I walked into my room and locked the door. I didn’t want to risk one of my sister’s friends bursting in. I’d managed to keep it a secret this long, I didn’t want it getting out. The whole thing still made me feel weird. I’ve never liked another boy before. But Taylor was different; he was beautiful. I pretended to hate them, but I stole some of my sister’s pin-ups of Hanson. I had some hung in my closet. I always worried my mother would come into my room on one of her cleaning sprees, and find them. I wondered what everyone would say if they found out I had a crush on Taylor Hanson.
“I can’t believe they are finally coming here! Mom, I have to go!” I heard my sister’s high pitched screams coming from the kitchen. I walked in there nonchalantly. In the back of my mind I was praying she meant that Hanson was coming to town.
“Aaron! Hanson is coming to town!” She squealed as I entered the room. I made a face.
“Like I care, Brittany,” I said. She stuck her tongue out at me. “Aaron, your sister wants to go to this press conference, and I can’t take her…” My mother began. I tried not to smile, she wanted me to take her to see Hanson. My luck was improving.
“Mom, you want me to take her?” I asked in my best “no way” voice.
“Aaron! Please! I really, really, really want to go!” Brittany used her little-girl-lost tone.
“Hanson?” I praised myself on my “Hanson sucks” act. Brittany was a great manipulator, she knew every feel-sorry-for-me look in the book. She was giving me the famous puppy dog one.
“Fine,” I sighed, “I’ll take you!” She threw her arms around me and screamed.
“You’re the best big brother in the whole world! I can finally see Zac!” She bounded to her room, no doubt to call her friends.
We got there early, and there were only two other small groups waiting. My sister was hopping up and down, partially from excitement, partially to keep warm. I felt like jumping up and down myself. I kept thinking about Taylor. He was perfect in my eyes. He was more beautiful than any girl I’ve ever seen. We stood in line for about an hour and a half. By the time they opened the doors, there was about two hundred and fifty people, not counting reporters. Brittany and I grabbed seats near the front. I could see the table where Taylor would be sitting. I tried to imagine him there. My throat was dry, I felt so close to him already. Brittany was chatting with some girls near her. I knew I was getting some strange looks from the adolescent girls and the few obsessed forty year old women. I ignored their questioning eyes and continued to dream about Taylor. I dreamed that he liked me too. And we could go off somewhere together. Where no one would ridicule. Screaming started up around me. Then I saw them come out. There he was, I could clearly see his beautiful face. I wanted to run up to him, but I knew I couldn’t.
I cringed every time he smiled; it tore at me. I tired not to stare to obviously, I didn’t want him to tell his giant bodyguards to throw me out or something. So I kept looking at the table, and drumming my fingers on the plastic top. Brittany dissolved into a fit of giggles every time Zac looked in her general direction. She was paying no attention to me. The press conference was coming to an end. He would leave soon. Would I ever see him again? My heart skipped a beat when they said we could come forward for autographs. My sister’s screams covered my excitement though. We walked up to the table. I watched them smile, shake hands, and sign pictures. I felt dizzy; I was tempted to walk out of the building; make that run, out of the building. But I couldn’t, I was drawn to him. Brittany was grinning and giggling as she shook Zac’s hand. I smiled half way at him, and he nodded politely. My feet weighed tons as I drew near to Taylor. He looked at me, I looked into his beautiful blue eyes. I felt like I was dreaming still. Before I could stop myself, I leaned over and kissed him. He looked at me in shock; his shock soon turning to disgust. Brittany looked at me open-mouthed as the guards pushed us out. It had been worth it to me.