Taylor stared at the outside of Isaac’s door. He knew Isaac had wanted him to talk to him when he was in trouble. And he was in a whole lot of trouble right now. He was still in awe over the fact he was going to be a father. Or the fact he had to tell his parents his girlfriend is eleven years older than him. Taylor wasn’t exactly relishing that idea. He sighed and knocked on Isaac’s door.
“Come in,” Isaac said. Taylor opened the door and walked in. He sat on Isaac’s bed, and put his head in his hands.
“Ike, I have a big problem,” He said. Isaac looked up from his book.
“What is it?”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“What is it?”
“Swear?”
“Yeah Taylor, sure. Just tell me what it is.”
“My girlfriend is pregnant.”
“WHAT?!”
“And, well, she’s older than me, remember?”
“How much older?”
“Eleven years,” Taylor whispered.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” Isaac said, tipping his chair over in the hurry to stand up.
“Ike, man, shut up!” Taylor said, looking worriedly at the door.
“You got a twenty-seven year old woman pregnant?!” Isaac hissed through his teeth. Taylor nodded slowly.
“What in the hell were you thinking? Wait, you WEREN’T thinking! That’s right! Because the Taylor I know would NEVER do anything like THIS.” Isaac paced his room, half yelling half whispering.
“I should slap some since into you!” Isaac threatened. Taylor backed against the wall, afraid his brother would go through with his warning.
“What are you going to do?” Isaac said, facing Taylor.
“I’m not really sure,” Taylor said, “But I want to tell mom and dad, so that Angie can stay here.”
“Yeah Taylor, the media will love that. Sixteen year old popstar’s almost thirty year old girlfriend, moves in!” Isaac’s face was red.
“Ike, I think you’re about to bust something.”
“This isn’t funny!”
“I know!”
“Well, it was nice knowing you. Once you tell mom and dad, you are so dead.”
“Thanks for the encouragement.”
“Anytime, bro, anytime.”
Taylor sat in the living room facing his parents. They were waiting for him to tell them this “important” thing.
“Well, Taylor? What is it?” Mr. Hanson asked, getting slightly impatient.
“You guys love me right?” Taylor started out.
“Of course we do,” Mrs. Hanson said.
“And you will love me no matter what stupid things I do, right?” Taylor pressed.
“Yes, Taylor,” Mrs. Hanson said. His father gave Taylor a look.
“What did you do that was so stupid?” He asked. Taylor took a deep breath.
“I got someone pregnant.”
“YOU WHAT?!” Both parents exclaimed.
“I got my girlfriend pregnant,” Taylor repeated, whispering.
“You have a girlfriend?!” His mother exclaimed, “Since when?”
“Um, I have for about two and a half months.”
“AND SHE’S PREGNANT?” Mr. Hanson yelled.
“Dad, keep it down!” Taylor exclaimed.
“I can’t believe you! Who is she?”
“Her name is Angie.”
“Where does she live? Do her parents know?”
“Dad, there is something else I have to mention.”
“Oh, God.”
“She’s older than me.”
“Oh, God.”
“A lot older.” Diana’s face went white.
“How much older?” She asked.
“Eleven years,” Taylor said, barely audible. A moment later, there was a hard smack across his face. He looked up at his father, who was boiling.
“You got a twenty-seven year old woman pregnant? Jordan Taylor Hanson! I cannot, CANNOT, believe this! I want to know where she lives! We’re pressing charges! This is child abuse!”
“Dad it was willing!”
“I don’t give a damn! You’ll get your punishment, I just want to make sure she does to!”
“Dad, no!”
“Taylor, do you realize how illegal this is?”
“Yes.”
“What are you wanting to do?”
“I want her to live here.”
“What?! Hell no!”
“It’s your grandchild!”
“Don’t say that! Where did you meet this woman?”
“In New York.”
“New York? What the hell?”
“She moved down here a couple months ago.”
“God, Taylor,” His mother said, from her place on the couch.
“I’m sorry! I love her!”
“You don’t know what love is!”
“Yes I do!”
“How many times have you slept with her?”
“Once.”
“Taylor, I want to meet her. Today.”
“You can’t press charges.”
“Like hell I can’t.”
“Dad, I’m not going to tell you where she is, unless you swear not to.”
“Young man, I am the adult.”
“I know! But I don’t want her in trouble!”
“Just get her over here.”
“Okay. I will.”
Taylor held onto Angie’s hand.
“Taylor, they already hate me. I don’t think I can talk to them face to face,” She said, sniffling.
“They don’t hate you,” Taylor said, but he wasn’t so sure.
“Taylor! They think I raped you or something! I’m going to go to jail!”
“No, you wont.”
“They want me in jail!”
“Angie, please, let’s just go to my house.”
“If you want me to, you know I will. I’m just scared.”
“I know.”
Taylor and Angie drove to the Hanson’s house in silence. Both of them were dreading the meeting. Taylor’s father had instructed Isaac to take all the children out. Taylor opened the front door, and tip toed in. Angie’s face was pale, and there were tears in her eyes. She looked like a child about to be punished for doing something very, very wrong.
“Taylor, we’re in the kitchen,” Taylor heard his father say. Angie stiffened. There was no way she wanted to do this. Taylor led her to the kitchen. Diana was reading the paper, and didn’t look up when they walked into the room. Taylor knew how hurt she was. Walker wore an angry scowl on his face. Taylor pulled out a chair, and Angie stiffly sat down.
“Hello,” Mr. Hanson said coolly.
“Hi,” Angie said, looking at the table.
“It seems we have a little problem on our hands,” Taylor’s father jumped right into his lecture.
“I know, and I’m so sorry,” Angie began to cry. She was shaking.
“Sorry doesn’t cut it,” Walker said harshly.
“But I am sorry, I know I should have never even done what I did.”
“It’s not your fault, Angie. It’s mine,” Taylor said, “I’m the one who approached you in New York.”
“What?” Walker exclaimed.
“I couldn’t sleep, and I saw her standing on the corner, so I went down and talked to her.”
“On the corner…?” Diana said, looking up. Angie’s face reddened.
“What were you doing on the corner?” Walker said, staring at her.
“I was a hooker,” Angie said.
“JORDAN TAYLOR HANSON!” Walker yelled. Angie cringed.
“Dad…” Taylor started.
“No! Don’t “dad” me! Your “girlfriend” is a twenty-seven year old whore from New York. I thought we raised you better than that!”
“She’s not a whore!”
“What do you think a hooker is, Taylor?”
“She’s not a hooker anymore!”
“Have you been tested for diseases?” Diana asked, quietly.
“About six months ago,” Angie said. Diana put her head in her hands. Angie wiped her eyes, but she couldn’t stop crying. She felt lower than dirt.
“I want you to both get tested,” Mr. Hanson said. Taylor and Angie nodded. Taylor felt tired, the way he always did when he argued with someone.
“I want Angie to move in with us. The place she is staying is disgusting,” Taylor said.
“Well, the fact you two had sex is disgusting,” His father bit back.
“Dad, she already feels like shit, don’t make it worse!” Taylor snapped.
“Watch your mouth!”
“Why? I don’t think I could get in worse trouble!”
“Just obey me!”
“I’m not your slave!”
“You’re my child, you will do as I say.”
“And this is your grandchild, don’t you want to protect it?”
“I shouldn’t have any grandchildren.”
“Well, you will, so you should do what’s right! You always tell us to do what’s right!”
“He’s right you know, Walker,” Diana said, “We should take care of her. No matter how unpleasant the situation may be.” Mr. Hanson looked at his wife. He sighed. Everyone regarded each other somberly. No one had ever thought something like this could possibly happen.