled from floor to ceiling creating a great sound chamber.

"Where's Jamie?" Zac asked, turning around.

I didn't miss the punch Taylor gave Zac.

"At home." I frowned slightly.

Ike sat back down, and stroked his guitar. "What abo... how are you, Kris?" he asked, hiding the small flash of sadness in his eyes.

"Good. Good." I nodded, shoving my hands into my back pockets.

Taylor grabbed a some stapled sheets of paper, and I guess rightly - they were lyrics. He handed them to me. "We've written the music and lyrics, Kris. You just sing."

I raised an eyebrow. I flipped through the papers, and found 5 songs. I whistled. "You know, I only asked if you guys could compose a song. A song, not a flippin' album."

They laughed. "We all have our own ideas of a good song. Zac's was something like 'do me, baby, do me'." Isaac grinned.

I made a face. "I take it Zacca's into girls, now."

Zac raised his fist. "I am a lady killer. I am da man!"

I snorted. "You are da spam."

He made a face at me. "You wait. You will not be able to resist my manly charms."

I pulled my purse off my shoulder and placed it on the floor. "Yeah?"

He nodded.

"I don't go for guys younger than me." I teased.

He frowned. "Why not?"

I laughed downright. "I like my men experienced."

He just sat back. "I am Mr. Experienced."

I sat down, and read through the lyrics of a song. "You're also Mr. Ego." I murmured absently.

He just complained that I must have been a man because no woman so far has refused him.

"Man, you can go for Taylor, but not me. You're so messed up."

I glanced up and I met with some embarrassed blue eyes. "Yeah, well..." I dropped my voice. "that's something I regret and rather'd forget."

He had heard me. I could see his face crumble.

"Later." I said, and looked back down at my lyrics. "How fast is this song?"

Isaac looked up. "Which?"

"'Need to Love Another'?"

He looked back down to his guitar. "It's a ballad."

I read through it. "Can we do that first?" I asked hopefully.

He looked up again, a wry expression on his face. "It's a duet. With Tay."

I blinked. "Okay. That's fine."

Isaaac grinned. "Cool, because all of the songs have you and Taylor as main vocals." I shrugged, confused. "Why?"

"His voice is girly." Ike laughed and recieved a rude gesture from his brother.

"My voice is better suited to yours, Kris." Taylor explained, coming over. He looked over my shoulder at the lyrics. "Isaac's is a bit too rough, and Zac's is just annoying."

Mr. Man protested.