I crawled into bed, dead tired. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow...
Someone hissed in my ear. "Psst! Kris!"
I rolled over and groaned. "Go away." I mumbled.
"Time to wake up." they whispered and walked away. I heard the door open and close.
I rolled back and glanced at the clock. 6:56. I sat up and fell back, my head splitting.
"I feel like I've got a hangover." I announced. No one answered.
My punishment had started. I rolled off the bed and pulled my suitcase from under it. I unzipped it and pulled out a shirt.
"We've got a 2 concerts today, Kris." Jamie said softly, standing in the doorway.
"Shut up. Don't torture me." I mumbled.
"Brian Littrel had some words with Mr. Hanson." she said, her voice rising.
"I didn't think he will." I answered as I dug into my suitcase.
"Mr. Hanson didn't listen. He's still angry."
I ignored her and pulled out some jeans. "Why isn't Virgin fighting this?"
She sighed. "At the moment, Mercury is the largest recording company in the world. And Virgin is a bit shaky. There's no way they want to mess with Mercury."
I flared. "That's bullshit! Mercury has no authority over me!"
Jamie shifted. 'You remember those papers you had to sign?"
I thought. I remembered.
"Those said you gave consent for Mr. Hanson to be your gaurdian and all Zodiac's rights go to Mercury while you are touring."
I cursed. That explains why I didn't have the usual horde of attendants and bodyguards. "Damn it!" I punched the bed, ignoring the stinging in my bruised fingers.
"Mercury execs agree with Mr. Hanson - you're grounded." she informed me.
"You think I don't know that?!" I yelled, shoving my face into my pillow. God, I know now to read them damn contracts I sign. It grew quiet.
"We've had breakfast." she said after a while.
"Good for you!" I snapped.
"Look, Kris, you can be as bitchy as you want, because no one is going to be around anyways! Even if you weren't grounded, no one'd talk to you anyways!" she bit out and left.
I sighed and sat back on my haunches. I threw my pants down and growled. The day barely started and I was bitchy already. Some vacation.
There was a knock at the door and it was immediately followed by it opening. Zac hustled in and shut the door hastily.
"Got ya some jello." he grinned and threw a packet of green jello at me.
I caught it. "You're growing up, you know that, right, Zaccypoo?"
"Why?" he asked, confused.
"You just are. Now get going before that monster of your dad catches you." I grabbed my pants and shirt and stood.
His smile fell. "I know it's unfair, but he's not that bad. It's just that if you get someone on your bad side, that's it. You're fish food."
"Oh yeah?" I raised my eyebrows and shook out my clothes.
"Yeah." he stood awkwardly. "Taylor tried to talk to Dad again this morning, but he won't listen."
I examined the jeans with unfocused eyes. "Thanks, Zac."
"No problem." he turned to leave. "By the way, Zodiac just ain't the same without you."
I nodded to his back and listened to the door click softly.
"Dammit." I sniffed, and wiped at my sore eyes.
I pulled my night shirt off and changed. I heard a noise and turned to see a piece of paper slide under the door. I walked over and picked it up.
"'Hey Kris'." I read aloud. " 'The knight in shining armor will rescue you... but would 9 pm work? He has some business to attend to' ." I smiled.
Something else came from under the door, and I picked that up as well. It was the I Will Come To You single.
"Wicked." I said, sighing. The rest of my day was incredibly boring. I grew fidgety and pounded on any surface I could, imagining it were the keys of my keyboard.
Towards 8pm, everyone came back flushed with adrenaline and grinning.
"That was wicked!"
Jessica high fived Jamie. "Excellent."
"Good, was it?" I asked, flicking through the TV channels. I was already in my PJ's. There was nothing else to do but watch TV and change my clothes.
"Yeah!" Jamie breathed.
I rolled my eyes lazily, trying to hide my jealousy.
"The first concert was pretty tame, but the second! Man! Wow! The whole place nearly blew!" Jam rubbed it in.
"Jamie!" Jessica warned.
"What?" she asked.
"Piss off." Jessica made a face at Jamie, and she shut up. "Leave Kris alone."
I nodded.
Jess stood in front of me and grinned. "You know, you've got 1 hour to get your suitcase packed and ready."
"What for?" I asked, watching the screen with a couple passionately making out.
"We have a plane to catch at 9 to Minnie something." Jessica replied as she pulled her immaculate suitcase from under her bed.
I threw the remote down. "Damnit! Fuck!"
I stuffed my clothes in the case (by sitting on it and zipping it up) and cursed when I realised I wasn't dressed properly and my clothes were packed. I cracked open the zipper and pulled out the first clothes I could find. That ended up being a navy blue shirt and a dark purple skirt.
"Oh well." I crawled into them and stuffed my PJs in the case. By this time, Jamie and Jess were done packing, and I was the last one done.
I drug the case out into the hall, to the elevator, and into the lobby. Everyone was waiting for me.
I let a bellhop guy stack my case in the van with the others, and I pulled myself up the steps.
I sat down next to Taylor who had saved a seat for me. I smiled gratefully at him as he pulled his carry on bag over to let me sit down.
Taylor nodded and ignored his father's angry glance.
"Thank you." I murmured. "For the seat and CD."
He nodded and put his finger to his lips, watching his dad.
I tried to talk to him, but every time, Walker Hanson would watch me.
I poked Tay.
He turned to me and waited. "What?" he mouthed.
"Sign language." I mouthed carefully.
He raised his eyebrows.
I put my hands in between us and showed him the alphabet. He might have been a genius with music, but man, he was slow with sign language.
I was about to give up on teaching him, but he smiled widely and signed out "I-M N-O- T S-T-U-P-I-D"
I laughed. Walker glared at me. "F-O-O-L-E-D M-E"
Taylor put on a hurt expression. "F-I-N-E" He turned to the window and ignored me. I pulled him around and signed to him.
"S-O-W-W-Y"
He smiled. "O-K"
"T-O-O-B-L-E-S." I spelt.
"W-H-A-T?!" he asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing." I mouthed.
"W-E-I-R-D-O." he signed.
"Fine!" I told him, breaking the silence in the van.