"Hey, Mallory,"Taylor said softly into the phone."How you doing, baby? Everything okay there?"

Guilt is a horrible thing. It takes over your body and soul, and causes you to do things you had no intention of doing before. Like inviting your girlfriend to come visit for a couple weeks when all you really want is some time alone. Some time to reflect on things. It was terrible not to want to see your own girlfriend, but Taylor was just tired.

He was tired of the girls, the press, and even his family. He loved everyone, it was just the lack of privacy was really starting to get to him. When he'd started swimming laps, it had completely refreshed him. Not the exercise, but the fact that nobody would come with him if he went early enough.

It was on the tip of his tongue to say that he'd just remembered an appearance or something that made it impossible for her to come, but she just sounded so excited. Just because he was mad at the world didn't mean that he should take it out on Mallory.

"Yeah, I'm sure its okay if you come,"he found himself saying."So, you'll meet us at the next stop?"

* * **

"Where did you find this girl, anyway?"Talia asked.

It was Tuesday evening, therefore whoever was at the hotel was playing their usual game of Monopoly. Except Talia. She was experimenting with new shades of lipstick.

"Ugh, not that one,"Jessi informed her."And Bethie and Ike used to be friends." Talia puckered her lips, examining them closely in her handheld mirror."How come nobody's seen her for so long?"

Jessi shrugged."I don't know. We probably just lost track of her when we all started going on tour. The boys lost a few friends that way, not intentional, they just lost track of them."

"Hmm."

"We're back,"they heard Diane call.

* * * *

Bethany was shocked to say the least when she was greeted by a squealing Jessi who threw her arms around her almost before she'd had a chance to say "hi".

"Mom said we can share tonight,"Jessi was telling her,"but after that I'll go back to rooming with Avie and you'll be with Talia."She leaned in."She's okay but she snores,"she whispered, smiling.

Zac's girlfriend. Bethany couldn't have imagine's a worse prospect. She had been dreading just meeting her. Now she was going to live with her. At least she didn't have to face that yet. For the time being, she'd catch up with the little girl she used to baby-sit who now was sixteen. Man, did that make her feel old. Like a million years had passed since she'd seen them, instead of six.

When she walked into the room, following Diane, the first person she saw was Walker. Sweet, wonderful, Walker. The man who had always been an amazing father, even to her. His hair was a little grayer, and he'd grown a mustache, but besides that, he still looked the same.

"It's good to have you back,"he said, giving Bethany a warm hug.

She smiled, looking up to see Taylor walk into the room. He'd always been beautiful, but there were circles under his eyes that she'd never seen, even when they'd had to wake up at five in the morning to begin recording. It was kind of startling to realize that fame had taken such a toll on him.

He mumbled a greeting, and gave her a hug, but he continued to look distracted as he sat down on one of the couches. After that he looked as if he had tuned out everyone completely.

Avie had remained a happy, curly-haired blonde. Not quite as outgoing as most of her family, yet not as shy as Zoe was, she merely said hello and shook Bethany's hand. That was a normal greeting from someone who only had a faint memory of her.

Then there was Talia. She was harder to read. Her shoulder- length hair was bright red, and she was dressed perfectly, down to her french-manicured acrylic nails. While shaking hands, Bethany became painfully aware of her own chewed up nails with the remains of purple polish on them. She suddenly felt incredibly inferior, which wouldn't make this job any easier.

Bethany had avoided looking at Zac until he held out his hand for her to shake, and even then she had to force herself to look him in the eye.

To her surprise, his carmel eyes were full of anger. He smiled and greeted her, but all the while his eyes shot daggers. She looked down again and blinked back tears.

He had every right to be angry.

As Walker introduced her to the newest bodyguards and tour personnel, she marvelled over Zac. He'd transformed in a thousand different ways since he was twelve. Gone was goofy little boy who had always made her smile. Now he was a very much a man, who obviously was very angry at her.

Not that she could blame him.