“I guess I owe you an apology, huh?” I said as I walked up behind him. He was standing in front of the open refrigerator doors drinking milk straight from the carton.

He turned around and with his free hand, pushed the hair off his forehead and smiled. “For what?”

I couldn’t help but smile as I put my hands on my hip and tried to glare at him. ”You’re not going to make this easy are you, Zac?”

He shook his head. “Nah,” he said scrunching up his nose, “I’m not easy.” He returned the carton of milk to the refrigerator and shut the door. He turned around and looked at me, awaiting an apology.

I ran my fingers over the marble countertop of the island as I walked away from him. I sat down on one of the stools lining the counter, and twisted back and forth avoiding his stare.

“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, and called my attention. He walked over to the opposite side of the counter and leaned down, resting his palms on its surface. “You were saying?”

“This is a really nice kitchen,” I said in a desperate attempt to change the subject, looking around the spacious kitchen area. I looked up at Zac, who was still staring at me, waiting. I placed my elbows on the countertop and sighed. “I’m sorry for being a bitch on the phone,” I stated unenthusiastically.

“And?” he prodded, smiling. He was enjoying this far too much.

“And,” I continued, clearing my throat, “I shouldn’t have yelled, and it wasn’t your fault, and I’m sorry I took out my aggression on you.” I breathed out and folded my hands in my lap, looking up at him for a nod of approval.

“And?”

I glared at him standing across for me, with his hands now crossed over his chest. His smile had vanished. “And what?” I questioned, unsure if maybe I had done something else that offended him.

“And, you’re the best guy ever, and you’re always right, and awesome, and really good looking, if I do say so myself,” he replied as his smiled returned.

I let out a sigh of relief and laughed, “Yeah, what you said. But seriously, sorry.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s okay, it didn’t really bother me.”

I nodded, “Well thanks for putting me through that then.”

“Hey, my pleasure.”

“Hey, Lex didn’t leave yet, did he?” Kate asked Zac as she walked into the kitchen, but upon seeing me sitting across from him, she corrected herself. “I mean, did Taylor leave yet?”

“Where’s Lex going?” I inquired. He hadn’t said anything about going anywhere to me.

We had come over to the Hanson household today for a barbeque, and to meet everyone. So far Lex and I were the only ones to make it over, and I had no idea he was planning on stranding me there. Annie and the rest of the gang weren’t going to be coming over for about another hour or so.

She didn’t reply, but she smiled and obviously there was something she couldn’t hold in.

“Kate.” Zac said sternly, reading her body language, knowing she was about to explode.

“I can’t tell you,” she smiled.

I stared at her for a moment, and out of nowhere she exclaimed, “We’re going to a jewelry store for your present.”

“Kate,” Zac said as he smiled and shook his head, “you can’t keep a secret about anything, can you?”

“Well, I’ll let you go ahead and go then. I like Emeralds, Rubies and, of course, Diamonds,” I said as I stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

I walked out of the kitchen and wandered to the back porch. Upon stepping outside I was met by an inquisitive little blonde haired girl. He was wearing a pink and black polka dot bathing suit, and her little ponytail was twisted and soaked with water.

“Who are you?” she asked, pointing her finger up at me.

“I’m Jovie. Who are you?” I asked, amused by her openness. I extended my hand to her, and she grasped it, and shook my hand up and down with an impressing amount of force for a girl of her size.

“What’s that?” she asked pointing to the tattoo on my forearm, ignoring my request for her name.

“It’s a tattoo,” I told her as she grabbed my arm to inspect it. I kneeled down, so I could be at her level.

“Did that hurt?” she asked, pointing to my nose.

I nodded, and explained, “A little bit, but not anymore.”

“I’m going to get my ears pierced,” she bragged.

“That’s cool,” I started, but was interrupted by her next question.

“Why is your hair different colors?”

I opened my mouth to explain, but she already had another question ready.

“Do you want to go swimming? I have an extra bathing suit.”

I laughed and replied, “Oh, I don’t think your bathing suit would fit me.”

“Jessie’s would,” she nodded when another blonde girl walked over to us, holding a towel. She wrapped the towel around the little girl, then we both stood up as she greeted me.

“I’m Jessica. Ike, Taylor and Zac’s sister,” she said extending her hand to me, “You must be Annie or Jovie, right?”

I was going to answer, but I wasn’t quick enough. Instead the little girl answered for me, “She’s Jovie, and she has a tattoo.”

“I see you’ve met Zoë,” she said, placing her hand onto of the little girl’s head.

I nodded and smiled, “Oh, yes. She’s quite the talker.”

“She sure is,” Jessica replied nodding. “Mac and Avery are around here somewhere, and our parents are at the store getting the food and stuff. If want you can go in and what TV or whatever. If Zoë bothers you, just tell her to leave you alone.”

“Alright,” I said smiling. I walked back into the house and wandered down the hallway, looking at the pictures hanging on the wall. The hallway opened up into living room, which is where a very flustered Taylor found me with Ezra under one arm, and Penelope under the other. As soon as he spotted me his eyes lit up.

“Jovie, thank God you’re here.”

I was unsure of why he was thanking God I was there, but as soon as handed me a crying Penelope I had an idea of why.

He put Ezra on the ground and stood up to face me. “Nat has a doctor’s appointment in, like,” he said, looking at his watch, “oh, about 5 minutes ago, and my parents were supposed to watch them, but they aren’t back yet. Would you mind watching them? It would be too much for Jess to watch everyone.”

I nodded, realizing that it wasn’t really a question. As soon as I moved my head, Taylor turned around and jogged toward the front door, yelling “Thanks Joves,” over his shoulder before he disappeared.

I held onto Ezra’s hand, and carried Penelope into the kitchen in hopes of finding a sippy cup to give to her, but once I was in the kitchen I found something even better.

Zac.

“I thought you were going with Kate and Lex,” I said when I saw him. He was standing with his back to me, rummaging through the cabinets.

He was holding a sippy cup when he turned around, and laughed when he saw me, “I was going to, but I was sure Kate would talk me into buying her something.”

I nodded, and asked, “Okay, so where were you when Taylor was looking for someone to watch his kids?”

“Hiding. Duh.” He said walking over to the refrigerator to get out apple juice. I watched him as he poured the juice into the cup, screwed the lid on, then walk over to give it to Penelope. “What about you, Ez? You want anything?” he asked, bending down to talk to Ezra.

After he got Ezra his juice we walked back to the living room and turned on Lazy Town for Ezra to watch. After about an hour, Diana, Walker, Taylor and Natalie were back. The rest of the band had also showed up.

I walked outside to see that Zoë had found Annie and convinced her to swim with her.

“Where’d you get the suit?” I asked her from the deck.

“It’s Kate’s. Natalie’s in there getting ready to come out and swim, you should join us,” Annie said.

“I didn’t bring my suit,” I said frowning. I reached into my pocket to feel for my hotel key, but it wasn’t there. “And I don’t have the key to the room either,” I added.

“I have my key in the pocket of my jeans. Go back to the room and grab yours,” she instructed. “My jeans are in Zac’s old room.”

I jogged back into the house, and found Zac in the kitchen helping his mom cut up some vegetables for the salad.

“Hey, Zac. Which room is yours?” I asked.

He looked up and put the knife down. “Now why would you be wondering where my room was?”

“So that I could sneak in, take pictures of it and post them on fan sites, so that everyone would know that you sleepy with teddy bears. Why else?” I joked.

He nodded, “Ah, I better go up with you. I don’t want that getting out.” He turned around and rinsed his hands off at the sink, then led me up the stairs to his room.

Once we reached the door to his room, he stopped and stood with his back to the door. “Behold: Zac Hanson's Bedroom,” he said opening the door, and made a sweeping motion with his arm, granting me entrance to the room.

There were a couple pairs of jeans laying on the floor, along with some other clothes, so once I found Annie’s I dug through the pockets until I pulled out a small paper card holder, with the key inside. I stood up and walked over to Zac.

“Another favor,” I said looking at Zac. “Would you mind running me back to the hotel to get my suit?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “Yeah, that’s fine.”

I skipped down the stairs behind Zac, and grabbed my purse on the way out of the house. As soon as I picked it up I heard my phone ring. I dug through the pockets, and found it just in time to see “1 missed call.” I flipped my phone open to see that the missed call was Lex, and cursed my self for missing it. I dialed his number and waited for the answer.

“Hey,” he said as I opened up the car door and sat down.

“Hey, sorry. Whats up?” I asked buckling up.

“You’re gunna hate me, but I can’t remember what size ring you wear.”

“Way to ruin the surprise, Lex,” I said, pretending Kate didn’t already ruin it for him. “But a seven.”

“Thanks.” He said, and then as an afterthought added, “And Kate already ruined it, thank you. Is the food almost ready?”

“Nope, still prepping.” I replied.

“Okay, well don’t let them start without us. We’ll be back shortly.”

“Alright, love you.”

“Love you too.”

I hung up the phone and put it back into my purse. Zac backed out of the driveway and instructed me to find something on the radio.

I scanned through the stations until I found a song I recognized.

“Ooo,” I squealed when I found Mr. Brightside, “I love The Killers. Lex hates them.”

“Eh, they’re alright,” Zac said drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “Go ahead and turn it up.”

As instructed I turned the radio up and sang along with the song, “Now they’re going to bed, and my stomach is sick, and it’s all in my head. But she’s touching his—chest now, he takes off her dress, now, let me go.” I looked over to see that Zac was smiling, but not singing along. “Come on, you know the words, don’t you?”

He smiled, and shook his head. I frowned, but continued singing. “I just can’t look, it’ killing me and taking control…”

Once the song was done, I turned the radio back down. “You’re no fun.”

“I would have had to charge you,” he said keeping his eyes on the road.

“For what?”

“For a concert,” he said looking at me and smiling.

“Oh yeah, I forgot. You’re a rock star,” I said rolling my eyes.

“Don’t you forget it,” he said nodding.

I smiled, and apologized, “Sorry, Taylor.”

“Hey now,” he laughed, “No low blows.”

“You were asking for it,” I pointed out. “Someone’s gotta keep you grounded,” I added.

He looked at me, and gave me a genuine smile, “Thanks Joves.”

I don’t know if it would be cheesy to say that it was then that I realized that Zac had truly become one of my best friends. I knew we were friends before that, but it was in that car that I really felt that he was a genuine friend, the kind who you can do or say anything in front of, and not have to worry what they’re really thinking.

We found ourselves standing at the door of my hotel room, 412. I pulled the card of my pocket and slid it into the lock, then pulled it back out.

Red light.

I tried again, sliding it in, and pulling it out slower this time.

Red light.

“Give me that thing,” Zac said, taking the card from my hand. “It’s all in the wrist,” he said as he pulled the plastic card up, expecting a green light.

“All in the wrist,” I agreed sarcastically, nodding while I looked at the red light. I leaned up against the wall and crossed my ankles while Zac tried again… and again…and again.

“Are you sure this is the right room?” he asked after accepting defeat.

I rolled my eyes, and pushed myself off the wall. “Yes, Zac, this is my room.”

“Okay, then is this the right key?”

“Yes, Zac” I said annoyed, “Of course this is the right key. Who’s key would it be if it isn’t Annie’s?” I pulled out the paper envelope the key was in, and held it up to his face to show him the numbers written in permanent black marker.

“Um, Jovie,” he said slowly. I moved the envelope down so I could see his face. “Are you sure that’s Annie’s key?”

“Yeah… I got it out of her jeans.” I answered, utterly confused by his tone.

“Well, it says it’s for room 517,” he said, taking the envelope from me, and turned it around so I could read it. Sure enough, it was for room 517.

We stared at each other, both dumbfounded by the mix up. All of a sudden my stomach dropped remembering that Lydia was staying in the same hotel. What the odds of that key being hers were, I don’t know, but I had a bad feeling.

“What do you suggest we do?” Zac asked, handing me the key, then crossed his arms over his chest.

I looked at the card, and swallowed the lump in my throat. “We could ask the front desk.”

He shrugged his shoulders and agreed.

We walked up to the front desk, and I asked the man standing behind the counter, “Could you please tell me if Lydia,” I stopped remembering I didn’t know her last name.

“Mercer,” Zac whispered.

“If Lydia Mercer is in room 517?” I tapped my fingers impatiently on the desk while the man looked through his computer.

After what seemed like eternity he nodded, “Yes, Miss Mercer is in room 517.”

“Thank you,” Zac and I said in union. Zac looked at me and waited for a response.

We walked away from the desk to decide what to do. First, I took out my cell phone and called Annie.

“Annie,” I said as soon as she answered the phone.

“Yeah?” she asked.

“Have Lex and Kate come back yet?”

“Yup. They got here, literally right after you left, but then Lex volunteered to go to the store to pick up something else for Diana,” she informed me.

“Kay, thanks. Bye,” I hung up the phone before Annie could ask me any questions.

I turned to Zac and relayed the information, “As soon as we left they got back, and then Lex went back out to get something for your mom.”

“Okay, then what do you want to do?”

I thought for a minute before deciding, “Lets go up.”

Zac cocked his head to the side, “Are you sure?”

I shrugged my shoulders and nodded.

“Alright, Let’s go then.”