Chapter Four This is a FICTIONAL story Names have been changed Amy and Cari have nothing to do with the writing of this story           The next morning Pepper woke up to the sound of the shower.  She looked over at the sink where Mel was brushing her wet hair.  "Aghhhh!!!" she groaned as she looked at the alarm clock- 9:15.  They had to be at the Hanson's in 45 minutes.  She put a pillow over her head to protest the day.  She heard Tari shut off the water and listened for her turn in the bathroom.  "Good morning sunshine!" Tari greeted as she lifted the pillow from Pepper's face.  Pepper shot her friend a grouchy look and hobbled into the bathroom.  Tari laughed and looked at Mel who was carefully braiding her hair.  "So... Dreams can come true- huh Mel" Tari teased.  "You know it" Mel blushed.  She couldn't wait for the day to begin.
        Before long, they were on their way to see their favorite three blonde brothers.  They pulled into the driveway, parked the Saturn, and they walked around to the back door.  Pepper knocked on it and soon they were greeted by Mr.Hanson.  "Good Morning ladies, they've started to practice already.  You can go on down into the garage and take a seat."  The girls went inside and could hear the sound of drums.  They went downstairs and sat down on the couch that was near the staircase.  Taylor was talking about something and Isaac was fixing a string on his guitar.  Zac was listening to Taylor while twirling a drum stick in one hand.  Isaac saw the girls come in and smiled at Mel.  Mel smiled back.  "Ok, let's take it from the top" Taylor commanded.  Zac counted them off and the first notes of Where's the love filled the air.  Mel, Pepper and Tari were in heaven.  For the next two hours they watched as the guys performed familiar songs in a way they never heard before.  Pepper smiled a lot and thought about how this definitely made her trip.  Before long, practice was over and Mrs.Hanson came downstairs with sandwiches, chips, pickles, and pop on a tray for lunch.  They thanked her and ate happily.  "So what did you think?" Taylor asked/ "It was great!" Tari replied.  "Better than I've ever imagined!" Mel added.  "It was incredible" Pepper remarked.  "Thanks" Isaac said.  "So what's going on today?" Ashley asked as he entered the garage.  "We're going to play paint ball and even Pepper can play.  It's all about strategy" Taylor told them.  "Paintball... I've always wanted to try it" Mel said.  "Me too, I hear it helps get out aggression" Pepper added.
        A few minutes later they were on their way.  After getting their gear, they separated into two teams- girls Vs. guys.  Mel, Tari and Pepper huddled together to strategize.  "How am I supposed to shoot Isaac?" Mel worried.  "Just think of the frustration you felt in the past few weeks when the tour information was promised but never revealed and we hoped for new information but never got it" Pepper reasoned.  Tari and Mel remembered their anger and knew this wouldn't be hard.  They went into the field and spread out.  Pepper covered herself in mud to blend in with the swamp and waited.  Tari climbed a tree and watched.  Mel stood behind a big rock and her eyes darted back and forth as she watched and waited.  Before long a small and relatively stupid Zac came running.  Mel took aim and hit him on the shoulder.  Then he aimed and hit the rock.  Mel smiled as she hit him again in the chest.  Zac decided to change direction.  He ran toward the swamp.  Pepper saw him and took aim.  "Aghhhh!" Zac shrieked as she hit the shield that was over his eyes.  He ran away to clean it off.  Tari decided to try to find someone to shoot.  She saw something moving in a tree.  She darted behind a bush and waited.  She heard him cough and shot the tree.  Isaac came down, running at her.  Tari shot furiously.  "Take that, Ugly!" she thought with a smile as she shot him several times.  He decided to give up and ran away.  Tari chased him for awhile and finally stopped- laughing too hard to run very fast.
        Mel spotted Isaac running but didn't move.  She had heard footsteps a few minutes ago and was watching everything around her cautiously.  She finally saw Taylor in full view and range.  She let the anger and frustration she had felt months earlier (when Taylor was focused on more than Isaac in magazines, tour info was promised but not released, and when she had waited in front of the television all of her Christmas break for the I will come to you video) writhe inside of her as she looked at her target.  She took aim and missed by about an inch.  He turned around to see where the shot had come from.  Mel went back behind her rock and loaded her gun.  Taylor came closer and closer to her.  He saw her and snuck around a tree.  "AGHHHHHH!!!" he yelled as he ambushed.  He took aim and pulled the trigger- and gasped when nothing happened!  He didn't load his gun right!  His eyes grew wide and Mel smiled as she turned the ambush around, shooting Taylor profusely.  He ran away before Mel ran out of ammo.
        The game/battle continued and by the end, it was obvious who the winners were, even though the guys had managed to get a few shots in.  Ashley was so good, he had remained hidden so well that when he shot both Mel and Tari, they couldn't figure out where the shots had come from.  As they left the paint ball range, they decided to go back for showers.  "Mel, come here, I want to ask you something" Isaac said on the way to the cars.  Mel stopped walking and looked at him inquisitively.  "I want to take you out to dinner tonight- alone.  Since it's our last night together." Isaac suggested.  Mel smiled.  "all right.  Does it matter what I wear?" she asked.  "Not really.  It's kind of nice but nothing terribly fancy.  I thought we would go to Outback Steakhouse- Ok?"  Isaac said and Mel nodded.  They continued to walk to the cars.  "We'll meet you at your house around 3:30" Pepper told them as she opened her car door.  "Dad's barbecuing tonight so make sure you're hungary" Taylor said.  "Mel and I are going out soon after you get there" Isaac told them.  "Oh. Ok" Tari responded with a smile, and looked down at her feet.  "Ok, see you at 3:30" Ashley said, anxious to get the leaves and sticks out of his hair.  He hated the thought of Pepper seeing him like this but then again- she was quite muddy herself- he thought as he watched Pepper get into the car.  Soon both cars were on their way to separate places.
        "So, you and Mel are going out to dinner" Taylor said as Isaac drove.  "Yeah... So?"  Isaac questioned.  "Where are you taking her?" Ashley asked.  "Outback" Isaac replied.  "Ohhhhh..." Taylor said with a smile.  "Will you shut up! I really like her!" Isaac snapped.  "Are you in love?" Zac asked.  "I don't know... maybe... I just... I've never felt this way before...  I just met her..." Isaac blushed.  Ashley looked at his red face.  "You know, Mel is slightly older than you..." he began.  "So?" Isaac asked, not quite understanding why Ashley brought this up.  "So- I shouldn't mention it with the 12 year old around-" he continued.  "Hey!" Zac exclaimed defensively when he realized that he was being discussed.  "and it might not be a factor- but Mel has probably had lots of other boyfriends... and maybe she expects more than a kiss at the end of this "thing" between the two of you- if you know what I mean..." Ashley finished.  "You are such a pervert!" Zac told him and Taylor laughed "Just what I was thinking."  Isaac thought for a minute.  "You're full of it!" he told Ashley and kept his eyes on the road.  He drove home in silence as Taylor, Ashley and Zac talked about the paintball match.  Isaac tried to shake Ashley's words from his head, but couldn't- he thought about it all the way home.
        "What am I going to wear?!" Mel asked Tari frantically as Pepper was in the shower (with a plastic bag over her cast).  Tari smiled and walked over to the closet.  She stood next to her frantic friend and examined the choices.  "Um...  Wear this" Tari suggested and handed Mel a pair of brown corduroy shorts and an off-white long sleeved shirt with a burgundy stripe.  "I can wear my brown sandals with this" Mel realized and breathed a sigh of relief.  "Aghhh!!!" Pepper yelled.  Tari and Mel ran to the bathroom door.  "It's Ok, I almost fell but I'm Ok" Pepper called as she shut off the water.  A few minutes later, Tari helped her out of the bathroom.  Mel went in to take her shower.  When Mel was done, Tari went in.  Mel went to the sink and began to brush her teeth.  Pepper looked at her friend.  "Mel, be careful.  I don't want you to get hurt."  Mel finished brushing her teeth and began to put on makeup.  "Pepper, I'll be all right.   I know what I'm doing.  Thanks for your concern though" Mel told her.  "After tomorrow you'll never see him again" Pepper reasoned.  "I know... But, I'll have my memories" Mel said softly as Tari came out of the bathroom.  The three girls got ready and soon it was time for them to leave for the Hanson's.
        Isaac looked at himself in the mirror.  He critically gazed at his reflection.  He looked at the Khakis and short sleeved shirt he had just put on.  "Maybe I'll wear the blue shirt" he said and walked back over to the closet.  "Ike! You look fine!" Taylor exclaimed.   "You've already tried on five shirts already" Zac added.  "I know, I know..." Isaac said and walked back over to the mirror.  He decided that the green shirt he had on was all right after all.  'Ike?  How do you know if a girl wants you to kiss her?"  Taylor asked.  Isaac thought about the previous day.  Mel didn't know it, but she had given him his first kiss.  "You don't.  It just sort-of happens" Isaac replied.  "So you have kissed Mel!" Zac exclaimed and Isaac flushed.  Taylor smiled, "Shut up Zac!  So, what if you want to kiss her and she doesn't want to kiss you?" Taylor continued.  "Then you get slugged" Zac reasoned.  "Zac!" Taylor exclaimed as Zac couldn't hold his laughter anymore.  "Well yeah, then  you get slugged" Isaac said with a laugh. "What's so funny?" Ashley asked as he entered the room.  "Taylor's going to try to kiss Tari" Zac replied.  Ashley faked a laugh, "Ha ha ha that is funny... shut up dorkiss" Ashley said sarcastically.  Taylor smiled.  "You should try to kiss Pepper.  Now that would be funny"  "I bet I can get Tari and Pepper to kiss you" Zac exclaimed.  "Yeah right.  How much says that?" Ashley asked.  "$10 says that I can get them to kiss both of you.  Tari to kiss Taylor and even Pepper to kiss you, Ashley!" Zac exclaimed.  "I don't know..."Taylor trailed off.  "THE GIRLS ARE HERE!" Mrs.Hanson called.  "Bet?" Zac asked.  "You're on!" Ashley agreed for his friend and himself.  Isaac started to walk towards the door.  "Isaac, wait.   I have something for you"  Ashley said as Taylor and Zac went downstairs to greet the girls.  "What?" Isaac asked skeptically.  Ashley put a condom into Isaac's hand with a sly smile.  "You're such a pervert" Isaac said as he put it in his pocket.  They walked downstairs to meet everyone.
        Taylor and Zac were laughing with the girls when Ashley and Isaac came into the room.  Mel smiled when she saw Isaac enter the room.  "You look nice.  Ready to go?"  Isaac asked.  "Thanks.  You look good yourself.  Sure, let's go!" Mel responded with a smile.  "See you later!  Have fun Ike!" Ashley said with a wink.  "You too" Isaac responded.  Isaac took Mel's hand in his and they walked out to the car.
        "So, what do you want to do?" Tari asked.  "Let's go to the treehouse"Zac suggested.  "all right" Pepper said and they turned  to her in amazement.  "I'd like to- if someone will help me get up there" Pepper continued.  "OK!" Ashley agreed, and they all started to walk to the back yard.  Ashley helped Pepper over to the treehouse and helped her up to it.  "Thanks" she said politely.  When everyone was in the treehouse, Taylor looked at his younger brother.  "Oh yeah this is fun" he said sarcastically.  "Ok.... Ok... Let's do something" Zac replied.  "Like what?"  Pepper asked.  "Let's play truth or dare" Zac suggested slyly.  "Come on Zac!  These girls don't want to play truth or dare!" Ashley complained.  "No...  It's all right- it kind of sounds like fun" Tari said.  "It could even be interesting" Pepper added.  "Good.  We'll play, but you only get one chicken- not three" Zac told them with a grin.  Everyone agreed.  It was going to be an interesting game indeed.
        Meanwhile, Isaac and Mel were seated opposite each other at Outback Steakhouse.   "When are they going to wait on us?"  Isaac asked, getting upset because he was starving.  "We've only been here five minutes" Mel laughed.  "Calm down."  She turned the page of the menu.  Isaac started to sweat slightly.  He tried to concentrate on the drink list, but his mind kept replaying his earlier conversation with Ashley.  "Does Mel expect more?" he wondered.  His attention was soon diverted when the waiter finally came to take their order.
    Back at the treehouse, the game was starting.  "Pepper, you go first" Zac said smiling.  He was going to put his plan into action.  He wanted his $10.  "Ok," Pepper began.  "Umm... Tari.  Truth or dare?" Tari knew Pepper enough to know she wouldn't embarrass her with any question.  "Truth"  "What was your last dream about?"  Tari glanced at Pepper.  Just that morning Tari had told her friends about her dream that had a steamy Taylor part.  Tari wasn't about to back out of the question.  "I dreamt about a date with a cool guy and we made out"  "Ha" Tari thought to herself.  Pepper asked what the dream was about not who.  "Your turn" Ashley told her.  "Hmmm... Zac. Truth or dare?"   "Dare!" Tari thought for a moment.  "I dare you to..." she looked around and saw a daddy long leg spider crawling up one wall of the treehouse.  "I dare you to eat that spider."  Everyone turned to look at the spider.  "Yuck" Taylor said.  "So, are you taking a chicken?"  "No Way!" Zac captured the spider by one of its legs and held it over his mouth.  Tari couldn't believe Zac was actually going to eat the insect.  "Come on Zac... eat it!" Ashley taunted.  Zac counted down from three in his head.  "3...2...1..." he let go and swallowed the spider, as everyone else looked on in amazement.  "Aghhh!  I can't believe you did that!" Tari exclaimed.  Zac was feeling pretty good about himself.  Now he could try to get his bet won.  "Pepper..."  "Yeah?"  "Truth or dare?"  "Truth" Zac was a little disappointed.  He would have to wait till the girls chose dares.  "all right... Um..." he couldn't think of a good question.  "Ummmm...."  "ZAC!  Just pick something!" Ashley told him.  "Ok, ok... Pepper, who is your favorite Hanson brother?"  Pepper hesitated, then blurted her answer out.  "Taylor"  "Taylor?" Ashley thought to himself.  "O.k. Truth or dare Ashley"  "Taylor... Is that why....?"  "hello!  pay attention!" Taylor hit his friend causing him to break out of his daze.  "Huh?  What? oh.. um... dare..."  Pepper thought of a good dare...  something sick... something gross... something to make Ashley take the first chicken of the game...  "O.k.  Kiss Taylor."  "NO!" Taylor protested.  "You want me to kiss my best friend?"  "Yeah"  Pepper knew he would object.  Then Ashley would be close to losing the game.  To her surprise, and everyone else's, Ashley took a deep breath and quickly kissed his best friend... on his arm.  "There... you didn't say where to kiss him..." Ashley reminded as Pepper's mouth opened to protest.  "That was sick man..." Taylor said, wiping his arm.  "Anything to win buddy" he shot his friend a look.  "oh, right." Taylor wanted that $10 from Zac too.  The game proceeded.  Tari had to cluck like a chicken, Pepper had to reveal her secret fantasy, and Zac amused them all with the dares he kept having to do.  Everyone was in good spirits.  Tari and Pepper had never laughed so hard, Taylor was thinking what he would buy with his money from his brother.
        Back at the Outback, Isaac smiled over his cup at something Mel had just said.  He watched as she dipped each fry into the ranch dressing and laughed to himself as she kept narrowly missing getting sauce on her shirt.  Mel kept chatting, but he wasn't really listening.  "What does she want?"  he asked himself.  "Just ask her stupid" his self conscious told him back.  "what if she doesn't want anything?"  he shifted in his seat.  "What if she does?" He cleared his throat and started squirming.  "What?" Mel had noticed Isaac's sudden discomfort.  "Nothing." He smiled at her to reassure her and she smiled back.  "What are we doing after we're done eating?"  Mel asked between bites.  "What do you want to do?" he smiled when Mel blushed.  She knew exactly what he was thinking.  "Where can we go to be alone?"  He leaned forward over the table.  "My aunt won't be home.  She'll be at the barbecue..."  His response got an immediate answer as Mel nodded. "Let's go" he said eagerly and motioned for the check.
        Meanwhile, the game was still in effect.  Everyone but Zac had used their chickens.  Zac had them right where he wanted them.  Pepper was determined to make Zac chicken so that they would all be on the same level or maybe even be able to end the game.  Her insecurity was high without a chicken to fall back on.  "Zac, your turn- Truth or dare?" she asked.  "all right!" Zac thought "next time I get to do the asking!" Zac smiled, knowing that he was about to win the game.  "I choose truth" he leaned back, waiting for the question.  Tari whispered something into Peppers ear and Pepper's face turned red with embarrassment.  "I can't ask him that!" Tari laughed.  "Do you really want to know the answer?" Tari's friend asked her.  "No, not really, but it'll be funny- come on!"  "You ask!"  Pepper wasn't about to question what Zac might do in privacy.  "You are sick!  Zac... have you ever wet the bed and if so, when was the last time?"  Tari groaned.  "That's a dumb question!  I liked my question better!"  Zac answered the question and then looked triumphantly at his brother and Ashley.  "Pepper..."  "Dare" she interrupted.  His large smile made Taylor wonder what was up his little brother's sleeve.  Then it dawned on him what Zac's plan was.  "Crap!  We're going to lose the bet!" he cursed himself for falling into his brothers trick.  "He's smarter than I thought!"  "Pepper, I dare you to..." He glanced at Ashley who was zoned out.  "... Kiss Ashley on the lips for three seconds." Pepper flushed and her breath caught in her throat.  "what?" she screeched.  Ashley looked up and met her gaze.  "You heard me" Zac was very proud of himself.  The money was practically his.  "Pepper, don't chicken.  Just do it."  Tari told her.  "I'm not going to lose the game" she said to herself.  With all eyes on her, she rose and went over to Ashley.  She didn't think, just lowered her head and whispered a plea to the dark haired boy.  "Please don't french me..." Her lips met his and she held them there while Zac and Tari counted.  "1....2.....21/2.......3......" Pepper pulled away, blushing.  Taylor gave his friend a wide smile and got one back in return.  Pepper hit Zac lightly on the head as she sat back down.  He knew she wouldn't back down.  She wanted to win too badly.  "I can't believe she did that!" Taylor whispered to his grinning friend.  "Yeah..." Tari was laughing at Pepper's embarrassment.  "all right... let's keep going... Tari... I dare you to kiss Taylor"  "Wait, she gets to choose truth or..." Taylor didn't get the chance to finish.  Tari grabbed his shirt and forced him towards her.  They kissed longer than the three seconds that Pepper and Ashley had before.  "Whoa! Ok- you can stop now!" Zac exclaimed and Tari backed away from Taylor with a smile on her face.  Taylor couldn't help but smile too.  Zac smiled, knowing two certain guys who owed him some money...
        Isaac opened the garage door to his aunts house and parked the Blazer in the driveway.  he looked at his watch.  "They must've just left" he said as he found a house key under a potted plant on a shelf.  He opened the door, "Aunt Debbie?  Uncle Mark? Is anybody here?" Isaac called.  No one answered.  "Well, this is my aunt and uncle's house." Isaac said and Mel nodded.  "You want to watch a movie?" Isaac asked, getting somewhat nervous.  "That's fine" Mel answered.  Isaac put a movie in the VCR and brought the remote with him to the couch.  He pushed play and the previews began.  They both knew they wouldn't be watching much of the movie.
        "Come and get it!" Mr.Hanson yelled.  For the first time they really noticed all of the people that had gathered for the barbecue.  Pepper and Tari were introduced to several aunts, uncles and cousins.  They took their food and sat under a tree.  Mackenzie saw his two older brothers go and looked up at his mom.  "Me too!" he said.  Mrs.Hanson smiled.  "Taylor, Mackenzie's going to eat with the big kids." Taylor smiled at his baby brother.  "Wow Mackie!  You sure are lucky!"  Mackenzie nodded his head proudly, a wide grin on his face.  Tari looked at Mackenzie's food, "You must like watermelon" she said after noticing a lot of watermelon and a hot dog on his plate.  "Yum!" Pepper added.  Ashley couldn't hold his smile back.   It would be an interesting meal- just Mackenzie and "the big kids".
        Meanwhile, Isaac's mind was not on the movie.  He wondered what he was supposed to do.  "calm down! It'll be all right!" he told himself.  He looked at Mel, who looked into his eyes.  "What is Isaac's problem tonight?" She thought.  Isaac came closer to her.  "It's now or never.  I need to let Mel see how I feel about her" he leaned over and gently caught her kiss and she responded.  It was going farther and farther and farther and they both realized it, but neither made any attempt to slow down.  It just felt... natural...  "Yes, it's just right to move farther" Mel thought to herself.  She relaxed contentedly as Isaac moved his mouth from her lips and tentatively touched her neck.  Mel's eyes closed and all her mind could focus on was Isaac's soft lips and her racing pulse.  Isaac, caught up in his own feelings, slowly lowered his hand.  Mel faintly realized where his warm hand was but it wasn't too close yet.  His hand slowly moved more, but still Mel's mind told her it wasn't close enough yet for her to be alarmed.  His hand stayed still just out of indecency, and he knew it.  His mind reveled at how close he was to taking a big step for someone as inexperienced as he was.  He wasn't sure if Mel would let him get closer to her, or if she would ask him to stop.  He wanted to plan his move, but in his nervousness, his hand accidentally brushed across her.  "Isaac.." she didn't want to say it, she hoped that she wouldn't have the guts to tell him, but if he was feeling half of what he was feeling, she knew they had to stop.  "Wait..."  Apparently, he didn't hear her because he didn't stop his assault. "Hey... wait...  wait...WAIT!" She struggled to sit up, but found it difficult with Isaac's weight on her.  As soon as she started struggling, Isaac stopped and let her sit up.  "Sorry... I couldn't... I mean...  I didn't hear you... I'm sorry..." he stumbled.  He sat up straight and smoothed his hair.  His breathing matched Mel's, as did his face.  Embarrassment and passion made his face flush.  Mel straightened herself up, and smoothed her wrinkled clothes.  It was silent except for their labored breathing.  The hall clock ticked extremely loud, and Mel heard the air conditioning kick on.  Isaac attempted to break the silence.  "You think that's a sign that we need to cool down?" he joked referring to the swooshing of the air coming from the vents.  "Yeah..." Mel said looking straight ahead.  Isaac looked at her until he met his gaze.  "I'm sorry" he said softly. Mel broke the gaze.  "You don't have to be sorry for anything.  I wanted it too... But..."  she trailed off, once again looking ahead.  Isaac let out a deep breath and leaned back into the couch.  He ran both hands through his hair, and then turned to face Mel.  "Listen..." he began, "I let myself get carried away.  The truth is I wanted to go farther but that's not possible.  I mean...  I like you more than anyone I know and I want to be more and do more but...." he was rambling, and stopped talking when he realized it.  "Isaac, It's Ok... really!" Mel glanced up at the fumbling boy next to her.  "I was getting a little nervous when you hesitated to stop though." Isaac flushed crimson again.  "Yeah, I guess I wasn't paying attention" he said with an embarrassed smile.  "I just figured... well, since you're older and more experienced they you'd..."  "What?"  Mel turned to face Isaac.  "More experienced?"  "Well, yeah...  I mean, you are three years older than I am.  I just figured that you expected me to..." Mel held up her hand.  "Whoa!  Stop!"  she shook her head.  "You did what you thought I expected you to?"  "Well, yeah... Ashley said that..."   "Forget about what Ashley said" she interrupted, "He doesn't know anything.  I did what I did because of the way I feel about you..." Isaac smiled widely.  "So..." he moved closer as he spoke.  "You wanted to..."  Mel playfully teased him along.  "Oh yeah...." she nodded her head and smiled.  He moved in to kiss her, but Mel's comment stopped him and his next idea.  "But, until there's a ring on this finger, you'll have to live with what I will give."  With that, she reached for the motionless boy next to her and gave him a slow, chaste kiss.
        Taylor shot pop out of his mouth, spraying Tari who was sitting near him.  "Sick!" she complained as she dabbed the dark liquid off of her shorts.  Taylor tried to apologize, but was laughing too hard at his little brother.  Mackenzie had just smashed the piece of cake that he was just given on Pepper's head.  As the frosting slowly slid down her cheek, she stood up and shook her head, causing chunks of chocolate to fly everywhere.  "Mackie!"  Zac grabbed his blonde brother and told him to apologize.  "You look funny!" Mackenzie laughed, pointing to Pepper.  "Mom!" Zac tried to get his mothers attention, but she was no where in sight.  "I cannot believe you just did that!"  Pepper gingerly touched her dessert covered head and removed her hand when she felt the thick ooze.  "It's a good look for you Pepper"  Tari said in between giggles.  "Really?"  Pepper asked.  She reached for her pop and poured it over her mocking friend's head.  "You jerk!" Tari grabbed her vegetable dip and threw it towards Pepper, but succeeded  in hitting Ashley's arm instead.  "Hey!  I'm not in this!" he protested.  "You are now!" Taylor warned his friend as he reached for his coke.  Soon, food and drink was flying and screams of laughter were heard by everyone.  "What in the world?"  Diana heard the commotion from inside the kitchen and went outside to investigate.  Oblivious to Zac's rapidly approaching mom, Pepper grabbed a handful of potato salad and smeared it in Zac's face.  "That is for making me kiss Ashley"  "Pepper!  What on earth?!"  Slowly, a potato salad covered hand pulled away from Zac's face.  "Mrs.Hanson... I was... just..."  Pepper flushed  from embarrassment.  Diana was not too happy.  A crowd formed around the food covered group.  "It's Ok Mrs.Hanson" Ashley spoke up walking towards Zac, Pepper, and his friend's fuming mother.  "Zac got what was coming to him"  Pepper turned to Ashley with a grateful smile.  "Thanks Ashley..."  Suddenly, cold lumpy Jell-O found it's way into her mouth.  Ashley had just smeared the orange gelatin in her face.  She bent over letting the ooze fall in the grass.  "You're welcome Pepper"  Ashley said with a laugh.  "That... was for being cranky... all the time."  Pepper just stood there, food cascading off in glops.  Ashley reached over and wiped a chunk off of her cheek.  "Mmmmm...  Still good." He licked his fingers and gave her a wicked grin.  "If I could run, you'd be dead" she told him.  "Yeah, sure..." he scoffed.  She laughed.  "all right, you win.  Now come here and help me back to my seat."  As he moved towards her, Diana put the catsup squeeze bottle in Pepper's hand.  She smiled through the Jell-O and as soon as Ashley took her arm to help her, the catsup bottle found it's way over his head.  Too busy helping her to her seat, he didn't notice anything until she spoke.  "Oh, Ashley?" she sweetly asked.  "Yeah?"  His answer was a head covered with the tangy condiment.  "I forgive you".
    Tari and Taylor had captured the brother who started all the mess.  Mackenzie struggled to get away, but was soon forced into his mother's arms.  "Maybe you guys should get cleaned up" Diana said to her son and his friend.  "Yeah, I think you're right."  He just witnessed Zac get hit in the arm with more Jell-O as Pepper retaliated.  "We'll go hose off.  Hey guys!  Come on!"  he led the group towards the shed and turned the water on.  "It's just too easy" he thought.   He made the water stream and sprayed Tari.  "Aghhhh!!!  That's cold!" she turned to run, but stopped when Ashley grabbed her arm.  The two boys practically drowned her, causing her to look like a drowned rat.  "at least you're food free now!" Taylor told her, grinning.  Zac was next and he ended up wetter than Tari.  Of course, that's because Tari didn't get the hose down  her pants like Zac did.  "Now for Pepper!" Taylor said aiming the hose at the green and brown colored girl.  "Hey wait!  The cast?! remember?!!!"  "Oh right..."  Ashley held her backwards as the water rushed over her head, rinsing the food residue away.  Pepper tried to run her fingers through her hair, but succeeded in making it a bigger mess.  "Hold still" Ashley commanded.  He took hold of her arm and indirectly caused the water to flow down her back.  "Whoa!" she yelled in protest.  "Well,  there's no point in having you half dry!" Ashley held her still while the water soaked through her T-shirt.  She fought him off, and stealing the hose, turned it around on him.  The cast was forgotten, and everyone joined in on getting each other equally wet.
            Back at Isaac's aunts house, Mel was trying to find the breath to remind her attentive aggressor that they wouldn't be alone for very long.  "Hey..." she whispered softly.  "ummm..."  Isaac didn't skip a beat.  He brought his face within an inch of hers.  His eyes searched hers and his smile was contagious.   "The barbecue should be over by now."  Mel reminded him.  "Hmmm?"   "Hey!" she said laughing.  "Snap out of it!"  she tried to get up off of the couch, but Isaac brought her back to him.  "Isaac... they'll be home any minute...." she protested with a laugh.  He saw the realistic look on her face.  He couldn't resist and had to kiss her one more time before they left the living room.  "all right, let's go..." Mel told him four kisses later.  They left the house hand in hand and made their way back to the Hanson's house.
        "Do I look as bad as I feel?" Tari asked to no one in particular.  "Well, you look pretty pathetic..." Taylor began but stopped as he caught her warning look.   Ashley laughed at his friend and was smart enough not to mention how scary Pepper looked at the moment.  "Hey Taylor, come here" Ashley called.  "Yeah?" Taylor approached and sat down next to his friend as the two girls continued to wring their clothes out the best they could.  "Too bad they aren't wearing white T-shirts..." Ashley stated with a smile.  "Yeah, too bad" Taylor added.  The boys were quiet as they watched the girls laugh at each other.  Isaac and Mel came around the side of the house from the driveway.  "What's going on?"  Isaac asked, looking at all of the wet people.  "Oh... nothing...." Ashley said and pointed the hose in Isaac and Mel's direction.  "Wait!  Good clothes!" Mel warned and Tari grabbed the hose from Ashley.  Isaac and Mel snuck into the backyard to see what the rest of the family was up to.
        "Taylor!  Zachary!  What are you doing?!" Mr.Hanson exclaimed, as he walked into the side yard.  "Um... nothing... Mom told us to hose off" Taylor explained.  "Well, I think you've accomplished that.  I think that you all need to shower." Mr. Hanson said.  "OK" Zac answered.  "Well, I'll go home and get changed.  Want to do something later?" Ashley asked.  "Actually Ashley, I have an idea for that, so yeah." Taylor replied.  Tari and Pepper decided to leave too.  "We'll be back in an hour" Tari promised.  Ashley watched the girls leave as he went into the backyard to get his keys.  He spotted them on the table and then saw Isaac.  He walked over to him with a sly smile.  "So.... Isaac!  How was it?" he asked.  Mel saw Ashley with Isaac and walked over.  Isaac smiled and put his arm around her.  "Hi Ashley!" Mel greeted.  "Um... hi..." he greeted back.  "Ashley's asking for details" Isaac explained.  Mel smiled and looked at the naive pubescent boy.  "Ashley, Ashley, Ashley.  You should know better.  Let's just say that Isaac fulfilled all my expectations and then some" Mel said slyly and looked up at Isaac.   He leaned down and they engaged in a passionate kiss.  As they began to walk away Isaac leaned over to Ashley "You've got a lot to learn about women."  Ashley stood there for a minute with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.  Isaac and Mel laughed silently.
        By the time Pepper and Tari returned to the house, it had gotten dark, and most of the family had gone home.  When Pepper and Tari entered the kitchen they found Zac and Ashley helping Mrs.Hanson wrap up leftover food.  "Hi girls!" Mrs.Hanson greeted warmly.  "Hi!  Can we help you?"  Tari offered.  "no... no... we're almost done.  Go ahead and have a seat in a living room.  I think Isaac and Mel are in there and Taylor finally got out of the shower a few minutes ago." Mrs.Hanson told them.  Pepper and Tari walked into the living room.  They found Isaac and Mel lying next to each other on the couch whispering and giggling.  They smiled as they saw the two girls enter the room.  "Come on you two!  You make me sick!" Pepper exclaimed.  Isaac laughed.  "Thanks Pep!" Tari and Mel joined the laughter.  Pepper did not find this amusing, and a scowl filled her face.  "Come on Pep It's our last night here.  Lighten up!"  Tari exclaimed.  Pepper forced a smile.  "Shut up and don't call me that ever again!" she warned forcefully.  "Don't call you what?" Ashley exclaimed as he and Taylor entered the room.  "Nothing.  Never mind.  So what's the big plan?" Pepper asked.  The boys smiled at each other- knowing their secret.  "You'll soon find out" Ashley replied.  "First we have to go out to the driveway" Taylor said and everyone stood up.  The guys lead Pepper, Tari and Mel to the driveway.  "Wait!  Where's Zac?"  Pepper asked.  "Not coming" Taylor explained.  "Ok, Pepper you go in here" Isaac said and opened the passenger door to the Camero.  Pepper skeptically hobbled over and got in.  "Tari, you're driving the Saturn" Isaac said and opened the door for her.  "And finally, Mel you get the Blazer" Isaac finished and opened the door for her.  "What's going on?" Pepper yelled from her opened window.  "You'll see!"  Isaac said and got into the Blazer.  Taylor hopped into the Saturn and Ashley went to the Camero.  "We're going to separate places so that each of us can show you our favorite part of Tulsa and then we are meeting back at my house for a bonfire" Ashley explained to the worried Pepper.  "Oh..." Pepper said.  She knew that Ashley wanted to be alone with her, and it made her nervous.  "He better not try anything" she thought.
        "...oh cool!" Tari exclaimed after Taylor explained the plan for the evening.  He directed her to a high school.  "You want to show me a high school?"  She asked, confused.  "No, I want to show you something else." he said and took Tari's hand and lead her around to the back of the school.  "This is where I used to play soccer with my friends" he explained.  "Oh..." Tari said.  "I thought this would be a good place to talk" he continued.  "Ohhh!" Tari said and they sat down on the bleachers.  "Tari, when you kissed me today..."Taylor started- not knowing how to express what had been going through his mind all day.  "Taylor, I'm sorry about that.  I just...  wanted to..." Tari tried to explain.  "I wanted you to too" Taylor added.  "But... It was wrong.  We're leaving tomorrow and well- nothing can happen.  We can't let this happen" Tari said realistically, wishing that these words coming out of her mouth weren't so true.  "But, we still have the rest of tonight" Taylor said and looked at Tari.  "Yeah..." she started to say but was cut off as Taylor took his chance and kissed her.
        "...so where are we going?" Mel asked as Isaac drove down the road.  "To my favorite spot in Tulsa" Isaac said and they were soon at the top of the hill where they had watched the sunset the previous night.  "This is my favorite place in Tulsa- now, because it reminds me of you..."Isaac said softly as he opened the door for Mel and took her hand.  Mel smiled as she felt the warmth of Isaac's arm around her.
        "This is your favorite place in Tulsa?" Pepper asked as she looked at the Bowling alley in front of them.  "Yeah, I'm part of a league"  Ashley said proudly.  Pepper held in her laughter.  The bowling alley was closed so they sat in the car in the deserted parking lot.
        "Taylor, we should go..." Tari finally said.  They had been sitting there for awhile, silent; neither knowing what to do or say next.  Tari felt incredibly uncomfortable and was ready to leave and do something.  "Um... Ok...  Tari?"  Taylor asked.  "Yeah?"  "You're right" he finally said.  Tari realized what Taylor was saying.  "It's better if we just stay friends." Tari said.  Taylor nodded.  "That way neither of us gets hurt" Tari finished.  "Too late" Taylor thought.  They stood up and walked back to the car.
        "We have to leave soon" Isaac whispered to Mel in between kisses.  "Mmmmmm hmmmmm" Mel said with a smile as she kissed him again.  "I don't want tomorrow to come" Isaac said.  Mel silenced him, she didn't want to talk about the fateful next day.
            Ashley looked over at Pepper, realizing she was actually smiling- and she hadn't complained in hours.  Maybe it was time to finally make his move.  He leaned over and came inches from Pepper's face.  She flinched and hit him- hard.  Pepper felt her hand start to throb as Ashley had his hand over his eye.  Pepper gasped and then started to laugh, realizing what she had done.  "Are you all right?" she asked through her laughter and stepped closer to him.  "Stay there!  Leave me alone!" he exclaimed.  "That's what I was trying to say!" Pepper said- still laughing.  "I'm sorry, Ok- I just thought-" Ashley started.  "You thought what? That I wanted you to kiss me?  What would ever make you think THAT? I don't like you like that!" Pepper exclaimed.  "Yeah, I think I know why too- you want Taylor!    But he likes Tari, so get over it!" Ashley said angrily.  "I came to Tulsa to try to meet Hanson!  Not date them... Or their friends!  I don't work like that.  For me to get physical in any way with a guy I need to know them more than 5 days!" Pepper exclaimed.  It was silent for awhile.  Pepper went over to Ashley and took his hand from his eye.  "We should go and get some ice for your eye.   It's starting to swell" she said.  They got in the car and silently drove to Ashley's house.
        Tari pulled the Saturn into Ashley's driveway and they noticed the Camero was already there.  They went into the backyard and noticed Pepper sitting alone.  "Where's Ashley?" Taylor asked.  "Um...  inside getting ice" Pepper explained.  "Ice?  For what?" Tari asked.  "His eye.  It's a long story.  I kind of hit him" Pepper said softly and looked down, embarrassed.  "Hey guys!" Isaac greeted as he and Mel entered the yard.  "Where's Ashley?"  Mel asked.  "Getting ice for his eye, Pepper popped him one!" Taylor explained.  They couldn't hold it in anymore and everyone started to laugh- even Pepper.   Isaac and Taylor knew they had something to tease Ashley about for weeks- at least.  Mel and Isaac sat down next to each other on the ground, and Taylor and Tari sat next to each other on the other side of the fire.  Ashley finally came outside with an icepack and a cold 6 pack of Coke.  Everyone took one.  It was quiet for awhile- everyone knew they only had a few hours left of their last night together and no one was eager to help those hours move on quickly- not even Pepper and Ashley.  Finally, the silence was broken as laughter erupted once again.  "That eye is going to look real good tomorrow" Taylor said.  "Shut up!"  Ashley replied and the laughter continued.  Tari and Mel noticed how uncomfortable Pepper was and knew it was time to change the subject.  "So, Pepper.  Where did you and Ashley go?" Tari asked.  "To a bowling alley" Pepper said simply.  "Oh..." Mel said.  She felt bad for her friend.  It must be hard to watch both friends "hook up" with Hansons and left with just a friend and a broken leg on top of everything else.  Ashley looked at Pepper.  He felt terrible.  He never should have tried to kiss her.   How stupid!  She looked miserable.  Pepper looked at Ashley.  His eye was still partially swollen and it looked like he could barely even open his eye.  "Poor guy" she thought, he looked terrible and it was all her fault.  Isaac noticed the terrible silence and realized this wasn't how he wanted to end his last night with Mel.  "Well, I need to be home in an hour, so I am going to take a ride with Mel and bring her back to the hotel.  Will someone bring Taylor home?" he asked.  Tari agreed.  Isaac stood up and took Mel's hand.  "If I don't see you tomorrow Ashley, I'll see you in a week or so- around Easter.  Take it easy" he said pointing to his eye and smiling.  "You too" Ashley responded.  Isaac lead Mel out of the backyard.  "Well..." Taylor began after his brother had gone.  "Guys, I'm sorry but I'm really tired" Pepper began.  "It's no problem Pepper.  I'll drive you back to the hotel-" Tari started and looked at Taylor who didn't look too enthused to go home any time soon- "and then I'll bring Taylor home and come right back to the hotel- OK?"  Tari suggested.  Pepper agreed- anything would be better than this.  "Well, if I don't see you tomorrow- have a safe trip home all right?" Ashley said sadly as he stood up.  "We're not leaving until around five tomorrow.  Surely you'll be around sometime won't you?"  Tari asked and looked expectantly at Pepper, who was looking at the ground.  Tari nudged Pepper's arm.  "Come on Ashley, we'll probably never see each other again.  What's one more day?  I promise I won't hit you" Pepper tried to joke.  Ashley finally smiled.  "Well....... maybe....... if I can find time...." he said.  Pepper smiled as she got into the back of the Saturn.  "see ya tomorrow Ashley" she said as she shut her door.  "Yeah... tomorrow..." Ashley said as Taylor and Tari got into the car.  Ashley watched as the Saturn backed out of his driveway and drove down the street.  Ashley smiled and went to go put out the fire.
        "I'll be back soon- I promise" Tari promised her friend.  "Don't worry.  I'm going right to bed- after I take some more painkillers" Pepper promised and closed the door to their hotel room and bolted the door.  Tari walked back to the Saturn where Taylor was waiting.  She got in the car and turned the key, starting the ignition.  Taylor forced a smile as they drove to his house.  When they got there Tari parked the car in the driveway.  "Taylor, it's been an amazing trip, and I know I'll never forget it" she said softly, looking down at her hands.  "I'll never forget you" Taylor said and kissed her delicately on the lips.  He was out the door and up to the house before Tari could do or say anything.  She wiped a tear away from her eye as she backed the Saturn out of the driveway.  She didn't want to get hurt and knew tomorrow afternoon would be unbearable but it loomed in front of them.  As she pulled up to the hotel, she noticed the Blazer.  She parked next to it and as she walked next to it, she noticed that no one was in it.  Tari shrugged and went inside.  She noticed Isaac and Mel kissing through their tears.  She knew that they would never stop on their own and Isaac needed to be home in ten minutes.  "Um, guys" she said and cleared her throat.  "Guys, GUYS!" she said loudly and they finally acknowledged her presence.  Mel looked at Tari.  "Come on Mel- it's time to go, Isaac has to be home in ten minutes.  I know you don't want to go now, but it's time" Tari said realistically.  Isaac kissed Mel one last time as Tari pulled her into the room.  Isaac stood in the hallway for a minute before turning to go back to the parking lot.  Mel stood by the door and slumped to the ground, curling into a ball trying to hide her sobs.  Crying made her very tired and soon her sobs slowed enough to let her get ready for bed.  Tari was silently crying herself to sleep as well.  Pepper was fast asleep and never noticed both friends' sobs. Finally!  Chapter four is completed!!!! Join me for the final chapter in this ongoing saga! Will Pepper and Ashley be nice or will they continue the war? Will Zac have anyone to play with other then the dog? Will Mel and Isaac give into their desire for each other before Mel leaves? Will Tari and Taylor act on their passion? Check back for.... CHAPTER FIVE!!!