Around 4’oclock Annie and I went back inside to watch Hanson’s acoustic performance on TRL. Annie and I were both laying stomach down facing the TV on my bed watching as Hanson was interviewed. Of course Taylor did most of the talking while Zac and Isaac nodded in agreement.

“Hey everyone, Vanessa here. As I’m sure you’ve all heard, Hanson is back in the scene, with the upcoming release of their new CD. And of course, they’re here for an acoustic performance” She turned to Taylor and started,” So, you guys have been out of the lime light for awhile now, and all of a sudden you’re back and you’ve got everyone talking again. That’s got to be exciting.”

“It is,” Taylor started, “ It’s been a long time, and we’ve spent a lot of time pouring our souls into this new record and we spent a lot of time writing and experimenting with new techniques. What it all comes down to is we wanted to make sure this record is perfect and we’ve spent hours upon hours of time recording and re-recording until we got it exactly how we wanted. We didn’t want it to be rushed at all.”

Stacey nodded, “Cool, and Zac, I hear you’re married now, is that right?” Stacey asked.

Taylor, the one holding the microphone held it in front of Zac’s face for him to answer. “Yep, I am.” Zac said keeping it short and sweet.

“When was the wedding?” She asked.

“Last month. We wanted to get married before the new CD-”

At which point he was cut off by Isaac who added, “Which comes out next Tuesday by the way, make sure to go get a copy”

Then Zac continued “came out so that we could keep it kind of low key and intimate.”

“Well, we’ve got a picture of the two of you here. I have to say you two are adorable.” Stacey announced before the screen was covered with a picture of Zac and Kate walking down the isle of a church during their wedding. Zac nodded and pushed his hands into his pockets as if he didn’t know what to say. “And Isaac,” she started turning attention back to Isaac, “What about you, any love interest?”

Taylor then moved the microphone in front of Isaac’s face. “I plead the fifth.” He smiled.

“Ooh, you’re the mysterious type” Vanessa announced, then turned to Taylor and asked, “And Taylor, you’re married, have two kids now, right?”

Taylor smiled and nodded, “Ezra and Penelope, they’re amazing.” At that point the crowd let out a unanimous “Awe.”

“Wow, Hanson’s all grown up. Now we’re going to let some of you,” she said pointing to the crowd “ask Hanson some questions.”

The camera panned over to a girl who asked a question about the new CD. After a few girls had finished their questions the screen was focused on a girl who I slightly recognized, but I couldn’t put m finger on it.

“Okay, this one is for Zac,” She started, “We’ve been seeing you with this girl all the time, and if she isn’t your wife then who is she?” The girl was holding up two pictures. Zac leaned in toward them to get a better look with a confused expression on his face. After a moment the camera zoomed in on the pictures to give the crowd at home a better look.

“Annie!” I screamed when I saw the pictures the girl was holding up. I instantly remembered the girl to be the one from the show the other night who questioned my relationship with Zac.

Annie was in just as much shock as me, and screamed “That bitch!”

“Oh my god! Did she seriously follow us all the way from Detroit to New York?” I gasped in amzment. “That’s creepy, Annie.”

The two pictures were of Zac and I on two separate occasions. One of them was from our first night in Detroit while we were swimming at the hotel. The picture was one of me behind him in the pool with my arms wrapped around his shoulders trying to dunk him. If you looked closely you could see Natalie in the background but if someone didn’t know any better it looked as if we were there alone.

The second picture was much more incriminating. It was a picture of me and Zac alone by the doors of the tour bus. Zac was holding a chocolate chip muffin in his right hand and in his left hand was my right hand. We were both smiling.

At first I was in shock and confused over the picture because I had no reason to be holding his hand and couldn’t remember holding his hand at all. My first thought was it had to be photo shopped, and then it hit me: Muffins. Damn those muffins, and the trouble they were getting me into.

Zac held my hand for two seconds while I jumped off the stairs of the bus. In the picture both of my feet were on the ground so it looked like we had been holding hands, but it had to be taken right before he let go of my hand once I was safely on the ground.

The camera focused back on Hanson. “She looks kind of Hardcore, Zac. Who is she?” Vanessa asked.

Zac reached out and took the microphone from Taylor and began to explain the pictures. “That would be my best friend’s fiancé who is on tour with us.” He stopped for a minute. Apparently that was not a suitable answer, because everyone in the studio, including Taylor and Isaac, we staring at him expecting more. After a few seconds of awkward silence he announced, “That’s it.”

Taylor and Isaac both had wide eyes as they stared at Zac expecting a better explanation along with the rest of the crowd.

“What?” Zac asked getting defensive while looking at Taylor and Isaac. At that point Vanessa walked over to the girl holding the pictures and brought them over for Zac to hold. “Look, you can see Natalie in the background of this one. You guys were there, you’re just not in the picture” Zac explained to Isaac and Taylor, pointing to the picture.

“And what about the other one?” Vanessa asked.

“We went to the bus to get muffins” he said pointing to the muffin in the picture, “and I was helping her get off the bus. I held her hand for like 5 seconds to make sure she didn’t fall and that was all. This picture was taken right after we got off the bus.”

“Interesting…and on that we’ve got to go to a quick commercial break, and when we get back Hanson will be performing live!”

I turned the TV off, and tossed the remote onto the bed. Not even five seconds later my cell phone started ringing. I looked at my caller ID to see “Kate”.

I looked at Annie and asked “Oh my god, do I answer it?”

Annie sat up and shrugged, “I guess”

I took a deep breath and answered the phone.

“Hello?” I asked hesitantly.

“You’re famous!” Kate exclaimed on the other end. “It’s official: The teenies have discovered you. Welcome to the world of nonstop rumors,” She laughed.

“You’re not mad are you?” I asked her. I bit my bottom lip and expected her to say she was. Instead she laughed.

“God, no, Joves. It’s alright. I think it’s funny. Don’t worry I’ve heard much worse. You’ll get used to it and learn not to let them get to you. Anyways I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you on your new found fame. You’ll be in the tabloids in no time.”

Even though Kate wasn’t mad I couldn’t help but feel violated. After the show Annie got into the shower and I decided I needed to go take a walk to work off some frustration.

On my way down to the street my cell phone started ringing again, this time it was Lex. I really didn’t want to, but I reluctantly answered, “Yes?”

“Hey, babe.” He responded.

“What do you want, Lex?”

“Since you’re not coming tonight I gave Zac your number, and I’ll leave you his number incase anything happens. I don’t want your mom to be pissed at me if you get killed or something.”

“You amaze me, Lex.” I rolled my eyes.

“You better believe it. Anyways, we’re grabbing something to eat before we head back, then we’re just gunna swing by to pick up Annie, Kate and Isaac, so I’ll see you when I get back later tonight.”

“Alright, see you then,” I said preparing to hang up my phone.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go?” he cut in before I could press the end key.

“Yeah, I think I need some ‘me time.’ But thanks.” I answered truthfully.

“Alright, well it’s on west 26th, between 8th and 9th.”

“8th and 9th what?” I asked.

Lex laughed on the other end, and then explained, “Avenues, Jovie. 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at myself, “ Duh. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, that’s why I love you,” he assured me. “So if I don’t see you there, I’ll see you back at the hotel. I Love you, Jovie.”

“Love you too,” I said before I hung up with a smile lingering on my lips.

It always seems to amaze me how our relationship can be such a rollercoaster, and how little conversations can make everything feel better. For the past couple days Lex has been getting under my skin, and honestly I was getting close to a breaking point. It was like everything that he did was annoying me, or making me mad. I hadn’t seen the side of him that I love in a long time, and unfortunately he hasn’t seen the best of me lately either. When we’re on tour everyone is a little edgy and harsher than normal. It’s nice to have those softer moments every once in awhile just to assure me that everything is alright. That’s what keeps me from going insane.

Lex really is a nice guy. I obviously wouldn’t agree to marry him if he wasn’t. I guess tour is like being on a reality show. You’re in stressful situations that you wouldn’t normally deal with. Like the obsessive fans, for example. Never in my “real life” have I ever encountered anyone so concerned about my relationships, or anyone who would travel across the country just to be able to follow what I’m doing with my life. I can’t help but feel violated when someone takes pictures of me, or makes up rumors about me, my relationships, or my friends. I’m not even the famous one. I’m just an innocent bystander. I don’t know how Hanson deals with that

I guess Kate it right. It’s good to just laugh every once in awhile. In a few months we will be back in the comfort of home, cuddling while we watch Dog the Bounty Hunter, and eating ice cream out of the container. Not being at each other’s throats. Hopefully after the stress of touring we can actually get our wedding on a roll.

But for now I’m just going to relax. Everything is all right. I will just keep reminding myself that.