“The new single has done wonders to the insight in their personal life, and has won numerous awards at the MTV Video Music awards, as well as has received four Grammy nominations. Please welcome Hanson!” Jay Leno said, then applauded. The three boys walked out of the back room and onto the set. They sat down, much to the surprise of the audience.
“Hello!” Jay said.
“Hi,” Taylor said, appreciating his seat next to Jay. Zac sat next to Taylor, and Isaac behind them on a stool. “This is weird, we haven’t performed and we’re sitting down talking to you.”
“Well you’ve been on the show twenty times already, so we’ve decided to reserve a whole segment for you.” Taylor smiled. “Let’s talk about this video.” Taylor’s smile faded, then was quickly restored.
“It’s semi-autobiographical. We based it on an accident that actually happened to us last year. Actually, a year ago today. February 15, 2000.”
“It’s been that long already?” Zac asked. “Well, anyway, we had the accident, then us at the hospital. In between all of this we had scenes of us at the club beforehand.”
“Tell me what happened the night of the accident.”
“Kris, Zac and I went to a club in downtown Chicago,” Taylor explained. “That’s where Zac met Misty. We were there until about three in the morning, and we ended up leaving cause Zac was passed out. I was driving, I ran a red light on one of the busiest streets in Chicago, and we ended up getting hit on both sides. Kris got thrown out of the car, while the rest of us spun around and the car did flips—it was horrible.”
“I’m assuming you weren’t in the best state to be driving?” Jay asked. Taylor shook his head.
“No, I was driving drunk, which was the biggest mistake of my life. We’d all gotten hold of drugs, that was why Zac was passed out…we were just too stupid to think of the consequences.”
“Did you get your license revoked?”
“Yeah, I had it away for about six months. I just got it again a few days before we shot the video. I had to go to DUI school…that was horrible. But I deserved it, I could of killed seven people, including myself. I hit three pedestrians. They turned out alright, but if anything would have happened I’d be in jail, no doubt about it.”
“I heard you guys got some nasty scars.”
“Yeah, I think I was the worst when it came to stitches. I had 166,” Taylor said. “Mostly right here on my arm.” The camera zoomed in on his hand, showing off his scars. “Zac has about half the amount of mine, but his cover a larger area.”
“So this is the first time you’ve spoken of the accident.”
“Yes, pretty much. We had a making the video with MTV for this, and I guess we spoke a little of it there, but we showed a lot of what really happened. This is the first time we’ve actually gone somewhere and openly spoke of what happened.”
“So now that we’ve talked about it, we have the video, so we’ll show it.” The audience cheered. “Okay, here’s Save Me, the latest video from Hanson.” The television flicked on, and the video started.
Taylor’s bright blue eyes were caught in the rearview mirror, glancing at Misty. Then his head turned and he looked at Kris. She was looking out onto the street of the rather warm Chicago night. “What’s your problem?” he asked, his speech slightly slurred.
“You.”
“Oh shut up. You know you deserved everything you got.” Taylor looked out onto the road. The speedometer read 97 miles an hour, and there was a red light ahead.
“Taylor, there’s a red light up there. You may want to slow down,” Kris said.
“It’ll turn.”
“No it won’t, it’s a four minute light. It just turned red. Slow down, you’re going to get us all killed.”
“It’ll fucking turn, alright?!”
“Fine, whatever.” Taylor ran the light. The white mustang convertible sped into the intersection and was hit on both sides. The car spun around four times, hit the telephone pole and phone booth, flipped over, sending someone into the air and landing thirty feet away. The car stopped, right side up, the windshield shattered and smashed, the three souls lifeless.
As soon as Misty woke up, paramedics were swarming around. They took Taylor and Zac away on stretchers, but she couldn’t see what was happening to Kris. She looked around. She got up and got out of the car, looking for Kris. The swarm of paramedics wasn’t stopping. They were shouting, lights were flashing, and everything was pure pandemonium. She saw Kris taken away. When she could see what Kris looked like, she put her hands over her mouth and screamed.
Loving you…Everything went dark, until it came to Taylor, watching over Kris in the hospital. Like I never have before… Taylor linked his hand with a lifeless Kris. A tear came to his eye as he looked at their joint hands. I’m needing you, just to open up the door…His was covered in stitches, while hers were delicate and clean. The tears in his eyes fell as he brought her hand to his lips and softly kissed it. If begging you, might somehow turn the tides…He put her hand down and stroked her hair. He bit his lip, holding back the rest of the tears in him. Then tell me to… The bruise on her face was illuminated by the bright hospital lights, but her eyes remained gently closed. He looked over her pale, lifeless body, then sighed. I’ve got to get this off my mind…He mouthed an ‘I love you’ to her, then took his hand away from her cheek.
I never thought I’d be speaking these words…Misty stood next to the bed, her face covered in stitches. She looked very uncomfortable, constantly fidgeting while looking over Zac. I never thought I’d need to say…Her eyes flicked back and forth over him, looking over his stitches and his scars. Another day alone is more than I can take…The bruises on his face were very prominent, more than anything else she noticed. She ran out of the room and started bawling in the hallway. Won’t you save me…
Taylor’s bruised face and stitched hairline showed up, singing. Saving’s what I need…well I just want to be by your side…Zac was on the sofa on his left, while Isaac was on his right, also singing. Won’t you save me…I don’t wanna be just drifting through the sea…of life…
The six of them were in Milani, the bright lights flashing around. Taylor and Kris were together, as were Zac and Misty, and Isaac and Elise. Won’t you…listen please…They were together and laughing, no sign of bruises or stitches. Kris’s smile looked very fake. Taylor made a comment, causing her smile to fade. Baby don’t walk out that door…She got up and walked away. Taylor immediately went after her, trying to get her to reason. I’m on my knees… She stopped and looked at him. Her looked at her, lovingly, but she wouldn’t have it. She shook her head and ran off. He watched, troubled. You’re all I’m living for…
Isaac sat up, talking to Elise in the hospital. I never thought I’d be speaking these words…They were both in the waiting room, having a disturbing conversation. Heaven thought I’d find a way…She look at him, tears welling, then turned away. Another day alone is more than I can take…
Kris sat in her hospital room, alone. Won’t you save me… She looked around for someone, but no one was there. She pulled her knees to her chest and started rocking. Saving’s what I need… Taylor passed by the window. He stopped, looking in. I just want to be, by your side…She continued to rock, not seeming to notice him. Won’t you save me… He opened the door and walked inside. She looked over. Well I don’t wanna be, just drifting through the sea of life…
He sat on the chair next to her. She moved away. Suddenly the sky is falling…He looked at her, strangely. Could it be it’s too late for me… She spoke to him, upsetting him. If I never said I’m sorry… He mouthed “I’m sorry” to her, but she shook her head. Then I’m wrong, yes I’m wrong… She started crying, putting her hands over her face. He sat back, shaking his head. Then I hear my spirit calling… She gestured for him to leave. He looked right into her, looking completely pissed, then got up. Wondering if she’s longing for me…He ran out of the room, slammed the door, then set his head back. She started bawling as he slipped to the floor, crying himself. And then I know I can’t live without her…
Isaac walked up. Taylor didn’t look at him. Won’t you save me… Isaac knelt down, to look at Taylor. Taylor looked up with his tearstained face. Saving’s what I need… Zac wheeled up in his wheelchair. He looked into Kris’s room. Well I just want to be, by your side… He looked at Taylor, then at Kris. Won’t you save me…Taylor looked up at Zac. I don’t wanna be just drifting through the sea of life…
“We’re over…” Taylor said. Won’t you save me…”I can’t believe we’re over.” The shot faded away.
The audience was near silent. Taylor, Zac, and Isaac looked out to the audience. Half of them were crying, the rest a bit shocked. They waited for clapping. It didn’t come. “For you people at home, if you can’t tell, my entire audience is crying.” The camera zoomed over the audience. They were either crying, or all out bawling into their hands.
“They’re not clapping,” Taylor said. “So we’ll have to improvise.” Taylor, Zac, and Isaac started clapping and cheering.
“Yeah!! Go us!!”
“Okay, we have to take a break now, so we’ll be right back with Hanson!”
The commercials played, and soon the shot was back on. Jay turned to them. “That video was completely amazing. I’d never seen it before, but that was amazing.”
“Wow, thanks,” Taylor said. “We didn’t expect this big of a reaction from that. It wasn’t that much.”
“I’m just surprised they allowed you to get away with saying the F-word and not having it bleeped out,” Zac said. Taylor shrugged.
“So let’s talk about these awards you’ve won for the video. So you won how many music video awards?”
“Four,” Taylor said.
“Wow. I can understand now, because I’ve seen the video. You’re nominated for four Grammy’s.”
“Yes, and that’s a thrill.”
“I have to ask this, I do it every time and I get the same answer, but, girlfriends?”
“Yes,” the three answered in unison. They looked at each other, giving each other strange looks.
“We’ve decided just to come out and say it. It’s been too long to hide them from the world. And they’re here right now.”
“I wasn’t expecting that, but hey! I’ll take it. Where are they?” Zac looked out to the audience. “There they are, front row over there.” The camera shot to three girls. Kris, Misty, and Isaac’s girlfriend, Stephanie. They waved.
“Which one’s which?” Jay asked.
“Kris is mine, Misty’s with Taylor, and Isaac’s with Stephanie. But if it was six months ago, me and Taylor would have been switched.”
“So you were with Misty and Taylor was with Kris?”
“Yes. I dated Kris for a long time. We broke up once, then I spent six months obsessing over her, then we dated again.”
“So what happened?”
“We’re not going to talk about it.” Taylor turned and looked at Zac. “Pointed look to Zac.” Jay turned to Zac. He immediately put his arms up in defense.
“Don’t look at me! It’s not my fault!” Zac laughed.
“Sure…”
“That’s why we’re switched, right?” Jay laughed.
“So she’s yours now, huh? Big fight?”
“No, I was in love with Misty at the time.”
“You were in love with Misty? And you made that huge deal over Kris?”
“Yeah, well, duh.”
“I so did not see that!”
“Well I saw you and Kris a mile away.”
“Well, that’s all the time we have. Thank you Hanson, I’m sure we’ll see you again soon. See you next time!!!”
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