CHAPTER NINE

Taylor sat alone in the corner of the studio. Most people had given up on conversing with him now, and seemed to forget he was even there. He felt lonely, but as soon as someone came over to sit with him he was unwilling to speak. He was unsure of what was happening to himself, but he didn’t really care either. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. Nothing except Rachael, and what she had done. Isaac, Zac, and a bunch of record company executives, and producers were deep in conversation on the other side of the room.

He knew they had been speaking of him…

"But we should be well on the way by now. We should have demos done and…"

"It’s not up to us." Isaac stated slowly and clearly. "There’s nothing we want more than to start…but we can’t with Tay like this, we just can’t."

"We can’t do anything without him, you guys know that." Zac whispered, glancing around the group.

"Jeez, I mean, what’s up with him anyway?" Ben sighed, exasperated. He was a businessman with a tight schedule, and didn’t approve of people who weren’t as enthusiastic as he.

Isaac and Zac glanced at each other, not willing to speak much on this subject.

"Guys, it’s ok. It’s just we’re a little worried." Chris, Hanson’s manager, said softly.

"He’ll be ok." Isaac started, unsure of the seriousness on Chris’s face. "He just needs…"

"No, not Taylor. The album. It’s the album we’re worried about." Ben explained, rubbing his eyes.

"But we’re worried about Tay too." Chris added nervously.

"What…" Zac began.

"What do you mean you’re worried about the album?" Isaac interrupted.

Ben took a deep breath.

"Guys, you have to understand. We’re on tight schedules here. Now, you know that Hanson is at the top of our priorities, but if something doesn’t happen soon I’m afraid we won’t be able to wait anymore."

"What are you saying?" Zac exclaimed, sitting forward in his chair.

"We’re saying that we may have to postpone the album indefinitely." Chris mumbled.

"What?!" Isaac and Zac both yelled.

"I’m so sorry to have to put this on you but there’s other…"

"Indefinitely? Well what are we supposed to do? Our fans have already been waiting ages for this album. We’ve been waiting ages for this album." Isaac said.

He was really becoming angry, and Zac was looking upset.

"Guys…I’m sorry." Chris whispered.

Isaac shook his head in disgust and left the room. Zac followed him solemnly, his head bowed. Chris glanced around at the crew, shaking his head.

"They’re only kids." He murmured spitefully, heading towards the door. "Give them a little space to grow up."

Chris found Isaac, Taylor, and Zac together, sitting in anxious silence.

"What are we gonna do?" Zac asked softly.

Chris sighed.

"I dunno guys. I fought for you, but you know how demanding things can get. This album crew doesn’t have time to sit around."

The three brothers were all staring at the ground. Chris sat down.

"So guys, we have one last chance to decide. What are we going to do?"

Isaac looked up, bitterness glinting in his eyes. He loved his music so much. It hurt him deeply to have it threatened.

"I don’t know, that’s up to Taylor." He condemned, staring sharply at his brother.

Taylor shook his head slowly.

"Guys, please don’t put this on my shoulders." He whispered.

"Why not? It’s your fault all this is happening." Isaac yelled.

"Ok, let’s calm down." Chris said smoothly.

Isaac stared accusingly at Taylor, who gazed down at the ground helplessly. His blue eyes were glazed with the fear of knowing that this time it really was his fault.

"Ok, ok." Chris said and turned to Taylor, his voice soft. "Tay, what do you think?"

"Please Tay." Zac pleaded.

Taylor looked up into his little brother’s anxious chocolate eyes, and felt sick. He couldn’t take this anymore.

Chris ran his hand through his hair feverishly. For the first time since he had known Hanson, things were falling apart.

_ _ _

Shannon’s day had gone from bad to horrendous. Firstly, Zac had rung her almost in tears over the day’s incidents. It was awful speaking to Zac when he was so upset. He was usually the one trying to lighten Shannon’s day…it just didn’t feel right the other way around. Soon after that, she had received a phone call from Lara who informed her of Isaac’s opinions. He was distraught over the postponed album, and wasn’t speaking to Taylor. Naturally, Lara was behind Isaac one hundred per cent, and that’s where Shannon made her mistake. She knew of Taylor’s pain over Rachael, and she could not resist but to stand up for him. Before she knew it she had had her first dispute with one of her best friends. Hurt by Lara, Shannon dialled the Hanson’s in search of Zac again.

Taylor answered.

"Hey Taylor, its Shannon."

"Oh Shan what am I going to do?" He whispered softly.

His voice quickly gave away how upset he was, and all thoughts of Zac quickly slipped from Shannon’s mind.

"Everything’s pretty messed up." She sighed.

"Yeah." He breathed.

"I just got into a fight with Lara as well." Shannon groaned, lying back on her bed.

"Everyone’s mad with everyone." Taylor said softly, "But especially with me."

"Oh Tay." Shannon breathed.

"I didn’t mean to…the album…I just…" His voice sounded tired.

"It’s not your fault Taylor." Shannon whispered.

"But that’s the thing….it is. It’s all because of me. I’ve stuffed everything up for everyone and there’s nothing I can do about it."

"Taylor…"

"My parents are starting to treat me all weird. And Isaac just hates me at the moment. He’s not even talking to me…"

"He doesn’t hate you."

Taylor sighed.

"I’m just so sick of all this."

Shannon closed her eyes, not knowing what to say to him.

"Yeah, I know." She whispered eventually. "My family relationships aren’t going so well either."

"Why?"

Suddenly, Shannon just let everything out. The words just fell from her lips. She spoke of her bizarre attraction to Shane and the way he abused that…literally. She spoke of Rachael and the affair she had, betraying both Taylor and herself. Taylor listened in silence, trying to understand all the corruption which had so deeply affected both their lives. She was just at the end when Zac entered Taylor’s room loudly, causing him to jump. He had just had another conflict with Isaac. As soon as he learned who was on the other end of the phone, Zac snatched the receiver from his brother.

"Shannon please come around. Please." He begged, his newly changed voice cracking. "I really really want you to come around. You have to, please. You’re 16 now, you can drive…please?!"

"Zac, I …"

"Come on Shannon." Taylor was heard to say in the background.

Shannon quickly gave in.

"But…will your parents care?"

"Shan, things can’t get much worse. How much difference could you possibly make?" Zac stated.

Shannon was troubled by the clear desperation in her best friend’s voice, and gave in.

"Ok. I’ll be there as soon as I can." She sighed.

As she placed down the receiver, she paused in realisation. She was needed. For the first time, there were people out there who truly needed her. Despite the unfortunate circumstances her friends were in, and the difficulty she was going to have to face to help them, a smile crept onto her lips.

For the first time in her life, things were starting to go right…

_ _ _

"Tay, she was meant to be here an hour ago. There’s something wrong. Admit there’s something wrong."

"Zac, stop it ok!! You’re driving me crazy."

Taylor stared at the floor silently. He couldn’t hide the fact that he was now worried too. The phone rang loudly, and Taylor and Zac both pounced on it. Taylor held it up triumphantly.

"Hello, this is Taylor."

"This is Mr Karvan here, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news about Shannon." He said wearily.

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