Pepper, Mel and Tari knew that would happen.  They starred at the closed door sadly and Tari turned the key.  "Wait!  The door is opening!" Mel exclaimed and they turned to watch as it indeed opened and the woman walked out again.  She walked right over to the car and Mel rolled her window down.  "Hi.  We've noticed you've been by here a lot.  How far have you come?" she asked.  "Over 900 miles- we're from Michigan" Tari told her.  "Well, there is a really bored 12 year old in there and if you would like to help entertain him- I'm sure it would make your trip worthwhile".  Pepper looked at her friends as Tari and Mel looked at each other in amazement.  Mel nodded silently as Pepper exclaimed "We'd love to!"  "Good, you can park your car here in the driveway- the only thing is you can't bring your cameras in- especially your video camera" she told them and the girls agreed.  Tari backed the car up and parked it in the driveway.  They followed the woman into the garage.  "I'm Debbie, by the way- I'm Diana's sister" she explained and Pepper, Mel and Tari introduced themselves to her.  As they walked through the garage they saw the pansy, and stopped in amazement as they looked at the wall with Taylor's many drawings.  They also saw musical equipment and boxes.  Debbie pressed a button and the garage closed- the girls were going places no other fan had gone before- and they didn't look back...
        After going up some stairs, they found themselves in the kitchen.  It looked so normal- dishes in the sink, grocery bags on the counter and cereal boxes left on the table.  "O.K.- Zac is-" Debbie started to say as they entered the living room, and they soon saw a familiar blonde boy sitting on a big chair.  At the sight of the girls he smiled and laughed "it's the Blue Saturn girls! Hi!  I'm Zac- nice to meet you" he said and shook their hands.  "How many times have you driven by? 30?" he asked.  "No- just 20 or so" Mel defended with a smile.  "We were about to start throwing Twinkies at the house in hopes of getting in" Tari said and Zac laughed again.  "I'd come outside for a Twinkie- if they'd let me" he exclaimed.  "That's what we figured."  "I really loved it when you threw that box in the yard" Zac said to Tari.  "I threw it like a girl" she replied.  "Did you get your gifts?" Pepper asked.  "Yeah.  Thanks.  We are planning on going to Laserquest later today.  After Ike and Tay wake up".   At the sound of her favorite Hanson's name Mel felt a smile appear on her face.  Pepper noticed this "So Isaac and Taylor are here?  Mel, Isaac's here!"  Mel turned red and laughed nervously.  "Yeah, they are here- but are busy sleeping.  I want to go wake them up" Debbie heard this and could be heard from the kitchen, "Don't even think about it Zachary!"  "All right, all right" he answered and let out a big sigh.  "Wanna play a video game with me?" he asked.  Tari spoke up "OK, how about Mortal Combat?"  Zac agreed and set it up.  The two began to play and Pepper and Mel sat down watching Zac's face light up into a big smile.
        "Ashley's here!"  Debbie called  and soon a tall brown haired guy came into the room.  As soon as he saw the three girls with Zac, he stopped, "Hey Zac- got three girls over eh?!  Way to go buddy!  Is Taylor up yet?"  "When did you stop using the phone Ashley?  These are the Blue Saturn girls- I would tell you their names but I forgot.  Tay's sleeping."  Zac answered- not taking his eyes off of the screen, even for a minute.   Tari pushed pause on the game and faced Ashley.  "I'm Tari and this is Pepper and Mel" she told him.  Ashley smiled.  "I'm Ashley- Taylor's friend and I'm going to go wake him up now.  Excuse me ladies" he exclaimed and left the room.  Zac and Tari turned back to their game.  A shout was heard and before long Ashley was back- laughing.  "Well, both Isaac and Taylor are up.  Isaac raced Taylor to the bathroom and Isaac won- he is in the shower.  I didn't tell Tay-" and all of a sudden a familiar but tired looking Taylor came in wearing boxers and a T-shirt.  At the sight of the girls, his eyes grew wide and he turned right back to where he came from.  The whole room erupted with laughter.  Ashley followed his friend.  When they had gone Tari added to the moment with "I was only kidding when I said I would love to see Taylor in nothing but his boxers!"  Mel and Amy laughed and Zac smiled.  Soon Ashley was back.  "Taylor is in the shower now- Isaac will be out soon.  So where are you girls from?" he asked.  "Michigan" Pepper answered.  "And you came all this way to see these geeks?" he sarcastically asked.  "Hey, it was spring break- we had nothing better to do" Mel replied and Ashley smiled.  Mel's attention was soon focused on a tall figure walking into the room.  "Zac, you didn't close the shampoo bottle..." Isaac trailed off when he noticed the girls.  "Um, hi.  What's this?"  "Fans of yours" Ashley said.  "At least one of them is" Zac said with a smile.  "That would be Mel" Pepper said looking and smiling at a star-struck Mel.  Isaac smiled widely and extended his hand to her.  "Hi, I'm Isaac, but I bet you already know that."  Mel just stared, and turned bright red, "I'm touching Isaac Hanson!" she screamed to herself.  "Um...Er....Hi Isaac".  "Hi" he repeated, smiling warmly.  "You'll have to excuse us" Pepper began, "but this is a big moment for us."  "Why?" Zac asked, giving Pepper a strange look.  "This is like you guys meeting...."  "Cindy Crawford" Mel supplied.  "Yeah, this is as close as we've come to seeing anyone famous" Pepper finished.  Isaac laughed and walked into the kitchen, and Mel's eyes followed every movement.  "You guys want something to drink?"  "Dr.Pepper?"  Mel called out.  "Is that because you have read that we like it or because you really like it?" Isaac teased.  "We drink it all the time!" Mel informed him.  Isaac got a two liter and some cups and sat down in the living room with everyone else.  "So, who are you?" he asked.  "They're the Blue Saturn girls who have been stalking us" Zac casually said.  "The one's that keep going by?" Mel met Isaac's gaze and blushed again. "Yep, that would be us" Tari said from her spot on the couch.  "You really came 900 some miles to see our house?" Isaac asked incredulously.  "I guess you got our sign" Mel said.  "And your gifts- thanks.  The Mel and Ikes were a nice touch" he told her and Mel blushed even redder.  "We aren't obsessed... well, yeah we are, but not really obsessed.  It's not like we write your names all over our bodies" Pepper said.  "Yeah," Mel added, "because obsessed fans..."  "are scary" Isaac finished.  They shared another smile and Isaac knew Mel was a true fan of his.
        Tari and Pepper exchanged glances knowing how happy Mel must be, and then looked over at the doorway as a familiar Hanson walked in.  "Hi.  Um- sorry for before- I'm Taylor" he said blushing slightly.  "These are the blue Saturn girls Tay" Isaac told him with a big smile.  "Do these Blue Saturn girls have names?" Taylor asked.  Isaac kept smiling as he responded "Yeah- this is Mel and- I'm sorry, I didn't catch either of your names".  "I'm Pepper and this is Tari" Pepper spoke up.  "Hi!  Nice to meet you!  How long are you here for?" Taylor asked.  "We were planning on leaving today" Tari started, "since we really didn't see a lot- until now".  "Well, you should stay longer- we're usually stuck here or at our aunts so we get bored" Zac told them.  "We could show you around Tulsa" Isaac offered.  "We've been around" Tari started to say.  "But we won't argue if you want to give us a tour" Mel finished.  "I bet you went to Rex's, Blue Rose, LaserQuest and Bells" Taylor told them.  "Don't forget Big Splash" Pepper added.  "OK, we'll stay another night or so" Mel caved.  "I have to call my grandparents and we should call home too.  Plus, we should check back into the hotel" Tari sensibly said.  "Where are you staying at?" "Days Inn on Lewis" Pepper replied.  "Well, you can make your phone calls here and we can go to the hotel on our way to LaserQuest" Taylor offered.  "OK" Tari replied and followed  him into the kitchen to the phone.  The girls took turns on the phone and finally everyone was set to leave.  They told Debbie where they were going and walked out of the house.  "I get to ride in the Saturn!" Zac shouted and ran to the car.  Pepper laughed.  "Do you want to ride with us Mel?" Isaac offered.  He didn't have to ask twice- and before long Mel was sitting up front next to Isaac in the black blazer.  They drove to the hotel and Mel checked them back in.   They got the same room they had just left and the maid hadn't even cleaned yet!  Isaac, Taylor, and Zac stayed in the room as Ashley and the girls unloaded the stuff from the Saturn.  While they were outside, Taylor turned to Isaac, "At first I was a little nervous with those girls since they kept on going by our house so much but they seem really cool."  "Yeah, they aren't scary or anything" Zac added.  "I think its because they are older" Isaac said.  "That one girl- Mel- really likes you Ike!" Zac teased.  "Shut up- so...." he answered, blushing.  "I wonder who Pepper and Tari like" Zac thought outloud.  "I bet they are just general fans" Taylor answered.  "Shhhh!!! I hear Ashley!" Zac warned as Ashley walked into the room, holding the door open for the girls.  "OK, that's everything" Pepper told them.  "All right, our reservation at LaserQuest is at one, so follow us" Isaac told Amy as he got into the car.  Amy got into the Saturn and started the engine.  She followed Isaac to LaserQuest and they got out of the cars.  Ashley and the girls paid for their game and Isaac, Taylor and Zac showed their passes.  They broke up into teams- Isaac, Mel, and Zac on one team and Tari, Pepper, Taylor, and Ashley on the other team.  They got their equipment and guns and went into the dark room.  After a half an hour they were finished with their game.  They came out laughing hysterically.  Zac was really good at darting back and forth shooting everything, anything and everyone.  He had scored the highest amount of points- winning the game for his team.  They went into the lobby and began playing the various video games.  "I can't believe that no one has recognized you!" Pepper said to Taylor.  "Well, it's Tuesday afternoon and school isn't out yet.  There really isn't a problem with fans until the weekends.  Most people in Tulsa don't care or are used to seeing us around" Taylor explained.  "Pepper!  Go race Ashley.  He beat me twice already!" Tari said from the car racing game.  Ashley flashed a big smile and Pepper decided to accept the challenge.   Tari smiled, realizing that she was somewhat alone with Taylor.  "So, what else were you planning on doing today?" she asked. "I think I was going to go ride dirt bikes with Ashley" he replied.  "Oh,  I  heard you had bikes.  Are you any good at it yet?"  "It's fun.  Have you ever ridden one?" Taylor asked and looked at her.  "No.  I want to though.  It can't be that hard" Tari replied.  "You wanna come? You can watch and then, if you want, I can teach you how to ride" Taylor offered.  "OK, what about everyone else?" Tari asked.  "Do you think Pepper and Mel would want to go too?"  "Pepper might, she likes to be competitive about stuff like that.  Mel will if Isaac goes" Tari told him.  Taylor looked over to where Isaac and Mel were talking and laughing.  Taylor smiled as he watched his older brother flirt- or try to flirt.  "That's cool.  We'll probably leave here when Zac runs out of money- which won't be long" Taylor commented and Tari laughed.  "YES!!!!!!!!!!" Pepper exclaimed and stood up.  "No fair!  I want a rematch!" Ashley exclaimed.  "We can play as many times as you want, but I'll just beat you again and again!" Pepper told him with a smile.  "You're a competitive one" Ashley remarked.  Pepper smiled again and put more quarters in for another game.  "Ready?!" she asked slyly.  Ashley put his quarters in and nodded.  They shifted their concentration back to the game.  Meanwhile, Isaac and Mel were standing next to each other talking about the Blue Saturn highlights.  "And then when you came into out yard with the sign...  I never thought I would stop laughing!" Isaac exclaimed.  "You were home?" Mel asked in shock.  "No, we watched the whole thing on the surveillance video later.  When we came in Troy was laughing about it and was like 'you have got to see this' so we watched it" he explained and they laughed and smiled at each other.  "I was home when Tari threw the box in the yard- that was pretty funny too" Isaac added.  "We've had quite a week" Mel commented.  "So, what do you want to do today?" Isaac asked.  "I don't know- what did you have planned?" Mel answered.  "Well, I have to write a paper for my mom.  I've kind of put it off."  "What's the topic?"  "Any book or great work of literature that provokes thought.  I haven't even picked one yet." Isaac explained.  "Hey!  I have a paper due Monday on Lord Of The Flies I have to rent it to re-watch it though.  That would work for you too!  We could do that if you want." Mel suggested.  "I don't want to make you do homework on your break" Isaac told her.  "It's OK- really- I have to get it done sometime and you have a similar assignment.  Besides we'll be watching a movie- it's not like normal homework" Mel rationalized and Isaac agreed.  They walked over to where Tari and Taylor were standing and told them what they were going to do.  Zac finally ran out of money and joined them.  "Do you guys have any more money?" he pleaded.  "We are going to leave as soon as Pepper and Ashley finish their game" Taylor told his brother.  "And then what?" Zac asked.  "Then you can either go ride bikes at Ashley's or watch a movie for my report with Mel and I at home" Isaac offered.  "I'll go to Ashley's" Zac decided outloud.  Soon Ashley and Pepper joined them and it was obvious that Ashley had been defeated- again!  They left LaserQuest and went back to their house stopping at Blockbuster on the way to pick up the video.  When they got into the house, Isaac and Mel went inside and everyone else got into the Blazer and were soon on their way to Ashley's house.
        Mel followed Isaac to the living room and took a seat at one end of the couch.  It was odd to be in the same room with Isaac alone and Mel was extremely nervous.  She watched as he put the movie in and hunted for the remote.  He settled himself on the other side of the couch and grabbed his notebook and pen.  Mel tried to concentrate on what Piggy was saying, but she couldn't get over where she was and what she was doing.  Her eyes wandered, taking in every Hanson sight that she could.  Her lack of interest in the movie was noticed by Isaac and he smiled as her eyes wandered.  "Umm...You want a quick tour so you can concentrate on the movie?"  Mel looked expectantly at Isaac.  "Sure!  I mean... if its OK."  "Yeah, it's OK" he smiled at her look of shock.  "Oh man! I want my camera!" Mel said.  The boys room wasn't like Mel had pictured it at all.  "Um, we'd like to keep as much as we can out of the public eye" Isaac nervously said.  "My camera is out in Pepper's car, don't worry" she reassured him.  "can I see in your closet?"  "I guess so" he walked over and opened the door with some difficulty.  She hoped she would remember every detail about the room from where each dirty sock was to what clothes were hanging in the closet.  Suddenly, Mel remembered something.  "Can I see that brown shirt with the stripes?" "Um, which one?"  "The brown... never mind...." It was quiet again until Isaac let out a nervous giggle.  "Well, this is our room...do...you want to see the..." he gestured towards the hallway.  "Yeah." Mel followed closely behind as she saw the small bathroom, other bedrooms and the den.  She enjoyed seeing pictures of the family on the wall and the boys awards that were displayed in a nearby curio cabinet.  "And here's the backyard..." he opened the sliding back door and Mel stepped onto the back porch.  She desperately wanted her video camera, but settled on her memory instead.  Isaac looked at her with an amused smile.  "You know, it is impossible to concentrate.  Lets go into town- you can show me where you've been this week" Isaac suggested.  "OK, but why would you want me to show you places you've been before?" Mel asked.  "I just wonder where fans go when they come here.  You show me around and then we'll switch and I'll show you the places I like to go to- OK?"  "All right" Mel agreed and they went to the driveway.  Isaac threw Mel the keys to his aunts jeep, and they slipped through her hands, "Sorry, this isn't my catching week" she said- trying to make a joke of her clumsiness.  Isaac laughed.  "You drive first.  Do you know your way or do you need a map?"he asked.  "No.  I know where I'm going.  Um, are you sure you want me to drive?"  Mel asked and Isaac nodded.  Mel got into the jeep and unlocked Isaac's door.  He got in and put his seatbelt on.  Mel put hers on too and started the engine.    She carefully backed out of the driveway and drove towards town.  As they began to cross the Arkansas river, Mel pointed out her favorite billboard- For the Life Of Tulsa- St. Francis Hospital.  Isaac laughed .  "That's where you and Zoe were born- right?" Mel asked.  "Yeah, you must read a lot" "Better than doing my homework" Mel said.    In the next half hour Mel drove around Tulsa showing Isaac all of the places they had been earlier- Rex's, Blue Rose Cafe, Bell's, Big Splash, and the oil man at expo square.  She parked the car in front of the oil man.  "You're done?" Isaac asked- surprised.  "Yeah, the only other place we went to was LaserQuest, and we were just there earlier" Mel explained.  "OK, my turn!" Isaac exclaimed.  They got out of the car to switch places.  Isaac started the engine and began his own tour of Tulsa.  The next hour Mel saw parts of Tulsa she hadn't seen before.  Isaac showed her the airport, the school that he and Taylor had gone to (before their mom decided to home school them), a park where they liked to rollerblade, the pawn shop where he had bought his first guitar, and went by some of his friends houses.  They ended up at another park.  "This is where we did a photo shoot- would you like to walk around?" Isaac asked and Mel nodded.  They walked around and stopped near a pond.  "So tell me more about you- where are you from? What's your town like?" Isaac asked.  "I'm from a small town in Michigan.  It's not very exciting" Mel explained.  "But you're in college- right?" "Yeah, but it's a small private christian college in a smaller town than where I'm from." Mel continued.  "So has your trip been everything you expected?" "Oh yeah! And more!  But I've realized that you are normal people- its hard to explain." Mel said.  "We love what we are doing but the fans can get kind of crazy.  I wish I had a quarter for every time a fan told me that she loved me" Isaac said.  "I'm sorry for invading your privacy this week" Mel apologized.  "Its OK- you were amusing- trust me" Isaac said with a smile.  They walked around some more and talked.  They talked about everything and by the time the sun was about to set Isaac knew Mel as a person and not as a fan; and Mel knew Isaac as a person and not as a superstar.  She knew the real Isaac and not the pop-idol that fans made him out to be.
        Meanwhile, Tari put a helmet on her head and got onto Zac's bike.    She saw Taylor smiling at her and smiled back.  She was still excited from when he had shown her how to ride a few minutes earlier.  She had to show them that she could do it.  If Zac could- she could.  She started the engine and moved the bike through the backyard. She started slow but realized that she knew what she was doing.  She rode the bike around the yard and back to where everyone was standing.  She turned  the bike off and took the helmet off.  "Good job Tari!" Taylor exclaimed.  "Not bad" Ashley remarked.  "what do you know! Girls CAN ride!" Zac exclaimed. Pepper shot him a look.  "My turn" she told them.  "I'll show you how to start it and stop" Ashley offered and they walked to the bike. Tari walked over to Taylor.  "You should see Ashley on the 400 when he weaves in and around the trees" he told her.  Tari smiled, "Think you can show me how to do a small trick?" she asked.  "Sure" Taylor agreed.  "OK, make way for Pepper!" Ashley exclaimed.  "Start slow- all right Pepper?" Taylor urged.  "I can do it- it's just Zac's bike!" Pepper said determined to show what she could do, and put the helmet on her head.  She started the engine, and soon she was off riding the bike through the backyard with ease.  She saw the trees that Ashley had weaved through before and with a look of determination in her eye, she revved the engine and headed towards the trees.  Zac ran over to one of the 250s that was parked near by and started it up.  "Zac...wait!" Ashley called out, but the youngest member of Hanson was already speeding off towards Amy.  Meanwhile, Pepper was concentrating on keeping her RPM's even and didn't even see Zac's approaching cycle.  Zac's cycle suddenly surged forward causing him to weave back and forth.  "whoa!...WHOA!!!!!!" Zac tried to control the machine but couldn't.  Taylor, Tari, and Ashley all watched the accident occur in slow motion.  They began running before the bikes even hit.  Pepper saw Zac out of the corner of her eye, and tried to turn fast enough, but couldn't.  The bikes hit and Zac was thrown backwards while Pepper fell to the ground with her bike following her.  She heard Zac yell something as he fell, but the sound of the dirtbikes idling on the ground took over.  "Pepper!" Ashley shouted and soon ran to her side and got the bike under control and off of her.  "What...Ohhhh!  ow! OW!" Pepper said realizing a sharp pain in her legs- she couldn't move but tried.  Zac appeared to be all right.  "Zac's sore, he got the wind knocked out of him.  Pepper, are you all right?" Taylor asked as he approached.  Pepper couldn't speak.  "We have to get her to the hospital" Ashley told him and Taylor nodded.  Ashley carefully picked Pepper up and put her in the very back of the blazer.  Zac got in the backseat and Ashley drove to the hospital with Taylor and Tari in the front seat.  He drove up to the emergency room entrance and ran in to get help.  Before long, they had Pepper on a stretcher and she was wheeled into the emergency room.
        Meanwhile, Isaac and Mel entered the house laughing.  They were greeted by Debbie and Diana. "Where's everyone?" Isaac asked.  "I was just about to ask you the same thing.  And who's your friend?" Mrs.Hanson asked looking at Mel.  "Oh, this is Mel, she came here from Michigan." Isaac explained.  "Hi, nice to meet you" Mel said shyly as she shook Mrs.Hanson's hand.  "They're not back from Ashley's yet" Debbie cut in.  "Do you want us to go get them?" Isaac asked.  "I'll just call and see what they are up to" Mrs.Hanson said and began to walk towards the phone.   It rang before she could get there and she answered it.  A few minutes later she got off the phone.  "Isaac grab the keys, there has been an accident".
 
 

                            What will happen?
                            Will Pepper die?
                            What is going on between Isaac and Mel?
                            Not to mention Tari and Taylor?
                            How about Pepper and Ashley (if she lives)?
                            Where are the rest of the Hanson family?
                            And will Zac ever get to have the remote?
            All this and more in CHAPTER THREE