(I hope the screen names I used in this story aren’t anyone’s for real!)
Taylor laughed out loud. He had found himself in a Hanson role playing game. The girls in this room seemed to have skewed ideas of what he and his brothers were like. They of course had no idea that it was he in the room. Suddenly, an Instant Message popped up on his screen.
Enigma15: Hello.
Not Normal: Hi.
Enigma15: I know who you are.
Taylor looked confused. There was no way that this person could know he was Taylor Hanson.
Not Normal: Um, you must be confused.
Enigma15: No, I’m not, Taylor.
Not Normal: I’m not Taylor. I don’t know why you think I am.
Taylor told the person a flat out lie. He didn’t want his screen name to get out.
Enigma15: You’re playing the game, too.
Not Normal: What game?
Enigma15: The role-playing game. I’m playing it too.
Not Normal: I’m not playing, I’m just watching.
Enigma15: We’re all playing, Taylor.
Not Normal: I’ve got to go now, bye.
Taylor signed off and closed out AOL. This made him nervous for some reason. It was just some deranged fan, he told himself. But he couldn’t shake the feeling.
Taylor sang and listened to the screams. His brothers and he said goodbye to the crowd and walked off stage. He didn’t feel like lingering backstage today. He slipped out the back door of the concert hall. They hadn’t even gotten a hotel room this stop, just stayed in the bus. He entered the bus, peace and quiet at last. He started to walk to the back, where the beds were. He froze walking through the small “living” area. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, but he could still hear it. A steady breath coming from behind him. Someone was there. Taylor wanted to cry, to scream, anything, but he was frozen. Footsteps, they were approaching. He could hardly breathe. A whimper slipped out of his mouth. He shut his eyes tightly.
“Who is it?” He managed to creak out.
“Madeline.” A young female voice came from behind him. He took a deep breath. It was a kid, a teenager or someone. He felt a little more reassured knowing it wasn’t someone bigger than him. A little, not much. He forced himself to turn around. He stood facing a red-haired girl, almost his height. She smiled at him.
“What are you doing in here?” He asked.
“What do you mean? I’m your girlfriend, I’m traveling with you! I’ve been waiting for the concert to end.” Taylor looked at the girl with fright in his eyes.
“Um, I’ve never seen you before in my life,” He squeaked.
“Taylor, you’re so silly,” She said. She kissed him on the cheek.
“Um, Madeline?” Taylor felt the best way to handle this would be to play along, “I think you should probably go and call your mom or something.”
“Aw, Taylor, you’re so thoughtful!” Madeline ran out of the bus, looking for a phone. Taylor sighed, and went back inside. He was shaking, he had never been so scared in his life. He went up to his father.
“Dad, I need to tell you something,” Taylor said urgently, touching his father’s arm. Walker turned around.
“What’s wrong, Taylor?” he asked. Taylor led him over to a corner.
“There was someone in the bus, I think she might come back, she’s crazy. She said she was my girlfriend. I was so scared, Dad.” Walker looked at Taylor with alarm in his eyes.
“I’ll send someone out to look, okay? Don’t go out by yourself again.”
“I wont.”
Taylor was jumpy for the next few days. He didn’t see the red head girl again. He began to relax. They went home. Taylor was lying in a hammock in the backyard. There was a nice breeze. He was drifting off to sleep.
“I missed you.” Taylor’s eyes flew open. She was standing over him, Madeline.
“What are you doing here?” Taylor said, trying to sit up. He ended up falling out of the hammock.
“I came to see you.”
“How did you get back here?”
“Through the gate.”
“I mean, my parents didn’t see you?”
“They aren’t here.” Taylor ran into the house. She was right, no one was home. His heart thudded in his chest. He was alone with the psycho girl.
“Tay? Honey?” She said from behind him.
“What do you want?” He asked, fear written in his bright blue eyes.
“I don’t understand, baby, don’t you want to be with me?” Tears filled Madeline’s green eyes.
“No, I don’t. I don’t think that we should be together,” Taylor said, hoping she would leave.
“Why, what did I do?” She sobbed.
“It’s not you, it’s just that we aren’t right for each other.”
“I’m sorry, Taylor, I don’t know what I did, I’m sorry…” She threw her arms around Taylor’s middle. He tensed up, and tried to step away. She held him firmly.
“It’s okay, just go home.”
“I love you.”
“Please, Madeline.”
“I thought you loved me too! You said I was ten thousand roses!” She hiccuped. Taylor’s stomach turned over. That stupid song. This girl thought she was Madeline from the song. Madeline probably wasn’t even her name.
“Madeline, please, I’m sorry to do this,” Taylor pleaded. He wished his parents would get back.
“I can’t live without you, Taylor,” Madeline said, stepping back with a sad look in her eyes. She looked around, they were now in the kitchen. She stepped toward the counter, her eyes locked on the block with knives in it. Taylor grabbed her.
“What are you doing?” He exclaimed?
“I can’t live without you!” She shrieked, lunging for the counter. Taylor heard footsteps running through the house. His father appeared in the kitchen doorway. In a split second he had his arms around Madeline who was reacting strongly.
“Call the police,” He ordered. Taylor grabbed the phone and dialed 911. He told them there was an insane girl stalking him, and she had attacked. Madeline struggled with Walker until the police arrived. They carried her away as she screamed,
“You’re not playing right! It’s a game! It’s a game!”