CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Hello, this is Shannon."

"Hey!" A cheerful voice said.

She smiled.

"Hey Tay, how are you?"

"Fine. I, there’s this, um, I have news! You know how…well…I…guess what?"

"You’ve been to a speech therapist to learn how to construct sentences."

"No!" Taylor smiled, "The record deal’s back on!"

"You’re kidding?!"

"Nah uh!!" He laughed, "And we start in just few weeks!!"

"Oh my gosh Taylor that’s so fantastic! What…why…?"

"I had a chat to some people, made a few phone calls. I mean, some were like ‘hmm, I dunno’ but they, I just sort of talked it through and it worked!"

Shannon shook her head. She couldn’t believe what had come over Taylor these last few weeks since the day they went surfing. He was changing. He was healing. Of course, he still had a way to go. Zac and Shannon talked about him a lot, and Zac said the main thing he was going through at the moment was major mood swings. Shannon had experienced it herself. He’d go from giggling to angry to depressed all in a few minutes. It sure kept everyone watchful and prepared, although they all agreed he was markedly better whenever Shannon was around. Taylor and her had become exceptionally close friends. Each day he was amazing her further.

"Oh my gosh Ike and Zac must be so proud of you!" Shannon exclaimed.

"Oh, I haven’t told them yet."

"What? Tay, you spaz, why?"

He laughed and shrugged.

"I don’t know! I’m just lying here with my mobile and I was too lazy to move so I called you instead."

"Taylor…you just fixed your record deal. Hello? Or are you just sort of like…too busy basking in your own pride?"

Shannon didn’t wait for his answer.

"Hmm…yeah, you always were the conceited one."

"I am not!" He exclaimed. "With me they’re like…man who’s that? Why don’t they kick him out of the band?"

"Yeah duh." Shannon grinned.

"Ok, whatever." He smiled. "The real reason I rang was because Lara’s coming over and you’re invited too, and you can stay the night if you want."

"Ok cool, I’ll be there." Shannon smiled, her eyes sparkling. Sleepovers were a common thing now for the Hansons, Shannon, and Lara. They worked so well together as a group, and all five of them were loving every second of their time together.

After Taylor hung up, Shannon collapsed onto her bed with a dreamy sigh. Once again, she found herself thinking about the way she’d changed since Hanson became part of her life. She was literally a different person. The withdrawn, lonesome, timid girl she used to be was now just a vague memory.

With the Hanson’s help, Shannon felt like she’d discovered who she was, and she loved what she’d found…and so did everybody else.

Life had never seemed more perfect than it did right now.

Everything seems perfect when you’re in love.

_ _ _

"Wow, look at this weather!"

It was pouring with rain as Shannon’s Mum pulled into Hanson’s street. The rain battered down so heavily that they could barely see out of the window. It seemed like dusk, even though sunset was hours away. It was going to be a stormy night.

_ _ _

"Let’s just hire some videos." Lara suggested.

The response was good.

"But we’re never going to find a movie that we all like." Isaac groaned, patting Mack on the head as an example.

"You don’t have to." Walker said. "You guys can watch in one room, and you little ones can watch in another.

"I’m not little Dad." Avery exclaimed in a huff, and marched off towards the van through the rain, her nose turned up comically. Lara and Shannon laughed.

"She is so funny." Lara smiled, shaking her head.

"So that video idea works, yeah?" Walker smiled.

"Yeah!"

"Plus you’re all having pizza for dinner, which I know you’re all going to be distraught about…"

Everyone cheered, and Mack and Jessica ran into the van eagerly.

"Wait, we’re not all going to fit." Isaac said.

"That’s ok, we’ll stay!" Zac exclaimed, draping a heavy arm around Shannon, making her stagger. She pushed him away with a laugh.

"Tay? Coming?" Walker questioned.

"No, I’ll stay too." He smiled.

_ _ _

"Hey SHAN, it’s stopped raining!" Zac shrieked, running to the door and dragging it open.

"What? So?" She laughed as the cool outside air invaded the room.

"Let’s climb trees!" His voice called as he raced across the wet garden.

Shannon glanced at Taylor, who grinned and touched her arm lightly as he passed.

"Let’s go!"

"Come on Shan! It’s not that high!"

"Zac!! Unlike you, I value my life. I’m quite comfortable right here, thankyou very much!"

Shannon was perched in a large fork of the tree, gazing out across the neighbourhood. It was a great tree. Taylor was slouched lazily on a branch a few metres away, and Zac was pushing the limits near the top, as always. After some time, he came swinging down to her, a long bushy stick in his hand.

"Hey Shan, look, it’s got a spider on it." He joked, and swung it near her.

She shrieked and Taylor and Zac laughed. She glared at them, and threw a few pieces of bark at Zac. He responded by repeatedly bashing her in the face with the bushy leaves. Finally, exasperated, she stood.

"Ok, that’s it! I’m moving, Zac keep that thing away from me."

In rebellion, Zac thwacked the twigs playfully into her face. A leaf poked her eye, and she startled impulsively backwards…and released her grip on the tree. For a sickening moment she just seemed to suspend in mid air, and then, to Zac and Taylor’s horror, she began to fall. Her body crashed into the branch below and swung around it. A searing pain ripped through her body as her healing stomach ripped through the jagged bark. She hit the ground back first with a sickening thud, knocking the air sharply from her lungs.

"Oh my gosh…Zac!" Taylor accused. "You idiot!"

Zac felt horror melt through him as Shannon keeled over in pain, clasping her stomach, gasping for breath. What had he done?

Shannon was dazed, and blinked hard to regain full vision. The first thing she noticed apart from the stabbing pain and the lights dancing in her eyes were two familiar feet thudding to the ground beside her, and a warm arm extending around her. Taylor. Zac jumped from the tree.

"Oh my gosh. Shannon, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. I…" He stammered. Taylor looked up.

"Zac, just go and get Mum ok?"

He nodded, and ran towards the house.

Taylor looked down at Shannon, and touched her arm.

"Let me see."

She moved her hand from her stomach to reveal bright blood staining her baby blue top. That couldn’t be good.

"Oh my gosh…" She whispered, tears creeping into her dazed eyes.

Taylor tightened his arms around her.

"Hey Shannon, come on, please..." His voice whispered into her ear. She looked up at him, and the concern in his troubled blue eyes was enough to make her sob anyway. He looked towards the house. Zac was returning with his mother.

"Ok Shannon honey, let me see." Diana said softly.

She looked closely. There were abrasions across the stitched area on her stomach that were leaking a little blood. Diana was sure everything was fine, but still felt concerned since the cuts were in the area of the operation, and also since Shannon had almost been knocked out.

"Ok sweetie, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. Let’s just get you inside and comfortable, ok? Tay, Zac…"

Diana’s son’s took an arm each of Shannon’s and helped her up. She grabbed at Taylor’s arm as she swayed back a little dizzily, and he put an arm around her waist.

Zac and his mother went ahead to organise some disinfectant. Zac felt sick with guilt.

They moved slowly towards the house.

"Tay…"

"It’s ok, I’m here." Taylor said softly, rubbing her arm with his warm hand.

Shannon felt her legs go a little weak as his unfamiliar comfort drained through her. Taylor pushed a piece of hair behind his ear contentedly. It had been so long since someone had needed his support, and it felt amazing.

Once they were inside, he lay her on the couch and sat down on the floor beside her.

"Trust you to fall out of a tree." He smirked.

Shannon forced a smile, and realised he was still holding her hand. Suddenly she felt a whole lot better. Her mind wondered.

"Where’d Zac go? She whispered.

Tay felt a wave of rejection flow through him.

"I’ll go get him" He said softly, withdrawing his hand. She heard the flat in his voice.

"No." She said "It’s ok."

She waved her hand a little, and Taylor took it again.

"It’s just like you to run off for some dumb reason." Shannon breathed, closing her eyes.

He smiled, stroking her hand with his fingers. His other hand wondered up to her cheek, through her hair and gently grazed her neck. She opened her eyes slowly. Woah, what was that? There were chills racing down through her shoulders, making her heart race. She stared at him a little unsurely. His fiery blue eyes were phenomenally calm.

"Can I come see you guys in the studio?" She whispered, trying to stop her heart from pounding.

He smiled softly.

"Yeah sure, that’d be awesome."

"Can I be a guest star and sing a solo?"

Taylor grinned, and lay his head down on the couch, gazing straight into her eyes.

"Uh huh."

"Really? I’m not very good." She said seriously.

Taylor laughed.

"That’s ok, neither am I."

His face was so close it took her breath away. His eyes. She couldn’t look away from those eyes. A million different shades of blue seemed to glint there, and the warm light of the room found a place to sparkle and dance. She was utterly captivated.

"Here we go." Diana announced as she entered the room with some cotton wool and disinfectant. "This should clean it up just fine!"

Shannon looked up, and felt Taylor’s hand slip away as his mother neared. Diana crouched down beside him and watched as Shannon carefully inspected her wound.

"Now, I’ve rung the hospital, and they said not to worry and that everything should be fine." Diana explained.

"Oh thankyou so much." Shannon said, obviously relieved.

"That’s fine honey! But I think you should ring your parents anyway, because they’d probably want to know."

Shannon nodded as Diana passed her the phone.

"Where’s Zac?" She inquired.

Taylor pouted. Why did she care about Zac so much?

Diana chuckled.

"To tell you the truth, I think he feels awful! He’s pacing around with Zoe and generally just looking miserable. I’ll send him in a little while."

Shannon smiled and nodded as she left the room. She made a mental note to give him a hug later…

Shannon picked up the phone and started dialling.

Taylor fiddled with her top nervously.

"Are you…going to go home?"

Shannon shook her head, and he smiled a little.

"Sorry, you’re stuck with me…oh hi Mum!"

Shannon’s parents actually did want her home, but she fought her case and won. She put down the phone in satisfaction. There was no way she was going anywhere when Taylor was acting like this. She turned back to him with a sigh. His fingers were intertwining gently with hers once more. The light darkened outside, and rain began to patter on the roof. The warm comfort of the house enveloped them. Taylor lay his head back down on the edge of the couch, his silky blond hair falling across his eyes. Shannon reached out her other hand and gently pushed it behind his ear. Taylor closed his eyes for a moment, the feeling of her soft, comforting touch washing through him. He wanted it to last forever…

"We’re back!" Avery announced loudly.

Taylor flinched, withdrawing his hand.

"And we got pizza!!" Mack shrieked.

Shannon laughed, and sat up.

"Oh, I love your family."

Taylor rolled his eyes. He got so sick of people saying that.

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