CHAPTER TWELVE

Shannon glanced around anxiously once more at the screaming crowd and waving banners. He was supposed to be here by now.

"Zaaaccc….hey!" Shannon squawked as Zac threw a handful of popcorn at her.

"Shut…up…" He stated poshly, and Shannon giggled. Half the fun of whining was annoying Zac.

"Zaaaaaccccc….!!" She exclaimed, punching him.

Zac turned his head slowly to look at her comically.

"Shannon….darling…you really are a very sweet person. But MUST my arm be the object of your stress relief?"

Shannon laughed, and looked out over the field where the game was being played. It was amazing looking down on it from the height of the corporate boxes.

"I still can’t believe this." Zac stated in amusement, shaking his head slightly.

"What?"

"You and Taylor."

Shannon smiled. Zac had very quickly become aware of his best friend’s feelings for his brother, and found himself bending over backwards to make it work. He never considered that matchmaking could be so much fun.

That was exactly two weeks ago now. Shannon had recovered quickly from the trauma they’d experienced at the hospital, but Taylor hadn’t. It’s not every day you witness the death of one of the most inspirational people you’ve ever met. Taylor had cried openly the first few days, and now had receded to an unnaturally subdued and withdrawn persona. He lacked interest in everything and anything.

The Hanson family allowed him the space he needed, understanding that grieving isn’t something you can go around. You have to go through it before you can heal and move on. The funeral had been a week ago, and Zac, Isaac, and their parents had attended it with Taylor. Zac had said that it was horrible, because they saw how fantastic Kai had been, and it made his death seem all the more tragic. The church had been overflowing with people.

Taylor had been inconsolable that day.

Nevertheless, Zac had invited him along to the rugby match today. He was supposed to arrive an hour ago, and Zac didn’t count on him showing up. It was the local school grand final, and Rachael had been selected for the cheerleading squad. That was the reason why Shannon was required to attend, and why Taylor was probably so reluctant to. This was Shannon’s second day out of hospital, and she hadn’t been in contact with Taylor since the day that they lost Kai. She was longing to see him again from the depths of her heart.

"Oh look, there she is." Zac said, pointing.

"Where? Who?"

"God, she looks like a pumpkin."

Shannon grinned as she spotted her sister in a fluorescent orange cheerleading costume. Even in those disgusting clothes she was beautiful. No wonder Taylor fell in love with her.

"Hey guys."

Shannon jumped and let out a little squeal of fright, throwing a quaint fountain of popcorn over her head. Taylor actually smiled and bit his bottom lip.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you." He said.

Shannon just glanced up at him, displeased with herself.

"That’s ok." She said meekly, her cheeks turning deep crimson.

Zac exploded into giggles, but Shannon kicked him so hard under the seat that he quickly calmed himself. Taylor sat down with a sigh beside Zac, glancing around the stadium silently. Shannon glanced over at him longingly, chills racing through her at the sight of him.

Oh God, how she had missed him…

_ _ _

The game was soon over, and Shannon and Zac were left waiting outside for Rachael. Taylor had no intention of meeting his ex-girlfriend, and had disappeared somewhere. They had not idea where he was. The stadium was practically empty now, and they assumed that he had gone home. They had barely exchanged a word the entire afternoon, and that fact hit Shannon hard.

"He hates me."

"No, he doesn’t."

"Yes he does."

"Shannon, that is so dumb, and you know it. He does not hate you."

Shannon left her eyes fixed dejectedly at the concrete ground.

"Zac, he’s brushing me off."

"He’s always brushing people off. He brushes me off all day every day and…"

"But he’s your brother. You’re meant to hate each other."

"No Shan, we’re not. We were never like that. We were always friends, and now we’re not ok? You of all people should understand that things have changed."

Shannon bit her lip as Zac’s tone changed and he gazed off sadly at the field. She always underestimated the closeness of the Hansons.

Suddenly, Zac’s expression changed.

"Hey, here comes Rachael….and who’s that guy?"

A tall, strong, dark, good-looking seventeen year old with his arm around her sister was coming towards them. A surge of panic burned deep in Shannon’s chest.

"Zac?" She said weakly.

He didn’t hear her.

"Oh my gosh, is that her boyfriend?"

"Zac, it’s Shane."

"Huh? Who’s Shane?"

Shannon closed her eyes. She’d forgotten. Zac didn’t know.

"Hey Shan."

Rachael’s voice attracted Shannon’s wide eyes. Her heart jumped as she caught Shane’s disparaging smirk. With that, he turned and gave Rachael a passionate kiss. Zac’s mouth dropped open, and he looked over at Shannon in disbelief. Shannon was frozen in sickened confusion.

Taylor sat down in the stand slowly, the breezy wind blowing his hair around his face. His eyes were fixed in fascination at the scene developing below him. Shannon, Shane, and Rachael…a recipe for disaster. Someone was bound to be hurt, and the look on Shannon’s face clearly showed whom that person would be.

"Hello Shannon." Shane almost sneered as he pulled away from Rachael’s body.

Shannon didn’t react, her gaze fixed on her sister. Rachael glanced away awkwardly, and quickly excused herself to fetch her bag. Shannon’s heart frosted as she realised that Shane wasn’t leaving. Zac had detected her uneasiness, and didn’t offer Shane a smile when their eyes met.

"Is this little Zacky Hanson?"

Shannon closed her eyes. She knew what was coming.

"Geez kid. Your little buff body must be mighty confused. I know girls who’d die for a voice like that…huh pretty?" Shane chaffed.

Zac stared intensely at him, hatred gleaming in his eyes.

"Oh, you know, sorry your poor little Taylor got messed around. It’s kind of hard to be a satisfying boyfriend if…"

"Shut…up." Shannon stated slowly and clearly before he could go any further.

Shane glanced at her, her usually coy blue eyes cold and impassioned. Zac was surprised and impressed with his friend’s sudden defiance, and awaited Shane’s response nervously.

"You jealous, chick?" He sneered. He grabbed her wrists harshly, making her jump. "You want me back? Is that it?"

Still, she refused to drop her burning gaze. Zac’s blood ran cold in panic as he caught the psychotic gleam in Shane’s eyes. Suddenly, he realised the seriousness of this situation, and was iced still in horror. Shannon let out a small cry as he twisted her wrists harder, pain distorting her defiant figure.

Shannon glanced up at Shane’s cruel grin just in time to see a fist fly in front of her eyes and connect with his face with a sickening crack. He staggered backwards with the force of the punch, releasing Shannon’s aching wrists. She whirled around in astonishment to where Zac was…and came face to face with the vivid, infuriated eyes of Taylor.

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