"Steph! Catch!" My Dad called as he threw an apple across the room to me.
"Thanks, Dad," I said, as I took a bite of the apple and shifted my bag on my shoulders.
"Your welcome. How was your day?"
I swallowed the apple and grinned. "Good, actually. I got an A for my English essay."
Dad grinned back as he stirred his coffee. "That’s my girl." I smiled again and headed out of the kitchen and towards my room. I dropped my bag on my bedspread and flopped into my desk chair, clicking the power button on my computer. My Dad’s quite cool, really. I mean, my friends are always saying how they hate their father, how they just got grounded by him, but me and my Dad, we’re really close. I guess it’s just because he works from home, so he’s always been there for me to talk to after school, and he’s kind of my ‘main parent’. My Mom is a lawyer, and she spends a lot of time at the office, so I don’t see her as much as I see Dad. And being an only child, I guess that makes us closer, too.
I waited for the computer to load, taking another bite of my apple. When it was done, I clicked my internet connection, and checked my mail. Nothing. I sighed and opened mIRC. I typed in my nick, Babybird, and waited for the computer to make the connection. I use mIRC a lot. It’s awesome to meet new people, and it’s really easy to indulge in my favourite pastime on-line - arguing. My Dad’s always telling me I’m too stubborn, but I think it just makes me who I am. It’s like what my math teacher said once, when I had a headache and had been quiet for the whole class, "Stephanie not arguing?? Can it be true?" I reckon that sums it up pretty well, actually. I like to argue in maths especially. I’ve discovered that arguing delays actually doing math, and that’s always a good thing.
The computer beeped, breaking into my thoughts and reminding me that I had to type in a channel name. There’s one channel that I’m always on……#hanson. Okay, I admit it, I like Hanson. I’m a teenybopper - not that I mention that often in public, but I am. I typed in the channel name and a window appeared on the screen. I quickly scanned the list of names and was glad to find my on-line ‘best friend’, Dr^Pepper, was on. I quickly typed in,
Babybird: Howdy all!
A couple of the regulars said hi, then Dr^Pepper said,
Dr^Pepper: Baby!! You’re here!!!
Babybird: Sure am, Pepper. A bit slow today, are we?
I opened a private chat with Pepper and started a conversation.
Babybird: Howzit?
Dr^Pepper: good thanks. You?
Babybird: the usual
Pepper is one year older than me, male, and living in the USA. His real name is Jordan, and he’s really nice. We stick up for each other in the channel, and mail each other regularly.
Babybird: Hey! Ya didn’t mail me!! *pout*
Dr^Pepper: Don’t pout! I’ve been busy - I’ll mail you right after we finish chatting, promise.
Babybird: humph!
Dr^Pepper: I’m sorry!
Babybird: *LOL* it’s ok, I forgive ya, I guess
After that, we both went back to the main channel and I started an argument with RR`, another regular, about cyber relationships.
Babybird: You can’t fall in love with someone over the net, RR. How can you love someone you’ve never met? How many people do you know who met on the net, and are still in a relationship in real life?
RR`: So it’s rare. But it can happen. Your getting to know the person for who they are, and not their appearance.
*** Toothpaste has joined #hanson
Babybird: Toothy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toothpaste: Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Babybird: Heya!
Toothpaste: What’s up, dahlink?
Babybird: Not much. I’m having a argument with RR. Wanna help?
Toothpaste: Sure. What’s the topic?
Babybird: Cyber relationships never work.
Toothpaste: Oh. But what about jjack and Meggy?
Babybird: That doesn’t count.
Toothpaste: why not?
RR`: yeah, why not?
Babybird: well, coz, umm
*Babybird is trying to stall the conversation coz she’s losing…….. :|
Toothpaste: *LOL*
Dr^Pepper: having some trouble, Baby?
*Babybird whispers "Psst! Pepper! Come help me win!"
Dr^Pepper: *LOL* give up, Baby!
*** hippie_chic has joined #hanson
Babybird: Hippie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hippie_chic: BB!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Babybird runs over to give hippie a hug
*hippie_chic runs away
Babybird: awwwwwww, hippie!!!
*Babybird curls into a miserable little ball in the corner
Dr^Pepper: Don’t sulk, Baby. I’ll hug ya! :)
*Babybird sulks harder
*Dr^Pepper walks over to the corner and hugs BB.
*Babybird hugs back
Babybird: Thanx, Pepper. I’m happy now! :)
"Steph!! Phone for you!!" My Dad’s voice rang throung the house and reached my bedroom I sighed and looked from the screen to the door.
"Ok, Dad! In a sec," I turned back to the screen, and just as I was about to type bye, I saw Pepper had opened a private chat with me.
Dr^Pepper: Baby, I really need to talk to you about something. Is that ok?
Babybird: I’m really sorry, Pepper. I have to go get the phone…….I’ll come back on in ten minutes, k?
Dr^Pepper: Umm, ok….see ya then
Babybird: bye!
I disconnected and closed the mIRC window. I reached the hall just as Dad did. He handed me the portable phone.
"It’s Katie, I think"
"Thanks, Dad" I took the phone off him and pressed the talk button.
"Hello?"
It was Katie, and she was just ringing to tell me about a party at her house that weekend. I agreed to go and got her off as soon as I could. I re-connected to mIRC, only to find that Pepper had left already. I sighed as I, once again, disconnected. I couldn’;t help wondering what it was he wanted to talk about…but whatever it was, it sounded serious. I just hoped he’d be back on next time I connected. I quietly turned the screen off on my computer and left my room.
chapter two
The computer pinged and I went through the familiar process of typing in the channel name. When the window appeared, I scanned the list of names. My excitement dampened when I found Jordan’s nick wasn’t among them. I glanced back at the main window and typed in;
Babybird: Hey guys!!!
IronGal Hey BB!!!!!!!
Babybird: hi!!!!!
hippie_chic: BB!!!!!!!
Babybird: hey hippie
*hippie_chic runs in rectangles
Babybird: has anyone seen pepper?!?!?
hippie_chic: he was on a while ago, asking for you….
Babybird: damnit! Did he say if he was coming back?
hippie_chic: nope..
Babybird: hmmmmm
hippie_chic: lalalalalala
IronGal: BB - didya get my mail?Babybird: I’ll go check it now….hang on a sec….
I opened my mailbox and sifted through the mail. There was the usual junk mail, a letter from Geocities, and Iron’s letter. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Jordan’s address in the window. I quickly opened the letter and started reading.
Hey,
I’m sorry I missed you. My Mom wanted me to help her with something, so I had to get off. I’ve just been in #hanson, looking for you, but you weren’t there. I still need to talk to you, so, umm, I’ll be on again in about three hours, and if you're there, we can talk.
See ya,
Jordan.
I checked the time the mail had been sent - Adding the time difference between Tulsa and New York, I reaslised I had about one and a half hours until he was on again. I closed my mailbox and opened mIRC again.
Babybird: Thanx for the mail, Iron. I’ll write you back right away.
IronGal: kewl
*Rain99 has joined #hanson
Babybird: Heya Rain!! Howareya?
Rain99: good, thanx. How about you?
Babybird: I’m doing okay.
Rain99: Hey - what’s up with Pepper? He seemed pretty flustered before….asking where you were, saying he needed to talk - what’s happened?
Babybird: I have no idea. I keep missing him…but he said he had something he needed to talk about.
Rain99: Wonder what it was……
Babybird: hmm……
I chatted a while longer before I left to get a snack. It was only yesterday that Jordan had told me he needed to talk, but it had been bugging me all day. In school, I’d spent most of my spare time pondering what could possibly have happened, but nothing came to mind….
I filled a glass with milk and grabbed some cookies from the jar in the kitchen. I nibbled on a biscuit as I connected again. Dad always says I shouldn’t get near the computer, but I figure if ive done it for two years already - why stop? When #hanson came up, I searched the list. Finding Jordan was on, I opened a private chat with him, ignoring the main window.
Babybird: heya! I got your mail…
Dr^Pepper: good.
Babybird: so….?
Dr^Pepper: okay…umm, right
Babybird: You wanted to talk to me about something…?
Dr^Pepper: Umm, yeah…
Babybird: well….?
Dr^Pepper: ok….. Steph?
Babybird: yes?
Dr^Pepper: I’m ….. my name’s not Jordan.
I blinked. His name wasnt Jordan?? That wasn’t really what I had expected him to say…. Not that I really knew what exactly I HAD expected him to say….
Babybird: no?
Dr^Pepper: no.
Babybird: So then what is it? And why did you lie?
Dr^Pepper: my name is Issac. Clarke Isaac Hanson.
chapter three
My mouth dropped open and I stared at the computer before regaining my composure. And then, a wave of embarrassment swept over me. This was the guy I’d confessed all my thoughts on hanson to?? This was the guy I’d told about my crush on Ike??? I just about fell off my seat as all the things I’d said came rushing back to me. I seriously came real close to headbanging the keyboard. But the weird thing was, I didn’t for a minute think that he could be lying to me. As much as I felt both excitement and dread at the thought, it all made so much sense. The overseas trips, the time spent away from the computer. Now that I knew, I couldn’t understand how I hadn’t made the connection before.
Dr^Pepper: Steph?? I’m sorry I never told you. Please forgive me! You have to understand, what would have happened if I’d told anyone… I waited this long to tell you to make sure I could trust you. I’m really really sorry. I just didn’t want you to treat me differently….
Dr^Pepper: talk to me, please!
Dr^Pepper: say something??
Babybird: I’m not mad.
Dr^Pepper: so you’re talking to me??
Babybird: I’m just shocked, I guess…. And embarrassed.
Dr^Pepper: embarrassed??
Babybird: well… yeah
Dr^Pepper: why?
Babybird: Because, well, I said things to you about you guys, and well… it was you all along...
Dr^Pepper: Don’t be embarrassed. It was great to have someone to talk to who didn’t have their judgement clouded by knowing it was me. You told the truth, and I really appreciate that.
Babybird: the truth wasn’t always kind…
Dr^Pepper: Yeah, but thats a good thing… It helped me to know what fans really think.
Babybird: If it worked so well that way,then why did you tell me?
Dr^Pepper: I’m not really sure. I guess I just got sick of lying. So when I decided I was going to tell you yesterday, I had to do it. That's why I made such a big deal out of it…
Babybird: It IS a big deal!
Dr^Pepper: I know….
Babybird: hey… how come you picked Jordan then? Why not Clarke?
Dr^Pepper: hmm, let me think.. could it be because Clarke is the most disgusting name in the history of mankind? Clarke? Plus, Jordan was the first thing I thought of.
Babybird: heh
There was a long pause before he said;
Dr^Pepper: BB? I’ve got to go…. My Mom’s calling me….. mail me, k?
Babybird: yup. See ya later...
*Dr^Pepper leaves the room hesitantly
I leaned back in my chair. So Pepper was Isaac? I got a mental image of him sitting behind the computer, typing in the messages I had come to love getting. It did make a lot of sense. But I still couldnt get over the stuff Id said to him. I groaned, and keaned forward to turn off the computer. I flopped onto my bed, and lay watching the ceiling, going over the thoughts that were running through my mind at an incredibly fast pace. Isaac’s words kept coming back to me. "…I didnt want you to treat me differently.." What if I did treat him differently from now on? My gaze shifted from the glowing plastic stars that cover my ceiling to the Hanson poster on my wall, and Isaac’s face. The deep brown eyes, the wavy blonde hair - this was the face behind the words? I sighed again, and, climbing off my bed, headed for the lounge.
mail me, damnit! Mail me NOW
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