Zac pulled away and stared at her. "You're not?" he asked softly.
Dawn looked at his face and giggled. "Zacy, Don't you remember before the tour when I promised you I'd wait for you?"
Zac nodded. "Yeah, duh. Why?"
Dawn leaned over and kissed his ear. "Well, I waited. I was joking you know," she whispered.
Ashley laughed as she got to the door to her room. She had just heard the conversation between Zac and Dawn. Poor Zac. I wonder....Hey. I thought I locked my door, she thought. She shrugged it off. She opened the door and-
"ARAHHHH!!"
Ashley screamed as something jumped out from her in the darkness and pinned her against the wall. She covered her eyes and dropped her bags. She heard laughter.
"Did I scare you much, baby?" a voice rang out.
Ashley pushed the arm away and reached over to flick on the light to find Taylor standing there laughing his head off.
She glared at him.
"Aww, I'm sorry. I got here like five minutes ago and your mom told me to go right on up to your room. Didn't you see my car?" He whispered, pulling her close to him.
Ashley looked thoughtful. "I think...but I was preoccupied. I'm sorry."
Taylor leaned in for a kiss when a knock interuppted them at the door.
"Ash? Are you okay?" Dawns voice called. She opened the door and peekd her head in. '"I heard you scream- Oh never mind," she said with a knowing smile.
"Who was it?" Zac opened the door all the way. "Yes! Haha! I was right!"
Dawn rolled her eyes and pinched him. "Shut up, Zac."
Taylor laughed. "What did he do this time?"
Dawn rolled her eyes again. "I heard her scream and jumped up and Zac caught me and said 'Don't worry, I bet its Tay.' but I was worried and he was like, 'Fine, you owe me if it's not. Your making me get up.' So I said 'Ok.' and here we are."
Ashley was curious. "You owe him what?"
Zac smiled. "I don't know yet I'll have to think....hmmmm...any suggestions, Tay?"
Taylor pretended to look thoughtful. "Yeah, a few I was gonna try on HER," he said, guestering towards Ashley.
Dawn shook her head, smiling and began to pull Zac away.
"Hey!" he squaked. "I wanna hear these!"
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Oh c'mon Zac, let them make out. Sheesh. After all, I have a feeling we interuppted something."
"Oooh. Okay. Can we play that game too? I like that game." Zac said playfully.
Dawn swatted at him as they entered her room.
Taylor laughed. "Typical Zac. He was going stir crazy while we were away thinking Dawn was playing that 'game' with someone else."
Ashley nodded, a pit forming in her stomach. "Yeah. But she wasn't. Neither was I."
Taylor smiled as he reached for the light. "Now, where were we?"
"Not so fast," Ashley said, beating him to the switch. "Do you really want to go downstairs and eat dinner out of breath and God who knows what else? And plus my mom always walks in on me. And besides-"
Taylor put his hand over her mouth. "What's the matter? You won't even let me kiss you? You don't like me anymore or what? Or is there some other guy?"
Ashley ignored the growing pit of guilt in her stomach. "No, it's not that. It's just that I don't want her walking in on us. We can keep the light on though."
Taylor looked thoughtful. "Okay, what about Zac and Dawn? I'm sure they're doing the same thing I want to do. Aren't you worried your moms gonna walk in on them?"
Ashley was speechless. "I'm not in control of Dawn. That's besides the point. And you know I'm not like her."
Taylor gave her a knowing glance. "I know what your worried about. I'll keep everything over the clothes, okay?"
Ashley just nodded. "Okay, you got me."
Taylor looked confused. "Why didn't you just come out and tell me? Has me being away that's lost your trust in me?"
Ashley shook her head quickly. "Taylor...no. Not at all. It's just that it's almost that 'happy time of month' and I'm kinda moody," she replied. Oh God.. why did I just say that. She was about two weeks away from her period.
Taylor smiled. "It's ok. Now anyways...Where were we?"
"Right about here," Ashley said, reaching up and kissing him passionately.
He reached over and flipped the switch off and sat her on the bed.
"So dear, Have you heard from David?" Mrs. Smith asked as they were all eating dinner.
"That David kid again? What's this, does he have a crush on you?" Zac interrupted.
Dawn swallowed quickly. "No, Mom I haven't. And yeah Zac, he does. How did you ever figure that out?" She smiled playfully.
Zac rolled his eyes and made muscles with his arms. "Cause I'm a macho man. The macho man. No, the Macho Hanson. The one and-"
"Can it buddy. You believe what you wanna believe," Taylor said, rolling his eyes.
Ashley and Dawn exchanged glances.
Dawn almsot got caught there....Oh God I don't want to imagine what'll happen if Zac finds out. Ashley thought.
Mrs. Smith laughed. "My, you two are just as good at being funny as you are as singers. It's cool man. By the way, how's the singing going?"
Ashley stiffled a laugh as her mother tried making a point in 'their' slang.
"It's going good," Zac replied, smiling. "But we're taking a break now."
Taylor nodded. "Yeah, we need one. We needed to see the people we care about most who we didn't get to see," he said, making puppy dog eyes at Ashley.
Ashley laughed, her face turning red. "Trying to butter me up, huh Slick?"
Dawn cleared her throat. "You two, can the mushy stuff till later. I'm trying to eat here."
Mrs. Smith laughed. "It's okay, Dawn. Your father used to act that way around me when WE were that age. In fact, I think he was worse..." She said, her eyes thoughtful.
Dawn dropped her fork and made a face. "Mo-om!"
Ashley grimaced. "I am trying to eat here!"
Zac and Taylor doubled up laughing. "Mrs. Smith, our mother had seven kids....I can see where your coming from," Taylor said.
Zac laughed. "Oh yeah," he replied.
Dawn glared at him. "Ahem?"
Zac's face got serious as he picked up his fork. "Sorry honey. You know how I get sometimes."
Taylor nodded. "Um, yeah. Sorry Ashy baby."
Dawn and Ashleys face burned crimson.
Mrs. Smith laughed. "It's okay, Daughter number one and Daughter number two. I guess I should be getting used to that."
"Boys, do you need a ride home?" Mr. Smith asked, peeking his head in the family room where Ashley, Taylor, Dawn, and Zac were sitting watching a movie. "Sorry I missed dinner with you guys. My business at work ran late."
Taylor turned and smiled. "No, it's okay. I have my car. And it's okay about dinner. There will always be another time."
Zac nodded. "Yeah, thanks anyway," he said, engrossed in the movie.
Mr. Smith nodded and left the room.
Zac turned to Dawn, who was layin with her head on his shoulder. "Your Dad is cool," he said softfully, then noticed her eyes were closed. "Dawn?" he asked softly. "Dawnie, honey?"
Taylor shook his head. "Don't worry about her. Ash's asleep, too." He carefully shifted his weight so she wouldn't wake. No such luck.
She awoke, staring around the room. "Huh...Tay?"
He nodded. "Yeah, it's me. Did you enjoy your little nap?" He said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes.
Zac turned away from them. He hated it most when he saw his brother with a another girl. Espeically one that looked like his. He tried to ignore them but tried so hard that he fell asleep.
After a few minutes or so, Ashley looked over. "Tay? Look how cute," Ashley nodded over toward Zac and Dawn.
Taylor glanced over. "I think their practicing."
Ashley laughed and hit him playfully.
"OWW!"
Zac awoke. "Did I fall asleep again?"
Taylor nodded. "With her, yep."
Ashley pinched him.
"Ouch!"
Zac yawned. He glanced down at his watch. "Shit. Tay, it's eleven o'clock. When does mom and dad want us home?"
Taylor shrugged. "I dunno. As long as your with me I don't think they'll care."
"Oh." Zac shrugged. "Oh shit I woke her up," Zac whispered, staring at Dawn. "Damn she's so peaceful looking when she's asleep."
"I am? Oh Zac that's sweet," Dawn said, opening her eyes and looking at him playfully.
Zac blushed. "You heard? Oops."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Duh." She leaned up and kissed him.
Taylor cleared his throat. "Ahem. Zac, do you want to hit the road now? We should leave soon."
Zac looked at him, aggravated. "Oh, you don't want me spending time with my girfriend? Hey, that tickles," he said, as Dawn kissed his neck.
Taylor pretended it was no big deal. "Well, I AM our ride home, so-"
"WAIT! Um, Dawn? I gotta go. I'll call you tonight. At the same time." Zac said, leaning down and giving Dawn one last agressive kiss.
"Took ya long enough, buddy," Taylor teased. He leaned over and kissed Ashley once more.
Zac rolled his eyes and joined his brother at the door. "Bye Dawnie."
"Bye, Zacy."
"Bye Taybear."
The girls waved to them as the boys left and started on their way home.